Avia Collinder, Outlook Writer 
Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown with her children, 11-year-old Dominique, eight-year-old Jada and 14-year-old Stefan. - Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Her sons swim for Jamaica and, more often than not, when they go abroad to compete, the entire family goes along to provide support.
Although Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown - consultant in internal medicine and specialist in endocrinology and nephrology based at the Kingston Public Hospital - and husband William Brown, chief financial officer at Lannaman and Morris, are busy professionals, they manage to keep their commitment to their three children.
The couple started first by keeping a deep commitment to each other. Becoming immediately attached after meeting each other in their first year at the University of the West Indies in 1984 as 17-year-olds, when one had an examination, the other would 'pull back' from other activities to offer total support.
When Dr. Watson-Brown decided to go to Canada in 2003 to pursue the Fellowship in Nephrology, her husband took leave from his job to accompany her and care for their children.
The entire family has been gratified by Mom's growing career.
One of a small group of kidney specialists in Jamaica and a lecturer at the University of the West Indies Medical School, Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown observes that kidney disease is quite prevalent with the numbers growing 'exponentially'. The most recent figures available (for 1999) show that there were 327 persons with the disease out of every 1,000 in the population. Today, that number is conservative at best.
The number one cause of chronic kidney disease in Jamaica,she states, is hypertension or high blood pressure. The second most common cause is diabetes mellitus (type one or two). Next is glomeruli nephritis or inflammation of the kidneys, sickle cell disease, cystic kidney diseases and hereditary diseases.
Watson-Brown's choice of nephrology was made relatively late in her career but has followed a satisfying evolution of her first love - medicine.
Excellence in all things
Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown, consultant internist and nephrologist, manages the Kingston Public Hospital Renal Unit.
Charmaine, her twin Sharon and their sister Suzette grew up on Shortwood Road in St. Andrew where parents Frank and Inez Watson, a teacher and office machine technician, created in them the desire for excellence in all things.
Charmaine, a Graduate of Immaculate Conception High School in St. Andrew was successful in 10 CXC subjects and five A'levels ( all with credits and distinctions) and arrived at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Medical School in 1984 on scholarship at the tender age of 17.
Her twin, Sharon, (Issa Scholar for 1984) also did the same and is now a general practitioner resident in Barbados. Suzette, who Charmaine claims is 'the most brilliant' of the three sisters and who won a United World college scholarship while in fifth form at Immaculate, chose to study software engineering in Canada and now lives in that country, practising in this field.
Charmaine completed medical school in Kingston and went to the Princess Margaret hospital in the Bahamas to do her internship.
Reflecting on her achievements and that of her sisters, she states, 'what has helped us is the passion for what we do, friendly competition with each other and a drive for excellence.'
On coming back home from the Bahamas, Charmaine completed a doctorate in internal medicine at the UHWI and become a consultant in the field. While working as a consultant endocrinologist at the KPH, she was asked to manage the renal unit in November 2001. It was during her time there that she developed a passion for nephrology. She was also encouraged by noted urologist, Professor Lawson Douglas.
In 2003, she decided to do the post doctorate fellowship in nephrology at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Patient care
"That was the most exciting part of my career," Charmaine reflects, "Experiencing the direct use of knowledge in patient care and also working alongside noted nephrologists and other quite brilliant Fellows. Everyone was equally passionate about what they did. The exchange of ideas, intelligent discussion and mixing with the nephrologists who actually wrote the books, it was exciting."
She states, 'nephrology gives me the opportunity to combine basic physiology with clinical medicine as well as interventional medicine. I spend a lot of time applying all that I have learnt."
Since coming back to Jamaica, she says she appreciates the unqualified support of the KPH administration in helping her to implement much of what she learnt.
"Patient care (at the KPH renal unit) has improved dramatically," she states.
Her one grouse is that the hospital does not have as many kidney transplants as it should, but she is optimistic that, with the involvement of the private sector, the hospital will realise its goals in this regard.
Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown notes that many nephrologists are needed for work in Jamaica. Her visions also include more nurses trained in the field, especially that do dialysis.
She notes that one of the greatest achievements at the KPH has been the establishment of the Nephrology School of Nursing in June 2007, the first of its kind in the Caribbean and offering training to nurses throughout the entire region.
The 40-year-old doctor says that anyone who knows her well will tell you that family is just as important as her career.
The doctor and William Brown are parents of sons 14-year-old Stefan, 11-year-old Dominique and 8-year-old daughter Jada.
"We do things together. My husband is a golf enthusiast and playa with the children. We also enjoy camping. Friday night is family night at home. Daddy also swims with his sons, two of whom are on the national teams of Jamaica," the proud Mom discloses.
She comments, "As two professionals working full time we faced the challenge of spending adequate time together and with the children. But we have a strong belief in family and in God." That helps.
The couple takes the children to school and pick them up and sends the helper home in the afternoon, taking over her duties. They are present at all the children's extracurricular activities. They also supervise homework.
"There is always one of us with them. Our value system keeps us together supporting each other."
Dr. Charmaine Watson-Brown states, "I usually encourage young professionals, especially women who feel it is difficult to combine family with reaching the pinnacle of their career, that it's possible as long as they have the determination to succeed.
"When you enjoy what you do, your life's goals are even more achievable."
