The regional and international academic community is mourning the passing of Tomlin Paul, a respected physician, medical educator and academic leader who served as Deputy Principal of University of the West Indies’s UWI Mona Campus.
Dr Paul’s career spanned more than three decades of service to the health profession, education, public health and institutional development.
Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles reflected on his passing, saying the university had been strengthened by his leadership and character.
“Our university was greatly enriched by the presence of this remarkable man. Humane, collegial, and decent to the core, Dr Paul was a pillar of the principle-driven institution we all hold most dear. During troubling days when dark clouds threatened, he called upon us to see the bright light of hope. We are all beneficiaries of his enlightenment.”
Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus, Densil A. Williams, also paid tribute to his colleague and deputy.
“It is with profound sadness and a deep sense of loss that I eulogise my colleague and dependable deputy principal, Dr Tomlin Paul. Dr Paul was no ordinary member of the UWI family. He was a giant among us as he championed student success, a portfolio that was close to his heart. Deputy Principal for student success was not only a vocation but also a devotion he had. It was Tomlin’s life’s desire to ensure that all students who entered our beloved campus were able to succeed at whatever their hearts desired. He was painstakingly thorough as he built out the student success portfolio at the Mona Campus to ensure that we not only delivered a world-class teaching and learning experience to our students but also ensured the future competitiveness of the UWI brand in the higher educational marketplace.”
Professor Williams continued, “Tomlin was a team player who would go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the UWI brand is protected and the Mona Campus not only survives but prospers at all its endeavours. I will miss his wise counsel, especially during times of turbulence. He was always a voice of reason, a calm spirit to cool any tension in any room and an intellectual tour de force who helped to position thought leadership as a major plank of the Mona Campus’s leadership during this period of administrative oversight. Walk good, Tomlin. You have played a fine innings, and now I am sure you can go into the pavilion with great certainty that the legacy you left will last a lifetime and the world will be better for it.”
Dr Paul began his academic journey at the Mona Campus in 1990 as a lecturer and went on to hold several leadership roles in medical education. He served as Senior Lecturer in Community Health, Director of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Programme, Deputy Dean and later Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences from 2017 to 2021.
During his tenure as dean, he championed academic excellence, student engagement and institutional innovation. Under his leadership, the Faculty of Medical Sciences received the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award in Medical Education for Social Accountability from the Association for Medical Education in Europe, recognising the faculty’s leadership in aligning medical education with the needs of society.
His office was also honoured with the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence 2020/2021, reflecting his commitment to quality, collaboration and academic achievement.
Alongside his leadership at UWI Mona, Dr Paul contributed internationally at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, where he served as Chair of the Educational Development and Quality Centre and Dean of Research, Innovation and Quality. In that role, he helped strengthen international partnerships and support innovation in health professions education.
Dr Paul was also recognised internationally for his contributions to medicine and education. He received the Five-Star Doctor Award from the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians for exemplifying the qualities of an outstanding physician.
A strong advocate for social accountability in medical education, Dr Paul served on a working group that developed the Institutional Self-Assessment Social Accountability Tool, now used by medical schools worldwide to improve responsiveness to community health needs. He was also a member of the International Social Accountability and Accreditation Think Tank, contributing to global discussions on accreditation and quality standards in medical education.
Throughout his career, Dr Paul combined scholarship with service. He authored and co-authored more than 50 publications, including the book Detailing Doctors, and contributed several book chapters and research citations. His work focused on improving quality in health professions education and advancing socially accountable health systems.
He also worked as a consultant and collaborator with regional educational institutions, quality assurance bodies and the Pan American Health Organization.
In recognition of his contributions to medical education, Dr Paul was named a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators and was also a member of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association.
Dr Paul assumed the role of deputy principal at the Mona Campus on Aug. 1, 2023. In that role, he led initiatives focused on student success and academic achievement, including efforts through the Academic Support Unit.
Colleagues, students and collaborators remembered him not only for his scholarship and leadership but also for his humility, mentorship and commitment to strengthening institutions and nurturing individuals.
Dr Paul’s passing represents a significant loss to the academic, medical and public health communities. His legacy will endure through the institutions he helped shape, the international networks he strengthened and the many students and professionals he mentored throughout his career.
