Biosketches of 2006 presenters

Isolyn M. Bell-Rose
Regional Chronic Diseases / Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education
Coordinator

Isolyn Bell-Rose holds a BA Degree in Guidance & Counselling from the Institute for Theological and Leadership Development and a Certificate in Nursing Administration from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

She graduated as a Registered Nurse and Midwife from the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland and worked in Zambia before returning to Jamaica. Here she has worked in the Ministry of Health for 31 years with 23 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Primary Health Care Services. Special areas of work included the establishment and coordination of the Control for Diarrhoeal Diseases and Chronic Diseases Programmes at Parish level for 13 to 15 years.

As Supervisory Nurse Practitioner in the Western Regional Health Authority, she planned, monitored and evaluated Nurse Practitioners? clinical practice, and had responsibility for the establishment of the Regional Chronic Diseases Programme.

She is a foundation member of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica - Trelawny Branch and President for the past 8 years. She has been a beneficiary of International Diabetes Federation ? North American Region and Declaration of the Americas (IDF-NAR & DOTA) Caribbean Diabetes Education Training Courses for 4 consecutive years. She mounted a Poster Presentation at IDF Congress ? Paris in 2003.

Isolyn Bell-Rose now works as Regional Chronic Diseases Coordinator in the Western Regional Health Authority, Jamaica; serves as Chairman to the National Nurse Practitioner Seminar Committee and provides leadership in promoting quality practice through continuing education.


Michael S. Boyne, M.D., FRCPC
Lecturer in Endocrinology, Tropical Metabolism Research Unit
Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona

Michael Boyne graduated from the University of the West Indies (BSc in Biochemistry and MBBS), University of Virginia Roanoke-Salem Programme (residency in Internal Medicine) and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (clinical and research fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism).
He is board certified in Internal Medicine, and Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Currently he is a Lecturer in Endocrinology at the Tropical Medicine Research Institute, where he spends about 75% of his time in hormonal research and is an honorary consultant at UWHI.


Charles Clark, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education
Indiana University School of Medicine

Dr. Clark was the Director of the Indiana University Diabetes Research and Training Center (1977-2002) and is former Editor in Chief of Diabetes Care (1997-2002).
In the past Dr. Clark has been national President of the American Diabetes Association and Chair of the Data Safety and Quality Committee of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. He also chaired the Steering Committee of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) from 1996 until 2002. The NDEP is a joint effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health directed at people with diabetes, their families and those who are responsible for their care. As a part of this program he has participated in the development of extensive educational materials and programs.

Dr. Clark was a member of the Executive Committee of Declaration of the Americas, a joint effort of the International Diabetes Federation and the Pan American Health Organization to improve diabetes care in the Americas. During his sabbatical year, 1999-2001, he lived in Argentina where he worked with the Argentine Diabetes Society on a project to develop non-physician diabetes education teams (CADIEQ).

Dr. Clark has published extensively both basic and clinical research in diabetes. His current interest is in the implementation of research findings in clinical practice. As an extension of these interests, Dr. Clark was named Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2002; a role that he currently occupies.


Vernon Eric DaCosta, MBBS, DM, MRCOG
My name is DaCosta, Vernon, Eric, I am a Jamaican by birth and nationality. I was born on the 5th day of August 1955 in the Parish of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. I am married to Carol Andrea DaCosta nee Gonzalez, LLB, Legal Education Certificate, Resident Magistrate, with the Ministry of Justice. My wife and I were married on the 7th day of July 1980 and we have three children: Vernon III, Danielle and Shannon. My email address is ved111@hotmail.com and my contact Numbers are 876 925 6717 (h) and 876 855 0434 (cel).

I am a medical practitioner, with post graduate degrees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and specialized training in Infertility and Minimal Invasive Surgery. I obtained my undergraduate degree: Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery (M.B., B.S.) in June 1980 at the University of the West Indies in Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica. I obtained my post graduate degree: Doctor of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (DM (O&G) in February 1992 at the University of the West Indies, in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica and my further post graduate degree: Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (MRCOG) in May 1993 at the May Day University Hospital, Sussex Place, London.

