BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 7th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris will address 114 graduating students when he delivers the keynote speech today, Saturday, May 7th, at Windsor University School of Medicine’s 6th Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Ontario, Canada.
At a time when countries around the world, including neighbouring Canada and the United States, are grappling with doctor shortages and relying increasingly on international medical graduates to fill the gap in the physician workforce, particularly in underserved areas such as rural and disadvantaged locations, the Prime Minister will commend Windsor for increasing the accessibility and affordability of medical school.
“By all accounts, Windsor University School of Medicine continues to experience exponential growth when it comes to its international reach and size of its annual incoming class. I am advised that, on average, 40% of the student body is comprised of Nigerians and the remaining 60% of students come from India, Canada, Sierra Leone, the United States, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean territories,” Prime Minister Harris will say.
“In 2010, 10 years after Windsor University School of Medicine came to St. Kitts, the medical school welcomed its largest entering class ever – 250 students – over previous years. That’s more than 20 times the students – 12 in all – who were enrolled in the year 2000. Now, the university boasts more than 1,000 students, with new student enrollment of over 200 students each year. This makes Windsor a very large medical school by international standards,” the Prime Minister will also add.
In May 2015, Windsor University School of Medicine began the construction of a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art building on its campus at Brighton’s Estate, Cayon in St. Kitts. This expansion would facilitate the addition of small group learning rooms, student lounges, a larger library, a simulation lab, and a gymnasium.