A recently-qualified Anguillian medical professional, Dr. Ayanna Twanna Gumbs, has taken up a one-year appointment in St. Lucia.

She is the daughter of Anne Edwards, retired Deputy Principal at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, and Tracey Gumbs.

Dr. Ayanna Gumbs

The young doctor was a first form student at that school. She moved to New York City where she attended Junior High School in Brooklyn and then enrolled at the Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island, also in Brooklyn. She did four years of university studies at Mount St. Vincent College, a private Catholic institution in Riverdale, The Bronx, where she achieved a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology.

She served as a Teacher in South Korea for one year following which she went to Medical School in Cuba for seven years, the first year of which was devoted completely to learning the Spanish Language. After six years of medical studies she graduated in July this year Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honours).

Dr. Gumbs left Anguilla for St. Lucia this week to take up her one-year service while she will be taking the Caribbean Examination for Medical Doctors tenable at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica. That examination allows medical practitioners to work in the Caribbean, but Dr. Gumbs said she did not need it to serve in St. Lucia.

Her medical studies were facilitated by the Government of Cuba as one of a number of scholarships in various fields made available each year to CARICOM member territories. “Right now I am a General Practitioner but in the future I would like to go on and do my Residency in Metrology – that has to do with the kidneys,” she told The Anguillian.

“Now that you have graduated as a Medical Doctor, how do feel you about this accomplishment?” the attractive Anguillian professional was asked.

“Pretty good. I am glad to have completed the first part which is the biggest hurdle to get over. It feels nice to be finished,” she laughed.

Her mother, an accomplished former educator, now a businesswoman, commented: “It is wonderful. I am proud of her.”

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