First Guyanese to receive
honorary degree from US University -Doctor of Humane Letters
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, May 13, 2018
Mandy La Fleur will be the first resident nurse, in Guyana, to receive a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Saint Joseph. She accepted the honorary degree today in Connecticut, USA.
Nurse La Fleur was identified to receive the endowment after her resumé was reviewed in 2017 by President of the University of Saint Joseph, Rhona Free and the Board of Trustees.
La Fleur was considered because of her commitment to improving the health and wellness of the people of Guyana and her efforts toward advancing the expertise of nurses globally, and locally. The University also reviewed her role in HIV/AIDS prevention among health care workers, and her service as the United Nations Population Fund liaison for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Guyana.
These, President Free noted, “reflect the compassion and dedication to meeting society’s needs that the University encourages among their students.” The final decision to allow the University to follow through with Nurse La Fleur’s selection was endorsed by the PAHO/WHO Representative for the Guyana Country Office, Dr. William Adu-Krow and the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.
As a trained Nurse/ Midwife, Nurse La Fleur holds an MSc. in Nursing (Education, Leadership & Management and Public Health); BSc Nursing (Management focus); and a Registered Nurse/Midwife diploma.
With over 30+ cumulative years of knowledge, skills and experience in health sector management and practice, and in planning, programming and implementing of health programmes, La Fleur is well poised with the knowledge and skills toward the successful accomplishment of the mission and goals of the Ministry of Public Health – particularly in the division of Health Sciences Education.
Having earned a Master’s degree from the University of Saint Joseph, the Board of Trustees also invited Nurse La Fleur to deliver the feature address at their Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, today.
By: Delicia Haynes. Dpi.gov.gy