The Fertility Pioneer

“Each of us has an opportunity to use our skills, not only to help those around us, those we know—but to provide for women you don’t know.”

Awardee of the Inspirational Champion of Women Award from the International Women’s Forum of Trinidad and Tobago (IWFTT), Dr Catherine Minto-Bain is a Fertility Specialist, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and Medical Director of the T&T IVF & Fertility Centre (TTIVF). She has spent over 25 years as a Women’s Health Specialist, making waves in the medical community while having a tangible impact on the lives of women and families in T&T. Her work has been about walking hand in hand with people facing barriers to starting their families.

Although she did not initially envision herself in medicine, science was always at the core of Dr. Minto-Bain’s interests.

“Up until the age of 16, I was absolutely convinced that I was going to be an astronaut,” she smiles. “I loved sci-fi, and I had a passion to explore new things.”

Growing up in the UK, Minto-Bain remembers being glued to the television when Buck Rogers or Star Trek was on, dreaming of the day she would don a space suit and explore the unknown. But while she was doing her A-Levels, disaster struck—a US shuttle explosion claimed the lives of the astronauts on board, changing her course drastically.

“Instead of applying for Astrophysics, I applied for Medicine,” she recalls. “Something that I never thought of as a career. But from the second day, I loved it.”

Through community service at school, where she worked on a geriatric ward, she had already felt an inkling of interest in helping others through medicine. She decided to pursue it seriously and enrolled at Bristol University Medical School. There, she remembers not only her study of medicine but also the creative, artsy nature of the city—and the love story that blossomed during those years.

“I fell in love with him the minute I met him,” she says of her now-husband Colin, whom she met in her second year.

“I had no idea where this country—Trinidad and Tobago—was, but I knew when we met that he would be my future husband.”

Thirty-one years of marriage later, she still remembers that first meeting fondly and reflects with gratitude on how their partnership has flourished.

“It’s difficult being a young woman in medicine,” Minto-Bain admits.

Although she didn’t find medical school extremely difficult, the challenges of building a career while being a mother raised skepticism in the medical community at the time.

“Colin has been an incredible partner,” she says, crediting their marriage with allowing her to achieve professionally while still parenting wholeheartedly. “I wish every woman could have the kind of husband I have.”

In her line of work, especially as a female boss, she has witnessed how women often “bear the brunt of parenting. Whether in the medical field or elsewhere, women are expected to be the primary parent.” She stresses that having a partner who shares responsibilities equally—giving and taking at different times, offering support without limits—is key to avoiding burnout and advancing a career.

The IWFTT award is designed to celebrate the achievements of women and highlight female leaders. In Dr Minto-Bain’s case, it honours her role as a champion of women. Since 2008, she has led the T&T IVF and Fertility Centre, helping to bring more than 3,500 healthy babies safely into the world through various interventions. Her work has given hope and new life to women and families across the country, while also raising awareness about the viability of IVF for those who believe all hope is lost.

Living in her passion, Minto-Bain says: “What’s more phenomenal than being able to help women in their journey to starting a family? What’s better than doing my little part to see their joy and supporting them to have the child of their dreams?”

Despite her trailblazing role in fertility medicine, she is quick to credit her team of 20, and in particular, “the amazing women in my leadership team, who all have won this IWFTT Award with me—Halcyon Salazar, Kim Morton, Dr TeriAnn Rampaul and Dr. Brequelle Timothy.”

Her career has also shaped her views on empathy and leadership. She believes that professional spaces must better understand the realities of women in medicine, especially regarding maternity leave, returning to work, and balancing motherhood with a demanding career. Recalling her own experiences after her first child (of three), she remembers struggling with probing interview questions about whether she planned to have more children, fearing she would be disadvantaged for wanting to expand her family.

Grateful for her “small village”—her in-laws and her husband—who helped her navigate the demands of career and motherhood, she also emphasises the responsibility of women leaders.

“Women in leadership positions are called on to mentor, advocate and make time to speak to other women, especially women who choose to go back to work after having a child and need much more support.”

Dr Catherine Minto-Bain’s story is not only about pioneering fertility care and helping thousands of families realise their dreams, but also about using her voice and platform to uplift women in every stage of life. From being at the forefront of the leading internationally accredited fertility clinic in the Caribbean to advocating for women’s often-overlooked health needs during menopause, her work extends far beyond medicine. It is about compassion, dignity, and solidarity.

As she accepts the IWFTT Inspirational Champion of Women Award, Dr Minto-Bain insists the honour is not hers alone. It belongs to the women who have walked beside her: her colleagues, her patients, and the community of sisters whose courage continues to inspire her.

With an unwavering belief in the power of women helping women, she remains dedicated to opening doors for countless families, proving that true progress is never individual—it takes a village.