THE TALENTED PROFESSOR BEECH
One of the many exceptional home owners at The Palmyra Resort & Spa, Professor Derrick Beech’s love affair with the island was ignited by a fellow medical student from Jamaica in 1985. Between writing novels, scientific papers and doing important cancer research, the Chief of Surgery at Meharry Medical College’s School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, still finds the time to make regular visits to the island to be a force for good. Every four months, the talented and charismatic Atlanta native returns to Jamaica to bring supplies and provide treatments to local patients. He is much loved by the local medical community and the many Jamaican patients he has helped.
Dr. Beech remembers his first visit to the island together with a fellow student from Lucea twenty five years ago, which awakened his desire to make a difference. During a fabulous vacation, the two medical students visited hospitals and health facilities. Recalls Dr. Beech, “I realized how fortunate I was and decided that I wanted to give back. I want to help to make the world a better place.” Since then, the island and its people have become very dear to the talented doctor throughout his many visits.
In 2006, Dr. Beech committed to render surgical services and teach medical students at the University of the West Indies after meeting the prominent doctor Greg Thomas at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Montego Bay. Since taking over the role of medical director at CRH, Dr. Delroy Fray has been a strong force in developing a vibrant and successful partnership with Dr. Beech and Meharry Medical College. Dr. Beech has a high level of admiration and respect for Dr. Fray’s commitment to patient care and community, “I consider Delroy to be more than just a surgical colleague I consider him a friend,” he continues, “Jamaica has many very talented doctors and we work together to keep abreast about all aspects of cancer care and surgery. I come to the island every four months and bring much needed supplies.”
Back home in Tennessee, Professor Derrick Beech starts his day with meditation at 5:00 am before checking how things are at the 125-bed Meharry hospital by 6:45 am. “A normal workday finishes at around 6:00 pm,” says the youngest ever Chief of Surgery at the Meharry Medical College’s School of Medicine in Nashville, the US Medical School with the largest African American student body in the US.
The first college graduate in his family, Dr. Beech went on to Duke University followed by the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his surgical training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1993 and training in cancer surgery at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Beech’s resume has grown to 48 pages and contains countless honors from various societies such as the ‘International Who's Who of Professionals’, the ‘Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society’ and the ‘National Institute of Health T32 Training Grant Recipient’ in Molecular and Cellular Cancer Research at the University of Texas.
States Dr. Beech, “If we follow the latest trends, we can fight the cancer battle. Particularly in the case of breast cancer, we’ve come a long way. We won’t be able to cure it, but we can make it a treatable disease.” Dr. Beech resiliently commits to one week of surgery every time he visits the island. Word gets around, witnessed by the line of patients seeking help from the caring surgeon, “I got a call from the Savanna-la-Mar hospital some time ago, so I am planning to do three days of surgery there this week.”
Growing up in modest surroundings, the deeply religious cancer specialist puts the patient first, “A doctor commits to full patient care in the Hippocratic Oath. No matter how long it takes, I talk to my patients.” Recites Dr. Beech; “I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.”
Listening to Dr. Beech, who is such a positive person, one can imagine that the patients he treats must feel that they are in very good hands. States the Chief of Surgery, “Our focus today is on the patient. We deliver compassionate patient care with excellence.” One of Dr. Beech’s favorite success stories began two years ago, while staying at the Hilton Resort in Rose Hall. During a busy day at the clinic and 100 people waiting in line, he heard someone calling out “I know you!” A member of staff from the hotel, the young man became one of Dr. Beech’s patients and is back at work today due to Dr. Beech’s excellent care.
Although extremely busy, the doctor finds time for balance. He de-stresses through cycling, raquet ball and reading. Where he finds the time is a mystery, particularly when he reveals that he has written over 170 scientific papers and is currently working on his second novel.
