In Memoriam: Sir Frederick N. Ballantyne

The Trinity Medical Sciences University family is deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Frederick N. Ballantyne on January 23, 2020.

In recognition of his great leadership in advancing medical education and public health in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinity had just recently dedicated its learning centre to Dr. Ballantyne, renaming it the Sir Frederick N. Ballantyne, GCMG, MD, Learning Centre.

University President Steve Wilson was a close friend of Dr. Ballantyne and was in St. Vincent visiting with him prior to his passing. “It’s very difficult to express the loss I feel personally and the loss to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He was an extraordinary person with truly uncommon character and leadership abilities. His invaluable contributions to the development of Trinity School of Medicine into an institution of the highest quality are felt every day by the entire University community. He will always be remembered by our students, faculty, administration and all others who enter the halls of Trinity. Dr. Ballantyne was especially proud of the fact that every Trinity physician will help nearly 100,000 people in their lifetime, no other business can impact society in such a positive manner as the graduates of a medical school.”

Dr. Ballantyne earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, following a degree in chemistry from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He completed an internship at Montreal General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, followed by a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology in Rochester, New York. As a trained cardiologist, he returned to SVG to begin his long career in the service of the nation’s health.

In addition to his service as a cardiologist, his leadership is credited with dramatic gains in public health through immunization, nutrition, and health awareness programs, the establishment of regional healthcare clinics, the modernization of Milton Cato Hospital, and attracting to St. Vincent the principal Caribbean surgery center for the World Pediatric Project, an organization dedicated to healing critically ill children and building healthcare capacity in the world.

Dr. Ballantyne was appointed as Governor-General of SVG, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and knighted by Queen Elizabeth of England in 2002, serving in that role until stepping down in July 2019.

Memorial services for Dr. Ballantyne are Wednesday, January 29th at 2 PM in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In his memory, Trinity has lowered to half-mast the flags of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the United States of America, and the University.