University of Belize
School of Medicine

BACKGROUND ON THE UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (UBSoM)

In 2019, the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize approved the development of a medical program, but as work was underway to do just that, the pandemic intervened. By that time, a building was almost completed to house the new program. When work on the program resumed after the pandemic, it was clear that the viability and sustainability of the program required that it seek regional accreditation. As what had existed before did not meet those standards, we started with a clean slate, with the guidance of the esteemed, and regionally and internationally renowned, Professor Emanuel Cummings, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana and former three-term Dean of the University of Guyana’s Medical/Health Sciences Faculty. The structure required to meet accreditation standards led the University of Belize to establish the University of Belize School of Medicine (UBSoM) as a unit within the parent institution, the University of Belize. The University of Belize School of Medicine is designed to be the home of accredited, quality medical education, a first for Belize.

The UBSoM will collaborate with the other units of the institution in areas such as the Registrar’s Office and Records, Student Services, Library Services, Human Resource Management, Physical Plant Management, Open and Distance Learning, Information Technology, Admissions, Finance, etc. The University Of Belize School Of Medicine also shares resources with the other academic units within the University of Belize.

Mission Statement

The University of Belize School of Medicine is wholly committed to educating and developing exemplary, caring, and service-oriented practitioners, leaders, and innovators in medicine, scholars in healthcare delivery research with an emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration, and adopters of innovative technology to advance the country’s healthcare sector.

Vision Statement

The University of Belize School of Medicine will be the nation’s primary, accredited medical education institution that will transform the healthcare industry/system, particularly in Belize.

Faculty and Staff

Mrs. Adelita Bell Administrative Assistant Dean’s Office abelle@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1160

Dr. Nassima Chihat Cardiovascular Surgeon Medical Lecturer - Anatomy nchihat@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1188

Dr. Shah Helmond General Practitioner Medical Lecturer - Physiology, Embryology shelmond@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1187

Mr. Luis Montero Senior Laboratory Technician lmontero@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1189

Dr. Adelita Zaiden ENT Surgeon Associate Dean, Pre-clinical Sciences Medical Lecturer - Case Studies in Medicine, Introduction to Clinical and Community Medicine azaiden@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1091

Dr. Dion Daniels Associate Professor - Genetics, Molecular Medicine ddaniels@ub.edu.bz

Ms. Karen Bautista Waight Academic and Accreditation Coordinator kwaight@ub.edu.bz Ext. 1091

Ms. Monica Hua Lecturer - Biochemistry mhua@ub.edu.bz