William Velhagen, shown with Caldwell University students, is an associate professor and the chair of the Natural Sciences Department at the university. – CALDWELL UNIVERSITY
Students hoping to attend St. George’s University School of Medicine in the Caribbean country of Grenada will now have a clearer path to accomplish their dreams.
On April 20, Caldwell University announced it formed a partnership with St. George’s and Essex County College in Newark that would streamline admission for eligible students to St. George’s medical school.
Students accepted to the 2+1+4 program must complete their first two years at Essex County College, earning an associate’s degree in biology, and then one year at Caldwell before pursuing a four-year medical degree at St. George’s, according to the announcement. Students will receive a $10,000 scholarship when enrolling in St. George’s.
The program also requires students maintain a 3.4 GPA while enrolled at Essex County College and at Caldwell, and must register a competitive score on the MCAT. As part of the program, students can also spend their first year of medicine at Northumbria University in the U.K.
Officials from each educational institute shared their excitement about the program in the announcement, with Caldwell President Matthew Whelan saying, “This collaboration will provide our high achieving students who are passionate about making a difference in healthcare, and who may face economic challenges, with the chance to earn both their undergraduate and medical degrees through a global lens.”
Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University, added, “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the depth of the U.S. doctor shortage. Partnerships like this one will help close that gap by making the path to medicine more accessible for aspiring physicians.”
Essex County College President Augustine Boakye said the collaboration helps students “make their dreams a reality.”
