Bio

Dr. Best, graduated from Harrison College with a Barbadian Government Exhibition in 2000. He
attended Mona and Cave Hill for undergraduate medical training, and Cave Hill for postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is a Member of the Royal College of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. His subspecialty interest is in Reproductive Medicine (Fertility). His fellowship in Reproductive Medicine took place 2015-2016 at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is certified in “Assisted Conception” and “Management of the Infertile Couple” by the British Fertility Society. He spearheaded a QEH Fertility clinic in 2017, offering secondary care fertility services. He is an assistant instructor in UWI Cave Hill Taekwondo Club.

Qualifications

• ​​​MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), UWI, Cave Hill, 2005
• DM (Doctor of Medicine)(Obstetrics & Gynaecology), UWI, Cave Hill, 2012
• MRCOG (Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists), 2012
• Master of Science (by Research)(Obstetrics & Gynaecology), University of Aberdeen, 2016
• Clinical/Research Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine, University of Aberdeen/Aberdeen Fertility Centre, Jan 2015-Dec 2016
• Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching & Learning, UWI, Cave Hill, 2019

Research Areas

Dr. Best is involved in research in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, particularly in areas related to reproductive medicine (including infertility, menstrual disorders). He is tasked with supervision of research projects within the DM programme in O&G, and has co-supervised MPhil/PhD students from other departments, whose research involve the specialty. In addition to primary research, he is also experienced in systematic reviews.

Teaching Areas

• Undergraduate Obstetrics & Gynaecology (MBBS): MEDC4300 (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Year 4), Course co-ordinator
• MEDC5331 (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Year 5)
• Postgraduate Obstetrics & Gynaecology (DM) Coordinator
• MEDC6630 (Doctor of Medicine Part 1)
• MEDC6635 (Doctor of Medicine Part 2)

Publications

1. Best D, McIntyre G. An Audit of the Epidemiology, Investigation and Management of Fertility Patients Attending the Gynaecology Clinic of the Public Hospital in Barbados. West Indian Medical Journal. ePub ahead of print 23 Feb 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7727/wimj.2016.006

2. Best D, Avenell A, Bhattacharya S. How effective are weight-loss interventions for improving fertility in women and men who are overweight or obese? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence. Human reproduction update. 2017 Nov 1;23(6):681-705. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmx027

3. Best D, Avenell A, Bhattacharya S, Stadler G. New debate: is it time for infertility weight-loss programmes to be couple-based? Human Reproduction. 2017 Oct 12;32(12):2359-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex313.

4. Mandeville J, Best D, Waterman F. Characterizing the impact of menstrual and pelvic health disorders in a convenience sample of women in Barbados. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders. 2021 June 16;13(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/22840265211024437

5. Hunter E, Avenell A, Maheshwari A, Stadler G, Best D. The effectiveness of weight-loss interventions for improving fertility in women and men with overweight and obesity: A systematic review update of evidence from randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews. 2021 August 13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13325

Additional Info

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1446-2882

Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=uJXzEjYAAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Damian_Best

UWIScholar: http://uwischolar.sta.uwi.edu/scholar/46517805-76cc-3072-adc3-fc902ef9758b

Keywords

Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Infertility, Fertility, Reproductive Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology, Obesity