Tamarie Rocke
Tamarie Pearl Rocke (IHTM 2020)
Consultant Impact Initiatives and Research Coordination, AMR Division, WHO, Geneva Switzerland
Background
My journey in global public health began after completing my MBBS at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados in 2015. After four years at the Karl Heunser Memorial Hospital in my home country, Belize, I saw limited growth opportunities and yearned for broader impact despite finding fulfillment in my daily work. A pivotal moment came in 2020 when I received the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship to pursue the MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine (IHTM).
Why IHTM?
I chose IHTM because I wanted to gain diverse training in global health leadership while also drilling down into core analytical competencies. As a mid-career professional at a crossroads, the curriculum appealed to me as a refreshingly challenging departure from my conventional practice. I especially valued the Hilary term where I selected Development, Environment and Health as an optional module. The cross-cutting elements set a course for the One Health focus in my work even today.
Impact
During my IHTM placement and dissertation with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), I joined the innovative team on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While they had implemented point prevalence surveys to evaluate antimicrobial use across major healthcare facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2017, progress towards clear commitments on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) was stalled. The timing was critical - in 2020, many Caribbean nations, like others globally, struggled to move beyond draft stages in their national AMR action plans. This challenge became the core of my research. I focused on analyzing survey data from three pioneer nations in the English-speaking Caribbean, aiming to inspire others to leverage these insights for enhanced infection control and AMS. We pursued clear objectives: strengthening national formularies, establishing stewardship committees, and building robust governance through a One Health approach.
Just before completing my IHTM program, PAHO offered me a consulting position with their AMR Team in Washington, D.C. In this role, I helped establish Belize's national AMS committee within their One Health framework. Our initiatives included conducting point prevalence surveys across three major health institutions and launching comprehensive media campaigns to enhance public awareness of AMR. The success in Belize catalyzed action across the Caribbean, with five additional countries committing resources to similar programs, fostering new multidisciplinary partnerships in AMS and collaborative initiatives.
Following two successful years at PAHO, I joined the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters' AMR team on Global Cooperation and Partnership (Impact Initiatives and Research Coordination). Here, I’ve researched antibacterial and diagnostics development pipelines to shape global policies on drug research incentives, regulation, and access. In 2025, we are expanding into the understudied area of fungal resistance - a crucial step in addressing one of the most pressing threats to global public health.
The Last Word
“IHTM laid the foundation for my current work in AMR enabling me to contribute meaningfully to this critical global health challenge. Like so many other alumni, I am eternally grateful to the program for planting the formative seeds that have empowered me to add my voice to this urgent call for action.”