Dahlia Whitbourne

Daily Gleaner, January 20, 1980

Dr. Whitbourne who qualified four years later [after Cicely Williams] in 1926 was the first of these four Jamaican women [Williams, Isaacs-Saward, Whitbourne, Manley] to practise Medicine in the island. She started her career in Jamaica as a private practitioner and remained in private practice until I933 when she was appointed Assistant Medical Officer (Health) in charge of schools.

Dr. Whitbourne was born on April 2, 1901, the eldest daughter of Joseph and Mabel Whitbourne She was educated by private tuition and at Wolmer's Girls' School from which she graduated in 1919 after a brilliant scholastic career.

In 1920, she became the seventh girl to win the Jamaica Scholarship based on the results of the London Matriculation Examinations She is the first Jamaican scholar to have pursued Medicine as a career. [I think this really means she was the first winner of the girls’ Jamaica Scholarship to pursue Medicine. JL]

Dr. Whilbourne trained in Medicine at the Royal Free School of Medicine of London University for six years, qualifying in 1926. She also gained an Honours Certificate from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

From 1928 to 1930, she was Medical Officer for the Lagos Town Council, thus becoming the first Jamaican doctor and the first female practitioner of African descent to practise Medicine in West Africa.

Returning to Jamaica in 1931, she had her application to enter the Medical Service refused by the Director of Medical Services, an expatriate. He would not even grant her an interview. She then opened her private practice.

An opportunity for Dr. Whitbourne to serve in the Medical Service came in the "silver lining" of the rainy weather brought on by the hurricane of 1933. This disaster gave Dr. John Maxwell the opportunity to recommend, the appointment of Dr. Whitbourne to the post of Assistant Medical Officer (Health) in charge of schools. With her appointment to this post, the Medical School Service, the first of its kind in Jamaica, was born and Dr Whitbourne became its first Director.

She was also the first Jamaican woman practitioner to be appointed in the Jamaica Government Service.

Clinical work was carried on by Dr. Whitbourne at the Kingston Public Hospital until 1949 when the School Health Clinic was built at [187?] Upper King Street in Kingston.

Through her hard work, dedication and campaigning, the School Children's Lunch Fund was launched in 1937 with money donated by charitable citizens.

Dr. Whitbourne retired from active service in 1961 and since her retirement had been giving voluntary medical care in the city's slums. However, she has discontinued this service because of increased criminal activities in these areas.

She was awarded the K.S.A.C. Meritorious Service Award on February 16, !961 after 26[?] years, 7 months and [ ] days of service to the K.S.A.C.