true blue Newsletter of the Friends of St George’s

• Healthier Grenada Issue campaign launched 14 A campaign for a healthier Grenada – spearheaded by • ‘Sport for Health in the Caribbean’ – was launched in September Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in March with the appointment of sporting ambassadors in each of Grenada’s 2011 22 secondary schools. Each school received $2,000 (EC) • to support sporting activities in their schools and local communities. The most successful school sporting ambassador will be invited to attend the Olympic Games in London. Principals and Sporting Ambassadors with their cheque at the launch of the Sport for Health Funds for the campaign particularly for young Programme in March. Members of the Sport for Health Committee at the launch included, were raised at the WINDREF people.” Hon George McGuire, Director, SGU Sports Program, Speaker of the House of Representatives, dinner at the House of Lords The role model and fi rst Trevor Noël, Assistant Director, WINDREF, Dorani Marshall, Kirani James’ father and Marlon Glean, Chairman of the Sports for Health committee. in London last November. sporting ambassador for The function was hosted by the campaign – who also Lord Soulsby of Swaffham attended the dinner – is of the Non-Communicable In July, the Sport for Health Prior, President of WINDREF Kirani James, who won a Diseases (NCDs) such as Committee agreed that there (Windward Islands Research gold medal in the 400 metres cardio-vascular disease, should be a national examination and Education Foundation) last month at the World diabetes, hypertension and of what motivates people to the research institute of St Athletics Championships. obesity. As was stated at lead a healthier lifestyle with George’s University, and the launch of the event, a data collected by the sporting Baroness Howells of St A high level Sport for Health Committee has been recent study had shown that ambassadors in the secondary Davids, who also serves on 80 percent of Grenadian schools, three fi tness centres or the WINDREF board. formed in Grenada with the support of WINDREF, women over the age of 25 ‘boot camps’ in Grenada, and At the dinner, Lord (Seb) St George’s University, and were obese. The programme students in the school of Arts and Coe, Chairman of the 2012 Grenada’s Ministries of also needed to target those Sciences at St George’s University. Olympic Games Organising Youth Empowerment and “who do not participate in An initial 500 people will be Committee, spoke of the Sport and Health. A major sporting activities and may be involved in the research. “power of the Olympic objective of the committee at greater risk of developing Games to inspire change, chronic diseases.” is to confront the challenges Editorial

One hundred percent pass rate for St. George’s University School of Medicine’s four year medicine course, including the Keith B St. George’s graduates entering RCVS Taylor Global Scholars Basic Science Programme at Northumbria University was, at the end of June, Five graduates from overall – is an exceptional At the Admissions Ceremony formally granted full accreditation by CAAM-HP, St George’s University School result for the students. in London in July, RCVS Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education of Veterinary Medicine In order to practise President Dr Jerry Davies in Medicine and other Health Professions, for (SGUSVM) have passed veterinary surgery in said: “I was delighted a period of four years This is an outstanding the Statutory Membership the UK, graduates with to welcome this year’s academic achievement and one which we can Examination of the UK’s foreign or Commonwealth successful candidates to all be justly proud. Royal College of Veterinary qualifi cations must pass the the College; they have Surgeons (RCVS). RCVS examination. Thirty-fi ve succeeded in meeting the And on the subject of pride, the graduation of over This year’s 100 percent St George’s graduates have educational and professional 700 medical students at St George’s 44th School pass rate by SGU students – passed into the RCVS since requirements that enable of Medicine Commencement Ceremony, which I compared with a 44 percent the School’s inception in them to practise in the UK.” attended in New York in June, provided yet another pass rate for candidates 1999. Austin Kirwan, St George’s reminder of the amazing diversity of our remarkable Associate Dean of UK and institution. The graduating students were drawn Ireland Clinical Affairs from many different countries – and now join the stated: “this excellent result University’s over 9,000 medical graduates practising is a credit to SGUSVM in in over 45 countries around the world. the quality of education it We bade a fond farewell in June to Sue Huntington provides, and an indication on her retirement as UK Registrar after 30 years of the caliber of person of dedicated service. Sallyanne George is now the university attracts - Administrative Manager and my Executive Assistant outstanding success abounds and Alison Allen who has been appointed Clinical by thinking beyond.” He Department Manager with overall responsibility for continued: “Education at the all student placements. We have also recruited some vet school is a true academic new staff who, with Sallyanne and Alison make Students from St George’s University, Grenada, attend a development but also an a very dedicated team; all eager to support our ceremony at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, emphasis is given to practical students and the UK Faculty. and are admitted to the college. L-R: Matthew Foulkes, Francesca animal handling, surgery, Hendey, college president Dr Jerry Davies, Caroline Dennis, communication skills and an Rodney J Croft MA MChir FRCS FACS Jennifer Roberts and Ashley Beresford. experience in the paradise Dean of Clinical Studies UK Photograph © Andrew McCargow island of Grenada.”

