Forty-three leaders from across Jamaica’s four regional health authorities successfully completed the third cycle of the Professional Certification in Healthcare Administration and Leadership Training Programme, delivered by the University of Technology, Jamaica’s College of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness. 

 The graduation ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 11 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Initiated in July 2021 under a three-year agreement between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the University of Technology, Jamaica through its College of Health Sciences, the Professional Certification in Healthcare Administration and Leadership Programme is designed to enhance the training of healthcare leaders within Jamaica’s public healthcare system.  

 It focuses on integrating key roles, practices, and skills essential for exceptional leadership in the healthcare sector.  Since its inception, approximately 119 healthcare professionals have been trained and certified with 37 graduating from the first cohort in 2022, and 39 and 43 respectively graduating in 2024 and 2025. The partnership was recently renewed under a five-year agreement.

Keynote speaker at the Graduation Ceremony, Dr Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness told the graduates that in confronting the future of healthcare, the onus is on them to “show the clearest path to a solution” in the public health system. He added that in doing so,

“We need to see ourselves not just as the agents of modernization, but the true agents of transformation.” He noted that in addition to following prescribed protocols in the administration of healthcare to patients, providers should be responsible, adopt cross-border collaboration and deliver care with compassion.

“I am calling on the Nursing Councils of the world and the Medical Councils of the world and I am saying to them, the time has come for us all to engage in a process of leadership and reflection to determine to what extent what we have done, even though it has been tried tested and proven over the last 50/60 years, is still relevant for what we need to do today and where we need to go in the future,” said Dr Tufton. He added that universities like the University of Technology, Jamaica need to lead on that charge. 

“I want to encourage the partnership to continue and indeed to expand…transformation will start with appreciating the methods of delivery to get those who are emerging leaders to better understand how to adopt the new way. We would like to see some greater cross-border collaboration.” Dr. Tufton stated.

Pro-Chancellor of the University of Technology Jamaica Aldrick McNab congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the “career-enhancing certificate programme,” which he asserted will empower the health leaders to adopt more strategic approaches in their respective roles in Jamaica’s healthcare system. The Pro-Chancellor underscored that it was a seamless partnership in which the institution decided to engage as “UTech is fully committed to support the development of human capital in the health sector as well as in other areas of national importance”.

He stated that the university looks forward to delivering future cycles of the training programme as it is an effective model for public-private partnerships that support the country’s growth and development.

Dean, College of Health Sciences, Professor Adella Campbell, expressed hope that graduates will “not only extend borders but build new bridges in the delivery of healthcare and do so in such a way that redefines approaches to healthcare delivery and patient care in general”. 

 She reminded the cohort that transformative leadership is less about maintaining the status quo and more about challenging norms, fostering innovation and inspiring change as the health sector shifts from disease-centred to patient-centred care. “Leadership is not confined to administrative roles and as such you are expected to embrace evidence-based practice through research, mentor others, develop and implement innovative patient care models, engage in lifelong learning and staying abreast of emerging healthcare trends,” Professor Campbell stated. She also encouraged the leaders to embrace vision, resilience and adaptability, which are vital attributes in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.