At 13, growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Brigid Midwa, MD ’25, witnessed her aunt lose premature triplets born at 28 weeks. The experience left a lasting impression of the uncertainty and helplessness her family faced and helped shape the kind of physician she hoped to become.
“I wanted to be the person who could provide that clarity during uncertain moments,” says Dr. Midwa, who earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from St. George’s University (SGU) in 2025.
Initially drawn to obstetrics and gynecology, she discovered a different calling during medical school and clinical training: internal medicine, a specialty that combines diagnostic reasoning, broad medical knowledge, and continuous learning to help physicians manage complex conditions.
Dr. Midwa first encountered SGU at a high school career fair. Its international learning environment and potential pathways to medical practice in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Kenya appealed to her desire to keep her future options open. A scholarship helped make the opportunity possible.
At SGU, she developed the academic foundation for her medical training while gaining exposure to a diverse student community. She participated in campus organizations, including the Humanism Service Organization, Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor Medical Society, Surgery Club, Student National Medical Association, and Internal Medicine Tennis Club.
Through community service, including a visit to a children’s home, she found opportunities to contribute beyond the classroom. Tennis, a sport she had enjoyed with her sister and friends in Kenya, also helped her stay grounded and manage homesickness while studying abroad.
Clinical rotations in New York marked another important stage in her development. Working with patients helped her translate classroom learning into clinical practice and strengthened her confidence in applying medical knowledge.
“It’s one thing to study the material, but actually being able to apply everything you’ve learned in a real-world setting was a game changer,” she says.
The rotations confirmed her interest in internal medicine. Dr. Midwa was drawn to the specialty’s “puzzle-solving” nature, bringing together patient histories, clinical findings, and diagnostic reasoning to guide care.
As she prepared to apply for residency in the United States, SGU’s Office of Career Guidance supported her with webinars, interview preparation, and resources to navigate the residency application process. The university’s clinical training opportunities and career support formed important parts of her preparation for the next stage of her medical career.
In 2025, Dr. Midwa matched into the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Rutgers-Jersey City Medical Center, marking a milestone after years of preparation across pre-medical study, Basic Sciences, and clinical rotations.
“Matching felt extremely surreal,” she says. “For the past five years, going through pre-med, Basic Sciences, and clinical rotations, the Match was the ultimate goal that everything was building toward.”
From Nairobi to Grenada and New York, Dr. Midwa’s journey has exposed her to different communities and healthcare settings. She hopes to bring this multicultural perspective to her practice, combining clinical rigor with empathy and helping patients feel heard and understood, particularly when navigating complex healthcare systems.
For African students considering medical training abroad, her experience highlights the opportunities and challenges of pursuing an international medical education. Staying connected to familiar activities and communities helped her maintain balance while adapting to a new environment.
The early experience that first showed Dr. Midwa how vulnerable families can feel during a medical crisis continues to shape the physician she hopes to become: one who brings knowledge, compassion, and clarity to patients when they need it most. Through its international learning environment, clinical training opportunities, and support for students pursuing residency, SGU School of Medicine offers pathways for aspiring physicians to prepare for careers across healthcare settings.
For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU’s website.
