Bajan at the helm of T&T medical association

Barbadian from the close-knit community of Wildey, St Michael, has made history by becoming the first Barbadian to hold the position of President of the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association.

Sandi Arthur-Melville, known professionally as Dr Sandi Arthur, began working in Trinidad in 2009 at the age of 26. An alumna of Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School and Harrison College, she completed her pre-clinical studies at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus from 2002 to 2005 and her clinical training at UWI Cave Hill (2005-2007).

Her postgraduate training in Family Medicine was done at UWI St Augustine.

During her inauguration ceremony at Cara Hotels in Claxton Bay on January 11, Dr Arthur outlined her vision for the year ahead. Speaking in the presence of her husband, Damion Melville; parents, Elon and Miriam Arthur; and best friend, Keisha

Mapp, the devout Christian urged colleagues to be mindful of their health and wellness this year.

“Throughout this year, I would like to shine a spotlight on mental wellness with an emphasis on mental wellness in the workplace,” Dr Arthur said.

“The workplace is where many spend most of their active, alert hours. And even when not working, time is spent preparing for work, thinking about what has to be completed at work, what one does not like at work, who one does not get along with at work, and it goes on and on.”

Specialising in family medicine, Dr Arthur serves as the acting manager of the Health Promotion Unit at the South-West Regional Health Authority where she has worked for the last 16 years. She credits her time as an intern at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados, from 2007 to 2009, working in Internal Medicine, as foundational to her career.

Her husband, a well-known comedian, promoter, radio announcer, and philanthropist, expressed pride in her accomplishments.

“God has blessed me with a wonderful, humble, hardworking wife who will do well by the grace of God,” said the early-morning disc jockey on WACK 90.1 FM. He said the family visits Barbados often and loves the beach here. (CAP)