St. Matthew's University School of Medicine Officially Opens in Grand Cayman
His Excellency the Governor Bruce Dinwiddy addresses the gathering at the Official Opening of St. Matthew's University. Looking on are Mrs. Emma Dinwiddy, SMU President Michael Harris and his wife Dara Harris.
With distinguished guests and ceremo- nial proceedings, St. Matthew's University School of Medicine (SMU) officially opened its doors in the Cayman Islands. Though classes at the Safe Haven Corporate Centre Campus located along the Seven Mile Beach corridor started in May, the official opening was delayed while work on the facility was completed.
Master of Ceremonies Donnie Smith, President of Cayman Fidelity
The event was marked with a number of speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the facility by specially invited dignitaries and guests, all followed by a private dinner. Mr. Donnie Smith, President of Cayman Fidelity, officiated as the Master of Ceremonies. Mrs. Emma Dinwiddy, wife of His Excellency the Governor, and Mrs. Dara Harris, wife of the President of St. Matthew's University, cut the ribbon marking the official opening of St. Matthew's in the Cayman Islands.
SMU president Michael Harris showing officials some of the equipment at the university.
His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Bruce Dinwiddy, spoke of the economic impact St. Matthew's would make on the country in his speech at the official opening. "The students, faculty and employees are spending money on rent, groceries and recreation," Mr. Dinwiddy said, adding, "The funds spent by St. Matthew's students and personnel will circulate through the wider community."
Board of Trustees Member George Hunter speaks with the Minister of Planning, Communications, Works and Technology Hon. Linford Pierson.
The Governor also spoke about the long-term benefits in both education and healthcare that St. Matthew's would produce here. "Our students have an opportunity that might be more difficult to come by otherwise," he said, "As St. Matthew's catalogue points out, every medical school turns qualified candidates away. Future Caymanian doctors and healthcare administrators will join their colleagues in working to improve the delivery of healthcare here and in the Sister Islands."
Minister of Education, Human Resources and Culture, Hon. Roy Bodden with his guest, Ms. Evie Randall
Minister of Education, Human Resources and Culture, Hon. Roy Bodden, who made remarks at the opening, has been especially impressed with the university's technological capabilities, "This is very exciting, and certainly in keeping with our efforts to raise the education standards of our Islands," he said.
A gathering of SMU students watched the proceedings.
Also attending the opening was Deputy Leader of Government and Minister of Planning, Communications, Works and Information Technology Hon. Linford Pierson and his wife, Sharon; the Hon. James M. Ryan, Chief Secretary; the Permanent Secretary of Education, Human Resources, and Culture Ms. Joy Basdeo and, the President of Community College, Dr. Sam Basdeo.
In his address to over 100 attendees, University President Dr. Michael Harris spoke of St. Matthew's responsibility to ensure the optimum education of their students.
"St. Matthew's is unique from other medical schools outside the United States in that the University was founded by U.S. Board Certified physicians." Dr. Harris said. "Board Certification is the highest level of achievement a practicing clinician may obtain in the United States. Our campus also offers the cutting edge in technology and our facilities rival those you would find in the best U.S. medical schools. With this foundation of excellence, St. Matthew's expects its students to progress to the highest level in their chosen field of endeavor."
Dr. Harris then introduced the Officers and Deans of SMU. These included Vice President Dr. Jerry Thornton, Chairman of the Council on Campus Development Dr. B.D. Owens, Director and Shareholder Dr. Galen Swartzendruber, Dean of Basic Sciences Dr. Henry Haire, Associate Dean in charge of the Windham Maine Campus Dr. Jim Pringle, Associate Dean of Basic Sciences Dr. Don Roberts, Dean of Clinical Studies, Dr. Lou Stalnaker, and Campus Manager Sebastien Guilbard. Dr. Harris also made special mention of the Board of Trustees' newest member, Caymanian businessman Mr. George Hunter who was in attendance with his wife, Vangie.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, small groups toured the 14,000 square foot facility that occupies the second and third floors of the Leeward Three building of Safe Haven. Some of the state-of-the-art features of the campus include video conferencing equipment, wireless Internet connections, and a virtual library, which allows students to access a lecture given by any of the professors at the University.
There are currently 160 St. Matthew's students based in Cayman, while another 78 are taking classes at the school's Windham, Maine campus. Some 250 others are in clinical rotations in either the United States or the United Kingdom. The school would eventually like to see 600 students attending classes in Cayman, according to Dr. Harris.
Generally, students attend classes in Cayman for their first five semesters before heading abroad to the United Kingdom or the United States for clinical clerkship rotations in teaching hospitals. Students earning a Master of Science in Health Service Administration through the schools affiliation with St. Joseph's College of Maine may transfer to the University's Windham, Maine campus after their third semester.
St. Matthew's University offers a Basic Science tuition and fees Scholarship to one qualified local resident each year to further emphasize their commitment to the Cayman Islands.
St. Matthew's Campus Manager, Sebastien Guilbard, who has been with the University for several years, expressed his opinion about the selection of the Cayman Islands for St. Matthew's. "The infrastructure of Cayman is incredible. From a safety, security and cleanliness standpoint, the Cayman Islands offers the best available for our students. In Cayman you can pick up the telephone and it works. You can rely on the quality of utility services."
St. Matthew's plans for the future include the building of a dormitory to accommodate as many as 600 students. This will undoubtedly add to Cayman's long-term goals of partnership with quality institutions that call these islands home.