Dr. Desirée’s story began when she was 15 years old as an intensely curious high school student, of humble beginnings living on the tiny island of Nassau, Bahamas.

The first born of a barber and a secretary, Dr. Desirée’s mother dreamed of Dr. Desirée being the first in the family to attend university. Dr. Desirée recalls her mother holding her hand at the door of the first-grade classroom of the private school that cost two-thirds of her mother’s salary, and saying to the 5-year old Dr. Desirée: “You will go to university. We don’t have the money to afford this, so you will have to win a scholarship. I’m telling you this now so you study hard and get good grades from the get go.” When she was 15 years old, she saw a glossy brochure of Oxford University describing Oxford as the place where the world’s leading intellectuals created new knowledge. Dr. Desirée created a bolder vision than her mother’s dreams. She imagined herself studying at Oxford and having a global impact in medicine and healthcare. Like many teenagers interacting with her peers, she was bullied for expressing her bold vision. This unpleasant situation was a defining moment for her in developing the drive and determination to build a big vision for her future for herself and to make her mark in the medical field, based on a deep understanding of physical, biochemical, mental/emotional, spiritual, environmental and intellectual innate resources that individuals need to have a healthy and fulfilling life.