Construction to begin on Hamilton Medical School and Centre in Grace Bay

A groundbreaking initiative has been given the green light in the TCI, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a medical school and a medical centre to be opened in 2026.

Last Thursday, June 15, members of government and representatives of the Hamilton Education Foundation (HEF) inked the agreement, effectively signaling the go-ahead for construction and operation of the Hamilton University School of Medicine (HUSM) and the Hamilton University Medical Center (HUMC) to commence in Grace Bay, Providenciales.

Director and Chairman of The Hamilton Education Foundation, Hon Dr Rufus Ewing said the signing comes after the HEF development team had satisfied all regulatory requirements.

Signing the agreement were Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick, Governor (Acting), Her Excellency Anya Williams and Dr Ewing. Witnessing the signing were legal counsel for Invest Turks and Caicos, Judith Garland and legal counsel for The Hamilton Education Foundation, Yvette Marcelin.

In November 2022, the government and the HEF initially formalized the agreement, with the official signing done last week.

The university is the vision of former Premier Dr Rufus Ewing and his wife Dr Dawn Perry.

Dr Ewing said this week: “Much gratitude goes to the Invest TCI Team for their awesome support in facilitating this transformational project, to the Premier, acting Governor, AG Chambers and other members of the government for their support of HEF’s vision to transform the health and socioeconomic landscape of the TCI through transnational education, global health and medical services and research.”

He announced that the Foundation has submitted its applications to the Turks and Caicos Higher Education Board for license to operate as Hamilton University and a school of medicine, and to the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions for accreditation candidacy on the journey to provisional and full accreditation as a new medical school in the Caribbean that plans to open its doors in 2026.

“We look forward to engaging all potential key stakeholders and partners in the TCI and beyond as we deliver this life-changing project,” the former premier said.

The university and the medical centre will be housed in a purposebuilt 46,000 square feet fivestory state-of-the-art building.

The HUSM’s main campus will accommodate students for their first two years of pre-clinical training and students will thereafter complete their clinical years of training in teaching hospitals in the US, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean.

The aim is to address current and emerging health challenges, providing medical education and training to meet the growing demand for physicians and healthcare professionals in Turks and Caicos Islands, the wider Caribbean and globally.

Through the Medical Centre, along with community-based health programs, the university aims to enhance equitable access to health services through specialist medical programs, medical tourism, transnational education, and collaborative research.

The Premier expressed his hopes that the two institutions will go a long way in achieving his government's diversification plans for the TCI economy through social and economic transformation, while also addressing the health challenges of the TCI.

Governor Williams expressed her belief that the university through its health and research programs will enhance the territory’s visibility globally and will be recognised as a major player in addressing global health challenges.

“We wish the Directors of Hamilton Education Foundation well as they embark on this groundbreaking initiative here in the TCI,” Williams said.