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About AWIG

In  the 1980s, Drs. Orrin Barrow, Charlie Edwards and Rawle Edwards, distinguished physicians and gastroenterologists  in their own right, contemplated forming a regional association of GI specialists. In 1986, at a to fruition. Dr. Orrin Barrow employed his organizational skills and conference in Sao Paulo Brasil, they discussed and agreed on the idea which two years later was brought influence as president of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) to hold the inaugural meeting in conjunction with a MAJ conference, making AWIG one of the first subspecialty societies in the Caribbean.

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At the first meeting, Orrin Barrow was elected President, Rawle Edwards Vice­ President and Charles Edwards. The founding members present at the inaugural meeting were: Orrin Barrow, Charles Edwards, Rawle Edwards, Courtney Bartholomew, Judith Henry, Steve Smith, Oscar Jordan, Bert Brathwaite, Heskith Vanterpool, Blossom Anglin, Michael Lee, Kildare Donaldson, Shaughan Terry and Anthony Nembhard.

The Purposes of the Association are:

  1. To educate the medical profession in the region about gastrointestinal diseases, enabling them to upgrade their skills at the primary care level.

  2. To improve the skills of its members.

  3. To foster research in gastrointestinal diseases in the region.

Mission

The Association of West Indian Gastroenterologists provides a forum for education of its members, aims to educate the medical profession in the region about gastrointestinal diseases and to foster related research. Its members are primarily physicians in the English speaking Caribbean, but members, associates and supporters also reside in the Unites States of America , Canada and Europe.

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The Association holds an International Postgraduate Course each year at a location that rotates throughout member countries. Its limited registration allows for meaningful interaction with a world-class faculty.

Previous Meetings

1987

Jamaica, with the Medical Association of Jamaica,

The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel

1988

Barbados, with UWI and Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners

1989

Antigua, with Antigua and Barbuda Medical Association

1990

Bahamas, with Medical Association of the Bahamas

1991

Trinidad, with GP association of Trinidad and Tobago.

1992

Miami, Mayfair, Coconut Grove

1993

Guyana, with the Guayana Medical Association

1994

Hamilton Ontario McMaster

1995

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

1996

Bahamas, Harbour Island

1997

Jamaica, Giboney Ocho Rios

1998

Jamaica, Giboney Ocho Rios

1999

St. Lucia, The Royal St. Lucian Hotel

2000

Bahamas, Radisson Cable Beach

2001

Carnival Destiny, Carnival Cruise Line

2002

Barbados, Savannah Hotel

2003

Jamaica, Sans Souci White River

2004

Jamaica, Ritz Carlton Rose Hall 19

2005

Antigua, Jolly Beach Resort

2006

Bahamas, Radisson Cable Beach Resort

2007

Costa Rico, Marriott San Jos

2008

Dominican  Republic, Punta Cana

2009

Jamaica, Riu, Ocho Rio

2010

Bahamas, Atlantis

2011

Jamaica, lberostar Rose Hall

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Online, Lockdown 

2022

Jamaica, Royalton Negril

2023

Jamaica, Royalton Negril

2024

Barbados, The Crane Hotel

2025

Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman Marriott Resort

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