True Blue no 14.indd 1 14/09/2011 07:41 Friends of St George’s Dr Peter Bourne • Mrs Vanessa Bourne • Sir Kenneth Calman • Mr Rodney Croft • Mr David Jessop OBE Baroness Hanham CBE • Baroness Howells of St Davids OBE • Sir Jim Lester DL • Professor Sir Malcolm Macnaughton Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior • Sir Kenneth Stuart • Mr Jonathan Taylor • Lord Walton of Detchant Mr Bowen Wells • Professor Ian McConnell • Lord Sheikh of Cornhill in the City of London

Student Profile: Yon Chong Staff profile: Sallyanne George

Sallyanne George, together 2011. Her responsibilities undertaking clinical with Alison Allen, manage within her new role include training at one of the 16 St George’s UK Head Office administrative support to UK affiliated hospitals. The in Winchester. Sallyanne’s the UK Clinical Council UK clinical programme is career path has been Executive Committee and rapidly expanding, with extremely varied yet she facilitation and coordination a record number of 123 maintains that “there’s of departmental meetings for University students training nowhere else you could the UK Clinical Faculty. On in the UK at present. work that’s so diverse – a day-to-day basis Sallyanne With students from over 15 that’s one of the many ensures the smooth countries enrolled in the interesting things about running of St George’s UK UK clinical programme, St George’s.” Head Office and liaises Sallyanne notes “It can be closely with the senior Winchester is a quintess- difficult for students when administrative officers of the entially English city with a they first arrive here; they University. historic cathedral (below) are out of their comfort situated 60 miles south west In addition, Sallyanne also zone and sometimes of London. holds the post of Executive everything is completely Yon Chong (left) on a beach day with Grenadian children Secretary to WINDREF UK. alien to them. However, the Sallyanne was appointed from Bel Air Homes and former classmates. excellent support systems as Administrative Manager More generally, the team we have in place help them and Executive Assistant provides assistance for to adjust within a couple of to the UK Dean in May students while they are “I spent some of the most memorable weeks.” years of my life at St George’s” Having attended her first states South Korean born Yon Chong, who graduated annual Clinical Faculty in June, after completing a dual MD/MPH degree at meetings in Grenada in the University. February 2011, Sallyanne “St George’s University has always shown itself to be a describes the campus very multicultural medical institution,” she says, “I was as “too beautiful for any blown away by the beautiful campus, and the unrivalled photograph to do it justice.” opportunity to live and work around the world.” Yon’s SGU honours new medicalShe doctorsexplains that one of the expectations were far surpassed; in two years she moved most rewarding aspects of 24 times and worked in 15 different hospitals in five at 44th Commencement Ceremonyher role “is knowing that countries. “I did not expect a student body to be so you have been an integral diverse – I was learning outside the classroom just by part of a life-changing talking to my other classmates.” She believes that she development in a student’s has gained a rare insight into other cultures by socialising future career.” with a diverse group of friends, ultimately learning lessons which, as she points out, are “invaluable for any doctor working in global healthcare.” Yon feels that the dual MD/MPH course, recently accredited by the US Council on Education for Public Health, is currently one of the most valuable degrees in healthcare, particularly as countries are increasingly focusing on global healthcare and recognising the importance of public health in the medical field. She adds: “Countries all over the world, but particularly developing countries, want public health practitioners over physicians, because public health practitioners can benefit more people at a public level, preventing a larger population from getting sick and therefore cutting costs.” When not in the library, hospital, or participating in medical selectives abroad, Yon spent much of her time working with two Grenadian orphanages. She says: “It was wonderful watching the kids grow – I learnt so Chancellor Charles R. Modica and graduating medical students at the June much from them, and they helped me to take things less Commencement Ceremony in New York: “this moment celebrates the seriously and live a more balanced life.” commitment you have made to medicine.” Yon recently finished her final clinical rotation at North Middlesex University Hospital in the UK where she gained For further information please contact: valuable experience, “I assisted in a few operations and learned so much through a different style of teaching in Patrick Orr Sallyanne George Executive Director, UK Trust Executive Assistant to the UK Dean the UK,” she remarks. She admits that, “living in London Raitt Orr and Associates St George’s International School was far more rewarding than visiting it as a tourist.” The Africa Centre of Medicine, Grenada Although her time at SGU studying for her MD/MPH 38 King Street, Covent Garden UK Head Office Published by London WC2E 8JT Kingdon’s Yard, Parchment Street degree is now over, she can’t stay away from St George’s Raitt Orr and Winchester and has decided to undertake an MBA there. She says Tel: +44 (0) 20 7836 4644 Hampshire, SO23 8AT Associates that “meanwhile, during my holiday time, I can feed my Fax: +44 (0) 20 7240 2981 on behalf of e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1962 850 650 travelling addiction by visiting the lifelong friends I have the Friends of Fax: +44 (0) 1962 850 567 made who live all over the world.” e-mail: [email protected] St George’s.

True Blue no 14.indd 2 14/09/2011 07:42