Government appoints Dr. Dexter James as CEO of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital

Dr. William Dexter James, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, has been appointed by the Government of Dominica to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH). He was given a two-year service contract and assumed duties on January 11th 2021, a release from the Government of Dominica stated.

Dr. James is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Walden University and holds a PhD in Health Sector Reform from the University of Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom.

"Dr. James is a highly skilled Caribbean professional with considerable knowledge, experience and expertise in the areas of Hospital Administration, Policy Planning and Analysis, Health Sector Reform, financial management, Strategic Management and Organizational Change among other areas," the release stated.

In August 2009 LOOP News reported that Dr. James and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados had "mutually agreed to part ways."

In October 2009, Dr. James was appointed as the CEO and tasked with leading the transformation of Barbados' lone 600-bed tertiary care teaching hospital.

Before his appointment to the QEH, Dr. James was employed with the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) as the Director of Corporate Services. In that capacity, he provided advisory support to regional governments and engaged as an expert and technical resource for regional agencies such as PAHO and CAREC and international organizations such as Accreditation Canada, LOOP news reported.

Adding: "He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Chartered Accountant (CA) of Trinidad and Tobago with an MBA in Health Management from Walden University. He obtained his doctorate from Bangor University (U.K.) in Public Health Organization and Management, with emphasis on public sector organization, management and transformation.

"In February 2018, in recognition of his leadership capacity and significant contribution to healthcare practice in Barbados, he was appointed as "Professor of Practice" in Public Policy and Healthcare Administration in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Barbados," the on-line news source stated.

In Dominica, according to Jennifer Astaphan, Chairperson, NHC Interim Board, Dr. James is expected to : Oversee the preparation of a staff capacity assessment; Develop a public relations plan and a change management strategy; Prepare a 2021/22 work plan and budget for the Hospitals Authority; Operationalization and occupation of new buildings upon completion in a phased approach; Develop and implement a financial management systems; and Develop and adoption of critical policies and procedures such as procurement and personnel as well as orientation and training in support of corporate governance and leadership of the Hospitals Authority.