Page 32 - UWI MEMORY BOOK

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DAHL-REGIS, Merceline
1974 Biography 2018
Merceline Dahl- Regis is a graduate of the University of The West Indies School of Medicine, MBBS., The Johns HopkinsSchoolofPublicHealth,MasterofPublicHealth, DiplomateoftheAmericanAcademy ofPaediatrics, Fellow in Developmental Paediatrics, F.A.A.P . and is a tenured Associate Professor of Medicine at Howard University School of Medicine in Washington D.C., USA. Dr. Dahl- Regis was appointed Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health of the CommonwealthofTheBahamas, andservedonHealthBoardsofthePublicHospitals Authority,the Licensingof Hospitals andHealthCareFacilities,TheMedical,Dental,Pharmacy,andHealth ProfessionsCouncils.
During her tenure, she is credited with the development of updated health legislation, notably the Medical Act 2014, establishment of national ethics standards, national surveillance for infectious diseases, and promotion of strategic planning with a focus on building the capacity of the human resource. Additionally, she assisted with the design of the South Beach Health Center with capacity to deliver emergency services, while providing comprehensive public health services including optometric and audiology care.
Dr. Regis served as The Bahamas representative on many Regional, International and Global Committees. She is the first Caribbean national to chair the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts at WHO, the Program and Budget Committee of the WHO Executive Board, the Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Syphilis at both P.A.H.O. and World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Regis also served as chair of the Independent Expert Committee that validated the elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in countries of the Americas. She is recognized as the pioneer for leading the regional as well as the global strategy to immunize both children and adults to prevent Congenital Rubella Syndrome. Working with the Global Alliance of Vaccines Immunizations (GAVI), World Health Organization and Sanitary Bureau of the Pan American Health Organization, more than 23 million childhood deaths will be averted by 2020. Working with colleague Chief Medical Officers of the Caribbean, the region has combated dengue, malaria, chikungunya and water borne diseases resulting in a healthier Caribbean population.
She ensured the annual publication of the Chief Medical Officer's Report. Continue on next page... Memories