CAY HILL:--- The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Delia Deoagnes Monier Herrera as its newest psychiatrist.
Originally from Cuba, Dr. Herrera is a recognized general psychiatrist who earned her medical degree from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba. With more than two decades of international clinical and academic experience, she brings extensive expertise that will significantly enhance MHF’s ability to meet the growing mental health needs within the community. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Creole a versatility that will help serve MHF’s diverse clients.
“It is hard to find an organization that is truly committed to the mental health of its clients. When I saw the work MHF is doing, I was very impressed,” Dr. Herrera shared. She also expressed enthusiasm for MHF’s plans to develop a future mental health facility and described her excitement to contribute to what she referred to as a “history-making project.”
Throughout her 24-year career, Dr. Herrera has served as both a medical psychiatrist and a senior lecturer, specializing in the assessment and treatment of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. She has a strong interest in forensic psychiatry and has applied this expertise in diverse settings.
Her international background includes ten years in Tanzania, where she worked as a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer. During this time, she conducted psychiatric clinics in prison facilities, performed comprehensive assessments, developed treatment plans for a wide range of referred patients, and provided support to hospitals, magistrates, primary health clinics, social services, and private practices.
Dr. Herrera has held several notable leadership roles, including former Head of the Psychiatry Department at Fausto Favier Hospital in Guantánamo, Cuba; Director-Coordinator of Psychiatry at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Tanzania; Head of the Psychiatry Department at Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital in Tanzania; and Head of the Psychiatry Department at St. Joseph University and Mbewni Hospital in Tanzania.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Herrera follows the biopsychosocial model of treatment, emphasizing the importance of understanding each client’s cultural and personal background to make accurate diagnoses and establish effective treatment plans.
“I want to use all my work experience and combine my ideas with the new project MHF is developing to improve the level of psychiatric care on the island,” she said. “I also hope to apply my forensic experience here in St. Maarten to help improve the lives of inmates who are currently serving time in the island’s correctional facility.”
Dr. Herrera now joins MHF’s current psychiatrist, Dr. Ricardo Teixeira. Together, their combined expertise will strengthen the Foundation’s ability to provide accessible, comprehensive, and patient-centered mental health care.
The addition of Dr. Herrera not only expands MHF’s clinical capacity but also enhances support for the wider community.
The Mental Health Foundation extends a warm welcome to Dr. Herrera and looks forward to the meaningful impact she will bring to Sint Maarten.
