Tribute
April 14, 2023
Dr Cyrus’s Biographical Milestones
- January 6, 1929 – born in Layou, St Vincent to parents Dorothy Ambrose and Abraham Cyril Cyrus
- Attended the Layou Government School, then the Kingstown Anglican School (from January 1939 to August 1940, from where he gained entrance to the St Vincent Boys Grammar School).
- 1940 – 1947 – Attended the St Vincent Boys Grammar School
- May 1948 – Joined the staff at the Grammar School as junior master
- October 1950 – Travelled to Belfast, Northern Ireland to study medicine at Queen’s University
- July 1957 – Graduated as a medical doctor from Queen’s University. He received five different qualifications from Queen’s – Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Medicine (MB), Bachelor of Surgery (BCH), Bachelor of the Obstetric Art (BAO) and Master of Surgery (MCH).
- May 1961 – Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
- June 1961 – Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Diplomas in Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Child Health are among his other qualifications
- April 27, 1963 – Married Kathryn Mcturk of York, England
- First daughter Helen born
- November 28, 1963 – Left England on the Geesthaven, for St Vincent
- December 11, 1963 – Arrived in St Vincent
- January 1, 1964 – Took up duties as consultant surgeon at the Colonial Hospital
- Second daughter Rachel born
- 1966 – Introduced the game of squash to St Vincent and later built the first squash courts on the island.
- Sons Paul and Mark born
- 1975 – Service at the Colonial Hospital terminated
- January 17, 1976 – The Botanic Hospital formally opened
- 1983 – Awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for service in the field of medicine
- August 31, 1988 – The Botanic Hospital closed
- August 31, 2001 – Closed his private practice and retired
- May 25, 2002 – Pathological Museum formally opened
- 2002 – Designated “Local Health Hero” by the Pan American Health Organization
- 2003 – Awarded the Companion of the Most Excellent Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for service in the field of medicine
- October 22 2005 – Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (UWI)
- July 8, 2010 – Awarded graduate of the year from Queen’s University, Belfast
- March 20, 2019- Knighted by Prince Charles (now King Charles II), for services to medicine and health services
- March 24, 2023 Died at his home at Government House Road
- Books and other publications
A Clinical and Pathological Atlas: The Records of a Surgeon in St Vincent, The West Indies
A Dream Come True – The Autobiography of a Caribbean Surgeon
A Harvest Richer Than Gold – The Odyssey of a Caribbean Surgeon
Dr Grandad – A Caribbean doctor and his little patients and family
A Potpourri – The Swan Song of a Caribbean Surgeon
Dr Cyrus authored and presented over 47 peer reviewed scientific papers and compiled one of the largest collections of pathological specimens in the world.