The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has announced that Dr. Suzette Lettsome, an assistant professor in UVI’s School of Nursing and an advocate for community health, has been appointed the new President of the Virgin Islands State Nurses Association (VISNA), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association. This prestigious appointment reflects her commitment to advancing the nursing profession and supporting the health and wellbeing of the Virgin Islands community.
Dr. Lettsome, originally from St. Thomas, brings a wealth of experience and education
to her new leadership role. She is an alumna of UVI, where she earned a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing, and holds a Master of Science in Public Health Nursing from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a Doctorate in Educational
Leadership from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Dr. Lettsome has nearly 10
years of experience in community health nursing and three years working as a Registered
Nurse at the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas. She has been an assistant
professor at UVI since 2007 and a research assistant at UVI’s Caribbean Exploratory
Research Center (CERC). Her professional affiliations include the Caribbean Nursing
Association, and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness,
where she advocates for the rights of individuals with serious mental health conditions. 
As VISNA President, Dr. Lettsome emphasizes the importance of professional associations for nurses, who are both practitioners and mentors for the next generation. “As a nurse, it is an expectation and obligation to belong and actively participate in professional nursing associations. As professors, we are grooming our students and preparing them to enter the professional world,” she noted.
Reflecting on her vision for VISNA, Dr. Lettsome said, “In my role as president of the VISNA, I want to bring nurses together – whether they are working in schools, clinics, private practice – to support them, to advocate for them, encourage further education and move the profession forward as well as make a greater impact in the health and wellness of our community.”
Dr. Lettsome also acknowledged the need for unity and support within the nursing community of the Virgin Islands. “We have nurses that have wonderful skills and do exceptional things in the Territory, but they do it alone. We want to be there to support them and as an association we want to give to the body of knowledge to better the quality of nursing care.”
Dr. Lisa Lewis, dean of UVI’s School of Nursing, expressed her support and admiration for Dr. Lettsome’s accomplishments and her commitment to the nursing profession. “Dr. Lettsome’s leadership in the Virgin Islands State Nurses Association is a remarkable achievement that reflects her passion for elevating the standards of nursing. We are immensely proud to have her as part of our faculty, guiding our students with her expertise and vision for a stronger nursing community in the Virgin Islands.”
Dr. Lettsome’s appointment comes at an important time for VISNA as the association strengthens its focus on collaboration, advocacy, and educational advancement across the Territory. Under her leadership, VISNA will continue to represent the Virgin Islands on both regional and national levels, contributing to the growth and visibility of nursing professionals and the overall improvement of health care in the region.
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.
