News Releases

New UWI MSc. In Orthodontics to be Offered in Collab with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

For Release Upon Receipt - October 15, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, October 13th, 2025 – In what is a first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, the School of Dentistry at the Faculty of Medical Sciences will offer a new Master’s in Orthodontics programme in collaboration with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and will follow the same rigorous curriculum used for Master’s training in the UK.

An orientation ceremony for the programme’s first cohort was hosted by the School of Dentistry this past September. The introduction of this new MSc in Orthodontics programme will directly address the urgent need for qualified orthodontic professionals across the Caribbean. Additionally, other benefits include the homegrown specialists that will be cultivated, the strengthening of succession planning in the orthodontics community and the opportunity to advance sustainability and improve access to critical orthodontic care for our communities.

 

 Orientation for the First Cohort of Postgraduate Students in the MSc Orthodontics Programme: Seated in the front row (L-R): Dr. Trudee Hoyte, Coordinator of the MSc Orthodontics Programme, delivering welcome remarks; Professor Dilip Dan, Acting Dean and Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies; Mr. Seth Boyd, Representative of American Orthodontics; Dr. Carlen Chandler, Consultant in Orthodontics at Cardiff University, UWI Dental School alumna, and lecturer in the MSc Orthodontics Programme; and postgraduate students Ms. Daniece Garraway and Ms. Alexa Diaz.

In delivering remarks at the orientation, the FMS Dean Professor Hariharan Seetharaman called on the newly minted students to recognise their responsibility in advancing oral health care across the region. Professor Seetharaman stated, “You carry with you the aspirations of a region ready to take its rightful place in the global community of dental specialists. Let us remember that this programme is more than an academic pursuit, it is a commitment to excellence, service and regional transformation. Orthodontics, at its core, is about alignment, bringing structure, balance and confidence to the human smile.”

Professor Seetharaman also emphasised that the new programme elevates dental education to a postgraduate level and opens new avenues for clinical excellence, research, and regional leadership in oral health. The MSc in Orthodontics combines international best practices with local accessibility, with 25 per cent of the course being offered online. The programme is unique not only in the English-speaking Caribbean but also across The UWI campuses, offering new opportunities for local, regional and international dentists to pursue specialist orthodontic training.

Many countries are making greater efforts to promote oral health and provide affordable treatment and rehabilitation interventions related to oral diseases and conditions by 2030. This is in keeping with the World Health Organisation's goal of universal health coverage being more accessible and providing quality health services to individuals and communities without causing them financial hardships.

UWI Orthodontics lecturer, Dr Trudee Hoyte, indicated that the first cohort of students marked not only a milestone for the Dental School and FMS, but also the advancement of dental education and specialist training across the region. She explained, “This programme represents a bold step forward in our mission to elevate standards of oral healthcare and to ensure that our Caribbean communities have access to the highest calibre of orthodontic care—delivered by professionals trained to international standards, right here at home.”

 

 (L-R): Dr Trudee Hoyte, Coordinator of the MSc Orthodontics Programme; postgraduate students Ms Alexa Diaz and Ms Daniece Garraway; and Dr Carlen Chandler, Consultant and Lecturer in The UWI MSc Orthodontics Programme.

 

Recognising the role of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in creating and administering the programme, Dr. Hoyte said the Dental School, and by extension, The UWI St Augustine, places an emphasis on collaboration and the Orthodontics MSc is a reminder of what is possible when institutions, both local and global, come together to build capacity, expand opportunity, and raise the bar for healthcare education. Moreover, the programme positions the Caribbean in delivering the highest attainable standard of oral health, which the WHO recognises as a fundamental human right.

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About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

 

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