My Academic Appointments include, Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Mona, Kingston 6, St. Andrew.

I am a member in good standing of the following Learned Societies: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist; The American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology; The American college of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; The American Association of Gynaecologic Laparoscopists; The American Society for Reproductive Medicine; The Medical Association of Jamaica; and The Kiwanis Club, Liguanea Chapter.


Sandra Gillespie, MMSc, RD, LD, CDE
Diabetes Clinician and Outpatient Education Coordinator
Diabetes Resource Center, Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta

Sandy Gillespie received a Master of Medical Science degree in clinical nutrition from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She is a registered, licensed dietitian and a certified diabetes educator. She has 20 years experience specializing in nutrition and diabetes in the Atlanta area. Sandy has worked in several Atlanta area hospitals and physicians? offices as a nutrition specialist. She currently serves as a Diabetes Clinician and Outpatient Education Coordinator for the Diabetes Resource Center at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.
Sandy has published articles and chapters on nutrition and diabetes in professional journals and books as well as patient publications. She has been an invited speaker at professional meetings at the local, state and national level in the United States. She is an active volunteer in diabetes professional and patient advocacy organizations including the Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Her current interests include diabetes prevention, professional education, and increasing patients? access to care.
 

Peter Glaze, B.D.S., MSc.
Dental Associates, Jamaica

Dr. Peter Glaze has practiced periodontology since 1978. He lectured in periodontology at the dental Auxiliary School from 1978-1980 and again from 1987-1989. He was a consultant periodontist at the Kingston Public Hospital from 1980-1986 and was involved in the Jamaica National Oral Health Survey in 1984.
In the past, Dr. Glaze has been the president of the Jamaica Dental Association and has held several executive positions. He is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology and published in ?Tooth age & Wear as it relates to plaque control? in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. He is currently in private practice in Kingston, Jamaica.


Lisa Hamilton Service
RN, MSc.N (MHNP)

Lisa Hamilton Service was born in St. James, Jamaica, and is married with two children. She obtained her high school education at the Mt. Alvernia High School and pursued training as a registered nurse at the University Hospital of the West Indies School of Nursing. Mrs. Hamilton Service has certificates in counseling, post basic psychiatric nursing, supervisory management and drug abuse counseling, and a masters of science degree as a mental health nurse practitioner from the UWI.

She worked for seven years as a registered nurse and then as a Community Mental Health nurse since 2000. Her academic interest is Mental Health Promotion and education through research. On a community level, she has worked on various committees in positions such as secretary for youth, PRO, and currently youth president. At church she enjoys singing on the choir and being a part of the praise team.


HERMI HYACINTH HEWITT OD, PhD, RN, RM
Dr. Hewitt is Senior Lecturer and Head in the UWI School of Nursing, Mona. She obtained her general nursing and midwifery education from the University College Hospital School of Nursing. She received her BScN, MPH and PhD from the University of the West Indies, Tulane University and the University of Iowa respectively and received continuing education from Harvard University and The University of Miami.

In 2003, Dr. Hewitt was awarded the Order of Distinction for contribution to nursing education by the Government of Jamaica. She received the Felsted Award for Excellence from the University Hospital Graduate League in 1993 and in 1999 she received the Dame Nita Award for Excellence from the Nurses Association of Jamaica.

The first graduate of the Department of Advanced Nursing Education (DANE) U.W.I BScN programme to receive a PhD, Dr. Hewitt was also the first nurse in Jamaica to receive the prestigious Hubert Horatio Humphrey Fellowship in 1987, a federally funded fellowship.

She was a tutor of Kingston School of Nursing (KSN) (1977-1982) and Head of Excelsior Nursing Education Department until 1988 when she left to take up the position at ANEU.

