Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Left: Dr. Anna Law (centre) shares her big moment with family members (from left) brother Samuel, father Cedric, mother Claire and sister Camille at the 10-year celebration held at The Ruins, Mona Visitors' Lodge, UWI, Mona campus, on Friday, September 29.   Right: Dr. Suchitra Purushotham (left) congratulates Dr. Anna Law on 10 years of practising orthodontics. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

"Congrats, sweetheart, 10 years already?" said a jovial guest as he greeted colleague Dr. Anna Law, orthodontist.

One of Jamaica's first two female orthodontists (along with Dr. Beryl Thomas-Blair), Dr. Law's practice has blossomed from its modest start at 4 Hillcrest Avenue. Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention and correction of irregular teeth and is a widespread practice in Jamaica. So, the goodly doctor put together a small dinner on Friday night to celebrate the milestone. But this occasion could also be a salute to women in male-dominated fields everywhere.

Guests, from the medical fraternity especially, came to congratulate her on her decade of success in making sure adults and children have beautiful smiles. Her parents Cedric and Claire as well as her siblings, Samuel and Camille were among those present to share her moment.

Biggest challenge

"My biggest challenge was just finding the right staff. But, we have it (their routine) down now and the patients love it," she said. Apart from the doctors and teachers she had in Seattle, Washington where she studied, Dr. Law lauds Dr. Otto Beck and Dr. Jeffrey Meeks for their support when she returned to Jamaica to start her practice.

The Ruins beside the Mona Visitors' Lodge at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, provided a cosy setting for the event. Candle-lit walkways added a laid-back glow to the starry night while jazzy, finger-snapping, toe-tapping music welcomed the early guests. Even some of the selections like Isn't She Lovely and Just The Way You Are seemed to be dedicated to the lady of the evening. The choice was yours; soup to warm the stomach or a beverage to 'lift the spirits' before hitting the buffet.

Guests included Dr. William Aiken, Kerine Wisdom, Dr. Lucien and Jennifer Tomlinson, Paulette Lue, Dr. Patrick and Shirley Lewis, Dr. Anthony Johnson, Pearl Brown, Dale Blair and wife Dr. Beryl Thomas-Blair, Dr. Louis Knight, Alexis Wilson and Fitzroy Rowe.