Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar Named “Champion of the Year”

The Department of Defense – Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve has named Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar, chief medical officer of the V.I. Health Department, “Champion of the Year,” for her exceptional leadership in supporting its USVI wellness mission.

The Department of Defense – Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve oversees the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program which provides no-cost medical services to jurisdictions across the US and its territories. In 2023, Hunte-Ceasar, on behalf of the Health Department, applied to the IRT for its medical mission. In June, the IRT was deployed to the USVI to provide residents with basic medical, dental, and optometry services as part of the Health Department’s USVI Wellness Fair, according to the press release.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion praised Dr. Hunte-Ceasar’s performance.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Hunte-Ceasar. She led this initiative with extraordinary skill, assembling a dedicated team to manage logistics, collaborate with healthcare providers, and engage with community businesses and government agencies,” Encarnacion said. “Dr. Hunte-Ceasar remained steadfast and focused. Her dedication to decreasing health disparities in the VI was shown in her determination to expand access to care by introducing no-cost medical services to both districts.”