Dr. Hewitt has published widely in national and international journals. She launched her book entitled, Trailblazers in Nursing Education: A Caribbean Perspective, March 9, 2002. The book received excellent review from the prestigious Nursing History Review, the official Journal of the American Association for the History of Nursing Volume 12, 2004. She is a committed and practicing Christian, wife and mother.

He current research interests are preserving Jamaica?s nursing heritage and investigating the use of Carica papaya in chronic skin ulcer care.


Andrea Hunt, RN, CDE
UHWI School of Nursing
President, Diabetes Educators of the Caribbean

As the Program Manager of the Orlando Regional Healthcare System Diabetes Education Program for 1997-2001, Mrs. Hunt successfully achieved national recognition for 5 of the 8 hospitals diabetes education programs from the American Diabetes Association. She also worked as Director of Education of Home Health Services of South Florida Inc; and while there provided training in diabetes education skills to the nursing staff of that agency.

After working as an agricultural chemist for 13 years, Mrs. Hunt became a double graduate of the University of Central Florida in 1986 and 1991; from where she also received a ?Professional Award? for her achievements in the field of diabetes in 2001. She was granted a ?Hero of the Year? award from Orange County in Central Florida for her community outreach in diabetes in that same year. She has been a certified diabetes educator since 1992, and has worked extensively in developing patient and staff programs of education in diabetes; as a speaker for many pharmaceutical and professional programs, and as an insulin pump trainer.

At present, she works as a Nursing Tutor at the UHWI School of Nursing, and is the President of the group Diabetes Educators of the Caribbean, dedicated to the training of professionals in the region to become providers of diabetes education in our communities.


Antonio Jose Ni? R. MD
Antonio Jose Ni? received his medical degree from Rosario University (Colombia) in 1980. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and received the title in 1986.

He taught at Rosario University (St Joseph?s Hospital of Bogot?Colombia) from 1986 to 1994, when retired as Associate Professor. Ni? was head of the Endocrinology Service at the Police Army Forces Hospital in Bogot?to 1996.

He was president of the Colombian Endocrine Society in 1999, and a Founder Member and President of the Colombian Association for Osteology and Mineral Metabolism in 2000. He has been an honorary member of the Colombian Endocrine Society since 2005. Ni? is the author of 2 chapters of osteoporosis and osteology in Internal Medicine textbooks and has published 15 papers on metabolic diseases. He joined Eli Lilly in 2001 as Clinical Research Physician for Andean and Central America Region and was promoted to Medical Advisor in 2005.


Dr. Dalip Ragoobirsingh
Dr. Ragoobirsingh?s academic career has been marked by distinction as a previous Rhodes Research Scholar, and now a Fulbright Scholar on attachment to the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit at the Pan American Health Organization Head-Quarters in Washington DC.

He is currently on sabbatical from his substantive post in the Faculty of Medical Sciences UWI, Mona Campus, where he is Senior Lecturer/Consultant in Diabetes & Metabolism.
He holds membership in many learned societies including the New York Academy of Sciences, American Diabetes Association, International Diabetes Federation and was only recently made a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health.
He has authored over 50 scientific papers & abstracts on the metabolic aspects of Diabetes Mellitus which has been the focus of his research for the past 20 years.


Patricia Thompson-Reid, MAT, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT)

Patricia Thompson-Reid received her B.A. from Albany State University in New York and a Masters of Arts in Teaching Biology from Wesleyan University in Middletown Conn. After a year of teaching, she began her public health career as a project director for a pilot HEW project for the prevention of teenage pregnancy. In order to gain further knowledge in the field of public health she furthered her studies at Yale University where she received her MPH.

