INSTITUTIONS/organisations that are owned and managed by Guyanese continue to contribute to the development of Guyana and the Georgetown American University (GAU) is one such institution.
It is primarily a Medical Institution which was established in November 2013 by Dr. Melissa Varswyk, its Chief Executive Officer.

GAU has a satellite campus in Georgia, USA; the university strives to be an exceptional academic institution focusing on functional STEM education and research. Its integrated teaching programme is inspiring and challenging for today’s students, fostering awareness of problems and the creation of solutions.

GAU says it seeks every opportunity to create alliances/partnerships with institutions/organisations/professionals aimed at enhancing its overall mission of making a significant contribution to the Guyana Health Sector and farther afield.

Recently, 13 Guyana-based student doctors and faculty and five from the satellite campus attended the 72nd Convention of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) at the Hyatt Hotel in Virginia from April 7 to April 9.

AMSA is an independent Global Association that exists to support, inform and inspire ‘tomorrow’s physicians’. It has been in existence for more than seventy (70) years. It is a student-run organisation and continues to seek better ways to impact the global health sector positively.
It must be noted that GAU is an official partner with AMSA. A relevant agreement was signed in March 2022.

AMSA’s Convention provided the opportunity for the student doctors and faculty of GAU to participate in workshops/interactive sessions and other activities. According to Dr. Melissa Varswyk, CEO of GAU, “The trip was a great success as GAU consolidated its strategic partnerships within the USA and expanded opportunities for the students”.

The GAU team did not forget necessary protocol. The GAU AMSA Convention attendees were privileged to meet Ambassador Samuel Hinds in Washington DC. Student doctors provided the Ambassador with useful information on their experience at the Convention and highlighted the networking opportunities they were afforded. Ambassador Hinds congratulated the student doctors on being ‘Educational Ambassadors’ for Guyana and GAU.

He posited that their exposure to other students would benefit them and advertise Guyana’s efforts to promote quality medical education. He wished the students every success in their studies.
GAU’S representatives also had the opportunity to visit Senator Roxanne J. Persaud of Congressional District 19 and its student doctors also benefitted from a tour of the Hofstra/Northwell Insitution.

The Georgetown American University says it looks forward to continued collaboration with AMSA. The GAU AMSA ‘Branch’ now has a new executive body led by President Mary C. Kosi Udoh; Financial liaison – Joel Braithwaite; Membership Liaison – Seona Wray; Secretary – Cassi Jhingoree; Advocacy liaison – Rachel Alfred.

The management of GAU thanked all persons (local and overseas) who played a role in ensuring the participation of our student doctors and faculty at the 2022 AMSA Convention.