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New York, NY - In a bold move to increase access to essential surgical therapies in the Caribbean, Doctors On Call (D.O.C., Organization Inc.), on its third mission to Jamaica today announced plans to expand its program to include surgical training at the University of the West Indies Hospital and Bustamante Children’s Hospital.
The specialized team of thirteen volunteers brings with them over sixty-five thousand US-dollars in medical supplies, medicines, and health literature for use at Annotto Bay Hospital and the University Hospital.
"For the first time we are working with local surgical teams in three locations on the island”, says Dr. Norman Morrison, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Vice President of D.O.C. “We are offering very important interventional services to the people of Jamaica, particularly because the reports we are receiving suggest that there is a very high incidence of complications from diabetes, as well as the high incidence of urological disorders in Caribbean males.”
The project changes the way fundamental surgical skills are exchanged and administered. Local surgeons get hands-on practice with specialist in their field in the local hospital. “The team is using state-of-the art treatment techniques for erectile dysfunction, and providing extensive training in pediatric endoscopy and complex surgical procedures,” says Dr. Morrison, who graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1980.
"This project is a wonderful adjunct to operating room learning. It will help local surgeon’s achieve a higher level of expertise and more rapidly," said Dr. Brian Stone, Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Attending at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. "This link will allow us to promote long term use of advanced therapies.”"
D.O.C. draws its surgeons from the best teaching hospital staff at Harlem Hospital Center, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, St. Lukes-Roosevelt, North General Hospital, New York Presbyterian-Cornell Hospital, and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
D.O.C. delivers two medical lectures on new concepts in the management of Urological disorders, and gastroenterological diseases at the University of the West Indies on Thursday April10, 2003. “These two specialties have undergone tremendous changes, with the introduction of new technology, new concepts and alternative approaches that have revolutionized treatment in their fields, and we would like to share this with our colleagues in Jamaica,” says Dr. Norman Morrison. Dr. Brian Stone, Urologist will discuss Current Concepts in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction. Dr. Rajinder Gandhi, Chief Pediatric Surgeon at Harlem Hospital Center will discuss Surgery in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. D.O.C. will also recognize the support of Air Jamaica, Ministry of Health, University Hospital, Raymond Doweck, Annotto Bay Hospital, Claudette Phipps, and Carl Chang at a private ceremony to be held at Alhambra Inn on Thursday April 10, 2003.
Founded in 2000, Doctors on Call is the first international outreach organization to focus exclusively on increasing access to general and reconstructive surgery in the Caribbean.
For additional information log on to www.doc-online.org or, mail correspondence to Doctors On Call, P.O. Box 250858, New York, NY 10025.
Contact:
Sophia
Johnson
Email: info@doc-online.org
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