A night of Black excellence: BCDD gala shines spotlight on Caribbean healthcare heroes

WHEN DR Rochelle Pierre and Dr Stacey Bryan launched the British Caribbean Doctors and Dentists Association (BCDD) in 2020, they were driven by a shared vision: to see a healthcare system where Black Caribbean people would no longer face glaring inequalities or poor healthcare.

Both women, who grew up in Hackney, east London, have forged successful medical careers – Dr Pierre, who is of St Lucian heritage is an NHS Anaesthetic Registrar and Dr Bryan, whose family is from Jamaica, is a gynaecological cancer surgeon.

But they understood firsthand the barriers faced by people from the British Caribbean community in accessing quality care and pursuing medical careers.

The launch of BCDD was also inspired by the tragic loss of Dr Pierre’s close friend, Chad Alexander Solomon, to renal medullary carcinoma.

Since its formation four years ago the charity they founded has come a long way. BCDD recently held its inaugural Black Excellence Gala Dinner, a glittering event held at north London’s  Regency Banqueting Suite.

The evening celebrated the achievements of people of Caribbean heritage in the medical profession, raised critical funds for the charity’s groundbreaking work, and served as a rallying cry to tackle health disparities that persist within Britain’s Caribbean community.

An evening of inspiration

The event welcomed 170 guests, including doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, and other professionals. As attendees arrived, steel pan music filled the air before guests sat down to a three-course Caribbean meal.

Jamaica National (JN) and The Voice were among the proud sponsors of the event. JN donated the gate prize and The Voice donated part of the proceeds from its book sale on the night. And both companies pledged their commitment to support the BCDD’s work.

But it was the speakers who stole the show, delivering moving, inspirational addresses that underscored the night’s theme of resilience and excellence.

Among them was Dr Michael Beckles, a leading respiratory physician with over 30 years of experience. Dr Beckles, who specializes in diagnosing and managing lung cancer, shared his journey from facing racial barriers to becoming a pioneer in his field.

Equally inspiring was Dr Layla Guscoth, a former England Netball Team captain and now a Core Anaesthetics Trainee.

Dr Guscoth captivated the audience with her account of balancing the demands of elite sport and a medical career. Despite injuries and challenges, her resilience and determination to achieve has defined her path.

The keynote speech was delivered by Beverley De Gale OBE and Orin Lewis OBE, founders of the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT).

They shared the story of their late son Daniel’s diagnosis with leukaemia when he was 6-years-old. Their work is driven by a belief that no one should die waiting for a donor to become available and stressed the importance of people in the Black community coming forward as donors.

The evening ended with guests dancing to reggae, soca, and calypso in a joyous celebration of Caribbean culture and achievement.

Building a lasting legacy

The event’s success is a testament to BCDD’s growing impact, but also a reminder of the work ahead that Pierre and Bryan are planning to address the healthcare needs of Britain’s Caribbean community.

BCDD’s mission is twofold: to improve health literacy within the Caribbean community and to inspire the next generation of Black medical professionals.

Through educational seminars and workshops, the organisation wants to address the disproportionate impact on members of the community of health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Also BCDD’s outreach programmes encourage young people to consider careers in medicine and dentistry—fields where Caribbean representation remains dishearteningly low.

Since its inception, BCDD has gained national recognition, winning prestigious accolades such as the ‘Best Healthcare Organisation’ and ‘Excellence in Community Health Service’ at the Caribbean Global Awards.

In 2021, its work in highlighting the underrepresentation of Caribbean students in medical schools earned a prize at the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) Conference.

Yet, for all the growing accolades, its team remains grounded in the charity’s vision in achieving change for the community it serves.

“We are passionate about ensuring our community achieves the best healthcare from the best providers who they can relate to” said Dr Pierre.

“My own life experiences have highlighted the necessity of our work. Support will help us to empower members of the Caribbean community to achieve the healthcare they deserve and eradicate health inequalities. It will also help us to assist young people in their journeys to become doctors or dentists. Join us in making a meaningful difference and showcasing your commitment to global health equity.”