Dr. Alverston Bailey, newly installed president, Medical Association of Jamaica.
DR. ALVERSTON Bailey, a family and occupational physician was installed as the Medical Association of Jamaica's (MAJ) 24th president at the association's annual general meeting on September 25.
Dr. Bailey is the medical director of the Tretzel Medical Centre in Discovery Bay, St. Ann. A graduate of the University of the West Indies, he has served on the MAJ Council for many years as a vice-president and assistant treasurer. Since 2002, he has held the position of regional president of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians, council member of the World Organisation of National Colleges and Academies, chairman of the St. Ann Red Cross Society and vice chairman of the Trelawny Parish Health Committee.
The newly installed president urged members of the medical profession to become more inclusive and to maintain a moral compass which will guide them in the delivery of optimal quality health care in the current environment.
'THE ART OF MEDICINE'
In his inaugural address, following his election, Dr. Bailey emphasised the need for doctors to be patient and community-centered and return to the 'art of medicine,' which is characterised by compassion, mutual trust and respect.
"Our profession is in jeopardy when patients believe that we care more about our income than their well-being. We must re-establish the image of medicine as a caring profession and convince patients that we put their welfare above our self-interest," he said.
Sharing his vision for the MAJ and the medical profession, Dr. Bailey said, "We will focus physicians' attention on strengthening the practice of medicine while reaching out to the vulnerable, expanding our network and fine tuning our professional skills."
He stressed the need for doctors to be more actively involved in public health, volunteerism and environmental issues and entreated them to form a coalition with other non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations to address other social ills such as poverty, bigotry and violence.
Over the next three years, the MAJ will implement and support initiatives related to disease management and health promotion, physicians' relations to the community, developing health care policy and professional development.
The other six members elected to the MAJ's executive body are:
Dr. William Brown, 1st vice-president
Dr. Rosemarie Wright-Pascoe, second vice-president
Dr. Ann Gibson, honorary secretary
Dr. Neville Graham, honorary treasurer
Dr. Simone Dundas, honorary assistant
secretary
Dr. Sandra Knight, honorary assistant treasurer
The MAJ represents the interests of medical doctors and is committed to the enhancement of the professional and personal development of its members in contributing to the optimal health and well-being of the society.
