St. George’s University (SGU) is expanding its efforts to increase the number of Kenyan students joining its medical programs, offering them opportunities to practice in more than 50 countries after graduation. This move comes at a crucial time as Kenya grapples with a significant shortage of medical professionals.
Speaking at a recent workshop attended by academic counselors from Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana, SGU’s Regional Director for Africa, Bradley Wade, highlighted the institution’s commitment to providing Kenyan students with a direct pathway into the medical profession.
“In Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, we have between 50 to 60 new students joining our program every year. Currently, we enroll between five to ten Kenyan students annually, but we are aiming to expand this number to provide more opportunities,” said Wade.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the country has a doctor-to-patient ratio of 19 per 100,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 100 doctors per 100,000 patients. The shortage of doctors in Kenya has long been a pressing issue, limiting access to adequate healthcare services, especially in rural areas.
SGU, based in Grenada, seeks to bridge this gap by equipping Kenyan students with international medical training, enabling them to bring back valuable knowledge and skills to enhance Kenya’s healthcare system.
“The initial and long-term mission of SGU is to help address the global shortage of healthcare professionals. This is not only a challenge in the United States, where many of our students want to practice, but also across the world,” said David Anthonisz, SGU’s Executive Director for International Student Recruitment.
One of SGU’s key advantages is its extensive partnerships with over 70 hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom, providing graduates with diverse opportunities to gain hands-on experience. This initiative will allow Kenyan students to refine their skills in some of the world’s leading healthcare institutions before potentially returning to their home country.
“For the past 11 years, SGU has been the largest provider of new doctors entering their first-year residency in the U.S. healthcare system. We currently have over 15,000 licensed practicing physicians in the U.S., more than any other medical school globally,” added Wade.
Currently, SGU’s student body comprises 60% U.S. citizens, 20% Canadians, and the remaining 20% from other countries worldwide. To date, the institution has contributed more than 23,000 doctors to the global workforce. With an increased focus on enrolling Kenyan students, SGU aims to play a pivotal role in strengthening Kenya’s medical sector and addressing its critical healthcare workforce shortage.
