Local doctor finally gets top health job
(CNS): Dr Delroy Jefferson has become the first Caymanian to hold the post of Medical Director within the Health Services Authority (HSA). Jefferson was acting in the post before being formally awarded the post at the end of 2012, according to a release from the HSA. He joined Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac in October 1998 as an anaesthetist and was subsequently appointed as Medical Officer in Charge and Deputy Chair of the HSA Board of Directors. In 2005 he left Cayman Brac to undertake his residency training at the University Hospital of the West Indies, with fellowships in anaesthesia, critical care and pain at McGill University, University of Cambridge and University of London.
He rejoined the HSA in July 2008 as a Consultant Anaesthesiologist and IntensiveCare Specialist, while establishing the HSA’s first pain clinic in August 2008.
Dr Jefferson said he was excited to take up the job when many positive changes were being undertaken within Cayman’s healthcare system.
“How to provide top quality affordable healthcare for all is one of the biggest challenges any country faces,” he said. “I am therefore delighted to be part of such a dynamic organisation as the Health Services Authority at a time when the Authority is so geared to further improving services and the quality of its healthcare provision. I am sure the position will not be without its challenges but I look forward to working with the excellent team of professionals at the HSA to ensure we continue to improve our service offering.”
HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said Dr Jefferson has been an invaluable part of the HSA team since he first joined the Authority.
“We are extremely pleased that a doctor of his calibre has agreed to take on the role of Medical Director. We are also delighted that we have been able to offer the position to a Caymanian who has dedicated his training and practice to the field of medicine,” she said. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship with Dr Jefferson as we strive to enhance our services at the HSA.”
Dr Jefferson has experience in public sector management and policy as well as strategic and board development and has served on several boards and committees regionally and internationally. He has lectured in numerous courses internationally and has authored peer reviewed publications. He obtained a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and is now concluding studies leading to the Doctorate of Business Administration from the Swiss Management Institute.
He is also a member of the European Society of Anaesthesia, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the International Association for the Study of Pain, the National Association of EMS Educators, the American College of Physician Executives and the International Policy Governance Association.
He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Cayman, Sunrise. Dr Jefferson is a Past President and Director of International Service of the Rotary Club of Cayman Brac and has obtained several leadership awards including one for strategic leadership.
Category: Health
Good job Uncle Jeff! So proud to know someone like you! All the best.
Dr Jefferson is a good man. His heart is in the right place and so is his mind and ambitions.
Congratulations my good friend. I hope only the very best for you and trust that the HSA will be a much better place under your leadership.
As for Faith Hospital. I know if has it wants and needs but they do a remarkable job despite it all. They smile and work hard at getting oh through. Management there does a good job. I was a patient there for a day and from the get go I’ve never been treated with such compassion from the emt, registration staff, nursing staff, Dr (guy in charge I’m told) and lab. It was a pleasure and I’m from Florida. The cayman kind is truly there! I heard dr Jeff played a big part in there.
I’ve never seen a dr at the bigger hospital in Grand Cayman.
I met him a few times in social outings and he was always proper, polite and genuine. Another good reason caymans is the winter home.
Congratulations Dr.Jefferson. This is well deserved and your professionlism and fantastic attitude will I am certain make a positive impact on HAS. God Bless. Michel Lemay
Congratulations Dr. Jefferson. Finally Caymanians are being recognized.
Congratulations! A bright, efficient and compassionate doctor who has not doubt been promoted on the merit of his training and performance. We celebrate a Caribbean son who has done well and is making an invaluable contribution to his new home. You have our support.
I don’t know nor ever meet the good Dr. Jefferson – but I say to you today; Big big congratulations!!!
I trust that this is a start for many Caymanians to take the helm of this country by its horns & the iron shores in 2013.
Let the gates open, let its countrymen run amongst the greats for the time has come to take heed –
Well deserved! Before my surgery a couple of years ago, you helped alleviate my fears with compassion, humour and professionalism. Thank you so much, and congratulations.
Congrats Dr. Jefferson! Well deserved!! You have been missed at Faith Hospital.
Congratulations, Dr. Jeff! So proud to see you heading the HSA!! The future looks bright for health care in Cayman…
Heartiest Congratulations Dr. Jeff! You desrve this. You were the best at Faith Hospital and it was a pleasure to have worked and served with you. Kudos
Congrats Dr. Jefferson.
As a patient of yours I can say your professionilsm and caring personality is very much appreciated.
Congratulations on your new post …… u think maybe now you can find the time to pay attention to the ambulance service and it’s crys for change and help??
I couldn't agree more. Only 2 of the 3 ambulances are actually equipped to assist with life-threatening trauma. If they are both engaged when you have a problem, call your pastor. Although the normal minimum ratio in an rural area is 1 per 50,000 people, our needs and risk factors are much different now and more comparible to a dangerous city with above-normal mortality factors: road, scuba and snorkel accidents, violent gang crime every weekend, in addition to the normal demands of a population our size.
They won't listen to the ambulance service until something happens that makes the HSA listen! We have one service running and providing pre-hospital care for the entire country and it's barely funded, understaffed and lacking vital resources and equipment.
Agreed!
The fact that we have 2/3 ambulances (when they're working, that is) for the entire country is unbelievable. While 3 ambulances may seem like enough for the population, you also have to take into consideration the fact that our island's EMS also has to frequently deal with air ambulance transfers, cruise ship issues and emergency calls from hotels/tourists, not to mention the non-emergent transfers that are done on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis for people who need to come to dialysis or have doctor's appointments. Truly unbelievable – perhaps the HSA needs to consider running a non-emergent wheelchair bus/van service for these kinds of individuals instead of tieing up our only rapid response team with dialysis appointments. Surely there are enough first aid and emergency first response qualified individuals to staff such a service.
With a country that is as founded in maritime history as ours, I also cannot believe that we do not have a marine ambulance for rapid response situations pertaining to diving emergencies. This is ridiculous! Hundreds of thousands of dives are performed every year in our waters and we are not wellenough equipped to deal with the occurrence of a serious problem out on our beautiful waters.
We have such a great group of EMT's, and many of them are quite qualified paramedics and instructors and we are wasting their brain power when we could have the best EMS system in the Caribbean – with modern protocols and a truly excellent Ambulance fleet.