Health City Cayman Islands has announced a collaboration with the renowned US-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which the East End hospital described as a major milestone in its provision of cancer care for Cayman Islands patients locally and overseas.
As part of the partnership, Health City will have access to oncology education and training programmes for its physicians, including lectures on advanced clinical and research topics in medical oncology, peer-to-peer review of complex oncology cases, and clinical observerships at Dana-Farber’s campus in Boston, Massachusetts, according to a press release issued by Health City on Monday.
The collaboration also enables Health City patients with complex cancer cases to be referred for care to Dana-Farber.
“Since inception, we have developed a strong reputation for being a world-class healthcare facility,” Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, senior cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical director at Health City, said in a statement. “Our decision to pursue this collaboration underpins our commitment to operational excellence, as well as the advancement of research and treatment for cancer patients. This will not only improve the lives of patients, but also the way our physicians approach treatment.”
Health City stated that engagement with Dana-Farber, a Harvard Medical School-affiliate, will facilitate knowledge-sharing, and provide access to resources that will help advance the future of cancer care in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean.
In March this year, Health City opened its new Gene Thompson Radiotherapy Centre in Camana Bay. The opening of the centre, equipped with a state-of-the-art Siemens TruBeam Varian Lineae Accelerator, marked the first phase of the 70,000-square-foot US$100 million facility being built on three acres of land.
The centre was named after the late Gene Thompson, the developer behind Health City, who passed away a month before the radiation treatment facility opened.
The opening of the facility meant, for the first time, oncology patients who required radiation therapy did not have to travel off island to receive it.
Health City’s chief business officer Shomari Scott said the collaboration between the East End hospital and Dana-Faber would mean the continuation of improvements to patient experiences and the delivery of positive outcomes.
“We’ve truly stepped into an era of hope as it concerns transforming the standards of cancer care,” he said.
Dana-Farber is recognised internationally for its ground-breaking research and clinical best practices in cancer treatment. Leveraging its world-renowned experts in adult and paediatric oncology, Dana-Farber collaborates with many global healthcare systems, the release noted.
Dr. Craig Bunnell, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said in the statement, “We are honored to work with Health City, a trusted healthcare provider for many in the Cayman Islands and beyond.
“This is Dana-Farber’s first collaboration in the Caribbean, and we are excited to share our expertise with physicians to enhance cancer care in the region.”
He added, “The collaboration with Health City helps further our mission to provide expert and compassionate care to children and adults with cancer, while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases around the world.”
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