Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health (MOH)
Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie is the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Jamaica. She joined the Ministry of Health & Wellness in August 2014 as Director, Emergency Medical Services and was promoted to Principal Medical Officer, Head of the Emergency Disaster Management & Special Services (EDMSS) Branch in 2016. In February 2018, she was promoted to Chief Medical Officer.
Prior to joining the Ministry, Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie worked at the Spanish Town Hospital as Head of the Accident & Emergency Department from 2005-2014 after completing residency in Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital of the West Indies in 2004.
She attended Glenmuir High and St. Jago High Schools and did most of her graduate and post-graduate training at the University of the West Indies, Mona. She holds a first degree with Honours in Natural Sciences (1987); a Bachelor of Medicine-Bachelor of Surgery (1993); Doctor of Medicine in Emergency Medicine (2004); a master’s degree with Distinction in Public Health (2017); a Certificate of Achievement in Management Development from the Mona School of Business & Management (2009) and completed the Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard School of Business, Harvard University (2022).
Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie is well known for her leadership through the COVID-19 Pandemic where she demonstrated competence in technical knowledge, effective team management and strategic communication.
Aside from navigating epidemics and pandemics, the CMO has developed and championed the Primary Healthcare Reform and Secondary Care Model for Jamaica. She is driving considerable transformation in the health sector towards building a resilient health system that provides quality and comprehensive care for all.
Dr. Bisasor-Mckenzie has been recognized for her dedication and hard work in the field of Medicine with several awards including the the Order of Distinction, Commander Class in 2022 and the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Medal in 2022 for more than 25 years service to the Emergency Medical Services. She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Technology Jamaica (2022) and the Governor General’s Medal of Honour (2023).
Dr. McKenzie continues to represent the Ministry of Health & Wellness and by the extension, the country, at the local, regional and international level and has made several presentations globally. She serves on several boards and is the Chair of several health committees including the Central Health Committee and the Quarantine Authority.