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This Week We Feature Young Professional Dr. Brandon T. Frett
How many of us at a young age declared to mom and dad that we wanted to be a doctor, yet made a career move in another field? Not this week’s young professional – he remained steadfast to his dream and is now a Medical Practitioner at Peebles Hospital.
Dr. Brandon Frett, a 26 year-old Virgin Islander, walks the corridors of the hospital because he is passionate about helping people, and admitted he is “on cloud nine” for accomplishing this portion of his dream.
“People usually ask me if something in my childhood triggered me to become a Doctor but that was never the case. As long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the body and how it works. I would often be found eagerly reading about anything science related from a very early age. It gave me the edge in Biology class in High School, which was my favourite of the three sciences.”
Dr. Frett, the son of Gaverson Frett and Cleo Christian, has been working at Peebles Hospital since September 2011 and has worked in both the Surgical and Obstetrics and Genecology departments. A regular day for him begins at around 8 a.m. where he has “one on one” time with his patients before presenting his cases to a team of consultants.
“It is something that makes you a better doctor because here you have people who are depending on you to make them well and you have the specialist’s supervision to ensure your management is what it should be,” Dr. Frett revealed. “There are days when my schedule could be very hectic.”
Asked if his schedule is as gruelling as what we see on television medical dramas such as House and Grey’s Anatomy, the young doctor laughed and responded, “When you are on call it can get crazy”.
“I mean sometimes you barely get time to grab lunch or dinner....you may start from 8 a.m. in the morning and go on until the following morning with little rest,” he said.“However, the ‘on calls’ most of the time are not that hectic here because of our small population.”
And though he has had some “nerve wracking” moments, this young doctor recalled one that left an indelible mark from his internship at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas.
“I had a code and as an Intern you have to be one of the first on the scene and while I was running towards the patient I was trying to remember everything I had to do. It was very nerve wracking, and in the end I got the job done,” Dr. Frett said with a smile.
While he’s glad to give back at home, this Virgin Islander has plans to specialise in Interventional Cardiology - a branch of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter based treatment of structural heart disease.
“I think my expertise would be very crucial in the Virgin Islands, because there is a high percent of persons living with diabetes and obesity,” he explained. Dr. Frett has already begun to pursue his goal and has begun studying for the US Board exam that will allow him to specialise in Cardiology.
Nonetheless, this young professional has racked up some serious academic credentials. Upon graduating from the then BVI High School, he obtained an Associate's Degree in Natural Sciences from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, then he spent six years in Jamaica at the University of the West Indies – one year pre-med and five years earning his medical degree graduating with BMedSci (Hons), MBBS. Following graduation, he interned for one year in the Bahamas before returning to his homeland.
During the interview, Dr. Frett was asked if his age and youthful appearance hinder him from being taken seriously, to which he candidly stated, “I take it as a compliment when people say you look so young. Actually I am the second youngest doctor on staff.”
He added, “While I was in the Bahamas I liked to interact with those patients who had doubts because eventually I won them over. It was and still is a challenge I like to face.”
On a personal front, Dr. Frett is single and loves to lounge on the beach when he gets the time. He also appreciates the arts - music and dance specifically and never passes up a good movie at the cinema. He has also recently started looking for new extracurricular activities to try, the latest of which has been Badminton.
So how would he describe himself? “I’d like to think I am driven and disciplined.”
Asked what advice he would give to young Virgin Islanders who would want to follow in his footsteps, Dr. Frett said, “The best things don’t come easily or free and you have to work for them. It can take years, sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and tears. We seem to have this mentality in the VI that because I am from here I am entitled without necessarily having to put in the effort...but that is not how it works anymore. You have to be self-motivated and always endeavour to work hard for what you want in life.”
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