Then he discovered Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM).

“For me, having the opportunity to realize a dream that I had given up on many years before was just an amazing experience,” he says. “The Admissions Committee at Ross University [School of Medicine] saw some potential in me and opened a door that would have otherwise remained closed.”

Once Dr. Wilson stepped through that door, he never looked back.

Strong USMLE Performance and His First Choice of Residency

He scored competitively on the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) Step 1 and 2 exams, and completed his residency in internal medicine at University of California San Francisco-Fresno Medical Education Program—his first choice.

“My experience from the moment that I first stepped foot on Dominica to the moment I walked across the stage to accept my diploma was fulfilling, stressful, challenging, difficult, and at times exhausting. But looking back, I would not have changed a single thing,” he says.

Dr. Wilson, now a sports medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara, CA,  (Kaiser) credits RUSM for his success, and the ability to pursue his personal passion: tennis medicine.

As a competitive tennis player and a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certified teaching professional, Wilson served as a member of the USTA Sport Science Committee, and is actively working toward understanding causes of tennis-related injuries, and how to prevent them.

 

A Continual Source of Inspiration

Working in Kaiser’s department of orthopedics, Dr. Wilson treats a wide range of nonsurgical orthopedic conditions and sports related injuries.

“I work in a very enriching and collegial atmosphere and have the opportunity to interact with patients of all different ages and ethnic backgrounds. I treat their orthopedic conditions, which cause them pain and dysfunction, and to help them return to their desired level of function.” 

Seeing his patients recover remains a continual source of inspiration.

“The power of the body to heal itself never ceases to amaze me, and it is a privilege to support patients during their healing process and see them make a meaningful recovery,” he says.

Final Words of Advice for Medical School Students

And while his daily focus is on his patients, Dr. Wilson is constantly grateful for the opportunity RUSM has given him.

“I’m doing everything I wanted to do thanks to Ross [University School of Medicine], so I certainly owe everything to them.”

His advice to prospective students: never give up.

“If you have the desire and the dream to become a physician, Ross University [School of Medicine] looks to make it possible.”

 

My experience from the moment that I first stepped foot on Dominica to the moment I walked across the stage to accept my diploma was fulfilling, stressful, challenging, difficult, and at times exhausting. But looking back, I would not have changed a single thing.
Eric Wilson, '08

In 2020, 91% of RUSM students passed the initial step of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) on the first attempt. And in 2022-2023, results show yet another strong year for RUSM with a 97% first-time residency attainment rate* thus far. Located on the island of Barbados and with a network of more than 15,000 alumni, RUSM is one of the largest providers of doctors for the U.S. healthcare system. RUSM graduates practice in all 50 states and in Puerto Rico.

*First time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2023-24 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2022-23 who were active applicants in the 2023 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.