Since the island has become like a second home, Dr. Beech was looking at properties in Ironshore just a few months ago. He found some nice houses, but was put off at the prospect of maintaining a house. Then, something magically pulled him through the gates of the luxury resort community of The Palmyra Resort & Spa in Rose Hall and he met sales executive Judith Ferger. “I liked what I saw and the rest is history,” says the soft-spoken Dr. Beech with a smile. Now he can be in Jamaica whenever he wants and comments, “The Palmyra staff is impressive, I feel like family.”
Dr. Beech remembers his first visit to the island together with a fellow student from Lucea twenty five years ago, which awakened his desire to make a difference. During a fabulous vacation, the two medical students visited hospitals and health facilities. Recalls Dr. Beech, “I realized how fortunate I was and decided that I wanted to give back. I want to help to make the world a better place.” Since then, the island and its people have become very dear to the talented doctor throughout his many visits.
In 2006, Dr. Beech committed to render surgical services and teach medical students at the University of the West Indies after meeting the prominent doctor Greg Thomas at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Montego Bay. Since taking over the role of medical director at CRH, Dr. Delroy Fray has been a strong force in developing a vibrant and successful partnership with Dr. Beech and Meharry Medical College. Dr. Beech has a high level of admiration and respect for Dr. Fray’s commitment to patient care and community, “I consider Delroy to be more than just a surgical colleague I consider him a friend,” he continues, “Jamaica has many very talented doctors and we work together to keep abreast about all aspects of cancer care and surgery. I come to the island every four months and bring much needed supplies.”
Back home in Tennessee, Professor Derrick Beech starts his day with meditation at 5:00 am before checking how things are at the 125-bed Meharry hospital by 6:45 am. “A normal workday finishes at around 6:00 pm,” says the youngest ever Chief of Surgery at the Meharry Medical College’s School of Medicine in Nashville, the US Medical School with the largest African American student body in the US.
The first college graduate in his family, Dr. Beech went on to Duke University followed by the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his surgical training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1993 and training in cancer surgery at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Beech’s resume has grown to 48 pages and contains countless honors from various societies such as the ‘International Who's Who of Professionals’, the ‘Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society’ and the ‘National Institute of Health T32 Training Grant Recipient’ in Molecular and Cellular Cancer Research at the University of Texas.
States Dr. Beech, “If we follow the latest trends, we can fight the cancer battle. Particularly in the case of breast cancer, we’ve come a long way. We won’t be able to cure it, but we can make it a treatable disease.” Dr. Beech resiliently commits to one week of surgery every time he visits the island. Word gets around, witnessed by the line of patients seeking help from the caring surgeon, “I got a call from the Savanna-la-Mar hospital some time ago, so I am planning to do three days of surgery there this week.”
Growing up in modest surroundings, the deeply religious cancer specialist puts the patient first, “A doctor commits to full patient care in the Hippocratic Oath. No matter how long it takes, I talk to my patients.” Recites Dr. Beech; “I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.”
Listening to Dr. Beech, who is such a positive person, one can imagine that the patients he treats must feel that they are in very good hands. States the Chief of Surgery, “Our focus today is on the patient. We deliver compassionate patient care with excellence.” One of Dr. Beech’s favorite success stories began two years ago, while staying at the Hilton Resort in Rose Hall. During a busy day at the clinic and 100 people waiting in line, he heard someone calling out “I know you!” A member of staff from the hotel, the young man became one of Dr. Beech’s patients and is back at work today due to Dr. Beech’s excellent care.
Although extremely busy, the doctor finds time for balance. He de-stresses through cycling, raquet ball and reading. Where he finds the time is a mystery, particularly when he reveals that he has written over 170 scientific papers and is currently working on his second novel.
Since the island has become like a second home, Dr. Beech was looking at properties in Ironshore just a few months ago. He found some nice houses, but was put off at the prospect of maintaining a house. Then, something magically pulled him through the gates of the luxury resort community of The Palmyra Resort & Spa in Rose Hall and he met sales executive Judith Ferger. “I liked what I saw and the rest is history,” says the soft-spoken Dr. Beech with a smile. Now he can be in Jamaica whenever he wants and comments, “The Palmyra staff is impressive, I feel like family.”
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