Dr. Leonard Surage

Attended the Vieux-Fort Secondary School, now the Campus B, and then proceeded to the Morne Secondary School.

  Enrolled in the Natural Science Faculty at UWI, Cave Hill Campus in 1972. First student from this school to have entered a University.

 Entered the Faculty of Medicine at the UWI Mona Campus in 1976 in pursuit of the MB.BS Medical programme, graduate 1981.

After internship at the QEH, did 6 months in Accident and Emergency before returning to St Lucia.

During this one-year period in St. Lucia, held the position of District Medical Officer in Vieux-Fort.1984-85. This include Vieux Fort, Laborie,Micoud,Ti Roche and Saltibus Health Centres.

Together with Dr Emsco Remy and Dr Martin Didier, we established two Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) centres and one cancer screening programme for cervical and prostate cancer in Vieux-Fort district.

Conducted community lectures in Vieux Fort, Desruisseaux and Ti Roche on Diabetes, High blood pressure, teenage pregnancy, cervical and prostate cancer, and other topics relevant to the community. Mobilized my personal Video (VHS) and TV visual platform to assist in information dissemination.

Also helped with Emergency call at the St.Judes’ Hospital, and performed post mortem as the need arose.

Conducted a FREE, half day ENT clinic weekly for St Jude’s hospital for five (5) years, in the outpatient’s clinic. Mrs Belizaire was the outpatient nurse in charge.

Obtained a Diploma in Reproductive Health, a one-year part time programme arranges by UWI and Johns Hopkins University, conducted at the University Centre, Morne Fortune, Castries.

Conducted a weekly Sunday TV programme on Family Life in collaboration with the Parish priest, Rev. Father Gauvrit, He was very technically orientated and had a studio in the parish of Desruisseaux. In 1985 I returned to Barbados to continue postgraduate surgical training. During this time I was attached to the General Surgical and ENT  Departments, and witnessed  many St Lucians seeking ENT care at the QEH.They tried to access the less expensivegovernment service but reception was condescending, and at this point I decided to pursue a career in ENT to give St Lucians a choice, having realized that no St Lucians was pursuing this field at that time. The UWI postgraduate programme in ENT (Otolaryngology) was in its developmental stage so I was advised to consider the United Kingdom.

I moved to England in 1986 to pursue post graduate training in ENT surgery in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Graduated with FRCS. ENT(Glas.) 1991.

 Returned to St. Lucia in 1992 after spending one further post- fellowship year in the UK to initiate a full-time ENT service in St Lucia.

The absence of an ENT operating microscope at Victoria Hospital prompted me to purchase my personal microscope and kept it at the at VH.This microscope is currently at St Judes hospital.

 The performance of middle ear surgery, Mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty where bone drilling required a microdrill. When these cases were done at VH, I had to transport my drills to VH to perform these operations. No charges were levied.

PAST ACTIVITIES

The radio programme “HEALTH FOR ALL”, and followed by

 DRS’ IN. This spanned for about eight (8) years. and

 Television programme was the PULSE Programme with HTS, for 1 year.

Delivered about 37 PowerPoint presentations, in local, regional and international fora, on ENT, Sleep Medicine and Regulatory Medicine topics.

PAST BOARDS and ORGANIZATIONS

President of the St, Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA) for 5 consecutive years,

Board member, Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA)

Board member, International Planned Parenthood Federation, (IPPF). Western Hemispheric Region.

Tapion Hospital Board of Management.

SLMDC Medical and Dental Council (SLMDC) over four (4) consecutively.

St Judes’ Hospital Management Board over the past five (5) consecutive years.

President of Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) for several years,

BOARD MEMBER, Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), from 2012-2019.

VICE PRESIDENT, St Lucia Medical and Dental Association. (2019)

 FOUNDING MEMBER

Caribbean Otolaryngologists’ Association (CAO),

Tapion Hospital, and has served as Medical Director, Chairman, and Board member.

St. Lucia Monitoring and Accreditation Committee for Medical Schools

Diagnostic Sleep Centre, (investigating sleep disorders).

Indian Cultural Foundation, (ICF). An organization which identify and promotes the Indian cultural contribution to St Lucia rich cultural landscape.

SOUTHERN MEDICAL CENTRE, Vieux-Fort.

CURRENTLY

CHAIRMAN, Caribbean Association of Medical Councils (CAMC) from 2012.

INTERNATIONAL FELLOW of the AMERICAN of OTOLARYNGOLOGY/ HEAD and NECK SURGERY (AAO/HNS). SINCE 2009.

 MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION, Since 2009.

CHAIRMAN, MHMC Board of Directors,(Millennium Heights Medical Complex ).

DIRECTOR, Diagnostic Sleep Centre

COMMISSIONER, Protective Services (Compensation) Commission.

Member, CME Committee for SLMDC (St Lucia Medical and Dental Council).

AWARD

The SLMDA Past Presidents Award. 199nition for outstanding service8,1999,2000-2002.

SLMDA ‘Outstanding contribution to SLMDA.2008.

The CAO (Caribbean Association of Otolaryngology PRESIDENT’S AWARD, 2017.

For development and continued collaboration with international members.

Medical Council award, Vice -Chairman, SLMDC. In Recognition for outstanding service to the council( 2009 – 2014).

SLMDA Honorary Member. 2017

St LUCIA NATIONAL MEDAL OF MERIT. 2017

Queens Birthday Award. OBE. 2021.

NON-ACADEMIC COURSES.

PPL( Private Pilots License) course in Orlando, 1991.

CISCO: IT ESSENTIAL.PC HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CERTIFICATION.

A Certified Entry Level IT Technician for Computer Hardware and Software (2012).

CERTIFIED MARINE BOAT CAPTAIN LICENSE. 2018, called CIVIL COXSWAIN CERTIFICATION. This is conducted by the Police Marine Unit.

A Coxswain is someone who is certified to take charge of a boat, navigation and  steering it.

Dr Leonard Surage, July,2021.