Mr. Idi Stuart is a graduate of The University of Trinidad and Tobago's (UTT) Masters in Health Administration programme. Mr. Stuart is currently the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA).The following is an account of his experience, in his words, while at UTT and thereafter:

 

Prior to joining the field of Nursing, I spent five years as a Quality Control Officer at a manufacturing company. I exited the private sector to pursue Nurse Training and graduated in 2005 with a Certificate in Psychiatric Nursing from the Ministry of Education's School of Nursing. While studying, I had the opportunity to witness different aspects of healthcare delivery as I worked part-time at private hospitals, and practised as a clinical coordinator for an insurance brokerage firm. Additionally, as part of my Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Oncology Nursing at the University of the West Indies (UWI), I had the benefit of receiving practical training at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in England.

 

Upon my return from England, I completed my B.Sc., and commenced work as an Oncology Nurse, hoping to improve the standard of healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago. I quickly realised that while upskilling of the workforce was important to achieve health sector reform, effective leadership was even more critical. At the time however, few local educational options existed to provide the knowledge and certification required to transform health systems at the middle and upper management level, specifically in health sector management. The most established of all was The University of Trinidad and Tobago's (UTT) Masters in Health Administration (MHA) which adequately addressed the local gap.

 

From the onset, UTT facilitated ease of access to information for courses, an uncomplicated registration process, and ample information on programme pricing; all of which encouraged me to enrol in the MHA programme. Pursuing this programme also worked to my benefit as most senior management positions within Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) now required master's degrees, especially as more cohorts of the programme graduated. 

 

Overall, the Masters in Health Administration exceeded my expectations in educational development. The seminars and workshops we were encouraged to attend broadened our perspective and complemented what was taught in the classroom by lecturers who came from a wide array of professional experiences. Upon completion of the programme, I became more suitably qualified for several job opportunities in the health sector; however, I opted to apply the knowledge gained in the Accounting, Strategic Planning and Operations, and Transformational Leadership courses to my professional organisation -- Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association -- in attempts to restructure the 86-year establishment to face the challenges of the modern world. Additionally, my refined knowledge in policy formulation and health economics gained from the programme augured well in my ability to influence policymakers within Ministries, RHAs and foreign organisations.

 

The MHA degree from UTT will undoubtedly get you in the door for the interview and position you desire, however; the greatest benefit is the international perspective which is applied to our local public and private health sectors. This innovative feature has allowed me to enter many health sector organisations and feel empowered to implement effective and sustainable change, confidently. Equally as important are the long-lasting relationships made with my cohort and lecturers during my time at UTT. I thank The University of Trinidad and Tobago for playing a pivotal role in continuing to advance the health sector, making a more efficiently run industry, to the benefit of all citizens.