After nearly two decades of inactivity, the Barbados Chapter of the University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association (UWIMAA) is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with graduates mobilizing to restore one of the Caribbean’s most vital professional networks. The revitalization movement gained significant momentum through two landmark events: ‘Resuscitating Connections’ and the recent ‘Keeping the Pulse’ reunion, which attracted approximately 80 alumni representing graduation years spanning from 1964 to 2025 at the Cave Hill campus.
Founded in 1984, the chapter commenced its reactivation journey in 2023 under the guidance of Professor Peter Adams, immediate past dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) and chair of the Barbados Chapter Interim Committee. The revival initiative gained further traction in 2024 when the UWIMAA central executive conducted a focus group with Barbados alumni to explore reactivation strategies.
The association’s interim planning committee has achieved substantial progress in rebuilding its infrastructure, notably updating the membership database to approximately 800 contacts through the extraordinary efforts of Professor Anne St John—renowned for her decades of teaching at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and her remarkable memory of former students—assisted by Dr. Joanne Paul-Charles’s meticulous attention to detail.
This professional network holds particular significance as UWI medical graduates have ascended to prominent leadership positions across local, regional, and international healthcare landscapes. The revitalized chapter is strategically fostering intergenerational connections between established medical pioneers and new graduates through a formalized relationship with the FMS Medical Students’ Association (MSA). Dr. Lynn-Marie Lovell, chair of a faculty committee, emphasized the immense value of this cross-generational mentorship and community building.
The association’s impact extends beyond networking, with the central executive having established a $3.6 million (US$1.8 million) endowment that has already funded 47 scholarships for medical students across UWI clinical sites. According to Dr. Jeff Massey, the reactivated chapter will continue its legacy of supporting Barbados’ healthcare system through targeted projects.
The next phase involves an extensive membership drive followed by a general meeting to elect official committee leadership. The overwhelming response to revival events signals a promising future for the organization, which joins existing chapters in Jamaica, Central Florida, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the Eastern Caribbean within a global network exceeding 12,000 medical graduates.