Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

107 Medicine BERT ACHONG (1928-1996) A fter excelling in school at St. Mary’s College, Achong enrolled at University College Dublin, where he received his medical degree. Dr. Achong joined Sir Anthony Epstein, a leading researcher in viruses associated with cancer at the Bland Sutton Institute at Middlesex Hospital, co-discovering the Epstein-Barr virus, the first human tumor virus to be discovered which causes multiple cancers as well as Burkitt’s lymphoma. In 1971 he made another major discovery, the Human foamy virus which belongs to the retrovirus family (viruses which contain RNA as the hereditary material in place of the more common DNA) and was the first example of this type of infection in man. Dr. Achong wrote several scientific articles on his discoveries and also authored and edited books in his area of research. Key among these was a book co-edited with his team leader, Sir Anthony Epstein, The Epstein-Barr Virus . He lectured for many years in the Department of Pathology at the University of Bristol in England. He was known to be a dynamic presenter who had a gift for inspiring students, making difficult subjects seem straightforward and making his subject area very exciting. COURTENAY BARTHOLOMEW (1931-2021) D r. Bartholomew studied medicine in Dublin, Ireland. In 1965, he became the first Caribbean physician to obtain a Doctorate of Medicine from the University College Dublin. Though he was offered