Dr. Martin Didier

Dr Martin Didier (December 1953 to July 2024), was a member of a visionary core group, which took the leap of faith and assumed the challenge of establishing a private hospital in St. Lucia. Undaunted by many set-backs and a long seven years struggle, they saw their dream come to fruition in 1996. Dr. Didier did his undergraduate and postgraduate medical training at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in Internal Medicine in 1990. He pursued an elective in Cardiology (his first love) in Pittsburg, USA during his post graduate training. As a specialist, his expertise spanned the full breadth of Internal Medicine. He pioneered the establishment and oversaw the running of the only Private dialysis unit in St. Lucia which was and still is located at Tapion Hospital. This unit offers local patients treatment, but also provided holiday dialysis to visitors. The French Embassy in St. Lucia, utilized his services as their Medical liaison and this enabled him to forge close and enduring links with the health system in Martinique. Tapion Hospital by extension, was able to provide patients with rapid access to the expanded technological services available in Martinique. He was a firm believer in equity. As such, patients in the public sector also benefited from his connections. In the early 1990s St. Lucia had no Neurological services. Seeing the need for a Neurological specialist, Dr Didier establish a liaison with Dr. Remy Bellance , a Consultant Neurologist in Martinique. To reduce the cost to St. Lucian patients, Dr Didier allowed Dr. Bellance the use of his private office in Tapion Hospital as a base of operation. This allowed patients from both the public and private sector to be seen. Dr. Bellance also brought along his technician, who performed EEGs (Electroencephalograms) at Tapion. This co-operation allowed all St. Lucian patients, to realize immeasurable savings in medical costs, as they did not have to travel to Martinique. Resulting from their combined interests, Dr. Bellance and Dr. Didier, together with other specialists in Martinique established The Society of Myology and Rare diseases. His interest in all things medical, was embodied by his involvement with local and international partners in the development of an antivenom for the highly poisonous “endemic” Fer de Lance snake (Bothrops spp). He addressed the scurge of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which was causing morbidity and mortality in young St. Lucian men. Together with a group of local colleagues, including Dr Lisa Charles, they were able to produce an educational documentary, which warned against the local practice of the combined smoking of marijuana and tobacco. As a founding member of Saint Lucia Heart, Lung and Blood foundation, he and his fellow members sought to raise awareness on a wide range of health issues. He was also the founding member of Victoria’s Friends which helped to raise funds through a yearly show to support the Hospital’s provision of service in the public sector. Local societal membership also included work with the St. Lucia Diabetic and Hypertensive Association. He was a member and past president of the Caribbean Cardiac Society. Through this channel he fostered inter-regional corporation and integration on the wider international scene. He had fellowships in: – The American College of Physicians – The American College of Cardiology – and The European Society of Cardiology to name a few. Through these linkages, he was able to foster connections with world-renowned experts in many fields. He used these connections to help his patients in public and private sector, equally. In 2015 he was awarded one of St Lucia’s highest honours, The St.Lucia Cross, for his outstanding contribution to the health service of the country. This was followed in 2017 by the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) Award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. In 2024 June, just prior to his passing, he was also made a Laureate of the Caribbean Chapter of American College of Physicians. Through his service on the Board of Tapion Hospital and his many stints as a Medical Director, he was able to keep the hospital true to its foundational principles. Dr. Didier was an excellent teacher who saw his role in life as a mentor. He helped to mould a new generation of specialists, both here in St. Lucia and in the far flung corners of the globe. It is to his credit, that in the field of Internal Medicine at Tapion Hospital, services are now provided by a new cadre of three Internal Medical Specialists, all of whom he personally mentored. Dr. Didier has a legacy of service, caring and commitment. Most of all he exemplified perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds. He exuded warmth and had an ever welcoming smile. He understood the dream that was the ethos of Tapion Hospital. The dream encompassed the establishment of a team of integrated Specialists, providing high level, evidence based, compassionate care. The mantra for this team is and always will be “ Only the best way, is good enough”.