Four delegates from Antigua and Barbuda have successfully completed the
OXCEP Academic Medicine Course 2024, after two weeks of highly intensive
training at the St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford.
Joining 31 other doctors from around the world plus 5 DPhil students in Clinical
Medicine from the University, Doctors Jodi-Ann Haughton, Jonathan McComie,
Adrian Rhudd and Shivon Belle-Jarvis, were exposed to and able to optimize
their knowledge base through sessions that covered among other things, cutting
edged cancer research, big data analysis, the human genomics study, leadership
and advances in neuroscience, the application of artificial intelligence in
medical science, and thoracic disease in research. The lectures were delivered
by 26 leading researchers and senior academics of the University of Oxford
Medical Sciences Division in the respective fields.
The Antigua and Barbuda doctors were also able to network with some of the
world’s most creative minds who were among the fellow attendees of the
course. They are now charged with translating the knowledge gained into
practical mechanisms for transforming the local healthcare system in Antigua
and Barbuda.
Minister of Health, Sir Molwyn Joseph, was a VIP guest of OXCEP and St
Edmund Hall, for the last three days of the course.
Sir Molwyn, accompanied by UK High Commissioner, Karen-Mae Hill,
attended two of the final lectures as well as held meetings with OXCEP
Chairman Dr Frank Hwang and Principal of St Edmund Hall and Pro-Vice
Chancellor at the University of Oxford Professor Baroness Willis CBE. Sir
Molwyn also met with Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation at the University of
Oxford Professor Chas Bountra OBE. In addition, Sir Molwyn delivered the
keynote speech at the farewell dinner of the course.
Speaking of his visit, Sir Molwyn stated: “The Government of Antigua and
Barbuda is grateful to collaborate with such a prestigious University such as
Oxford so that Antiguans and Barbudans can benefit from knowledge-based
sessions on cutting edge cancer research, data analysis, Neuroscience and other
very important areas in the field of medicine.” He also commended High
Commissioner Hill, herself an alumnus of the University of Oxford, for
facilitating this academic exchange which will see nearly 30 senior doctors
attend the academic medicine and management in healthcare courses at the
University of Oxford under full scholarships.
Dr Frank Hwang stated, “The performance of the MAAB delegates was
marvellous, and Sir Molwyn’s keynote speech regarded by many at Oxford as
second to none. Sir Molwyn’s highly successful Oxford visit during the OXCEP
Academic Medicine Course 2024 reassured us of the Government of Antigua
and Barbuda’s full support of the OXCEP Caribbean Initiative, and thus
facilitated further OXCEP scholarship/fellowship opportunities in Artificial
Intelligence, Global Healthcare Leadership, and Environmental Protection for
academics and professionals of the country in the near future.”
It is anticipated that through continued collaboration, Antigua and Barbuda will
be in a better position to mitigate the Global threats to health and other
developments. This is the first cohort from Antigua and Barbuda to be enrolled
in a significantly challenging further study at Oxford under the OXCEP
Caribbean Initiative. It is expected that in the coming years, an increasing
number of academics and professionals will be able to benefit from this unique
opportunity.
