Antiguan dental surgeon Dr. Derek Marshall has made regional history after being selected as the first non-Trinidadian examiner to participate in the National Trinidad Dental Board Examinations, held on November 27 and 28, 2025.

The examinations—overseen by the Dental Council of Trinidad and Tobago (DCTT)—feature both a didactic section and an extensive clinical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate competence across key areas of dental practice. The process is designed to ensure that those who pass meet internationally accepted standards of care.

Dr. Marshall joined a distinguished panel of Trinidadian examiners trained in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the University of the West Indies. Together, they conducted clinical evaluations over the two-day session.

L to R Dr. Larry Coldero, Dental Council of Trinidad and Tobago(DCTT) Examiner, Dr. Reisha RafeekChairperson DCTT examinations sub-committee& Chief Examiner, Dr. Shivaughn Marchan,DCTTExaminer, Director of The School of Dentistry ,St Augustine UWI, Dr. Derek Marshall-DCTT Regional Board Examiner

Day 1 focused on endodontics (root canal treatment) and fixed prosthodontics (crowns and bridges), while
Day 2 evaluated candidates in restorative dentistry (fillings) and periodontics (deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing).

A photograph released after the event shows Dr. Marshall alongside fellow examiners: Dr. Larry Coldero of the DCTT, Dr. Reisha Rafeek, Chairperson of the Examinations Sub-Committee and Chief Examiner, and Dr. Shivaughn Marchan, DCTT Examiner and Director of the School of Dentistry at The UWI St. Augustine.

Proficiency in the Trinidad and Tobago Dental Board examinations is required for dentists seeking registration and licensure in certain Caribbean jurisdictions. This examination cohort included candidates from Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Results will be reviewed and announced by the Dental Council in due course.

Dr. Marshall, a graduate of Temple University in the United States, is a senior practitioner at Dental Care Clinic in St. John’s and has served in Antigua and Barbuda’s public health system since 1993. He currently holds the post of Senior Dental Consultant within the Ministry of Health and is the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Medical Registration Board. He is also the Immediate Past President and current Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association.

In a statement, Dr. Marshall expressed gratitude to the DCTT for the “significant honor” of his selection as a regional examiner. He also thanked Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment & Civil Service for approving his participation, along with colleagues in both public and private practice “for their unwavering support and trust in elevating the profession to achieve regional recognition.”