Caymanian med students get chance to work under Shetty
Dr Devi Shetty
(CNS Business): Health City Cayman Islands in East End is planning to send four Caymanian college students on pre-med programmes to India next year to work for a month with Dr Devi Shetty, who spearheaded Cayman’s specialist hospital, at one of his Narayana hospitals. Richard Parchment, the manager for HCCI’s Healthcare Explorers Programme, told CNS Business that they are in the process of selecting the students from this year’s summer undergraduate research fellowship for the paid work with the renowned heart surgeon.
Being trained abroad under one of the leading heart surgeons in the world could groom the Caymanian medical students into some of the best doctors the nation can offer. From its inception as a medical tourism facility, Health City committed to training local people in the healthcare profession and now four students will get the chance to see the world-famous surgeon at work, up close, as part of the hospital’s effort to encourage locals into medical careers.
The prevalence of foreign doctors coming to the islands to fill healthcare positions for which few Caymanians are experienced and qualified shows the need for more experienced Caymanian medical professionals on island.
“When we first started researching, we started realising there are very few Caymanians in the medical field,” Parchment said.
But that interest must be sparked and the experience given before young Caymanians begin embarking on their chosen career paths, he noted. The Healthcare Explorers Programme was introduced as a way to begin to fill the need for more local medical professionals by starting with the younger generation and sparking that interest in medicine as early as possible.
Over the last two summers there have been over 525 participants the programme, ranging from Year 8 students to college students. Parchment and Project Director Gene Thompson are aiming to bring in another 300 students to the programme for the next school year and continue to make it an annual event.
Category: Education & Training, Healthcare, Local Business
Finally a foreign company that is not just here for the money, HCCI. the best thing to happen to health care in the C. I.
Good news!! Gene, Richard and Dr. Shetty are staying true fo their promise. It is heartwarming to know that our kids are showing so much interest in this project. Do not be side- tracked by the naysayers and the negative comments that will sure be coming forward. Remember that becoming a medical doctor is a long journey but so rewarding. Congratulations to whoever is chosen.
Good move. Looks like a step towards real sustainability.