She was just 11 years old when her father, Detective Sergeant Harry Kooseram, was brutally snatched from her by a lone gunman who shot him to death as he rode to work from his Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara home to the Vigilance Police Station.
Fast forward 24 years, and that 11-year-old girl is now Dr Kumarie Kooseram, who is about to open her own child neurology practice in Jamaica, where she also works as a consultant at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
She has excelled throughout her academic journey, from President’s College to the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and most recently the University of British Columbia in Canada, where she completed a fellowship in child neurology.
But she is quick to point out that she could not have achieved her success without the kindness of many people, most of whom she did not even know, who came together to support her education without hesitation.
That fateful day, April 14, 2002, remains etched in her memory. She recalls hearing the gunshots shortly after her father rode off, and it was the image of him lying on the roadside corner—though she never saw his body—that initially motivated her to study medicine.
Even after so many years, Dr Kooseram becomes emotional when recalling how her father was gunned down.
Fighting back tears during a virtual interview with Kiskadee Watch recently, she said she remembers every detail of that morning.
“I still get emotional when I talk about it. I remember him saying goodbye…” she said, pausing as tears filled her eyes.
She recalled hearing the gunshots and looking through a window to see a man running past their home. It was later revealed that the man was her father’s killer.
While her mother and others rushed to the scene, young Kumarie remained at home because her older sister, Amitra, who was 17 at the time, was still asleep, and she did not want her to wake up and find the house empty.
“But it’s a good thing I did not go. I don’t think I could have gotten the memory of him lying on the road out of my mind.”
Sergeant Kooseram, who was 37 at the time of his death, was killed during a chilling crime spree in Guyana that saw a number of police officers gunned down, some while performing routine duties such as directing traffic.
Single mom
Dr Kooseram recalls that following her father’s death, the family faced tremendous financial hardship. Although her mother worked at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), it was her father who largely supported the family. With him gone, there were days when the young Kumarie was unsure where her next meal would come from.
Her mother left home at 5 a.m. for work and, despite taking on additional jobs, the income was never enough to adequately support the family.
A determined Kumarie used her circumstances as motivation rather than discouragement.
At the time, she was attending President’s College and opted to live on campus shortly after her father’s death in an effort to better focus on her studies. When she wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, she emerged as one of the country’s top students.
Choosing to attend the University of Guyana was a difficult decision because finances remained tight, but the benevolence of many made the journey possible.
“There were so many people that helped me to actually get into university, people that I didn’t even know, who just stepped up and said they would give me money to go to university,” she shared.
The generosity of many, she said, demonstrated how Guyanese can come together to help each other.
“And so, with the help of family friends and complete strangers, I was able to get to university. Again, I graduated at the top of my class and received the Prime Minister’s Medal award,” she said with a small smile.
While her older sister Amitra struggled greatly following their father’s death, Dr Kooseram said she is doing much better today. She is now a small business owner and a devoted mother of three.
My father’s death
Her father’s death influenced the direction of her studies. Initially, she wanted to become a general surgeon because, as a child, she often thought that if a surgeon had been nearby when her father was shot, perhaps he might have been saved.
“So that was the initial reason I got into medicine. But through my journey, my sister had children while I was in medical school, and having two nieces and a nephew showed me the importance of child health and advocating for kids,” she explained.
That experience ultimately led her to pursue child neurology.
She later moved to Jamaica, where life as a foreigner was initially difficult. However, Dr Kooseram said her hard work was recognized, earning her strong recommendations that eventually helped her secure a place in a postgraduate programme, where she completed her paediatric residency with honours.
As a paediatrician, she worked at a hospital in rural Jamaica before later being offered a consultant position at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
“I was actually one of the youngest consultants there,” she said, adding that she worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which was an especially difficult period.
In 2022, she welcomed her daughter, Kahira, whom she described as “one of my greatest blessings.”
It was also a challenging time, as her daughter contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized for some time. The experience gave her a new perspective on the difference between being a doctor caring for children and being a parent caring for her own child.
“You know how parents feel—the uncertainty, the struggles, the sleepless nights. So I kind of have a better handle on how to approach parents and have a more patient-centred approach, which I think is important as a doctor,” she said.
She understands the importance of explaining even the smallest details to parents and offering reassurance, even if it is just a smile, as they navigate the difficulties of having a sick child.
British Columbia
Despite the highly competitive process, Dr Kooseram secured a place at the University of British Columbia to pursue a fellowship in child neurology. She recently completed the fellowship and is preparing to graduate.
It was not easy. She had to relocate to Canada with her young daughter, and her mother took early retirement to support her during her studies.
The arrangement worked well until about two months before completion when her mother suffered a heart attack and had to be hospitalized.
“The thing is, she was on a visitor’s visa, so she didn’t have insurance. So, you know, it was more stress,” she said.
Once again, family and friends stepped in to help.
“You know, people that you haven’t spoken to for years just stepped in to say, ‘I’m going to help you with some medical bills,’ again showing the generosity of the community in Guyana,” she said.
She completed her studies and will return to her post as a consultant paediatrician and child neurologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, where she also serves as an associate lecturer.
‘It’s complex’
Dr Kooseram will also be opening her own child neurology practice. Dr Kooseram said she gravitated toward the specialty because it is one of the more complex areas of medicine, requiring significant analytical thinking, and she has always enjoyed a challenge.
“You kind of have to look at the symptoms and piece together what’s happening,” she explained.
She noted that there are not many paediatric neurologists in the Caribbean, making it a critically needed specialty.
Her work focuses on children with seizures, developmental delays and neuromuscular disorders.
Get early intervention
Dr Kooseram encourages parents to seek medical intervention early if they notice something is not right with their children.
“Do not just wait and say things like, ‘Oh, he’s not talking, but he’s a boy.’ I would encourage them to get help early,” she stressed.
Asked why she chose to remain in Jamaica rather than return to Guyana, the Guyanese doctor explained that she was partially sponsored by the hospital for her fellowship and remains bonded to the institution for several more years.
However, she said she plans to do outreach work in Guyana because she wants to give back to her homeland.
Speaking directly to young people facing adversity, Dr Kooseram advised them not to allow their circumstances to define their future.
“You will always have obstacles in life, and there will be moments when you’ll feel discouraged, but don’t let your circumstances discourage you,” she advised, adding that it is important to set goals and work toward them.
“You can be anything. You can start from zero, from living in a very small rural community and having a single parent, and still achieve your dream,” she said, referring to her own journey.
She also encouraged those who are in a position to help others to do so.
A woman once paid her university fees in Guyana, and Dr Kooseram said she is not sure she would have completed her studies without that support.
“You know a family struggling, and if you’re in a position to help, help them because you can change a child’s trajectory in life just by offering support,” she said.
That same community spirit now motivates her to help others, as so many people once helped her.
“Somebody helped me, basically saved my future, and now I’m able to save the lives of hundreds of kids,” she said, adding that she hopes to do even more through outreach work in both Guyana and Jamaica.
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