Faculty
Our University is proud of its faculty members who, united in a common purpose, are dedicated in their teaching of the next generation of physicians. The size and location of WUHS’s basic medical science campus in San Pedro, Belize contributes to a special atmosphere where faculty and staff are able to concentrate on maintaining the optimum conditions for students to acquire the basic medical knowledge necessary for their clinical experience.
Dr. Lerida Rodriguez lectures in physiology and histology at Washington University of Health and Science. She was born and raised in Cuba.
After studying medicine at Havana University, she completed her training as general practitioner. She worked in polyclinics in Medanzas, Cuba, before being appointed to the post of chief of the regional medical service.
Dr Paul Courtney, visiting professor to our basic science program in Belize, lectures on medical ethics. After graduating from Manchester University in 1981, Dr Courtney underwent postgraduate clinical training in London and Leeds.
Dr. Javier Zuniga has taught the microbiology and pathology components of the basic sciences course at WUHS for six years.
A native Belizean, Professor Zuniga graduated from the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas, Cuba, in 2003. Postgraduate training has included gaining qualifications in Emergency Medicine from Taiwan and Diving Medicine from Key Largo, Florida.
Dr. Elvira Briceno teaches medical terminology and behavioral science on the basic sciences program. Originally from Orange Walk, Belize, she now lives in San Pedro.
Dr. Michael Butler, M.S., D.C., C.C.S.P. teaches anatomy in the classroom as well as the cadaver laboratory. Originally from Missouri, he graduated in 1983 from Life University,
Atlanta, Georgia with a doctorate in Chiropractic therapy.
Dr. Javier Canul lectures pharmacology at Washington University of Health and Science. Born and brought up in Belize City, he studied double majors in biology and chemistry at the University of Belize prior to travelling to Havana, Cuba to complete his medical studies.
Dr. Ekiti Mesumbe spent 8 years on active military service before deciding on a career in Medicine. In this time Captain Mesumbe was the operations officer for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center, based in Bethesda, Maryland. He was responsible for providing blood products to the troops during the second Iraq war.
Dr. Richard Snouffer, MD. is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine. He has practiced Emergency/Urgent Care medicine and Anti Aging medicine for a combined total of almost 20 years.
Dr. Paul Smith, MD. joined us for the 2016 Fall semester. He is the instructor for Physical Diagnosis, Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Microbiology. Dr. Smith is a native Texan and along with his Doctor of Medicine degree, he is also a licensed chiropractor.
Dr. John Cooper, MD. joined us for the 2016 Fall semester and he taught Medical Terminology, Microbiology and Physical Diagnosis. When asked what his goal was for teaching our students, Dr. Cooper said “My overall objective at WUHS is to give the students the best education,
Dr. Marchand is originally from Providence, RI, and is a board certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Marchand completed training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee, and is extensively published in the field of minimally invasive surgery.