In 2018, Kerrone Courtney Stanislaus took a leap of faith that few from Saint Lucia, or the wider Caribbean, had attempted before. He left the familiarity of home and travelled to North Africa to pursue a childhood dream. Seven years later, he has made history as the first Saint Lucian to earn a medical degree in Morocco.
Stanislaus has completed his Doctor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat.
“Being the first Saint Lucian to graduate from medical school in Morocco is both an honor and a profound responsibility,” he said in an interview with St Lucia Times. “This achievement is not just about earning a degree. It symbolizes representation, not just of my country but of the entire region.”
The transition from a small Caribbean Island to Morocco was anything but simple. He had to adjust to a new culture, a different climate and a new language. His medical studies were conducted in French, while Arabic dominated daily life.
“At first, it was really overwhelming,” he admitted. “But with time and practice, slowly but surely, I became more confident.”
When asked what kept him going through the most difficult periods, Stanislaus pointed first to his faith.
“Most definitely my relationship with God,” he said, explaining that scripture and prayer grounded him during moments of doubt.
He also carried a deeply personal motivation. His mother passed away during his fourth year of study.
“I told her I wanted to be a doctor when I was four years old, and she poured her soul into ensuring that I had everything needed to achieve that goal. I owe her nothing but the best,” he shared.
That drive carried into his academic work. His thesis, titled The Impact of Physical Exercise Therapy on Cancer Patients: Clinicians’ Perspective, earned the school’s graduation prize.
“I chose this topic because I’m pretty passionate about fitness,” he said. “Cancer has also personally impacted me since it claimed the lives of two prominent figures in my life, my mother and my uncle.”
His research explored the role of exercise in cancer treatment and examined whether clinicians are adequately engaged in prescribing it. He believes more can be done.
“I truly believe exercise can serve as a safe, cheaper and feasible adjunctive approach in our ongoing global battle against cancer,” he added.
His achievement comes at a time when Saint Lucia’s long-standing medical partnership with Cuba faces uncertainty amid shifting geopolitical pressures. For decades, Cuba has been a key training ground for Caribbean medical students. With questions now emerging about the sustainability of that pathway, attention has turned to possible alternatives.
Stanislaus believes Morocco could be one such option, though he was careful not to romanticise the experience.
“Yes, absolutely,” he said when asked whether Morocco could serve as a pathway for other Saint Lucians. “However, I will be very frank, Morocco is far from a bed of roses and truly isn’t for the faint or weak of heart.”
“There is no shortage of challenges,” he continued. “But for those who are hungry enough and cling to a sense of purpose greater than themselves, you can definitely thrive here.”
To young Saint Lucians considering medicine abroad, his advice is clear.
“Studying abroad is not only an academic challenge but a personal one,” he said. “You must be open-minded, disciplined and adaptable.”
He also urged future doctors to carefully examine their motivations.
“Choose it for the right reasons, not prestige, not pressure, but for the genuine love and commitment to service and lifelong learning.”
SOURCE: stluciatimes.com