In a significant milestone for Caribbean medical education, twelve newly minted physicians from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus formally entered the medical profession Thursday during a solemn ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The graduates, having completed their intensive five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, pledged their commitment to medical ethics through the historic Hippocratic Oath.
Faculty Dean Dr. Damian Cohall addressed the cohort, emphasizing that their oath-taking ceremony marked merely the commencement of their professional responsibilities rather than a culmination of their training. He clarified that provisional registration would enable their transition into internship programs, but stressed this phase demands rigorous accountability and performance evaluation. ‘This internship constitutes far more than merely serving time—it involves continuous assessment leading to full Medical Council registration upon successful completion,’ Dr. Cohall stated.
The dean notably dispelled any assumptions about automatic internship placements, asserting that positions must be competitively earned rather than expected as entitlements. He simultaneously highlighted Cave Hill’s exceptional educational standards, revealing the campus achieved top performance in recent unified MBBS examinations across Barbados and Trinidad’s St. Augustine campus. Graduate Dr. Liyee Su received special recognition for attaining the highest overall scores and excelling in clinical examinations.
While celebrating these accomplishments, Dr. Cohall urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning, ethical practice, and compassionate patient care. His sentiments were echoed by QEH Director of Medical Services Dr. Carlos Chase, who reminded the new physicians of their privileged position in one of humanity’s oldest professions. Dr. Chase emphasized the non-traditional nature of medical careers, noting ‘This transcends conventional nine-to-five employment—you carry continuous duty of care responsibilities.’
Medical Students’ Association president Joshua Grant-Desir reflected on the resilience forged through shared challenges, emphasizing that professional camaraderie would sustain them through future difficulties. Graduating doctor Aleysha Williams acknowledged the demanding nature of their training journey while expressing profound gratitude to faculty, mentors, and family supporters.
The hybrid ceremony, accommodating virtual participants from Trinidad and Eastern Caribbean nations, included special recognitions for academic excellence. Graduates now await further communication regarding provisional registration and regional internship placements at accredited hospitals throughout the Caribbean.