St Matthew's University Graduate Success

Colette Sauveur

Read the full testimonial of St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine alumni, Dr. Colette M. Sauveur, who shared her experience at SMUSOM.

Dr. Colette M. Sauveur, Spring Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada photo

My name is Colette Sauveur and I am from Springhill, Nova Scotia, a small town on the east coast of Canada. The day I got my acceptance letter from St. Matthew’s University was one to be cherished. Life as I knew it was about to change.

There were many challenges I had to face in basic sciences, but with them came a great reward – advancing to the next level on my pursuit to become an M.D. My education on Grand Cayman greatly prepared me for the USMLE Step 1 and clinical rotations in the USA. Throughout my clinical years I had the opportunity to apply many concepts that I had learned. It was exciting to see how the textbooks come alive into real people with real medical conditions, and it makes you feel good to know that you have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to help.

Exactly 4 years after I began medical school, I graduated in Orlando, FL. What a glorious day, I was blessed to have my entire family there for graduation. It was then that I approached my basic science mentor about academic medicine and teaching as an assistant professor to first and second year medical students. A few short months later I was back on Cayman teaching preclinical sciences.

The next step was to face the intimidating task of applying to “the match”. You can imagine the feelings of anxiety, but you have to keep moving forward, with confidence. When match day finally arrived, I found out that I was offered a position at my #1 choice, Dalhousie Family Medicine Residency Program. They had 700 international medical graduates to choose from, for only 7 seats, and they chose one from St. Matthew’s University.

I am very proud to be an SMUSOM graduate and hope to inspire others to work hard and never give up. Be determined and keep focused because it is worth every challenge & every step. Including the USMLE Steps!

Words of wisdom my grandfather once told me are, “all you can do is your very best”.

Wishing you a successful journey, Dr. Colette M. Sauveur