Dr. Marie Grandison Didier

Dr Marie Grandison-Didier was one of the intrepid medical professionals who shared The Tapion vision. She took the leap along with the visionary core group (which included her husband, Dr Martin Didier). Together, they set out to establish The Tapion Hospital in 1996.

As the 4th of 5 children of a Public Health Inspector and Primary School Principal, E. Marie Grandison-Didier began her scholarly journey in Jamaica from Old Harbour Primary, to St Andrew Prep School and onwards to St Andrew High School, where she was Head Girl in her senior year. She won the Open University Scholarship in Natural Sciences Jamaica, which allowed her to pursue an undergraduate university degree at the Mona Campus.

A short two-year interlude, which involved teaching in Jamaica at Manning’s High School in Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland and Ardenne High School in Kingston, was followed by her entry into the Faculty of Medicine in 1979. Teaching would become a common thread in her professional career from thenceforth. She married Dr Martin Didier in 1980.

In 1984 she completed her medical degree and had the first of her two daughters. Post internship, she worked with the illustrious Professor of Dermatology, Lois LaGrenade, in the Dermatology Department of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. This experience undoubtedly impacted her later professional choices. After 12 months she transitioned to her first of many public sector jobs, at the Campus Health Centre for the University of the West Indies, Mona.

Her second daughter was born in 1988 and in July 1990 the family relocated to St Lucia. On arriving in St Lucia she joined the public sector medical profession. She became the first non-French national to provide services in the local Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Clinic. She was later co-opted, without having full formal training, to service the island’s Leprosy and General Dermatology Clinics. The aforementioned clinics provided services to the entire island and grew under her aegis.

Through a joint cooperation programme between UWIDITE (a UWI distance learning platform) and the Johns Hopkins International Education Program, she was able to receive training in Counselling, Adolescent Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 1991. In September 1993 she then left to pursue a Diploma in Dermatological Sciences at the University of Cardiff, Wales.

Upon her successful return to St Lucia in 1994 with a Distinction in Dermatological Sciences from the University of Cardiff in hand, she set out, as the only Government Dermatological Specialist on island, to man both the Dermatology and STI Clinics simultaneously for the entire island.

In 1997, the journey at Tapion Hospital began. She shared office space with her husband, Dr Martin Didier, and was one of the foundation tenant doctors of Tapion Hospital. The constant student, she pursued further studies in Dermatology in 2000 at the University of Miami.

Between 2004–2007 she returned to the public sector as the Director of the St Lucia HIV Program, which was funded by the World Bank. During this period, in 2005, she completed an attachment in STI and HIV at SUNY Downstate Hospital in New York.

In the local medical arena she also served as Vice President of the St Lucia Medical and Dental Association from 2011–2013. She has also played major roles in the regional dermatological professional body, the Caribbean Dermatology Association (CDA). She was a part of the executive of the CDA as Secretary and was a major player on the organising teams for all the CDA conferences held in St Lucia.

From the beginning of her career, whether in public or private practice, Dr Grandison-Didier has remained committed to education. Bolstered by her conviction that education is vital, she has driven to all corners of the island sharing her expertise in STIs and Dermatology with persons both medical and non-medical. Her efforts have been praised and/or honoured by many groups and societies in both the public and private sectors.

In 2011 her efforts in the realm of public service via teaching culminated in recognition by the St Lucian Government. She was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) at Government House in St Lucia.

From the inception of Tapion Hospital, Dr Grandison-Didier has been a committed supporter and fully engaged participant in growing the TAPION brand. From her participation on the Board and many other committees, she has sought to infuse the ethos that the high-quality medical care provided by the Tapion Hospital specialists goes hand in hand with “Soft Touches” and “Warm & Inviting Spaces” to aid and enhance both the patient and patient family experience.

She also believes that a cohesive hospital team consists of more than just the doctors and nurses. Every hospital team member’s role provides value to the patient and the patient family experience.

Dr Grandison-Didier’s personal legacy of kindness and generosity of time and spirit is well known. Her commitment and support of the TAPION brand is now and always without question.