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Doctor brings her expertise home

August 15, 2025

Cherish Smith, MD, left, with Jewel Patrick-Wambo, RN, who volunteered from another organization.

When Cherish Smith, MD, volunteered at a health fair in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, she saw firsthand how simple screenings and education can make a meaningful impact.

Dr. Smith, a neuropsychiatrist at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Memory Care Center in Wethersfield, specializes in cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“This year, they centered the theme of the health fair on caring for the mind, so I did a lot of dementia screenings,” Dr. Smith explained.

The fair took place in Buenos Ayres, a small, remote village where access to medical care is often limited. One patient was an 81-year-old woman who had come with her family seeking answers about her worsening memory. As she approached, Dr. Smith immediately noticed subtle but telling signs.

“She was shuffling her feet, her posture was stooped and her voice was very raspy,” Dr. Smith recalled. “During the exam, I also saw a mild tremor. Her clinical presentation met the criteria for Parkinson’s disease.”

The patient’s family had been concerned about her forgetfulness but didn’t realize it could be part of a larger neurological condition. Dr. Smith explained that 50 to 70 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease eventually develop Parkinson’s dementia, which helped the family understand what they were witnessing.

“It’s really touching how much you can change someone’s life by providing simple education and meeting with them,” Dr. Smith said. “I’m so glad I was able to give back to my home country.”

Dr. Smith plans to return next year with her colleague, Jasmen Rice, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. Together, they hope to expand services and offer workshops for local social workers and neuropsychologists.