MHES Celebrates PhD Achievement and Commitment to Caymanian Career Pathways
The Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES) is celebrating the academic achievement of Policy Support Officer, Noviann McLean-Gregory, who has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cell Biology from the University of Kent, and has since returned to the Cayman Islands to contribute to national health priorities through public service.
Born in Jamaica and raised in the Cayman Islands from the age of eight, Dr. McLean-Gregory’s personal journey is closely tied to the Islands she now serves professionally. After spending her early childhood visiting Cayman during school holidays, she relocated permanently following Hurricane Ivan in 2004, an experience she recalls as formative in shaping her sense of resilience and community.
Dr. McLean-Gregory attended Prospect Primary School and later New Horizons Middle School, where her interest in science and mathematics first began to develop, alongside a creative streak in writing. During her school years she also represented the Cayman Islands in netball at both youth and senior national levels, balancing sports, academics, and leadership opportunities from an early age.
“Looking back, I’ve always been curious about how things work, especially in science. That curiosity eventually led towards understanding disease processes and how research can improve health outcomes,” she said.
That interest developed into a focus on biomedical sciences during her undergraduate studies, before progressing to doctoral research in the United Kingdom. Her PhD focused on obesity, investigating the role of a specific gene involved in appetite regulation, energy balance, mitochondrial function, and fat storage. Her work is particularly relevant to the Cayman Islands, where obesity remains a significant public health concern, affecting a large proportion of the population.
“Knowing that my research connects directly to health challenges here at home, made the work feel very meaningful. It wasn’t just theory, it had real world relevance for the Cayman Islands,” she said.
Alongside her academic work, Dr. McLean-Gregory has also been actively involved in public health education in Cayman as a dementia educator and Director of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands. She frequently delivers presentations on healthy lifestyle choices and their link to reducing dementia risk.
“Public Health has always been important to me. Being able to educate others and raise awareness about lifestyle factors that affect long-term health has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work,” she said.
Following the completion of her PhD, she returned to Cayman and joined MHES as a Policy Support Officer, where she now contributes to the development of clinical pathways and public health policies. Her appointment also supports the Government’s priorities relating to improved public health outcomes, workforce development in healthcare, and building a skilled, high-performing public service equipped to deliver evidence-based policy solutions.
“Coming back home and working within the Ministry has given me the opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned in a practical way. It’s rewarding to know that my work can support real improvements in health policy and services. What motivates me is knowing that the work we do here can help improve outcomes for people in the Cayman Islands. That sense of purpose is what keeps me focused,” she added.
The Ministry has welcomed her achievement as an example of its continued support of investment in Caymanian talent and professional development.
The Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said: “We are very pleased to recognise Noviann’s achievement and to see it translated into meaningful work within the Ministry and public service. It reflects the value of investing in people and ensuring that Caymanians are supported to develop their skills and apply them where they are most needed. This strengthens not only the Ministry but the wider health system and the communities we serve.”
The Acting Chief Officer for the Ministry, Mrs. Exie Tomlinson-Panton, said the Ministry remains committed to developing strong professional pathways for staff at all levels:
“This is an excellent example of how academic excellence and public service can come together to deliver real impact. We are proud of Dr. McLean-McGregory, and proud to have professionals within the Ministry who bring both international experience and local understanding to their work. It is this combination that supports better policy development and stronger outcomes for our country.”
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. McLean-Gregory encourages young Caymanians interested in health, research, and public service, to pursue their ambitions with determination; highlighting the importance of resilience, lifelong learning, and contributing meaningfully to society, as the building blocks to success.
