The University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Cocktail Reception and Awards function at the Office of the Campus Principal on March 24.
The Faculty of Medical Sciences started in 1989 with the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine, and according to the Campus Principal Prof Clement Sankat, experienced phenomenal growth over the past 23 years.
The UWI School of Nursing (UWISON), formerly the School of Advanced Nursing Education, Prof Sankat said, was established in 2005, and is now housed in new facilities at El Dorado.
The School of Optometry, now linked to the faculty of Medical Sciences under the Dean's Office, Prof Sankat said is the first of its kind in the Caribbean region and has already graduated two cohorts of optometrists.
Prof Sankat boasted that the quality of training programmes offered at the various schools continue to produce a long list of illustrious medical doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and veterinarians who serve the citizens of T&T, the wider Caribbean and elsewhere with distinction.
Among the specially invited guests at the event were Dr Fuad Khan, Minister of Health, and Dr Tim Gopeesingh, Minister of Education, as well as Dr Winston Ince, Dr Prem Ratan and Prof Knolly Butler, early pioneers of the School of Medical Sciences.