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UWI Medical Alumni Association execs raise 1.5 million USD for scholarships and bursaries

For Release Upon Receipt - January 30, 2024

UWI


The UWI, Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Wednesday, January 30, 2024— The University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association (UWIMAA) has announced that it met its fundraising goal of 1.5 million USD, which will enable it to establish an endowment. This goal was achieved through a combination of cash and firm pledges.

After partnering with the University's Institutional Advancement Division in September 2021, the newly established UWIMAA executives set their sights on establishing an endowment. One month later, an MOU was signed with the University, initiating the Endowment with a few significant donations from generous alumni such as Dr. Farley Gleghorn (Class of 1983) and Dr. Doyle Slifer (Class of 1968). To date, there have been 179 donations, with all but three coming from alumni and a single contribution from a corporate entity.

The interest earned from the UWIMAA Endowment will primarily provide scholarships and bursaries to medical students and support The UWI Faculties of Medical Sciences.

“We are delighted to have attained our goal and look forward to pursuing a new one. We are confident that this endowment, which is invested through The UWI Regional Endowment Fund, will live on in perpetuity and continue to support students in need, as well as the UWIMAA’s other worthy goals”, said Sir George Alleyne, Chair of the UWIMAA’s Endowment Committee and Chancellor Emeritus of The UWI.

UWIMAA, the brainchild of Dr. Karl Massiah and founding President (Class of 1965), was established 34 years ago in 1989. The initial structure was a central secretariat supported by chapters throughout the Caribbean, United States, and Canada. The primary focus was on reunions of alumni which involved scientific sessions and enjoyable social interactions. Following a brief lull in the late 2000s, the secretariat underwent a reorganization and was revitalized by the executive team, headed by Dr. Peter Wong (Class of 1982).

“The UWIMAA is grateful for the support of alumni to date and looks forward to mobilising support from an even larger number of our alumni.” said Dr. Wong, President of the UWIMAA.

END

Photo captions:

 

Sir George Alleyne, Chair of the UWIMAA’s Endowment Committee and Chancellor Emeritus of The UWI.

 

 Dr. Karl Massiah, founding President of the UWIMAA.

 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

 

 

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