Poole Graduates Summa Cum Laude

BY: .

Medical student, Dr Alicia Pauline Poole, who graduated summa cum laude plans to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology once she completes her internship and community service.

‘I am extremely happy to be graduating as one of the top students in my Discipline. I feel that I have made my family proud, and made the six years of stress I put them through worth it in the end,’ said Poole.

Poole said she knew she was doing well in her studies ‘but I did not realise I was one of the top achievers’.

Both her grandmothers died during her last two exam weeks. ‘Their passing was unexpected and a shock, so I did not think that I would perform very well in the exams. However, with the support from close family and friends, I was able to make it through and I am very pleased with the results.’

She said her family was overjoyed and very proud of her achievement.  ‘This degree means a lot to me. Being a medical doctor is something I have always wanted to do. I was told in school that I was not tough enough to make it through medical school, so I made it my mission to prove them wrong,’ said Poole.

Poole plans to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology once she completes her internship and community service.

She is the first doctor in her family. ‘My mother is a retired teacher, my sister is a teacher, both my grandmothers were teachers,’ said Poole.

However, her father is a Pharmacist. ‘He would have loved to be a doctor but his financial circumstances did not allow for it. I am incredibly grateful to my family for the sacrifices they made to get me through Medical School.’

 Nombuso Dlamini