‘Clarendon shaped me’
Doctor humbled, gives credit to home town for achievements that led to Governor General’s Award
Published:Thursday | July 10, 2025 | 12:13 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
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As a little boy growing up in Clarendon, O’Rane Thomas came face to face with a reality no child wishes to encounter – the possibility of losing his left arm. Between the ages of three and seven, he suffered four upper-limb fractures. One injury...
As a little boy growing up in Clarendon, O’Rane Thomas came face to face with a reality no child wishes to encounter – the possibility of losing his left arm.
Between the ages of three and seven, he suffered four upper-limb fractures. One injury was so severe, amputation seemed the only option. However, a team of skilled surgeons intervened in time, saving not just his limb, but planting the seed of a dream that would later define his life.
“That experience left an indelible impression on me,” the now Dr O’Rane Thomas told The Gleaner. “It opened my eyes to the transformative power of surgery. From then, I knew I wanted to be the one in the operating room – giving people back their lives, their dignity, their future.”
Years later, Thomas has become that very person, and more.
Thomas, a former head boy of Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, also graduated at the top of his cohort with a Doctor of Medicine in surgery in 2023.
Earlier this year, he etched his name in the history books by performing the first laparoscopic colon cancer surgery at the May Pen Hospital in his home town. For his trailblazing contribution to medicine and unwavering service to his parish, he was named the 2025 Governor General Achievement Award recipient for Clarendon for the age 25-35 category.
WIN FOR COMMUNITY
“I am truly honoured and deeply humbled. This award isn’t just a personal win – it’s for my community. Clarendon shaped me. Everything I do is about giving back to the place that raised me,” Thomas shared.
He lauds his mother, a cashier who later became a primary-school teacher, and his father, a technician, for instilling the values that fuel his work today. He added that his path to success was built on discipline, faith, and sacrifice.
“I saw my parents work quietly and consistently, never complaining, always pushing forward,” he said. “Watching my mother earn her bachelor’s degree in the same year I graduated from medical school reminded me that it’s never too late to rise.”
However, Thomas’ rise is not just personal; it is communal. His heart remains deeply rooted in Clarendon, and he is determined to ensure that the best in healthcare and education is not limited to Jamaica’s urban centres.
MODERNISE HEALTHCARE IN CLARENDON
Thomas posits his return to May Pen Hospital after postgraduate training as intentional, adding that it was not merely about professional growth, it was a mission to modernise healthcare in his home parish.
By introducing advanced laparoscopic surgeries – such as colon cancer removals, hernia repairs, and appendectomies – he has brought minimally invasive surgical care to a community that once had to travel far for such interventions.
“These techniques reduce pain, lower recovery time, and help patients return to normal life sooner. It’s life-changing, and now, it’s happening right here in Clarendon.”
Yet surgery is only one part of his impact.
Thomas leads a robust cancer awareness campaign across the parish, tackling misinformation and promoting early screening for breast and colon cancers. Through radio, TV, community health talks, and his ‘Surgery in 3D’ social media platform, he is reaching people who may have traditionally been left behind by the formal health system.
He regularly hosts health education sessions in schools, churches, and workplaces. He mentors students and junior doctors, participates in career days, and sponsors the O.D. Thomas Science Award – a personal initiative to nurture scientific talent in young Clarendonians.
“Our people are brilliant,” he said. “They just need to see what’s possible. When they see someone who walked the same streets, sat in the same classrooms, and now wears a surgeon’s coat, they believe they can do it too.”
Thomas is also a vocal advocate for retaining medical talent in rural areas, and champions public–private partnerships to bolster training and access to resources. Organisations like the Association of Surgeons in Jamaica, AA Laquis (Jamaica) Ltd, and the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection have been instrumental in advancing his mission.
Thomas has recently established a colon cancer registry to track patterns and outcomes, which he hopes will influence local surgical protocols and national health policies.
“We can’t improve what we don’t understand. Research has to guide our evolution,” Thomas said.
Despite his accolades and pioneering work, Thomas remains grounded in his ‘why’.
“My deepest motivation comes from service. Practising medicine isn’t about prestige, it’s about people. It’s about showing up every day with purpose and compassion.”
To young Jamaicans dreaming of careers in medicine or science, his advice is simple but profound: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Be consistent. And above all, do it for the love – not the hype.”