Professor Newton D Duncan has been appointed Head of the Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University of the West Indies, Mona effective August 1, 2011. This Department is the largest clinical department in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
 
Professor Duncan is a graduate of Excelsior High School and did undergraduate and post-graduate training in surgery at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He received specialist training in paediatric surgery at Booth Hall and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, University of Manchester, while on a Commonwealth Scholarship.
 
He has published widely on such subjects as, surgery in sickle cell disease, newborn surgical emergencies and was a co-investigator in the Jamaica arm of the Merck’s rotavirus study which culminated in the development of a rotavirus vaccine. Rotaviruses are the leading cause of infantile gastroenteritis and account for over 500,000 deaths per year in developing countries. His research accomplishments led to him receiving the American College of Surgeons International Guest Scholar Award, 1996.
 
He initiated specialist training in paediatric surgery at the University l of the West Indies, Mona in 1998 and was elevated to the Chair in Paediatric Surgery in 2007. He was appointed Deputy Dean (Clinical) in 2008 and chairs the Faculty’s Hospital Accreditation Committee. Professor Duncan is a member of the MBBS Curriculum Management Team, Student Tracking committee and the Faculty of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee. The Annual William Dennis Memorial lectures which showcases local and international academics was initiated by him and had its tenth anniversary this year.