The Faculty of Medical Sciences

The programme, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Medical Sciences St. Augustine Campus, started in 1997. There were 63 students, fifty of whom were from Manipal University Twinning Programme studying at Mount Hope and 13 students were Caribbean Nationals from Mona and Mount Hope Campuses.

Professor K. Alan Butler was the first Director of the programme and held the post until the end of 1999 when he retired. Professor Howard Spencer acted as Director for a three-month period from January –March 2000 and Professor Renn Holness became the Director for a six-month period. Dr. Anthony Regis then acted as Director until the end of September 2001 when Professor Spencer was seconded from his substantive post as head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mona Campus for a Period of two (2) years. Professor Spencer has elected to remain an additional year, which commenced in October 2003.

Drs. Corrine Sin Quee, Anthony Regis, Susan Williams, Gershin Davis and Allan Lyons were appointed lecturers in Child Health, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology respectively. Dr. George Varghese was seconded as Senior Lecturer in medicine from Manipal University after the resignation of Dr. G. Davis in 1999. Dr. Sebastian Peter was appointed Senior lecturer in April 2003. He acted as lecturer from 2001 after Dr. Varghese’s appointment ended.

The Academic Staff cannot function without the support of the Administrative and other staff. Dr Bridgette Rolle, Administrator, Ms Beverley Ferguson, Ms Kerryn Burrows and Mr Solomon Sands have all made their contributions to the building of the programme from its inception. Mrs Miriam Bain, Mrs. Nicola Fernander, and Ms Jane Yasmin Powell, new comers are also making their contribution.

By the year 2000, the first 63 students had graduated, transferred back to the original campuses, or left the programme. All students leaving the programme or transferring back to their original campus were from the Manipal programme.

The class of 2002 had Eight (8) students, six (6) of whom passed at the first attempt. One student gained Honours in Surgery.

The class of 2003 had sixteen (16) students who sat the May/June 2003 exams and fifteen (15) were successful at the first attempt. One student gained Honours in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Currently the total number of students enrolled in the programme is thirty-four (34). Thirteen (13) students are in the first clinical year (4 th year of programme.)

Twenty-one (21) are due to sit exams May/June 2004.

The Programme buildings are to be found on the grounds of the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Within these structures are the Academic and Administrative offices, a small library with computers with Internet connectivity, a lecture room, an on-call room, and housing for three students. Recognising the demand for housing especially for the students from the Family Islands and overseas, we have an on-going programme to identify additional housing solutions.

The principal teaching hospital is the Princess Margaret Hospital, a 450-bed institution providing the most modern facilities for patient care. This includes an 8-bed intensive care unit.

This acute care facility provides primary, secondary and tertiary level care; and serves as a trauma, research and teaching centre.

The Princess Margaret Hospital is accredited by the University of the West Indies Medical Internship Programme. It maintains reciprocity with other international institutions.

Some highlights of services provided are:

For further information, contact:

Professor Howard W Spencer
P.O. Box GT-2590
Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: (242) 328-4935
Fax: (242) 356-5289
Email: hws007@hotmail.com