This Week We Feature 'Young Professional' Garvin R. Dougan
Dr Dougan is a Medical Doctor/General Practitioner with the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA).
Being a Medical Doctor/General Practitioner involves the assessment of patients seeking medical care, management of their acute or chronic conditions and often referral to specialists for further management or treatment in those patients who require specialist care.
Our young professional officially started practising medicine in July of 2017 in Jamaica as a Medical Intern rotating through the Bustamante Children’s Hospital, Kingston Public Hospital and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital for 12 months before returning to serve in the Virgin Islands.
Inspired by Dr D. Orlando Smith OBE
Dr Dougan related to Virgin Islands News Online that his career path was decided at a very young age after a couple of unfortunate events.
“I was inspired to pursue medicine between the tender ages of 6 and 8 years old when I was a patient once for a left wrist dislocation and a motor vehicle accident respectively.”
Dr Dougan said he was attended to by Dr D. Orlando Smith OBE, who went on to become Premier of the Virgin Islands. The territory’s lone public hospital has also been renamed from Peebles Hospital to Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital.
“He [Dr Smith] made what was supposed to be a frightening and painful experience almost seamless. From that encounter, I always knew I wanted to grow to be like someone in his role, who dedicate the rest of their life trying to make differences in persons’ lives and help ailing persons and families get through physical and emotionally difficult times.”
There is no doubt that Dr Dougan is in the profession for the love of people and the desire to help them in his field of expertise.
“The most satisfying thing of what I do is getting good results from procedures, treatment, and medical advice to patients. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing a patient at their very low one day or for days and then a few days or weeks later when you see them up, out and about their daily business, know that you were a part of the TEAM and played a role in rehabilitating that patient.”
Overcoming challenges
Dr Dougan shared that, as a Medical Doctor, one of the major challenges faced in daily practice is breaking bad news to patients or relatives, such as death or bad results. “And how I overcome this is by showing empathy to patients and their relatives.”
Another challenge that comes in his way from time to time is dealing with difficult or aggressive patients and family members, who out of frustration or past bad experiences come into the consultation almost ready to fight while seeking help.
“These patients and family members I try to reassure, educate and calm the situation by allowing them to vent their frustration, and actively listening.”
As to his goals in his current profession, Dr Dougan said he would like to advance in his profession and that he has “specialties” in mind. “Whatever it is I decide to pursue it will be an investment in self and for the people of the BVI.”
Schooling
This proud, caring and ambitious Virgin Islander is a product of the then Belle Vue Primary School, now Joyce Samuels Primary School and the then BVI High School now Elmore Stoutt High School. DR Dougan said he had the pleasure of having both Mrs Joyce Samuels and Mr Elmore Stoutt as his principals.
“They both played major roles in who I am today, Mrs Joyce Samuels, may she continue to rest in eternal peace, and Mr Elmore Stoutt who to date is a very dear friend of mine.”
After completing high school, Dr Dougan attended H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) for one (1) year. He was enrolled in the Natural Sciences programme. He then went on to the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus, where he enrolled in the Pre-Health Professionals Programme.
Our young professional then went on to the UWI Mona Campus where he enrolled in the MBBS Programme under the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Budding businessman
Outside of Medicine, Dr Dougan is a budding entrepreneur, who owns and operates a growing trucking and heavy equipment business.
The name of his business is Garvin’s Trucking and Heavy Equipment, which specialises in land clearing, landscaping, garbage disposal, trenching and foundation cutting, among other services.
This progressive son of the Virgin Islands soil also has a passion and interest in crop and livestock farming.
Hobbies & Inspiration
Mr Dougan’s profession and other interests make him a very busy man but he still finds time to attend to his hobbies, which include reading, traveling, watching movies, motorsports, riding motorcycles, power-boating and fishing.
Some persons that inspire this young professional are Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr, popularly referred to as Ben Carson, Richard C. N. Branson, Usain St Leo Bolt and Barack H. Obama. “All these men in some way or the other defied the odds, put in the necessary work and became what I consider exceptional and true success stories.
Advice to young people
Leaving some advice for young people, Dr Dougan noted that once someone has identified their career goal, they should try to do an apprenticeship in the field to ensure it’s something that they would actually enjoy.
“Once you’ve settled on a career goal, start researching your options of universities, costs and accessibility and make your plan and execute it.”
Dr Dougan also advises to have an open mind and to not give up under trying circumstances. “Along the way you may or may not face difficulties. Be mentally prepared for this so that if or when it presents itself you aren’t easily broken and instead remained focused on finding a means of getting around your obstacle to accomplish your career goal. Getting to where I am today did not come without its own difficulties and challenges, but most importantly I did not give up, and if I can do it, you can too!”
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