PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY & INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY MISSION

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

October 19-26, 2024

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 catheterization lab procedures. 

Facts about the country: 

Capital: Santo Domingo. Population: 10.3 million. Language: Spanish The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western three-eighths of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,445 square kilometers (18,705 sq. mi.) and an estimated 10 million people, one million of which live in the capital city, Santo Domingo. Inhabitants have dwelled in, what is now the Dominican Republic since the 7th century. Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1492, and it became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country’s capital and Spain’s first capital in the New World. After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821. The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. 

Unemployment, government corruption, and inconsistent electric services, however, remain major Dominican problems. 

SAFETY

Travel.state.gov rates the Dominican Republic as Level 2.   Do exercise Increased caution due to crime. 

MISSION DETAILS:

Pediatric Interventional Cardiology: Interventional cardiac procedures will be performed at Moderno MCA (a new center), and access will be unrestricted during the week. 

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: will take place at Clinica Corazones Unidos, which is already receiving and managing adult cardiac surgical cases. CardioStart’s pediatric team will perform 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. 

Outreach: This will focus on performing evaluative 2D echo and general clinic assessments at the Orden de Malta Hospital. Clinics will also be held at the Mauricio Baez Institute for young people.  Direct Orphanage help will be offered at the Dona Chucha Home for girls subject to advice from HeartCare Dominicana Foundation Director, Ms. Mary Carmen Mota).  

HOW TO PARTICIPATE 

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 day. All hotel and other meal costs will be provided. Room sharing with same gender volunteer expected unless you pay for the room on your own.

The mission will begin on Sunday, October 20th; we request you arrive some time on Saturday, October 19th. Orientation and patient case presentations will take place on Sunday afternoon, (Oct.20th). The mission will end at 5pm, on Friday, October 25th, Volunteers may choose to stay longer to visit many of the interesting locations nearby at their own expense. 

THE TEAM WILL INCLUDE: 

  • Pediatric Surgeon (2) Filled 
  • Pediatric Interventional Cardiologist (1) 
  • Pediatric Cardiologist for Outreach (1) 
  • Pediatric Cath lab Tech (1) Filled 
  • Echo Tech Adult/Ped for outreach (1)  
  • Pediatric Intensivist (2) 
  • Pediatric Anesthesiologist (1) 
  • Pediatric Perfusionist (1) 
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses (Strong Pediatric CVICU skills required) (4+) 
  • Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (1)  
  • Data Research and general Coordinator Filled
  • Outreach volunteers (3) 

***Spanish speaking skills a bonus 

HOW TO APPLY TO JOIN THE TEAM 

For registration… click here.

Communicate directly with Ms. Janine Henson at Janine.henson@cardiostart.org 

Local Touring: 

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).