INVITATION TO PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY & INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY MISSION

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

July 29-August 6, 2022

CardioStart International is pleased to announce a return mission to The Clinica Corazones Unido Hospital in Santo Domingo.  This one-week mission will focus on managing pediatric cardiac congenital surgery and adult catheterization lab procedures.   The Rotary Gift of Life D7490 and Trinity International Missions are providing vital support to make these cases possible.

Facts about the country

  • Capital: Santo Domingo
  • Dialing code: +849
  • 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.

The country’s economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system, and transportation infrastructure. Nevertheless, unemployment, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems. The country also has “marked income inequality”.  International migration affects the Dominican Republic greatly, as it receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues. A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States.  They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families.

SAFETY

Travel.state.gov rates the Dominican Republic as Level 3:  Reconsider Travel (yellow) due to crime and Covid.  Go to their website for more information and to make your decision.   

MISSION DETAILS

Pediatric Interventional Cardiology: for 12-16 Cases arriving by July 29 and doing cases all weekend at Clinica Corzones Unidos.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: will take place for 6-8 pediatric cardiac surgery cases at The Clinica Corazones Unidos which, is already receiving and managing adult cardiac surgical cases. CardioStart’s team will perform and teach skills for local cardiologists, the local cardiac surgeons and ICU doctors, nurses and allied professionals. Team volunteers will be expected to participate in bedside teaching and demonstration.

Outreach: Echo Screenings will take place at the Mauricio Baez Foundation from August 1-5 seeing both children and adults.    A violinist will join the team as enrichment program for the children.

Friday night event:  Fundraising Gala Dinner with sponsors and friends featuring live music entertainment.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Interested volunteers will be asked to fund their own airline ticket (Santa Domingo airport code is SDQ), required immunizations (see CDC website) and one evening meal per day.  All hotel and other meal costs will be covered. Hotel:  Embassy Suites by Hilton Santo Domingo.

The mission will begin Friday, July 29th for the Cath Lab team.  Outreach and Surgical team arrive by Sunday, July 31st (orientation and check in).  Surgical procedures end, Friday Aug. 5th.  Departure August 6th. Volunteers may choose to stay longer to visit many of the interesting locations nearby at their own expense.

THE TEAM WILL INCLUDE:

  • Mission Director/ Pediatric Surgeon (2) (1) Filled
  • Pediatric Interventional Cardiologist (1)
  • Pediatric Cath lab Tech (1)
  • Pediatric/Adult Cardiologist for Outreach (1) Filled
  • Pediatric Intensivist (1) Filled
  • Pediatric Anesthesiologist (1)
  • Pediatric Perfusionist (1)
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses (with previous or current cardiovascular training experience) (4+)
  • Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (1)
  • Data Research Coordinator (2) Local-Filled

***Fluency in Spanish is a bonus

HOW TO APPLY TO JOIN THE TEAM

Our hosts, Fundacion Heart Care Dominicana Inc., have severe financial restrictions 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. Team numbers will therefore be more restricted than usual. Please apply so that we can juggle the accommodation and team issues accordingly.  As usual, teams are assembled strictly on the “first come – first served” basis.

For registration, click here.

Communicate with 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).