The children’s doctor

SHE’S considered the mother hen for the Bustamante Hospital for Children, because of her dedication, passion, and love for paediatrics, and by extension for children.

Dr Michelle Ann Richards Dawson, 47, says it’s service above self and she wouldn’t trade being a paediatrician or working with children for anything.

Born in Kingston, Dr Dawson attended Immaculate Conception High School in St Andrew and went on to study medicine at the University of the West Indies. Her speciality in paediatrics was predestined, she said, based on how easily children gravitated to her from she was a child.

“Growing up I knew I wanted to be a doctor and I knew I wanted to be a paediatrician, as anywhere I went children would come to me. It was almost a natural reaction. It was either a paediatrician or I’d have become a teacher. Even when children are fussy with their parents, they will be calm with me,” she told All Woman.

Dr Dawson has been at Bustamante since 1992 and was appointed senior medical officer in 2009. She said she aspires to do the best for children, who she says fascinate her.

“Words can’t describe how I love children. I love the services that surround them. In doing the best for them— our future — I want to move our paediatric services in Jamaica forward,” Dr Dawson said.

As senior medical officer, the paediatrician said her role is extremely busy, but she is now in a position to implement change.

“It has opened my eyes and made me able to appreciate things more. When you’re on the inside it allows you to see the areas for change. It is busy, but it is rewarding,” she said.

And so Dr Dawson’s dream of affording the best regarding health care for children is slowly being realised.

At Bustamante, she has been instrumental to the growth of the cardiac programme, advocating the training of speciality doctors, a 24-hour lab and x-ray service, and a paediatric accident and emergency department— the only kind in the island.

Regarding the implementation of these projects, she believes in always doing and being the best you can be and operating at very high standards.

“I took over the cardiac programme from the former senior medical officer, and in 2010 I was able to collaborate with international partners for more support. I believe in investing in people, hence the specialist training, and currently we have one doctor who’s away being trained in paediatric oncology for our cancer patients and one in paediatric accident and emergency. The more knowledge we have, the further we go,” she said.

“In 2010 we also moved our laboratory and x-ray services to a 24-hour service. It is something that needed to be in place if we intended to deliver the best care to our kids.”

Where the children’s hospital is concerned, her current plans are to see the growth of surgical and medical services, a cancer ward being built, the inclusion of adolescent services,  an increase in the intensive care unit capacity, and the installation of a neonatal ICU unit, which she says is included in funding from the European Union.

But she also has a soft spot for premature babies and in 1998 she went to study neonatology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland to improve the care of newborns and premature infants locally.

She explained that when a premature child is able to survive and develop, it is a rewarding feeling.

“When they’re born people see them and think they have a slim chance of survival but when you take a preemie baby and nurse it to good health and you see them grow up it’s rewarding to know where you brought them from,” she said.

A mother of two girls, Dr Dawson values family life and juggles her family, which comprises her husband Delroy, a pain management specialist, and her daughters Kristen and Keren.

She said they, along with her mother Ruby Richards and brothers Gary and Howard, have been very supportive.

“They are my right hand. My husband and I are very busy people and where the kids are concerned they never hesitate to jump in and help out by either picking them up from school or ensuring all is well,” she said.

Dr Dawson, also a devoted Christian at the Mona Baptist Church, said her passion also comes from her mother who instilled in her the need to care for others and share whatever she had with people.

As such, Dr Dawson and her staff at Bustamante Hospital have taken on the responsibility of caring for the children at the hospital as if they were their own.

“We are a close-knit family there and we know our children. Some are outpatients, inpatients, and long-stay patients. Because of how we interact with the parents and children, some of our doctors and nurses are the godparents for many of the children there,” she said.

Dr Dawson also used the opportunity to commend the team for their efforts in the recent chikungunya outbreak.

“It affected patients and staff. There were times when we had an influx and most of the staff was out sick. I really have to commend those who stepped in and stayed long, late hours and we made it through,” she said.

Also a pianist and singer, when not in office, Dr Dawson can be found spending time with her family, going to the country, the beach, or participating in the music ministry at her church.

“I particularly love St Ann, and it is relaxing to be anywhere outside of Kingston,” she said.

Her inspiration to continue service comes from God and her mentors; some of whom include the late Dr Barbara Johnson and Dr

Keith McKenzie, who she says paved the way for her.

“I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The Lord placed us here for a purpose and we should be guided by him.”

— KIMBERLEY HIBBERT