Young VI doctor shares inspirational journey to academic success
Dr Prince recalled his struggles seeking tertiary education and noted that it was through his partnership with God that persons were strategically placed to help him achieve his academic goals.
His message was that students know what they want in life, pray about it, and work towards it while trusting on God to deliver- a message that was appropriate to the theme of the Commencement Ceremony: “Partnering with God in pursuit of excellence”.
Dr Prince, using the language of the ‘twitter generation’ occasionally to connect with the young graduands, said he was inspired to pursue medical studies after listening to a speech by internationally renowned paediatric Neurosurgeon Dr Benjamin Carson, who became famous for successfully separating conjoined twins.
Biology, however, was his lowest performing subject in high school but that did not deter him from pursuing studies in medicine.
“So don’t tell me God can’t do it for you,” Dr Prince told the graduands before going on to relate about his academic experience.
God amidst the struggle!
At the University of the Virgin Islands it was $8000 a year for tuition at the time but Dr Prince said he still had no way to pay for it. “But when you partner with God he makes it happen,” emphasising that God strategically placed people in his life to help him.
He recalled his first job was as a result of Terrence Gumbs helping him to get in East Asia Corporate Services Limited where he started earning a pay check of $600 a month. At East Asia his supervisor Jean Williams made him open a savings account and after two years of working he had enough money for one year of UVI. One of his uncles, Rawlston, accommodated him at his house in the USVI so he didn’t have to pay rent.
At UVI, Dr Prince said he was practically adopted and had many friends and church members who supported and encouraged him.
After one year, however, the money was gone and even though he applied for a Government scholarship he didn’t get an answer. “Not even a hello”.
Lucky for Dr Prince, however, he said God answered his prayers one week before the new school year. He said he had a summer job at the time and one of his colleagues, on hearing of his plight, encouraged him to call Smiths Gore, a real estate company. “The next thing I knew my tuition was paid,” adding that his boarding, travel and books, plus spending money was taken care of for the rest of his bachelor's degree.
More victory
While at UVI, Dr Prince made the Dean’s List each semester and earned the highest awards in Chemistry and Biology in both his freshman and sophomore years. In 2000, Dr Prince graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of the Virgin Islands.
Following graduation, he gained much needed health care experience while working fulltime as a Pharmacy Assistant at Peebles Hospital. He also worked part-time as an Operating Room Assistant at the Bougainvillea Clinic with now retired plastic surgeon Dr Robin Tattersall.
Dr Prince then pursued post graduate studies at the University of Connecticut in 2003, where he earned a Master’s degree in Public Health.
He disclosed that he was given a paid job and free tuition as an international student at the University of Connecticut. Dr Prince recalled that the supervisor there looked out for black students and he joked that it was the first time he benefitted from the colour of his skin.
A grateful heart
“I have to also mention Julian Willock, the brother of our principal [Wade W. Tobin], he was there backing me when the Ministry wasn’t quite hearing.” It was noted too that the then Education Minister Andrew A. Fahie, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool and his favourite doctor when he was a child, Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith, also encouraged him.
Dr Prince was accepted into medical school at the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus), in Kingston, Jamaica on a full scholarship.
In 2013, he completed his residency training in internal medicine at the State University Hospital of New York.
Since completing residency, Dr Prince has worked for the past two years at St John’s Regional Medical Centre in Southern California, gaining the practical knowledge he intends to bring back to the Virgin Islands.
In 2015, he was the recipient of the coveted Art of Compassion award and was nominated for Physician of the Year that same year.
Dr Prince reminded that it was because he had partnered with God that he was able to achieve his goals and he encouraged the graduating students to do the same, noting that God as a partner would never default.
He also shared that he was proud to be a product of Adventist education and that he was looking forward to returning to serve in the BVI.
Three students were also offered book scholarships for tertiary education and Dr Prince provided his mobile number to all of the students to contact him if they ever needed help with anything during their academic pursuits.
More about Dr Prince
Dr Lesley C. Prince is a board certified Adult Medicine Specialist by the American Board of Internal Medicine, a diplomat of the American College of Physicians and works in the inpatient setting as a Hospitalist in California, in the United States of America.
He is a husband, a father of two and an avid supporter of youth through self-empowerment and education.
Dr Prince is the son of Malachai and the late Ruthlyn Earnesteen Prince.
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Hey VINO, I want to thank you for your sound contribution to journalism in the BVI.