Liris Benjamin, MBBS, MPH, PgDip, PhD

Assistant Chair and Professor, Department of Clinical Foundations
Liris Benjamin
Contact Information

lbenjamin@rossu.edu

Biography

Liris Benjamin, MBBS, MPH, PgDip, PhD is Assistant Chair and Professor in the Department of Clinical Foundations, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM). She joined RUSM faculty in 2006. In addition to teaching, she has served as Course Director for Semester 2 Clinical Skills 2010 to 2016, Co-Module Director for Nervous & Psychiatric System 2017 to present, Service Learning Faculty Lead, Chair of Special Circumstances Committee, Faculty Advisor for Ross Academic Research Society.  

Her experiences prior to joining Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) include as Neurophysiology lecturer at the Mona Campus, University of West Indies, Jamaica; Dean of instruction at the Dominica State College and as Medical Officer. 

She obtained her Doctorate in Physiology (PhD) from the University of West Indies with a thesis in Neurophysiology entitled, ‘Gender and Gonadal Variations Influence Learning Behavior: Interactions of the Mesolimbic Dopaminergic System’. Additionally, she holds a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) and a post-graduate Diploma in Family Medicine from the University of West Indies; Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Guyana and Advanced Certificate in Educational Management, University of Leicester, United Kingdom.  

Dr. Benjamin continues with research within the Department of Clinical Foundations at RUSM including in the Basic Clinical Skills Curriculum and serves as Chair of Simulation Research taskforce. She has also served as chair of the RUSM Institutional Review Board, Regional Representative on the Executive Council of the Bioethical Society of the English Speaking Caribbean and as a member of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s Research Ethics Committee. She has presented at several international medical conferences; and is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, Association for Medical Education in Europe, International Association of Medical Science Educators, the Bioethical Society of the English-Speaking Caribbean and Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Education and Certification
  • Undergraduate Degree: [Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB.BS.) (MD equivalent)], [University of Guyana], [Georgetown, Guyana], [1993] 
  • Medical/Doctoral Degree: [PhD in Physiology], [University of West Indies], [Mona, Jamaica], [2001] 
  • Residency: [Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine], [Cave Hill Campus, University of West Indies], [Barbados] ; Princess Margaret Hospital and Primary Health Care, Dominica 2014 
  • Fellowship: Medical Educator Fellowship. International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). 2011 

Other Degrees/Training:  

  • Masters in Public Health, University of West Indies, Mona Campus [2006] 
  • Master Education Training Program, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), Dominica; 2008  
  • Advanced Certificate in Educational Management, University of Leicester,  
  • United Kingdom 2003  
  • Certificate in Public Health Leadership. University of North Carolina, USA 2004  
  • Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Medical Education, Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados 2020
Areas of Expertise

Medical Education, Neurophysiology, Gastrointestinal, Family Medicine, Public Health, Leadership 

Honors and Awards
  • Devry Healthcare Educational and Scientific Conference Award – 1st Place Award -Abstract submission in the category of Education/Pedagogy- Nov 2013 
  • Module Director Award- Ross University School of Medicine – Leadership, Devotion & Commitment to Excellence -2013
Affiliations and Memberships
  • Society for Simulation in Health Care  
  • Bioethics Society of the English Speaking Caribbean
  • Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Association for Medical Education Europe
  • International Association of Medical Science Educators 
Research
  •  Medical Education, Simulation, Public Health, Biomedical
  • Ross University School of Medicine.  2007- present
  • Research Ethics Committee of the Caribbean Public Health Society. 2014-2016
  • Institutional Review Board, Chair Ross University School of Medicine. 2014-2016
  • Institutional Review Board, Member, Ross University School of Medicine. 2012-2016
  • University of West Indies, Jamaica. Community Health & Psychiatry. Public Health. 2005-2006
  • University of West Indies, Jamaica. Dept of Basic Medical Sciences, Physiology. 1995-2000  
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology. 1999.
  • Morehouse School of Medicine, USA. Research. 1997. 
Publications

Benjamin Liris, Benjamin Griffin, Benjamin Carlita & Selfridge Nancy. STEPS in the basic clinical skills curriculum, Medical Teacher, 2018. DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2018.1438592 

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/K6KieRVNrRQJVeur3NaN/full 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29490527/ 

Benjamin LC, Benjamin GC, Benjamin KL, Benjamin GC, Benjamin CS. Nurturing Ethics in Medical Simulation. Bioethics Caribe Newsletter. December 2024 Issue: pp15-17.  

https://www.bioethicscaribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BSEC-Newsletter-December-2024.pdf

Benjamin Liris, Ezell K, Swindle J et.al., Steps in Becoming Physician-Scientists. Ross Academic Research Society Blog. https://www.rusmrars.com/research-day-january-2021 

Benjamin LC, Benjamin GC. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report Society For Neuroscience 2019 https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/7883/presentation/52817 

Benjamin L, Cooles P, Benjamin G. How to Nurture Clinical Skills with Basic Sciences. Association for Medical Education in Europe. Abstract book. 2012:229  

Benjamin L, Cooles P, Benjamin G. Quality Control in Medical Students’ Reporting. Medical Science Educator. 2011; 21(3s) 302. 

Benjamin L, Cooles P, Martin A, Welke L, Griffin Benjamin. Factors Influencing Neuroscience Grades of Medical Students. Journal of International Association of Medical Science Educators. 2010; 20-2s 217. https://www.iamse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20-2s_complete.pdf 

Sheakley M, Julie Baumberger, Charles Seidel, Benjamin L, Charlotte Rhodes A Case of Congenital Heart Defect for First Year Medical Students - Team Based Learning Format. MedEdPORTAL 2009; ID#: 3174 

Benjamin LC, Mc CawBinns A, Nevins D, Benjamin GC. Barriers to STI Prevention Practices Amongst University Students: Are Condoms Barriers? West Indies Medical Journal 2007; 56 (Suppl 1):36. 

Benjamin GC, Benjamin LC. Attitude of Healthcare Workers to Mental Health in Dominica. West Indies Medical Journal 2006; 55 (Suppl 2):35. 

Benjamin G; Benjamin L. Psychiatry in the Eastern Caribbean, in (Hickling F, Sorrel E eds.) Images of Psychiatry in the Caribbean, World Psychiatric Association. Stephenson’s Litho Press 2005. 137-152 

Kohn R, Benjamin L, Benjamin G. Dominica, in (D’Avanzo CE, Geissler EM eds.) Pocket Guide to Cultural Health Assessment, 3rd Ed. St. Louis: Mosby. 240-243; 2003.  

Benjamin G, Mahy G, Harvey S, Benjamin L. Risk factors for Child Abuse in Dominica. http://www.uwichill.edu.bb/bnccde/dominica/conference/papers/Benjamin.html 2001 

Benjamin LC, Young LC, Young R. Dopaminergic Lesioning of the Nucleus Accumbens Potentiates Learned Helplessness. Alzheimer’s Disease Review 1999;4:29-31. 

Benjamin L.C. and Young L.E. Differential effects of estrogen and progesterone on mesolimbic dopaminergic modulation of avoidance behaviour: Implications for learning and stress.  9th Annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Abstracts, 2000:10. 

Benjamin LC, Young LE, Young RE, Stewart J, Rajabi H, Rodaros D. Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy On Mesolimbic Extracellular Dopamine Following Stress: An In Vivo Microdialysis Study West Indian Medical Journal April 2000. 

Benjamin LC, Young LE, Young RE. Hormonal Variations Influence Learning and Memory. West Indian Medical Journal. April 1997