Dr. Tanisha Jerrick

AT ONLY 25 years old, Dr. Tanisha Toni Jerrick is set on making a name for herself.

Just last year, Dr. Jerrick completed the first part of her studies at the American International School of Medicine (AISM) in Georgetown before travelling to Atlanta in the United States where she finished her programme, then graduated.

She remained in the US where she is currently preparing for the U.S Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Upon successfully completing this, she’ll have her medical license which qualifies her to work as a doctor in the US and after receiving this, she would be able to specialise in a particular field.

“Because of my love for patient education, advocacy, preventative medicine and women empowerment I am aiming to specialise in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine,” Dr. Jerrick said.

She decided to pursue these because she found it difficult while in medical school to decide on only one speciality, but family medicine or internal medicine, according to her, “gives me a taste of everything.” Moreover, it supports her love for community medicine. Tanisha also yearns for an opportunity to work with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), as she is interested in Global Health.

But she has not shunned her home country, Guyana, because of her pursuits abroad.

“I do intend on returning to ‘good ole’ GT. I do want to get specialised because that way I think I can be able to give much more of my knowledge to the healthcare system” Dr. Jerrick explained and added earnestly, “I’m Guyanese at heart, that’s who I am. I will always represent Guyana and will give my bit in improving medical care there.”

As part of a public health programme she did, she screened individuals from three clinics on the East Coast for hypertension, to determine if they were aware of their blood pressure readings and if they are consuming a proper diet.

She also designed and developed a research project in 2016, due to her passion for community medicine and patient advocacy. It was called “Assessing the socioeconomic impact of Lymphatic Filariasis in Guyana”, which indicated that patients with Chronic Lymphatic Filariasis face a considerable burden, which should be addressed as part of the elimination programme being conducted at the time.

Amazingly, the research study was submitted to a panel of researchers in the Caribbean where it was selected and given permission to be presented at the third Caribbean Medical Providers Practicing Abroad (CMPPA) conference 2016 in Grenada.

A poster presentation was later prepared by the team and it won an award at the Iona Pierre Research Symposium held at the CMPPA 4th Annual Medical Conference in Barbados June 2017.

Extending to Barbados, Dr. Jerrick worked with citizens about their blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, their Body Mass Index (BMI) and did healthy lifestyle counselling.

And finally, in Atlanta for the past two years, she provided healthy lifestyle counselling, blood pressure checks and glucose readings and assisted with a health fair hosted by the Stewart Foundation.

Currently, Dr. Jerrick along with fellow Guyanese doctors, is engaged on a three-year follow-up study project entitled “The Effectiveness of the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) Project, education deliverables and advocacy design to address the socio-economic impact and the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Guyana”.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that any financial assistance in this regard would be appreciated.

“I entered Medical School with the mission of achieving my goal as a doctor and I am happy to say that I did accomplish that along with improving my confidence, self-esteem, discovering who I am whilst challenging myself to be an example for young people and those who also have dreams,” she said.

While the road has been bumpy and filled with palpitations, the doctor said, “I am proud of the young lady I am today and I will continue to better myself.”