About us

Key Historic Milestones

1945–1949

Founding & Early Years

1945: Recommendation by the Committee of Higher Education to establish a West Indian university in Jamaica.
1948: UCWI Established: The University College of the West Indies opens with medicine as its first faculty.
Jan 1949: Nursing Begins: Training for Registered Nurses officially commences.
Oct 1949: Foundation Stone: Laid by the Earl of Athlone for the University College Hospital (UCHWI).

1950–1957

Grand Opening & Royal Recognition

Sept 1952: The hospital admits its first patient.
Jan 15, 1953:Official Opening: Formally opened by Governor Sir Hugh Foot with 200 beds.
Jan 18, 1953: Churchill Visit: Sir Winston Churchill unveils a plaque honoring the UK’s financial contribution.
1956: The Tropical Medical Research Unit is established.
1957: The School of Midwifery is founded.

1961–1999

Growth & Transformation

1961: Major expansion including 5 new operating theatres, a 75-bed Pediatric block, and a specialist 4-storey block (ENT, Orthopedics, Psychiatry).
1967: Full University Status: UCWI becomes UWI; the hospital is renamed University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
1967: Regional First: The first open-heart surgery in the English-speaking Caribbean is performed here.
1978: The School of Nursing accepts its first male students.
1999: Jamaica’s first "test tube" babies are born at UHWI via IVF.

2018–Present

Fast and Lightweight

2018: Digital transformation begins with the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS).
2020: COVID-19 Response: Treated Jamaica's first COVID-19 patient in March.
2020: Performed the first minimally invasive cardiac catheter ablation in the region.
2021: Opened a dedicated Field Hospital and achieved ISO 9001:2015 project milestones.

Purpose & Direction

What Drives Us

Our Mission

Advancing excellence in healthcare through sustainable teaching, research and patient care.

Our Vision

To be the leading Regional Healthcare Provider by 2030.

What We Stand For

Core Values

Respect

We show respect for each other and for our patients.

Integrity

We act honestly, transparently, and responsibly with compassion and equity.

Innovation

We cultivate a culture of creativity and continuous improvement to drive forward thinking healthcare solutions.

Teamwork

We work collaboratively as an integrated team.

Excellence

We continually seek ways to improve patient care.

Meet our leadership team

Mr. Eric Hosin

Acting Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Carl Bruce

Senior Director, Clinical Services

Mrs. Angela Curtiss-Cox

Senior Director, Strategic Planning, Performance and Project Management

Mr. Widanelage Gihan de Mel

Senior Director, Finance and General Accounting

Government of Jamaica