ABSTRACT The Doctor of Medicine (DM) in Paediatrics Programme began in 1972 in Jamaica and was the first four-year clinical residency programme to be offered at The University of the West Indies (UWI). The DM Paediatrics programme trains residents for four-years and equips them after completion to practice as consultant paediatricians. Over the forty-five years of offering this programme, 237 students have been enrolled and 159 students have successfully completed the course. Over ninety per cent of the graduates are Caribbean nationals. Graduates from the DM Paediatrics programme at Mona are currently serving in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries, the United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Approximately, 24% have pursued subspecialty training and 60% work in a hospital-based setting while 30% work in private practice and 27% in academia and research. There are some of these that combine hospital ward work with academia and research. The DM (Paediatrics) Programme at the UWI, Mona, has achieved its mandate of providing paediatricians for Jamaica and the Caribbean and is committed to continue to train paediatricians to meet existing paediatric healthcare needs in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

RESUMEN El Programa de Doctor en Medicina (DM) en Pediatría comenzó en 1972 en Jamaica y fue el primer programa de residencia clínica de cuatro años que se ofreció en la Universidad de West Indies (UWI). El programa DM de Pediatría entrena a los residentes durante cuatro años y los faculta después de su terminación para practicar como pediatras consultores. En los 45 años de este programa, 237 estudiantes han sido matriculados y 159 estudiantes han completado con éxito el curso. Más del 90 por ciento de los graduados son nacionales del Caribe. Los egresados del programa DM de Pediatría de Mona prestan actualmente sus servicios en Jamaica y otros países del Caribe, los Estados Unidos de América (EE. UU.), Canadá, Australia y el Reino Unido. Aproximadamente, el 24% han continuado su formación en subespecialidades; el 60% trabaja en el medio hospitalario, mientras que el 30% trabaja en la práctica privada; y el 27% en la academia y la investigación. Algunos de ellos combinan el trabajo en las salas de hospitales con la academia y la investigación. El programa DM (Pediatría) de UWI, Mona, ha logrado su mandato de proveer pediatras para Jamaica y el Caribe, y se compromete a seguir capacitando a pediatras para que satisfagan las necesidades de salud pediátrica existentes en Jamaica y el Caribe.

This article is a transcription of an electronic symposium held on November 28, 2000 in which active researchers were invited by the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC) to discuss the advances of the last decade in the peptide field with particular focus on central actions of prolactin and cholecystokinin. The comments in this symposium reflect the diversity of prolactin and cholecystokinin research and demonstrate how the field has matured. Since both peptides play a role in reproductive behaviors, particularly mother-infant interactions, this was the starting point of the discussion. Recent findings on the role of the receptor subtypes as well as interaction with other peptides in this context were also discussed. Another issue discussed was the possible role of these peptides in dopamine-mediated rewarding systems. Both prolactin and cholecystokinin are involved in mechanisms controlling food intake and somatic pain thresholds. The role of peripheral inputs through vagal afferents modulating behavior was stressed. The advent of knockout animals as potential generators of new knowledge in this field was also addressed. Finally, interactions with other neuropeptides and investigation of the role of these peptides in other fields such as immunology were mentioned. Knowledge about the central functions of prolactin and cholecystokinin has shown important advances. The role of these peptides in neurological and psychiatric syndromes such as anorexia, drug abuse and physiological disturbances that lead to a compromised maternal behavior seems relevant.