Rianna Patterson earned a master’s degree in dementia studies 11 years after her grandfather passed away from dementia in Dominica

Rianna Patterson, the founder of the Dominica Dementia Foundation, has successfully

graduated with a Master’s degree, with merits in Dementia: Causes, Treatments and

Disgnosis from University College London (UCL). The graduation ceremony was held at

the Royal Festival Hall in London on the 14th of July, marking a significant milestone in

her commitment to dementia advocacy.

After initially deferring her acceptance to UCL due to funding challenges, Ms. Patterson launched a crowdfunder campaign on GoFundMe, raising over £20,000 to support her studies. This remarkable achievement underscores her determination to enhance awareness and understanding of dementia.

Her master's thesis focused on Dementia Policies in Caribbean Communities; to her

knowledge was one of the first publications to focus on English-speaking Caribbean

countries. Her research fits into a global agenda of developing national dementia plans as suggested by the World Health Organisation. It was recently accepted for publication in the Caribbean Journal of Psychology, a peer-reviewed journal from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, illustrating her commitment to advancing knowledge in this crucial area. Rianna and her team are also working with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in Dominica to develop a comprehensive National Plan for Dementia.

At just 18 years old, Rianna founded the Dominica Dementia Foundation in memory of

her grandfather, who passed away from dementia in Dominica. This youth-led charity

has been pivotal in supporting families and care homes affected by dementia while

facilitating critical research in the field. Her efforts earned her the prestigious Queen’s

Young Leader Award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 2017 at Buckingham

Palace, recognizing her dedication to dementia advocacy. The dementia foundation is

set to celebrate 10 years of service to the people of Dominica in 2026.

"This master's degree is dedicated to my grandfather and all those who supported me

on this journey," said Rianna. "Achieving this goal took immense effort, and I give God all the glory. There were countless prayers and acts of service behind the scenes, and I am grateful for a relationship with a God who answers prayers. To anyone reading this, I encourage you to pursue your dreams backed by faith; trust that God will provide the

blueprint to execute your plans. Not everyone will understand your dream, but God will speak for Himself when the time comes."

Currently, Rianna is pursuing a PhD in Dementia at the University of Nottingham and will be presenting her PhD findings and delivering a workshop on her documentary film on dementia at the Puerto Rico Dementia Symposium this September, during World Alzheimer’s Month this September.

Rianna was raised in Picard and is the daughter of Sheryl Vidal and the granddaughter

of the late Terry Vidal from Salisbury and the late Evelyn Vidal from Colihaut.