Lifestyle disease focus of local health conference

| 30/10/2014

(CNS): As the world’s health concern’s focus on West Africa and the most devastating outbreak of the deadly, Ebola virus in history, and as the Caribbean battles with outbreaks of denge and chikungunya virus, the diseases that actually plague Caymanians will be the subject of the fifth annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference. Diabetes, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health and other non-communicable diseases will be the topics of discussions and presentations at the event. Local health officials said the free conference would include a line-up of experts from the front line in the war on these diseases.

The conference is set for 20 to 22 November at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman and presenters include overseas and local specialists who will discuss some of the biggest challenges to the health of Cayman.

Dr James Hospedales is the Executive Director of Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and he will be opening the conference with an overview of whether the war is being won on CNCDs globally and in the Caribbean. Dr Hospedales, a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago, has been the Executive Director of CARPHA since February 2013 and has a wide breadth of knowledge of CNCDs in the region, officials said.

The Chief Interventional Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Health City Cayman Islands, Dr Ravi Kishore Amancharla, will discuss conquering the cardiovascular Leviathan. Since 1997, Dr Ravi has been working with Dr Devi Shetty and has been instrumental in establishing state of the art electrophysiology services across the group hospitals.

Dr Edward Anim-Addo, Internal Medicine, Chief Medical Officer with Tenet Florida Physician Services will address global trends in type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity and correlates. Dr Robert Cywes, also from Tenet, a specialist in neonatal, paediatric surgery and adolescent surgery with will tackle the facts versus beliefs as they relate to obesity.

Dr Lawrence Friedman, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of California, San Diego will discuss using new technology to improve diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the role of electronic medical records and mobile monitoring. Presenting on food security, nutrition and NCD control in the Caribbean, will be Dr. Fitzroy Henry, a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at University of Technology, Jamaica.

As a Hematologist-Oncologist & Medical Oncologist with Cancer Treatment Centers of Americas, Dr Shayma Kazmi’s focus will be on genetics and DNA sequencing applications in cancer treatment.

Medical Director at The Heart Health Centre, Grand Cayman, Dr Mikhail Kosiborod will talk about the rising “tsunami” of diabetes and its complications.

Dr George Peoples is the founder of the Cancer Vaccine Development Program (CVDP); founder and CEO of Cancer Insight, LLC and Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences. He will speak on the new frontier for cancer treatment: personalised cancer immunotherapy. 

Shannon Seymour, the Director of the Wellness Centre in Cayman will present on community first response to mental health.

“The calibre of speakers at this year’s conference is profound and we intend to highlight a range of topics that will be beneficial to the medical community and the general public alike,” said Osbourne Bodden who will also open the conference.  “We continue to offer this conference and knowledge to the community free of charge, so I encourage people to register soon, as space is limited.”

Committed sponsors this year include: Tenet Healthcare, Tower, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, Dart, Health City Cayman Islands, CONCACAF, UnitedHealthcare International, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cleveland Clinic, Baptist Health International, Marsh, Cerner, BritCay, University of California-San Diego, Aitheras Aviation Group, Aon Risk Solutions, Broward Health, The Wellness Centre, Fidelity, Heart Health Centre, Saint Luke’s Mid-America Institute, Generali, Cayman Airways and many other exhibitors and not-for-profit organisations.

Read more and register here

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Fat people should pay more health insurance.

    • Anonymous says:

      And stay away from public places.

    • Anonymous says:

      Stupid idiots should pay even more.  In case you need to know, I am a perfectly healthy lady with a BMI of 23.  Take dat!

  2. Anonymous says:

    CNS, Where can I register?

    thank you.

    CNS: I've added the link.