Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
GDF officers graduate as medical doctors
Captain Nigel Langhorne (left) and Captain Esan Reid
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Officers, Captains Nigel Langhorne and Esan Reid, graduated as Doctors of Medicine on Thursday, August 13, after earning their Medical Degrees.
According to a release from the Army, the two young Officers “are the latest to benefit from the Force’s continuing policy to provide opportunities for the academic and professional development of its human resources and that of the nation.”
The Graduation Ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre.
The Captains had proceeded to read for degrees in Human Medicine after being awarded scholarships to study in Cuba in 2002. Six years of their programme of study were completed in Cuba, while the final year was completed last month, here in Guyana.
Captains Langhorne and Reid together with 62 others received their certificates as Medical Doctors while 58 other scholarship awardees who studied in Cuba and Mexico, graduated in professional fields such as Agronomy, Civil, and Electrical Engineering. Apart from the new doctors, 10 of the graduates earned Post-Graduate qualifications.
Both, 27 years old, Capt. Langhorne, who hails from Christianburg, Linden, and Capt. Reid, who hails from Bagotstown on the East Bank of Demerara, completed their Officer Cadet training in 2002 and began the journey to fulfil their childhood dreams to become doctors that year. They completed the first year of their studies, at the Morón Medical School in the Province of Ciego de Avila and studied alongside fellow Guyanese as well as with other students from around the world. During that first year they learned Spanish and were oriented with the Cuban academic system and culture. Captains Langhorne and Reid then continued their studies at the Facultad de Ciencas Medicas Matanzas and the Facultad de Ciencas Medicas Las Tunas respectively. They explained that in Cuba, the Medical Schools are named after the Provinces in which they are located.
According to the two Officers, learning a new language and getting oriented with a new culture was not easy but they rose to the challenge. They credited their military training with enabling them to cope much better than many of the other students.
“The training we experienced as Officer Cadets was really advantageous for us,” said Captain Reid. “It helped us to cope with the rigours and the discipline that our studying demanded,” he added. Captain Langhorne added that his sojourn at President’s College along with his Officer Cadet training eased him comfortably into the institutional environment that was Medical School. “I was able to adjust rather easily. Captain Reid and I had already experienced the reality of being away from home for long periods of time. As such there was not much stress,” he said. The Officers said that being Army Officers who were on scholarship meant that they had to deliver of their best each day. They said that although they were not at the same institution for five out of six years of our studies they kept in touch and saw each other regularly at various national activities and celebrations. This contact helped to motivate them along the way. Captain Langhorne is a former graduate of the Christianburg Primary school, Mackenzie High School, Queen’s College, and President’s College; while Captain Reid graduated from the Eccles Primary School, St. Stanislaus College and is also an Old Boy of Queen’s College. Both had earned several CXCs and “A” level passes.
What’s next for the new doctors? Both said that they feel happy to have completed their studies successfully and are glad to be home to serve their country.
They expressed gratitude to the GDF, the government and the people of Guyana and also to the government and people of Cuba for the opportunity. Addressing the issue of pursuing specialisations, Captain Langhorne indicates his preference for becoming a surgeon while Captain Reid intends to become a Specialist at Internal Medicine. According to a Public Service Ministry Official, the new Doctors are to complete a one-year of Internship from September 2009 to August 2010.
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