UG Pro-Chancellor appointed Professor at British University

Georgetown: Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Prem Misir, has been appointed Professor of Public Health of the University of Central Lancashire in England. Dr. Misir, who has been the longest serving Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, received news of the appointment yesterday and during an exclusive interview with this publication, said that the appointment gives him a sense of academic accomplishment having been recognized by his peers in the world of academia.  The position offered to Dr. Misir comes as a result of his successes in Research and Publications along with a subsequent evaluation by the University’s Professorial and Readership Committee; and his continuing engagement with the University of Central Lancashire.

Dr. Misir who holds among other qualifications a Masters of Public Health from the University of Manchester feels that the appointment of Professorship at the University in England represents a pinnacle in his academia career.

The post offered to the University Pro-Chancellor is effective September 1, 2011 but according to Dr. Misir despite his appointment he will not have to vacate his post locally as he can serve in a dual capacity. He said that this serves as not only a personal accomplishment but will undoubtedly serve to positively impact the University of Guyana. Professor Misir explained that the appointment of Professor of Health for the University in England could seek to give the local university more of an international recognition as well as open doors to numerous opportunities.

Some of the possible ventures that he mentioned which could be gleaned from his posting would be inter-student exchanges as well as information sharing out of an inter-faculty arrangement, among other possibilities. The University of Central Lancashire was founded in 1828 as the Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge, based in Preston with its motto ‘Ex solo ad solem’, or in translation, ‘From the Earth to the Sun.’

The University has over the years evolved to become a world class institution, recognised with its inclusion in the 2010 QS World Rankings – the first Modern University in the UK to gain this status. With 11 areas of research judged ‘world leading’ in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, the University has the global recognition of its peers.

Dr. Misir was also a Clinical Associate Professor; New York University College of Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences; Faculty, Baruch College/ CUNY; Associate Public Health Epidemiologist, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Research & Evaluation Coordinator – Graduate Medical Education, United Hospitals Medical Center/University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey; Assistant Professor and Primary Care Coordinator, Interfaith Medical Center/State University of New York Health Sciences Center Brooklyn. He also served as Visiting Professor at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine-"Graduate Research Methods and Anton de Kom University of Suriname – Evaluation of Health Promotion and Education Programme”.

He was also a member of the PAHO/WHO Evaluation Team for: Renewing Primary Health Care and PAHO/WHO Consultative Team: CARICOM priorities for the Proposed Regional Goals for Human Resources for Health and member of Global Fund/CCM. Currently, Professor Misir has responsibility for Research Methodology and Biostatistics within the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana. The University Pro-Chancellor has also authored several intellectual publications.