Patrice Douglas is a doctor, but she has not worn her white coat since she completed her internship some years ago. Instead, she has been involved in the well-being of the nation through the Ministry of Health, serving first as a technical assistant and now with its Surveillance Unit.
Passionate about women’s health, Dr Pat, as she is fondly referred to by some, initially wanted to be involved in obstetrics and gynaecology but her introduction to the clinical aspect of her profession made her realise that she was not ready to take that path.
“I personally believe that being a clinician is a calling and if you are not called you are going to kill people because people’s lives are literally in your hand,” she told Stabroek Weekend candidly in a recent interview.