PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY & INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY MISSION
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MAY 16-23, 2026

CardioStart International is pleased to announce a return mission to Clinica Corazones Unidos Hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This one-week mission will focus on managing pediatric congenital cardiac surgery and Interventional Cardiology.

MISSION DETAILS:
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery will take place at Clinica Corazones Unidos, which is already receiving and managing pediatric congenital cardiac surgical cases. CardioStart’s pediatric team will perform 5-8 Pediatric cases and teach skills for local cardiologists, the local cardiac surgeons, ICU doctors, nurses, and allied professionals. Team volunteers will be expected to participate in bedside teaching and demonstration. A catheterization lab team will provide interventional cardiac care at Moderno MCA – Unidad Cardiovascular Hospital.

COST:
Interested volunteers will be asked to fund their own airline ticket (Santa Domingo airport code is SDQ), obtain immunizations (see CDC website and vaccination requirements (by the D.R.) and pay for their one evening meal per day. All hotel shared rooming and other meal costs will be provided.

The mission will begin on May 18th; we request you arrive some time on Late Saturday or early Sunday. Orientation and patient case presentations will take place on Sunday, May 17th afternoon/evening. The mission will end 9 am, May 23rd. Volunteers may choose to stay longer to visit many of the interesting locations nearby at their own expense.

SAFETY:

Travel.state.gov rates the Dominican Republic as Level 2: Do exercise increased caution due to crime. Go to their website for more information and to make your decision.

THE TEAM WILL INCLUDE: ***Spanish speaking skills a bonus

• Pediatric Surgeon (2)
• Pediatric Cardiologist (TEE capable and an Interventional) (2)
• Cath Lab Tech/RN (1)
• Pediatric Perfusionist (1)
• Pediatric Intensivist (1)
• Pediatric Anesthesiologist (1)
• Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (1)
• Pediatric CV ICU Nurses (4-5)
• Mission Coordinator (1)

HOW TO APPLY TO JOIN THE TEAM:
For registration, visit: www.cardiostart.org

As usual, teams are assembled strictly on the “first come – first served” basis. Those who could not be previously accommodated in a previous mission application will be prioritized.

*Communicate directly with Ms. Janine Henson at Ja***********@*********rt.org

HOUSING & COST:
Our hosts, Fundación Heart Care Dominicana Inc., have suffered severe financial restrictions during the Covid pandemic that have limited how many rooms in the hotel they can support. For this reason, we are agreeing to same-sex room sharing, where possible.

Our host will cover two meals per day and shared hotel rooms. You are responsible for your flight cost and booking.

LOCAL TOURING: On your own after the mission.
As the first city founded in the Americas, the Dominican Republic’s capital city of Santo Domingo boasts an impressive collection of museums, historic sites, art, and music. The Colonial City, located inside Santo Domingo, is the first city of the America’s; it features the first street, hospital, University, and cathedral in the Americas. It is believed that the body of Christopher Columbus still resides on this island where he landed, hundreds of years ago. There are many historic museums and buildings that take a unique look into Dominican culture. Among them are the Alcázar de Colon (Fortress of Colon), the Reloj de Sol (the Sun Clock) and the Monasterio de los Padres Dominicos (the Monastery of the Dominican Fathers).