George Anthony Leveridge MBBS, DM, MPH (Dist), DrPH. PDGE, CHES

Dr. George Leveridge is a distinguished physician and psychiatrist with over 34 years of experience. A visionary and pioneer in mental health, Dr. Leveridge made history in 1996 as the first full-time Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of the Medical Unit in the Jamaican Correctional Services. During his eight-year tenure, he pioneered innovative programs like Mentorship, Peer Counselling, and Dance Therapy, which reduced violence and promoted rehabilitation among inmates. He also advocated for the release of mentally ill inmates deemed unfit to plead.

In 2005, Dr. Leveridge transitioned to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), where he now serves as Director of the Medical Services Branch. Under his leadership, the JCF has developed a comprehensive health program for police officers and their families, including psychiatry, psychology, nutrition, and a 24-hour counseling helpline. He is currently working to establish dental services for the force.

Dr. Leveridge has contributed extensively to child and adolescent mental health at the University Hospital of the West Indies, where he continues to serve as an Honorary Consultant. He has also provided consultative support to the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization. In 2023, he was recognized as a pioneer in mental health in Jamaica by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Jamaica Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Leveridge holds an MBBS, MPH (with distinction), MD in Psychiatry, and DrPH from the University of the West Indies, and is a Humphrey Fellow in Injury and Violence Prevention from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). A dedicated pastor, he has been married for 35 years and has two adult children and three grandsons.