The daughter of a single mother who raised two children as the sole breadwinner has graduated as the University of Guyana's 2026 valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA in medicine.

Amrita Ghandatt, 24, an aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon, read for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in the College of Medical Sciences. She also received the President's Medal for the Best Graduating Student with a Bachelor's degree.

For Ghandatt, the achievement is closely tied to her mother, Dharamdai Singh, who raised her and her older brother alone. She described her as an "unmovable pillar of courage and strength".

"This is my way of giving back to my mother. I would take all of my academic achievements and, in a way, present them to my mother. That is my way of showing her that all the sacrifices she made as a mother, as the sole breadwinner of her family, this is the fruit of it," she said.

Her brother, UG Computer Science graduate Dyanand (Amar) Ghandatt, also played a part. After late-night clinical rotations, he waited outside the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) so she could get home safely.

Medicine was not a childhood plan, however. During two years of CAPE at Queen's College, Ghandatt excelled in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics and developed a particular interest in the anatomy and physiology of the human body. That interest led her to see medicine as a calling.

"I don't think that there's any profession for me out there that would give me the fulfilment the way medicine does. I'm so happy, I have no regrets about my choice," she said.

She entered medical school in 2021, when classes were online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The demands of the programme were unfamiliar, and subjects such as Anatomy and Pathology tested her ability to adapt. Clinical training later showed her that medicine involves understanding the people and families behind a diagnosis.

The journey also required sacrifice, from limited social outings to long hours on hospital wards.

"I think what I really learned was to become very much resilient, determined," she said.

That resilience shaped how she approaches difficult cases. "Two and two is never equal to four in these cases," she said, adding that medicine demands careful consideration of every possibility.

Ghandatt said she did not get there alone. She thanked her lecturers, the doctors and nurses who supported her clinical training, and the patients who allowed her to learn, and named Dr Vickita Nandan, Dr Joel Joseph, Dr Sharada Samaroo, Dr Risa Retemeyer, Dr Keith Cummings and Dr Jamain Hatton as mentors. She also credited her faith in Lord Krishna and Lord Ganesha for helping her confront self-doubt and anxiety.

"I am very grateful, first and foremost, to the University of Guyana for the opportunity to study in my own country and to pursue a degree like medicine here," she said.
Financial support also helped. The Government of Guyana (GoG) Undergraduate/Bachelor's Degree Scholarship funded four years of her studies, and the tuition-free initiative supported her final year.

Encouragement came early too. In 2014, she placed 11th in the country at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and then Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited her school to congratulate her.

"At that time I was just a shy little girl who did not fully grasp the significance of the moment. However, as I grew older, I came to appreciate just how special that experience was, not just for me but for my entire family," she said.

She now wants her fellow graduands to put their training to use at home.

"You've made it to the light at the end of the dark tunnel. This degree is not just a personal accomplishment, it represents a responsibility to actively participate in the development of our home, Guyana. Let us pursue specializations in our respective fields, and engage in research and leadership to develop our country," she said.

Her message to students still at UG was to aim high. "Continue to dream big. There is no career that's too big that you can't achieve," she said.

"I thought it was once impossible, so if I can do it, you very much can. Just put in the hard work, be very disciplined, be honest with yourself, promote integrity," she added.

With her medical internship ahead, Ghandatt hopes to become a compassionate, patient-centred doctor who provides evidence-based care. She wants to contribute to the development of specialised healthcare in Guyana.