The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

TO OFFICIALLY strut the halls in a white lab coat is an inspiration that keeps Bahamian students Katrice Maycock and Rashanda Deveaux motivated throughout their journey in medical school.

In August 2011 Katrice travelled to Jamaica to begin her new journey at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, where she is pursing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. The 25 year old said by the grace of God she will graduate as a “proud member of the Class of 2016” in the month of June.

Born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, Katrice said she started her education at Temple Christian Elementary School. She later attended St Augustine’s College, where she graduated in the top ten of the Class of 2005.

“On a full scholarship, I completed my tertiary education at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. As a result of my hard work, I was awarded a BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in May 2010. I taught Biology at C V Bethel Senior High School for a period of one year before furthering my medical education,” said Katrice.
She said she always wanted to become a doctor, because she truly believes it is God’s purpose for her life.

“I always loved science and received top awards in biology and chemistry in high school so I gravitated towards the field of medicine. However, when I graduated from Bellarmine University, I questioned if I really wanted to pursue medicine as a career. “What school would I apply to? Which one would accept me? Where was the money coming from? These were questions that frequently ran through my mind. I thank God for my parents because of their encouragement and prayers, I am in medical school today. I am a firm believer in the saying, everything in life happens for a reason and every decision I made ultimately brought me to where I am today,” said Katrice.

For 22 year old Rashanda, her journey to becoming a doctor just started. She is currently in her first year of medical school at the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad. In a five year program, she is pursuing the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S) degree.

Prior to her acceptance into medical school Rashanda attended the College of the Bahamas where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.

Rashanda said she is an island girl who grew up in a large, but close knit family, surrounded by unconditional love. She said the determination to fulfil her dream pushed her to apply to medial school.

“When I got accepted I was elated, because I then realised that I was about to embark on a journey that would not only change my life forever, but test my strength, endurance and passion for medicine,” said Rashanda.

In her first year, Rashanda said her greatest challenge is time management. “It seems as if there are not enough hours in the day to balance sleep, attendance of classes, eating and studying. On top of this there is a load of information that I am receiving daily from classes and it is expected that I must know this information by the end of the semester. So, I would say that it is a challenge to manage the time, but it is also doable. I always remind myself that I’m not the first person doing this and I won’t be the last, so it can be done,” said Rashanda.

What field of medicine is she interested in? Rashanda said she always had a love for children, especially infants, so her interest lies more towards the field on paediatrics, with a subspeciality in neonatology.

Katrice said she is leaning more towards oncology, as the cancer disease affects so many individuals in the society nowadays.

“Within my personal life, my aunt died of breast cancer causing tremendous sorrow in my family. I want to make an impact in this area to lessen the chances of other families feeling the pain that my family went through.

“Dr George Sledge, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists once said, ‘Cancer has always been something like a cobra to those who study it: dangerous and beautiful and endlessly fascinating. Cancer is a universe. One can spend an entire life exploring it without ever getting bored, for the biology of cancer is the biology of life’,” said Katrice.

She said medical school is not easy. Similar to Rashanda, Katrice said her challenge is also time management.

“I constantly remind myself to remain focus and complete the task that I came here to do. The Medical Sister/Brother program implemented by the Faculty of Medical Science is also a great help to me,” she said.

“My greatest challenge has yet to come. It will be sitting my MBBS exams during my fifth and final year but with God’s help, I will pass them and walk across that stage in June 2016. I will continue to trust in him,” said Katrice.

After her internship, Katrice said she would not mind returning to Jamaica or going to Canada for her postgraduate education. However, she said she does plan to return home to the Bahamas upon her completion to open her own practice and work in local hospitals.

“The Bahamas has given so much to me, therefore I have to give back, even if it is just for a few years. The Bahamian government in partnership with UWI Mona selected fifteen Bahamians to be enrolled in this program and I was chosen to be in that number. As a result, 80 per cent of my tuition is paid,” said Katrice.

Rashanda said she always believed in the saying “be the difference you want to see,” therefore she plans to come back to her home country to contribute by sharing her skills.

“I believe that as a Bahamian student who went abroad to further her education, I owe it to my country to come back and share my expertise instead of just brain draining my country. This is why I decided to come back home upon completion of my studies,” said Rashanda.