Health City Serving Those in Need
Social responsibility is one of the core values at Health City, reflected in our promise to deliver compassionate services, “We will serve with generosity of spirit, especially to persons who are most in need.” The delivery of affordable medical care extends beyond the walls of our facilities to the communities around us and to the world at large.Our founder, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, an internationally-renowned heart surgeon and humanitarian, believes in and embraces the philosophy that “Everyone deserves access to high quality healthcare.” That philosophy helps inspire Health City to deliver medical excellence, community education, and services to those less fortunate. Each and every day, we are committed to fulfilling Dr. Shetty’s pledge of “healthcare for all, regardless of socioeconomic status.”
Just as we provide surgical care and treatments to restore the health of our patients, we also provide educational outreach to help prevent illness. Our goal is to treat patients who come to us following the highest standards of care, and reach out and provide services pro bono to those in the community who cannot.
Saving Haitian Children with Heart Disease
As of mid-2015, 24 patients from Haiti have received lifesaving surgery at Health City, at no cost. Patients have included a critically ill 6-year-old girl with severe pulmonary issues, and three children with patent ductus arteriosus, an unclosed communication between the aorta and pulmonary artery. The surgeries were performed as part of our partnership with Have a Heart Cayman, a philanthropic Caribbean organisation. Transportation for the last four children was made possible through the generosity of Digicel, a corporate partner who volunteered use of their private jet.
The surgeries were led by Interventional Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Sripadh Upadhya. and Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil. The children arrived at Health City Cayman Islands so critically ill that they were barely able to walk or play. The minimally invasive surgeries were performed with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualise the arteries and chambers of the heart. “After their surgeries, the children were able to play and jump around,” said Dr. Upadhya. To read more about our activities caring for underserved ill children in Haiti, click here.
A Lifesaving Operation for a Young Jamaican Mother
In October 2014, our skilled team of cardiac surgeons performed a lifesaving operation on 25-year-old Lesha Matthews, a mother of two from Jamaica. Diagnosed with a congenital heart condition as a child, the woman’s physician had reached out unsuccessfully to U.S. hospitals for assistance since she was unable to afford surgery. Her condition had worsened, and furthermore, she was diagnosed with a leaking heart valve that needed to be corrected surgically. Led by Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Ms. Matthews’ valve was repaired in a three and a half hour surgery. To read more about this unique, lifesaving operation, click here.
Cayman Islands Community Outreach
Our commitment to the employment and education of Caymanians has remained steadfast. As of July 2015, we have welcomed 199 young Caymanians into our internship program, providing them with unique insights into the inner workings of our hospital. Students are given the opportunity to acquire experience working in departments including cardiothoracic, the laboratory, ICU, anesthesia, orthopedic, nursing, administration, maintenance, front office, and marketing.
Participating in the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO) outreach program is one way in which we bring wellness to the community. Civil Servants at the Government Administration Building recently received free health checks and promotional items as part of CINICO's 10th anniversary campaign. Health City Cayman Islands’ nurses and staff were on hand to administer an array of tests.
We held our first ever Healthcare Explorers Children’s Day Camp in August 2015. The event provided an opportunity for children to learn about the inner workings of a hospital and meet doctors, surgeons and nurses. Campers had the opportunity to look “behind the scenes” on a tour of the lab and other interesting clinical areas. The camp was open to children ages 12 to 14, and we hope that this and other educational events will encourage children to pursue a career in medicine.
The Healthcare Explorers Program
The Healthcare Explorers Program provides contextual medical and STEM education opportunities for Caymanian high school and college students to discern and prepare for careers in the healthcare field. A personal initiative of Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman of the Board, the programme has served over 650 students since June 2014.
During the academic year we offer age, and stage, appropriate programs for Years 8 – 12. During summer break, we focus on college students through our Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program and our Nursing Camps. We close our academic year with our annual Healthcare Explorers Day Camp for 12-14 year olds.
For more information, please email [email protected] or call 640-4195.
Please call us at 1 (345) 640-4040, or fill out our simple contact form, to see how we can best serve your healthcare needs at Health City Cayman Islands.
