The University of the West Indies is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Joseph Frederick, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and Director of the Advanced Fertility and Research Management Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), to the rank of Professor of Reproductive Medicine, with effect from May 20, 2004.

Professor Frederick received his undergraduate and postgraduate training at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus obtaining the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery as well as the Doctor of Medicine degrees from the institution. He has been recognized by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with the award of Fellowship to these colleges.

He joined the staff of The University of the West Indies as a temporary lecturer in 1985, was appointed Lecturer in 1989 and Senior Lecturer in 1997. He served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health from 1999 to 2003 and in January 2004, assumed the post of Director of the Advanced Fertility and Research Management Unit.

Professor Frederick is widely recognized for his pioneering work in assisted reproduction technology or in-vitro fertilization in Jamaica. Having received training in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, he established the Assisted Reproductive Unit which now provides services for the treatment of infertile couples in Jamaica and throughout the region. The Unit has been very successful in its operations and achieved six live births in its first treatment cycle.

Professor Frederick has demonstrated strong leadership qualities and is an excellent administrator. Under his direction, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Child Health was restructured into sub-specialties, thereby allowing members of the department to focus on areas including Oncology, Sterility and Fertility and Perinatal Studies, in an attempt to improve the quality of research, teaching and service to the community and to the region.

Professor Frederick was primarily responsible for the introduction of operative laparoscopic procedures at the UHWI. The unit is now able to treat patients with ectopic gestations as outpatients, and to perform other advanced gynaecological operations. The programme has strong international appeal and is offered regionally.

Professor Frederick’s research interests have focused on the epidemiology of specific conditions within reproductive health, particularly uterine fibroids and pelvic inflammatory diseases, both of which can contribute significantly to gynaecological symptoms and admission to hospital and have a major impact on reproductive function and fertility.

He has contributed most significantly to international literature in the area of uterine fibroids through two well designed pioneering clinical trials aimed at reducing blood loss during the removal of fibroids. He has also co-authored important research on labour inducing agents, one of which has proven to be very cost effective and is widely used worldwide. These three studies have the highest citation index in the history of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and have helped to change clinical practice in the local setting.

Other research has focused on male and female infertility, and the increasing prevalence of male infertility. Professor Frederick has also conducted research on the role of auto antibodies in spontaneous recurrent abortion.

Arising from this research, he has published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has also written laboratory manuals and chapters in recognized textbooks.

His professional activities have achieved widespread recognition. He is a member of the Accreditation Team of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gyanecologists (UK) for hospitals employed for training in this discipline.

He serves on the Editorial Board of the West Indian Medical Journal, He is a Reviewer on the Board of the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a Member of the Grabham Society of Obstetricians & Gyanecologists, Member of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Member of the American Society of Human Reproductive Medicine.

He has a strong tradition of service to the University community and is regarded as an excellent teacher. He is also heavily involved in outreach activities including voluntary counselling services at family planning clinics in the Corporate Area and programmes related to sex education in high schools in Kingston and St. Andrew

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