Sixty years ago 33 pioneers in the Medical Sciences were the first students of the UWI at Mona, Jamaica. Today at the St Augustine Campus there are 208 Medical school students enrolled in the Medical degree (MBBS) programme; in Dentistry 33; Pharmacy 54; Nursing 60 in the BSC. The faculty has also introduced a new course in oncology being delivered in conjunction with Mc Master University, as it constantly looks towards meeting the changing needs of the society and region. This accredited Faculty has continued to grow and produce some of the leading medical practitioners locally as well as internationally. Yet with changing global requirements and legislation and the demand for medical practitioners growing at home and abroad, the recently appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences speaks of the Vision, Mission and challenges facing the FMS with Anna Walcott Hardy.

Why do you think UWI Medical programme graduates do so well at home and abroad?

Well number one, we have a very good product to start with here. We have very much the brightest students coming to our faculty, so we start with a good building block. I would like to think we are carrying forward the great reputation the UWI medical faculty has had over the years, staring with Jamaica...At St Augustine primarily, we have a Faculty originating from our own University, and so we understand the level of work that is required, the level of standard of the degree... and the reputation of the degree is well recognized.

Let's talk generally about the changes in Admissions policy for students?

...The Faculty has embarked upon changes in the admissions criteria...This policy fits in with the system which applies at Mona (Campus, Jamaica) and therefore it is part of the harmonisation process that is taking place across the region and in fact will be also part of the implementation of the admissions policy at Cavehill...Of course this is considered to be valuable because one would like to have an all-rounded professional, not just one who is academically inclined, knowing full well of course, that this is an academically challenging profession and so therefore, being academically sound, or being outstanding is on of the academic requirements of embarking on such a course...We are looking of course at the admission criteria across Medicine, Vet and Dentistry. We are looking at finding the person who shows characteristics of leadership, of community service, of other extra-curricular activities, whether it be in music or sports or similar [areas] this will account for certain amount of points in the admissions [process]...at the moment 75 % [of the points account for] academic and 25% non-academic... the other change is the actual subjects ... so that physics is no longer considered essential, as chemistry is and this will be implemented in the academic year 2010/2011. But the non-academic criteria will [be implemented] from 2008/09.

How active is the research at the University in terms of analyzing and understanding as well as finding solutions to diseases that affect our region like diabetes- I know there is the Diabetes Trust?

We are looking at all the chronic noncommunicable diseases and of course diabetes is one of them... there is a lot of work going on at the moment...which will take some time before these [initiatives] come to fruition. There is the Diabetes Trust as you mentioned which is being headed by Professor Teelucksingh; ...we want to work to fulfill the mandate of the Caricom Heads of Government thrust in research in non-communicable diseases.

And what about in our hospitals - we hear about the great demand for doctors and nurses - is there a shortage really?

Well there must be because we produce 150 doctors a year and yet there is a shortage because there are many doctors that come from other countries to support the health service here, as you know... and this is primarily because most of all, our doctors will find spaces for further qualifications, further training abroad... this is something we have to look at very carefully because we at the University have been mounting postgraduate programmes- we should be able to up-take many of these people who want to do further training.

What is your Vision for the Faculty?

"I'll just touch on a few points : an over-riding Vision really, would be, producing a product, product I suppose in inverted commas - a product which has international standing and which will allow for graduate training at the highest level and widest manner. I think that one of my main mandates is the development of the graduate programmes for this Faculty... also we need to move another step-up where we can attract grants from international bodies. But having said that, we are obtaining grants and we do have some very active researchers in this Faculty obtaining significant grants. However, the thinking has to be more institutionalized...We have been fortunate to have acquired grants from the Government recently, quite substantial amounts, each one is $500,000 (TT) and I think we got three of them as well as some international grants as well...Also I think a very important part of my Mission or Vision is the development of relationships and to work with all the stakeholders including the hospitals, Government Ministries, Regional Health Authorities, our staff and of course our students and I am in continuous dialogue with principal people in these institutions.