After juggling a full-time nursing career, motherhood and university classes, Danessa Blue-Smith is preparing to make history as the first graduate of the University of Guyana’s seamless Master of Public Health programme.

The registered nurse from Farm, East Bank Demerara, will receive both a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and a Master of Public Health degree at UG’s graduation ceremony on November 17.

The three-year programme allows nurses to pursue both qualifications simultaneously.

Blue-Smith, who heads the Agricola Health Centre, admitted that balancing work, family and studies nearly forced her to quit.

“There were times I didn’t think I would make it, so to reach this point is a blessing,” she said.

She attended nursing classes during the day and public health lectures in the evenings and on weekends, while initially paying her own tuition before UG introduced free education.

Her interest in nursing began after losing her grandmother to a chronic illness during childhood, inspiring her commitment to preventing avoidable deaths.

That passion also shaped her university research, which examined barriers to childhood vaccination, including distance from health facilities and parents' difficulty securing time off work.

With more than a decade of experience in healthcare, Blue-Smith now hopes to expand her work in school health, particularly addressing vaping, substance use and mental health among students.

She credits her family, colleagues and lecturers for helping her reach the finish line.

Source: University of Guyana