Dr Daley’s medicine

HE is known as ‘Bunsen’ because of a catastrophe during his secondary school years at Wolmer’s where a science experiment went horribly wrong, but when it comes to women’s health, he’s a perfectionist.

He is also determined, dedicated, full of desire, disciplined, God-fearing, optimistic, family-oriented and passionate about the well-being of women, so much that he becomes anxious and worried once they are nonchalant about their health.

In fact, his attitude distinguishes him from his colleagues as his patients see him as open, accessible, down-to-earth and their confidant.

Dr Daryl Daley, obstetrician-gynaecologist (ObGyn), was born in St Andrew to Drs Gwendolyn and Errol Daley who he says helped to lay the ground rules and blueprint for the spiritual and physical man he is today.

“I always wanted to be a doctor. My mom is a paediatrician and my dad is an ObGyn. They grew me in love, taught me the fear of God and how to manage my life. My dad indirectly brainwashed me as I saw how happy it [his job] made him. He never cursed his job, he was always smiling and he never seemed to ever have a rough day.

“He always came home with a smile, and I said if he can be so happy every day I want a piece of it. That seed was planted from as early as seven years old. I followed him to the office, went with him to the hospital to do his rounds, and followed him to the operating theatre and would sit outside and wait for him. He knew what he was doing,” Dr Daley told All Woman.

But getting to this level was no bed of roses, and Dr Daley shared that he had his own fair share of obstacles, which at times made him wonder if this was really his dream.

“In high school I had some difficulties with the sciences and it was really demotivating. I wasn’t excelling the way I should have been, and I consulted with teachers and they said probably medicine is not for you. My VP and some of the teachers told me to think about another career. I was always good with computers, so they said why not engineering, but I was determined to get this done, so I kept pushing,” he said.

And so he set out on a path that took him to medical school, and has shaped his career as an ObGyn today, though he also admits that period proved difficult.

“Coming down to the medical career I had some hiccups and I really wondered if I should really do this, but I kept pushing, and with the support from family and a lot of self-drive, working with doctors whom I admired a lot and who motivated me, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and just went after my dreams,” he said.

Now Dr Daley, who shares a practice at Gynae Associates with his dad, has certainly put truth to the old adage that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

But despite loving his job — taking care of women — he says his biggest pet peeve is women who don’t heed their doctors’ advice.

“Women’s health is very undermined in developing countries. Women at any age should have access to a standard health care, proper and adequate health care in a professional setting. But when you counsel patients on proper hygiene and care and no matter what, they still believe in folklore, it really irks me,” he said.

Dr Daley added: “When it comes on to the whole aspect of cervical cancer I get really serious because it is the number-one female gynaecological cancer in Jamaica. It’s preventable, and 90 per cent of women with it have never had a Pap smear before.”

He said his passion for ObGyn, specifically obstetrics, remains unwavering, particularly when it comes on to rural women, who make up most of his patients at May Pen Hospital.

“In the past three years at May Pen, the department has expanded going into rural areas in Clarendon and setting up clinics there. There are two I’m passionate about — the teenage health clinic and contraceptive health clinic. Most patients who come in are 17 or 18 with one child, and you really don’t want them getting pregnant again anytime soon,” he said, adding that he is also interested in cosmetic gynaecology as there’s a niche market for it locally.

When not at work, Dr Daley, also a foodie and past president of the local chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, enjoys travelling to the North Coast and discovering new parts of Jamaica, time with family, running or listening to hip-hop music, or thinking of ways to capitalise on his love for the culinary arts.

“I am where I’m supposed to be because God has orchestrated it,” he said. “The road to success has a lot of heartaches, but once you work hard and remain focused, you will attain your goals.”