Over the next eight years she worked in the area of international health and gained considerable experience on the development of health systems with a focus on primary health care programs in developing countries, and the various strategies for the implementation of health promotion activities at the community level. This included being chief health planner at the Ministry of Health in Jamaica, and culminated with 5 yrs with PAHO/WHO (Pan American Health Organization/ World Health organization)
Upon return to the U.S. she worked with the Morehouse School of Medicine as Program Coordinator/Curriculum Specialist in the Health Promotion Resource Center. She was Community, and was successful in the development and implementation of a curriculum for the training of community coalition members. As a result of this work, The Morehouse School of Medicine was able to establish relationships with 18 community based coalitions throughout the state of Georgia, as part of the Jim Alley Training Program.

Ms. Thompson-Reid joined the Division of Diabetes Translation in April of 1992, and served as a community interventionist/program development consultant. She developed and implemented ?Diabetes Today?, a framework for the planning and development of community based programs for persons with diabetes, and trained over 200 persons nationwide. Recently Ms. Thompson-Reid co-edited the Monograph Diabetes and Women?s Health Across the Life Stages: A Public Health Perspective and served as team leader for the National Diabetes Women?s Health Initiative. Ms. Thompson-Reid was recently assigned to the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University School during the 2003-5 academic years to develop and implement a curriculum on Chronic Disease and Community Health. Ms Thompson-Reid is a member of the Program Development Branch, division of Diabetes Translation, and serves as the Director of Educational Innovations.


Dr. Leon O. Vaughan, FRCS (Ed.), Consultant Ophthalmologist
Dr. Vaughan graduated form the University of the West Indies in 1994 with an Honours Degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry. He then pursued studies in Medicine and graduated in 1990 with the MBBS degree.

In 1992, he began specialising in Ophthalmology, subsequently completing the Advanced Diploma in Ophthalmology in 1994. He then continued his studies abroad and obtained The Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS) in Ophthalmology, in 1998.

On return to Jamaica, Dr. Vaughan established a general ophthalmology practice. Subsequently, he specialised in Laser Refractive Surgery in his private practice. His interest in Paediatric Ophthalmology led him to pioneer the establishment of a dedicated paediatric unit at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, at which he is currently Consultant and Head of Department.
Melody J. Whitehorne, RGN, SCM, RSCN
Melody Whitehorne, a Registered Nurse, graduated from the University Hospital of the West Indies School of Nursing. She is a Certified Midwife and Registered Sick Children's Nurse graduating from nursing schools in London, England.

She has worked as a Registered Nurse in Jamaica and London, England, and as a Mothercraft Nurse at Mead Johnson Ja. Ltd. As a Medical representative with Servier, a French pharmaceutical company, for many years she represented the company in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

She is presently employed as a part-time Registered Nurse at the Tony Thwaites Wing, University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica and as coordinator for Community Health days held islandwide for the National Health Fund, Jamaica and is involved in the education of patients with chronic illnesses. She is also preparing herself to become a Registered Diabetes Educator in the very near future.


C. Yvette Williams, MD, MPH
Dr Williams is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She did her residency in medicine within the teaching hospitals of the University of London in England. She did a second residency in Kentucky at the University of Louisville.

Dr Williams began her post graduate career in 1991 in Louisville Kentucky. In 1993 she was appointed Medical Director of the Louisville VA?s Primary Care Clinic, one of the earliest ?Primary Care Clinics? in the VA system. She moved to the Atlanta area in 1996 where she initially served as team leader of the Red Primary Care team. In the spring of 2000, she developed a proposal to establish a comprehensive Women's Primary Care Clinic at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. The clinic was established In June 2000. This clinic continues to win praise from female veterans for its customer friendly atmosphere and outlook.

In January 2004, she developed a proposal to improve VISN 7 performance on VA Chronic Disease measures by using the VA Southeast Network?s Corporate database to ?Profile Patients Prospectively?. This project was initially piloted at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and subsequently rolled out across VA Southeast Network. She currently spearheads this project as leader of the Southeast Network?s Chronic Disease Knowledge Management Unit. Dr Williams is an Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine