Spotlight on Dr. Carol Althea McDaniel - Ardenne Alum

 

At age 15, she dreamed of becoming a psychiatrist, motivated by concern for the homeless and indigent on the streets of Kingston. She left Ardenne at 17 and had a checkered career of passing and failing courses until she eventually earned an Honours degree in Natural Sciences in 1989 from UWI. With strong support from her father, she completed a degree in Medicine. She moved closer to her dream by entering the UWI Psychiatry programme. Her interest in Forensic Psychiatry was influenced by family members in law enforcement while she worked and studied. This would allow her to work with mentally ill individuals who were offenders. She won a British Chevening Scholarship and enrolled in a Forensic Master's Programme at the University of Birmingham.

Carol accomplished what was nearly impossible by concurrently completing her doctoral degree in General Psychiatry (UWI) and a Master's in Forensic Mental Health (U of B) while working full-time in the UK. She returned to Jamaica in 2001 as the first formally trained Forensic Psychiatrist in the English-speaking Caribbean. She was appointed as a Consultant General and Forensic Psychiatrist at the University Hospital and the Correctional Services. In 2003, she migrated to the UK, where she became the first Black woman to be appointed as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Birmingham. In total, Carol has six degrees, two Bachelor's degrees, three Master's degrees, and a Doctorate. Carol is seen above discussing issues of common interest with a colleague.

Carol was particularly satisfied when working with Jamaican patients, who were often misunderstood. A white British psychiatrist thought that a Jamaican patient was delusional because she called him a piece of cloth. He continued to detain her in the hospital. Carol realized that the patient was mentally fit but angry, telling the doctor, "Yuh Ra@$ cl@@t!" The patient was discharged the same day. In 2008, she was flown to Jamaica to assess a mentally ill man on death row who had been convicted of murder. Her expert witness testimony in court raised awareness of insanity as a defense for homicide. The UK Privy Council later commuted his death sentence to life in prison. Carol, you are special and welcome to the Road to Ardenne 100.

Written by

Denzil Davis

Editor's Note

Dr. Carol is the sister of Dr. Dahlia McDaniel, a businesswoman and pharmacist. Dr. Dahlia McDaniel's artices have been featured in Bark Di Trute.