Santo Domingo, DR
PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY & INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY MISSION~Clinica Corazones Unidos SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: May 3-10, 2025
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. 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. 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.
Despite having suffered severe financial restrictions during the Covid pandemic our hosts, Fundación Heart Care Dominicana Inc., remains committed to providing support for providing care to children with congenital heart disease. This mission provided both surgical and interventional repairs of congenital heart defects with the CardioStart team working hand in hand with local health care providers. The surgical procedures were performed at the Clinica Corazones Unidos, which is already receiving and managing adult cardiac surgical cases. The interventional catheterization cases were performed at Moderno MCA.Candidates for the procedures were pre-screened and selected by the local team. Upon arrival to Santo Domingo, the CardioStart volunteer team and local providers met together to review the cases and refine the list of candidates. A total of seven surgical and eleven catheterization/interventional cardiology cases were performed. Transesophageal echocardiogram was performed oneightpatients.
Cardiology Outreach
During the mission trip, Drs. Ernesto Rivera and Maria Fernanda Silva Jardim performed screening and follow-up exams on new patients, and patients who had undergone surgery during previous mission trips. A total of15 patients were evaluated, including physical exams and echocardiograms. These evaluations were performed at Clinica Corazones Unidos and Moderno MCA.
CardioStart Team
This year we were very pleased to welcome experts from the USA, Dominican Republic, and Brazil.
Mission Coordinator:Ms. Christine Bloom, ACNP Surgeon & Mission Director:Dr. Andrew Lodge Perfusionist: Ms. Melissa Oliver
Interventional Cardiologist: Dr. Christopher Curzon Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist: Dra. Maria Fernanda Silva Jardim
Database Research: Dra. Tanya Mateo Garcia
Pediatric Cardiologist: Dr. Ernesto Rivera
Acknowledgments: CardioStart International’s Board members wish to extend their sincere appreciation to all donors and supporters of the charity.
A special thank you for assistance of this mission to: - Members of the CardioStart Cardiac Team who carried suitcases of medical equipment to donate to the mission.
- Assistance with hospitality, hotel and internal transport. Mary Carmen Mota, Director of Fundación Heart Care Dominicana Inc., D.R.
- Donation of medications, Americares Inc., Connecticut, USA.
- Perfusion disposables, Ms. M. Oliver, California, USA
- Ruth Seeger, funds to purchase female hygiene products and soap for the children/orphanage.
- Edward Lifesciences/MAP International patient backpacks containing (Heart chest support pillow, hygiene/care package, coloring books and pencils).
- Homewood Suites by Hilton for discount in rooms and care of our volunteers.
Surgical Procedures
