Dr. Mikel Waithe (right) pictured with his mother, Ms. Anthea Waithe, following his graduation ceremony.
31 July 2024 – Barbadian medical student Mikel Waithe graduated on July 31 from the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Cuba. It is the culmination of seven years of study in Cuba. His studies began at the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (Latin American School of Medicine) (ELAM) in Havana.
His mother, Ms. Anthea Waithe, was in the audience at the graduation ceremony to celebrate the special occasion with her son.
Dr. Waithe is one of three Barbadian students who completed their medical studies in Cuba this month. On July 23, Dr. Beatrice Lovell received her degree from the University of Medical Sciences in the province of Cienfuegos, and Dr. Thalayah Butcher-Medford was presented with her degree from the University of Medical Sciences in the province of Granma.
There are now four Barbadian medical students remaining in Cuba. Dr. Waithe’s sister, Micha Waithe, and James Robertson have completed their fifth year of study at the same University of Medical Sciences of Havana. Shaunté Wilson has completed her second year at ELAM and Jonathan Duncan his first year there.
The University of Medical Sciences of Havana is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Cuba. It was established in 1728. ELAM was established in 1999, with a mission to “contribute to the training of Primary Health Care physicians in diverse regions of the World”. Students study at ELAM for the first two years, and then complete their studies at one of the twenty-one other medical schools in Cuba.
