Mrs. Darlene A. Carty Baptiste, MA Ed., R.T.T., E.M.T. was born in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. She graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1992; Radiologic Medicine with a minor in Business Administration, as a Board of Trustees Scholarship Recipient.  Mrs. Baptiste obtained a Masters of Arts in Education with a concentration in guidance and counseling from the University of the Virgin Islands in 1998. 

 

In 2003, Mrs. Baptiste was appointed as the first fulltime Health Commissioner in the USVI and was the first non-physician and youngest local female to have held this post.  As the Health Commissioner she was responsible for a $67 million budget, provided support and advised the Governor and made recommendations that affected the healthcare system within the USVI. 

 

In 2004, at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University, in Cambridge Massachusetts, she completed the Program for Senior Managers in Government. Between 2004-2012, Mrs. Baptiste served as the Chief Executive Officer  for the Health Authority  in Anguilla; the Vice President for Caribbean Operations for Edwards Consulting; the Executive Director for Acute Alternative Medical Group, which was the first Urgent Care on the island of St. Croix (USVI); the Financial Accounts Manager at the Schneider Regional Medical Center (Formerly St. Thomas Hospital); and as the Technical Training Manager at Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Radiation Technology, in North Carolina.

 

With over 22 years of experience in the medical and healthcare services, Mrs. Baptiste joined the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority in 2012 as the Chief Executive Officer with immediate oversight for Peebles Hospital inclusive of 11 clinical sites throughout the Virgin Islands. 

 

The BVIHSA employs approximately 500 employees and has a $47 million budget.  The BVIHSA is noted as the second largest employer in the Virgin Islands and with the completion of the New Peebles Hospital Mrs. Baptiste is additionally charged with overseeing the transition into the new state-of-the-art-facility.  She has recently completed the certification in Six Sigma – Green Belt and is pursuing her Doctoral Degree in Healthcare Administration with the University of Phoenix in Arizona. 

 

Fun Facts: Might sound boring to you but, work and successful outcomes is my joy as well as a drive for continuous learning.