UTech, Jamaica Presents Appreciation Plaque to KPH
College of Health Sciences Presents Appreciation Plaque to KPH
for Contribution to Clinical Teaching in Jamaica
Dr. Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, (4th left) Dean, College of Health Sciences leads the team taking a closer look at the plaque presented by the College to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) at a special Plaque Laying ceremony held on Monday, July 4, 2016 “in appreciation for 240 years of outstanding contribution to clinical teaching in Jamaica.” Looking on from left are, College of Health Sciences faculty members, Dr. Sean Moncrieffe, Head, School of Pharmacy, Dr. Adella Campbell, Head, Caribbean School of Nursing, Dr. Janet Campbell-Shelly, Vice Dean and KPH administrators, Ms. Jacqueline Ellis, Acting CEO, Dr Natalie Whylie, Senior Medical Officer, Mrs. Joan Walker-Nicholson, Director, Nursing Services, Ms. Maxine Allen, Hospital Administrator, Mrs. Debbie-Ann Cookes, Deputy Director, Nursing Services and Mrs. Nadine Anderson-Farmer, Departmental Nurse Manager.
The longstanding history and productive partnership between the University of Technology, Jamaica’s College of Health Sciences and the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was further solidified on Monday, July 4, 2016 with the unveiling of a plaque presented by the College to the hospital “in appreciation of 240 years of outstanding contribution to clinical teaching in Jamaica.”
A special plaque laying ceremony witnessed by a large gathering of health care providers, administrators from both institutions along with current UTech, Ja. students, was hosted by the College of Health Sciences (COHS) at the KPH’s Board Room facilities where the plaque has been mounted for posterity.
Dr. Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, Associate Professor and Dean, COHS in her welcome remarks, told the gathering that “I think it expresses the sentiment of us at UTech, Jamaica, the appreciation of the fact that KPH continues to accept all our students and continues to help us to train and guide them in the ways that we want them to go as they become health professionals.” These include students pursing courses of study in Nursing, Pharmacy and Dietetics & Nutrition (DN) who are required to complete a period of internship or other special attachment at the KPH as part of their training.
Dr. Campbell-Grizzle emphasized the importance of acknowledging and paying homage to the significant contribution of the KPH to Jamaica’s health care system for 240 years, adding that “without the KPH, Jamaica’s public health sector would probably be way behind.” The Dean pledged the University’s continued commitment to partnership with the KPH in strengthening the training of healthcare professionals.
Senior Medical Officer, KPH, Dr. Natalie Whylie in welcoming the continued longstanding partnership with UTech, Jamaica and the show of appreciation by the University, said that “it is an honour for us to be recognized and for UTech, Jamaica to be participating with us in our 240th anniversary celebrations.” Noting that the hospital is primarily known for providing service for trauma related cases, Dr. Whylie acknowledged that the KPH’s role in educating the nation’s health care providers is less known and less recognized. She therefore thanked the University of Technology, Jamaica for the recognition in that regard, pointing out that KPH has been “a centre for undergraduate and also post graduate training for almost all of the medical, paramedical and nursing courses of study in Jamaica.”
Acting CEO, KPH, Mrs. Jacqueline Ellis, in her remarks expressed pride at being herself a product of “quality tutelage and training” at different levels at UTech, Jamaica and noted that the plaque symbolised the goodwill and partnership between the “two important Jamaican institutions.”
Dr. Eugenie Brown-Myrie Programme Director, UTech, Jamaica’s Doctor of Pharmacy course of study, in adding her expression of gratitude to the KPH, asserted that “the institution has served our country well.” She noted that students have benefitted tremendously from the training at the clinical site through their interaction and exposure on wards and developing their competencies through the guidance of KPH’s matrons, nurses, sisters and other members of the medical team. Dr. Brown-Myrie shared that over the past 16 years the KPH has opened its doors in this regard to several batches of the University’s students.
The expression of gratitude was echoed by Chairman of the Nursing Council of Jamaica, Dr. Leila McWhinney-Duhaney who commended UTech, Jamaica for showing appreciation to the KPH. She added gratitude on behalf of the Nursing Council to the hospital which she noted has been indigenous to the training of health professionals, and has been an important accredited clinical site for the training of nurses and other health professionals.
Special Project
During the ceremony Ms Marjorie Ming, Lecturer, Caribbean School of Nursing, COHS announced a special project being led by past students of the KPH School of Nursing who graduated in 1966. She explained that the group during a visit back to the KPH recognized the desperate shortage of bed linen and have set out to procure and donate 550 sheets to the hospital. The project is being coordinated by Miss Ming with the support of current nursing students of UTech, Jamaica.
The Kingston Public hospital was established in Jamaica on December 14, 1776. From its pre-emancipation beginnings, the KPH has evolved into the largest multidisciplinary hospital in the government health services and as the largest trauma centre in the public hospital system. The hospital officially launched its 240th anniversary celebrations on January 27, 2016.
College of Health Sciences’ faculty, administrators, students and KPH administrators pose for a group photograph following the Plaque Laying ceremony. Pictured from left (back row) Dr. Sean Moncrieffe, Dr. Adella Campbell, Dr. Eugenie Brown-Myrie, Dr. Natalie Whylie, Ms. Marcia Thomas, Mrs. Debbie-Ann Cookes. Second row, from left are Mrs. Novlette Mattis-Robinson, Ms. Lorna Calder, Ms. Deveree Stewart, Dr. Andrea Pusey-Murray, Miss Marjorie Ming, Dr. Janet Campbell-Shelly, Dr. Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, Mrs. Joan Walker-Nicholson and Ms. Maxine Allen. Seated from left are students Sophia Lothan, Abigail Butler, Sophia Raymond, Shantell Allen, Javel McGowan and Daney Walker. Dr. Leila McWhinney-Dehaney, (right, second row) Chairman Nursing Council of Jamaica shares in the happy occasion.
CONTACT:
Michelle A. Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
237 Old Hope Road,, Kingston 6
Tel: (876) 970-5299; 927-1680-8 Ext. 2299, Fax: 970-2225
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm