The Caribbean Health Leadership Institute (CHLI) saw twenty-five health care leaders graduating in its second cohort recently during a simultaneous video conference ceremony held with Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Dominica, Bahamas and Barbados. 

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in her role as Valedictorian, Dr. Joy St. John, Chief Medical Officer, Barbados, Ministry of Health said that the CHLI was providing health leaders with the skills to survive and thrive.

Dr. Shirley Lecher, Director, Caribbean Regional Office, Global AIDS Programme (GAP) for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they were willing to invest in initiatives such as CHLI if it meant that it would let the Caribbean lead the fight against HIV and AIDS. She said the CDC recognized that the region had good leaders in public health and invested in CHLI so that they could strengthen their skills.

Vice Chancellor of the UWI, Prof E Nigel Harris, speaking on the occasion told the graduating class that he hoped that they would begin to work together to address issues of health and to create best practices that would serve the region well.

From its inception in 2008, CHLI has sought to enhance the skills and effectiveness of Caribbean leaders in the regional health sector, including persons leading HIV and AIDS programs. The aim of the Institute is to elevate a cadre of leaders who will, in turn, contribute to the improvement of national and regional health systems. The Institute intends to not only provide academic qualification, but personal learning and acquisition of knowledge that can be applied to workplace settings. However, the programme is expected to interface with post-graduate academic leadership programmes at the UWI. To date, 44 persons have graduated from the CHLI programme and the third cohort is being recruited.