Jamaica-born Trisha Bailey to be inducted into UConn Business Hall of Fame
Published:Monday | February 24, 2025 | 12:06 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica-born Dr Trisha Bailey, considered the country’s richest woman, is to be inducted into the University of Connecticut (UConn) Business Hall of Fame on April 11.
She would be the first woman of colour to be so honoured by the university.
Bailey, who owns Bailey’s Pharmacies and Bailey’s Medical Equipment, located across several states in the United States, recently made history with the university when she made the largest sports donation to UConn in its history.
The donation is believed to value in excess of US$10 million. A graduate of UConn, Bailey’s donation will support the schools’ student athletes for generations to come.
Her gift is the lead donation towards a US$60-million renovation and expansion of Greer Fieldhouse, where she spent a lot of time in training during her days as a
middle-distance runner for the UConn track team.
Bailey’s support will allow for construction on the Bailey Student Athlete Success Center, an 80,000-square-foot training and academic support facility that will house six Olympic sports programmes. Construction began in the fall of 2023.
The Bailey Center will have space devoted to offices, strength and conditioning, academics, mental health, nutrition, locker rooms and more.
Bailey is among six people who will be inducted in the UConn Business Hall of Fame. The others are Laurie A. Havanec, retired executive vice-president and chief people officer, CVS Health; John L. Hodson, president of True Benefit; Gregory P. Lewis, retired senior vice-president and chief financial officer, Honeywell International, Inc; an Robert J. Skinner, founding partner and co-CEO, IEQ Capital.
The UConn School of Business Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to recognise alumni who have achieved outstanding success in their business careers, made a significant impact on their industry or field of business, and have been actively involved in their communities.
To date, 150 UConn School of Business alumni have been inducted into the Hall of Fame from around the world and in a myriad of fields and industries. The celebration is the school’s signature event and has proven to have the most valuable networking opportunities, making this a can’t-miss opportunity. More than 200 top School of Business alumni, students, and corporate contacts are expected to attend this special evening, according to the school’s website.
Inductees into the School of Business Hall of Fame are among an elite group of alumni and are chosen through a rigorous selection process, which includes review by the dean, a special committee, and past Hall of Fame inductees. Only four to five distinguished alumni are inducted each year out of the 50,000 and growing — roster of incredible School of Business undergrad and graduate alumni worldwide.
HAPPIEST TIME OF LIFE
Bailey’s journey began in Woodland, St Elizabeth, where she grew up. She attended Springfield All-Age School before migrating to the US at age 13, settling in Hartford, Connecticut.
Bailey recalled her time growing up in Jamaica as the happiest of her life.
“My mother went to Kingston to work, so I and my sister were left with my aunt and grandmother. My aunt took care of me, along with my grandmother, while my sister lived with our grandmother. It was the happiest time I had. We did not have much, but we were a close knit family with lots of love, kindness and strong moral habits,” she told The Gleaner.
Bailey said she walked four miles each day to school and back.
Her mother migrated to the US, having been sponsored by an aunt, and was living in Hartford. Bailey arrived in the US in 1990.
There she attended Quirk Middle School, then wen on to Weaver High School. Bailey began her track career at Weaver in the 10th grade running the 400, 800 and 1600 metres. She did not do athletics in Jamaica. At Weaver, she made the Junior Olympic track team.
She was recruited by UConn on a full athletic scholarship.
After graduation, she became a stockbroker with Solomon Smith Barney, where she spent four years. She later moved into the pharmaceutical field as a sales rep. During this time, she earned her master’s and doctorate degrees.
She moved to California having been promoted by the company but she faced racism and harassment at the hands of her manager. She started her own medical recruitment company placing doctors in hospitals and other medical facilities.
However, her life was to change after an accident that left her paralysed and in a wheelchair. She also loss her voice.
An experience in an airport where she sat for hours, because she could not be heard when she tried speaking about her connecting flight, led to her going into the medical equipment and supplies business, where she realised financial success.
According to her bio, while many people may see her past as dark and traumatic, Bailey has taken those experiences to help create her own pathway by strategically facing the obstacles in her journey head-on.
She is the first in her family to graduate college.
She has a number of development projects in Jamaica, costing in excess of US$41 million.
Among the projects are 18 luxury condos under construction in Red Hills, St Andrew, valued between US$6 million and US$8 million in phase one. On completion of this phase, construction will begin on phase two, which will see the construction of 20-25 luxury units, also in Red Hills, valued between US$7 million and US$10 million.
In addition to the luxury condos, Bailey is also constructing a beach home in Portland to the tune of some US$3 million.
She will also be constructing a luxury resort on lands in Portland with an initial cost of between US$2o million and $25 million.
Bailey has five children ranging in ages from 24 to five years.