News Releases

The UWI Mourns Passing of Former Professor George Nicholson

For Release Upon Receipt - July 20, 2016

UWI


The UWI community is saddened at the passing of one of its stalwarts of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor George Nicholson. 

In expressing his condolences on behalf of The UWI, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles reflected on Professor Nicholson’s relationship with the regional institution: “George was a good friend for many decades, and stalwart of The UWI. He served on many inter-campus committees, and was critical in establishing working relationships between the medical faculty at Cave Hill, Mona and St Augustine. He was a respected regionalist who believed in the ‘One UWI’ and wanted to serve no other configuration”.  

Professor Nicolson served as former Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (then called the School of Clinical Medicine and Research) during the period 1992 to 1996. As a consultant physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1979, he established and developed the first renal clinic and served as Director of the Haemodialysis Unit.  He played a major role in the first living related donor transplant in the English-speaking Caribbean—treating the patient with dialysis until that patient was ready for transplant and putting together the team of surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists charged with the actual operation. He went on to become a founding member of the Barbados Kidney Association and a founding member of the Caribbean Association of Urologists and Nephrologists.  

Even while he endured a long battle with cancer, Professor Nicholson continued his close association with the Faculty of Medical Sciences through his supervision of the MRCP (UK) Examinations, as Chief Invigilator for the Barbados site, until the time of his passing.  Professor Nicholson was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to clinical practice and service in the area of Nephrology during the 50th anniversary celebrations held by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2015. 

In her personal tribute, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau noted Professor Nicholson’s service to the University in many capacities and underscored that in all dimensions, he distinguished himself through his scholarship and dedication.  

The UWI extends deepest condolences to his wife, family and friends, and appreciation for the life of an outstanding Caribbean citizen.

 

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with over 50,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Visit http://www.uwi.edu/

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