The University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus has reinforced its reputation for academic distinction after Barbadian student Liyee Su achieved the highest honors in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) final examinations. This marks the second time in three years that a Cave Hill student has claimed top regional honors, following Nathan Lovell’s similar achievement in 2023.
In the November/December 2025 assessments, Su demonstrated exceptional proficiency across both theoretical and practical components, securing the highest programme grade point average among candidates from all UWI campuses. She excelled in written examinations and clinical performance evaluations (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), graduating with distinction.
The 2025 Cave Hill cohort, comprising approximately twelve Medical Sciences students, delivered an outstanding collective performance. They achieved the highest aggregate scores in written papers and OSCE components, while also earning the top GPA among all university campuses. This accomplishment proved particularly impressive as students completed their clinical training at Trinidad’s St Augustine Campus—an unfamiliar environment for the Barbadian cohort.
Professor Clive Landis, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, highlighted these achievements during his recent report to the Campus Council, emphasizing the significance of cultivating academic excellence as Caribbean nations strengthen their healthcare infrastructure. All graduating students have now earned the title of doctor.
These successes emerge amid evolving geopolitical challenges in the region and underscore the value of robust, locally-developed medical education programs. The five-year MBBS programme at Cave Hill remains instrumental in training the region’s future physicians, equipping graduates like Dr. Su with skills to make meaningful contributions both within the Caribbean and internationally.
Since 1967, the campus has trained medical professionals through its partnership with Barbados’ Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the country’s sole training hospital. Additionally, Cave Hill offers a collaborative 3+3 medical degree program with the University of Ghana, where students complete preclinical studies in Barbados before undertaking clinical training in Ghana. This accredited program grants graduates a BSc from UWI and an MB ChB from Ghana, enabling professional practice in both countries.