Research conducted by Dr. Roye has resulted in the identification of numerous plant viruses, and has played an integral role in the development of strategies to control them.

Locally, her work has resulted in the identification of more than 24 viruses associated with plants such as red pea, broad bean, tomato, scotch bonnet pepper, cabbage and common weeds. Her research has been instrumental in facilitating the control of viruses in two crops by cultivation of resistant varieties of tomato and cabbage. This has enabled the local agriculture market to flourish, as these plant viruses can cause significant yield loss.

Dr. Roye’s research in viruses has expanded to humans, as she has now embarked on research in the detection of antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance of HIV in Jamaican patients. The research serves to improve ARV treatment and outcome for HIV-affected individuals as well as the quality of life of HIV patients.

The year 2011 has been designated by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry as the International Year of Chemistry. As part of the celebrations, the event’s organisers invited one hundred promising young chemists from around the world to present their research at the Symposium themed ‘Integrated Solutions for Tomorrow’s World’. Miss Watson was one of only two young chemists from this region who were invited with full sponsorship (all airfare, accommodation, and conference expenses paid.) In her application, she described her investigations into two invasive citrus pests that have been found on the citrus plants in the region, the Citrus and Chequered Swallowtail Butterflies, the latter being a recent discovery. Her research has led to two recent patent applications for effective methods of control against both pest species, and which have the added benefit of also being environmentally friendly. Her research supervisor is Dr. Trevor Yee of the UWI Mona’s Natural Products Institute.

Dr. Dawson returned to Jamaica in 2008 to become a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a consultant at the University Hospital of the West Indies. She is currently pioneering the development of the physical medicine and rehabilitation in Jamaica and by extension, in the Caribbean.

She has already pioneered areas in rehabilitation medicine in Jamaica including new techniques in fluoroscopic interventional spine treatment and spasticity management with Botulinum Toxin and Phenol injection. She is the co-founder of the UWI Sports Medicine Clinic and one of the University examiners for the MSc in sports medicine for doctors and physiotherapists. She currently treats many professional athletics and was one of the doctors for the Jamaican team to the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, 2009.

She was educated at the University of the West Indies where she obtained an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in the double major biochemistry and zoology, after which she joined the Faculty of Medicine and obtained a medical degree. She later went to long island Jewish Medical Centre/Northshore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she completed a year in general surgery and three years residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Her leadership skills and clinical abilities lead her to the appointment of chief resident and to the top spot for a fellowship in interventional spine, musculoskeletal and sports medicine rehabilitation from the prestigious Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which has over 100 applicants from the United States.

She has published in peer-reviewed medical journals and has spoken at several international medical meetings, including the National Medical Association annual meeting in Hawaii in 2007, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) annual Assembly in 2007 and 2008, the Medical Association of Jamaica since 2006, and the Caribbean Neurosciences Symposium since 2006. She is peer reviewer for the West Indies Medical Journal and the PM&R Journal, which is published by the AAPM&R.

Dr. Dawson, although accomplished, is well grounded, and attributes her success to hard work, great support from family and friends, but primarily blessings from above.

NERHA PRESS RELEASE:

Junior Resident, Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton of Annotto Bay Hospital has been the recipient of not one, but two Governor General Awards

Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton was first featured in the newspaper last year January with a sub-caption, “Buju Banton lookalike making strides in Annotto Bay”. He is thought of as a more handsome version of Buju Banton; nonetheless, this funny misnomer has stuck with him since high school at Kingston College.

Dr. Hamilton joined Annotto Bay Hospital August 2009 as a Medical Officer. His story began in Seaview Gardens, where he was no stranger to violence and the emotional and psychological impact it causes. From there, through sheer determination, diligence and perseverance he applied for and earned a scholarship to study in Cuba. In 2006, Dr. Hamilton graduated, with honours from the Medical Sciences University of Gramna, eastern Cuba, and was twice named Jamaican Student of the Year.

He was offered a post-graduate scholarship in Cuba to study in any specialty, but chose to return home instead. He has been quoted, saying that he has been enjoying his time at Annotto Bay Hospital, working with a warm, friendly and professional staff.

In September 2010, Dr. Hamilton was presented with the Governor General Youth Award for excellence in the category of Young Adult for the parish of Kingston. The following month he was recognized at the “Pinning Ceremony” at Kings House as the National Honouree for the County of Surrey where he was presented with his honourary pin.

Most recently, he was instrumental in the triage of the 22 crash victims from Brandon Hill who were routed to Annotto Bay Hospital. He was personally congratulated, along with the entire hospital team, by the Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, who had visited the hospital on the evening of the crash, on their professionalism and expertise with which they treated the victims.

