Respected UWI Mona Deputy Principal Dr Tomlin Paul Passes Away

Dr Tomlin Paul, a distinguished physician and senior academic leader at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, has died.

A statement released by his family on Monday confirmed that he died peacefully at home. Relatives paid tribute to a life marked by dedication to medicine, education, and service, describing him as a committed professional who consistently placed the needs of others first.

According to the family, Dr Paul devoted decades to mentoring students, advancing medical training, and supporting the communities he served. He earned widespread respect for both his professional achievements and his personal qualities, including humility, compassion, and genuine care for people.

Throughout his career at UWI Mona, Dr Paul held several senior roles. After joining the institution as a lecturer in 1990, he advanced to senior lecturer in community health and later led the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme. He subsequently served as deputy dean and then dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences from 2017 to 2021. On August 1, 2023, he began serving as deputy principal of the Mona Campus.

Following his deanship, Dr Paul took up academic leadership appointments at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda. There, he chaired the Educational Development and Quality Centre and served as dean responsible for Research, Innovation and Quality, based on information published by the institution.

He gained international recognition for his work in medical education and public health. Among his honours was the Five-Star Doctor Award from the World Organisation of National Colleges and Associations for Family Physicians. He was also known for promoting student engagement, continuous quality improvement, and social accountability within health professions education.

During his leadership as dean, the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UWI Mona received the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award in Medical Education for Social Accountability from the Association of Medical Education of Europe. His office also earned the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for the 2020/2021 academic year.

An accomplished scholar, Dr Paul authored or co-authored more than 50 academic publications, including a book and multiple book chapters. His research focused on quality standards in health professions education and strengthening social accountability frameworks.

Beyond academia, he collaborated with regional educational institutions, quality assurance agencies, and the Pan American Health Organization.

The family has requested privacy and prayers as they grieve. Funeral details will be shared at a later date.