Doctors receive continuous education

Local physicians are currently taking part in a programme of continuing medical education. Presently in Belize from Harvard Medical School in Boston is Doctor Gordon Vineyard. His visit comes through efforts by OmniMed, an organisation based in Belize City and Newton, Massachusetts. Vineyard says his seminars are covering a wide range of medical issues, in addition to surgery.

Dr. Gordon Vineyard, Surgeon, Harvard Med. Sch., Boston

“They mostly have to do with issues of how to treat various diseases, how to prevent injury, how to manage complicated trauma patients, and how to think about new innovations in medicine.”

“I’m impressed that people are very smart, very able, learn very quickly, are immensely interested but have limited resources.”

Meanwhile, Belize’s Omni Med Representative, Loretta Garcia Palacio, says doctors undergo rigorous screening before they come here.

Loretta Garcia Palacio, OmniMed Rep., Belize

“It’s constantly looking at the physician’s background, the qualifications, their ability to teach and impart knowledge. There are a lot of requirements, so it’s not easy to just get any doctor to come. They must meet a series of requirements so that the programme can be successful. We feel that knowledge is a physician’s most important tool, and so when they come we have to ensure that the quality of the continuous medical education is of high level.”

Doctor Vineyard is the nineteenth physician to share his expertise with Belizean doctors through the programme. Their trips are funded by concerned individuals from the U.S., and the Government of Belize, with in-kind support from American Airlines and local Rotary clubs.