In Conversation with Dr. Dye-Torrington: A Journey of Persistence, Purpose, and Patient Care
Back in Guyana, Dr. Dye-Torrington knew she wanted to work in health care. She initially considered becoming a nurse, but when her mother advised against it due to the night shifts, she began exploring other roles in the medical field. This led her to train as a medical laboratory technologist specializing in hematology, eventually working in the histopathology department. There, she helped physicians make diagnoses, an experience that deepened her interest in medicine. Reading through the disease reports sparked a curiosity about patient care. With encouragement from the physicians around her, she applied to medical school and discovered a real passion for the work.
When she expressed her desire to pursue medicine, a gastroenterologist she worked with supported her throughout the process. He encouraged her during moments of uncertainty, reassured her that she was capable of pursuing her goals, and helped her gather the resources needed for her application. He also advocated for her, speaking to colleagues involved in recruitment and offering her a recommendation.
Eventually, she immigrated to Canada, determined to grow in a setting where she could apply what she was learning. In Guyana, she encountered cases that she could not always explore in-depth, and she sought an environment where she could build on her training and develop further as a physician.
However, breaking into the medical system in Canada was not easy. She applied for observerships and faced multiple rejections. Still, she persisted, knowing she needed to keep trying until she found someone willing to open the door. Her advice to others pursuing a career in medicine is grounded in that persistence: set your goals, stay determined, and expect some setbacks along the way, but keep going. She tells us “My advice is to set your goals aim for the star, never give up, you will get hiccups along the way but you should persevere because, in the end, you will get through.”
Her journey into rheumatology began not long after she arrived in Canada. At the time, many international medical graduates, including those trained at her school, had limited exposure to musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases. As a result, the Canadian licensing exams placed greater emphasis on MSK topics. Determined to prepare, she practiced physical exams every day, sometimes two or three times a day, using her husband and relatives as patients. What began as exam preparation quickly turned into something more. It helped her not only build competency but also sparked a genuine interest in the field.
As she reflected further on her next steps, she recalled that lupus had frequently been described as a disease predominantly seen in Black populations. That realization led her to dig deeper. She wanted to better understand the condition and how it affected her community. This interest eventually led to research focused on lupus, examining topics such as the timing of lupus nephritis onset, how urinary protein excretion is measured, and the progression from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to nephritis.
Dr. Dye-Torrington understands the deep care and empathy healthcare providers must show their patients. That understanding was shaped not only through her work but also through personal experience. She spent time in hospitals with ill relatives and, most significantly, cared for her mother during her terminal illness. Witnessing both the compassion and the shortcomings in her mother’s care left a lasting impression. It deepened her resolve to offer better, taking what she admired and what she wished had been different to inform how she treats her own patients today. Her commitment to providing the best possible care is rooted in those moments, driving her to meet every patient with thoughtfulness, dignity, and respect.
She knows that for many patients living with chronic rheumatic diseases, the journey to a diagnosis is long and often emotionally taxing. By the time they reach a rheumatologist, they may have seen multiple doctors and still lack answers. She believes it is critical for rheumatologists to approach patients with empathy and a commitment to clear communication, taking time to explain the diagnosis, the treatment, and how the disease works.
She finds that younger patients, in particular, benefit from understanding why they are taking certain medications. Without that understanding, adherence can become more difficult. For her, effective care in rheumatology is not just about prescribing the right treatment. It is about building trust and offering clarity.
With May being Lupus Awareness Month, Dr. Dye-Torrington underscores the importance of recognizing how differently lupus can present from one patient to another. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can make a significant difference, allowing many patients to live full and healthy lives. She leaves us with this reminder: “The key message is lupus can be different in every patient and every individual is different. You may have a mild case, a moderate, or a severe. Once you get adequately treated, then your life expectancy should be almost equal to somebody who does not have lupus. There is no need to worry, the issue is getting diagnosed and being adherent to treatment. You can live a normal life when adequately treated.”