Seaview Gardens claims him as their own, but Annotto Bay Hospital is his home away from home and they are so very proud of him. On Sunday January 9th, Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton will be featured on Ian Boyne’s Profile for Part 2 of his interview from Sunday January 2nd.

As research officer in the 1960s, Keats Hall made a significant impact in the forest Department, particularly on nursery production, planting techniques, wood utilization and the genetics of Blue Mahoe. During his nine years as Conservator of Forests, he played a lead role in the implementation of UNDP/FAO and USAID forestry projects and in formulating the IBRD/CDC project that established the Forest Industries Development Company (FIDCO) in 1978. After serving two years as FIDCO’s Managing Director, he joined FAO to head up a forestry project in Brazil. There he spent three years, followed by eight years as forestry advisor in Mozambique and in Sierra Leone. On retiring from FAO in 1992, he returned to Jamaica and assisted the Forestry Department through a number of consultancies, while serving on several Boards, including the National Land Divestment Commission, national Wildlife Commission, NRCA Appeals Tribunal and the National Integrated Watershed management Council.

In 2003, he co-founded the Forest Conservancy as a non-profit, non-government organization, and developed a strategy to encourage plantation forestry as an option for utilizing Jamaica’s idle lands. The organization introduced tissue-culture Teak plants to private growers and provided technical advice to the Government of Grenada, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Hope Gardens, Jamaica Producers Group, Yallahs and Reckford Watersheds, Union District and Munroe College. These initiatives have awakened interest in the commercial potential of elite timber plantations, as well as the possibilities for agro-forestry and bio-fuel production, and are reflected in his parting proposal for establishment of an arboretum at King’s House.

Keats hall’s contribution to Jamaica has been invaluable and he will be greatly missed by family members and his many colleagues, friends and acquaintances for his selfless and stimulating insight, foresight, vision and willing assistance at all times.

From a young age he wanted to “…cut people, the right way”, and noted that when he used to tell people in Seaview that he wanted to be a doctor, they all laughed. He attended St. Anne’s basic and primary schools, and passed his Common Entrance exam a year earlier than normal (in Grade 5). He then attended Kingston College, and left there in 1998 with 14 subjects overall. Then, it was on to the natural science programme at the University of the West Indies which he did for a year, but was forced to drop out, as his family could not afford the tuition and other fees.

At that time, he heard about the Cuban scholarship programme, applied for it, was successful, and left Jamaica in September 1999. For the next seven years, he studied at the Medical Sciences University of Gramna, eastern Cuba, graduating with honours in 2006, having been twice named Jamaican Student of the Year.

Since returning to Jamaica in 2006, he has worked at the Kingston Public Hospital, Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the Bustamante Hospital for Children, and now the Annotto Bay hospital in St. Mary.

Dr. Hamilton is another of the many Jamaicans here and abroad who are making us proud. Kudos to him, for using the Seaview Gardens experience as motivation for greatness.

The JaipurKnee is made of self-lubricating, oil-filled nylon, and is both flexible and stable, even on irregular terrain. It comprises five pieces of plastic, and four nuts and bolts. It requires no special tools and takes just a few hours to manufacture. It is currently being tested in India.

But what about Sadler? Though he currently resides in California (where he attends Stanford University), USA, and has no immediate plans of returning to Jamaica, Sadler, a former Wolmer’s Preparatory and Campion College student, has said that he will continue to design products that would help Jamaica and other developing countries.

Kudos to yet another Jamaican making a valuable contribution to the world.

Dr. Smith grew up in Darliston, Westmoreland, and completed studies up to 5th form (CXC level) at Mannings High school in 1995. That year, at the age of 18, she migrated to Canada, where her CXC results were not recognized and she was forced to repeat her final year in a Canadian high school. She excelled and obtained a scholarship to attend the University of Ottawa, where, upon graduating, she received the highest average in her graduating year and was awarded a medal by the Ottawa-Carleton education school board.

Her interest in brain research peaked after a summer research job in a neuroscience lab at the University of Ottawa. After completing her doctorate in 2005, she received a scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to attend Harvard University, where she did two years of research. She is currently working on extending this research in her own lab in Canada, in order to look at ways of functionally repairing damaged nerves, following spinal cord and brain injury.

In 2008, Dr. Smith married Ryan, her best friend and biggest fan, and she currently heads a medical research lab in Canada. Kudos to Dr. Patrice Smith, one of many Jamaicans who’re making waves globally.