Caribbean Cardiac Society

Website

Structure

President: Dr. Pravinde Ramoutar

Vice President: Dr. Marilyn Lawrence-Wright

Secretary: Dr. Taarik Dookie

Treasurer: Dr. Jeanice Stanley-Jean

Immediate Past President: Dr. Richard Ishmael

Number of members: 112

Year of foundation:  1988

Year of ESC affiliation:  2008

Activities

The most significant activity of the Caribbean Cardiac Society is the staging of the Annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference. The conference is held in July of each year in a different Caribbean territory and has also been hosted twice in Miami, Florida in the U.S.A.
The Annual Conference has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1986 into a four day meeting with an attendance of 200 – 250 persons from over 18 Caribbean territories, the U.S.A., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Education

The society is firm in its commitment to educate both its members and other health professionals in the region on emerging treatments and guidelines for the management of diseases of the heart and circulatory system. In that spirit the Society is currently working at developing guidelines relevant to the Caribbean population for the diagnosis, treatment and management of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases including Hypertension, Diabetes, Cardiac and Cardiovascular diseases. The society also hosts Symposia in its member territories to educate General Physicians on the currently held best practices for the management of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.

Advocacy

The CCS has also sought to have an impact on the formulation of policies related to health across the region. Toward that end it has engaged with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on issues related to cardiovascular health. In 2008 our President and Secretary had the opportunity to address the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting on matters related to Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases including Cardiac Care and heath policy.

Research

In 2001 the CCS deepened its commitment to encourage and support research, on cardiac disease in the Caribbean region by awarding a Research Grant. This grant is to be used to advance research that may have an impact on the management of cardiac disease within the Caribbean population. Institutions or individuals located in the Caribbean Region or the Americas who undertake research programmes that promote cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment in the Caribbean Region are eligible for consideration.
The CCS under the previous Council also began formulating linkages with organizations such as the Consortium for South Eastern Hypertension Control (COSEHC) and has began the process of getting Caribbean Cardiac centres designated as COSEHC Centres of Excellence.

Publications

The Society also publishes a quarterly newsletter which includes scholarly articles as well as news and features relevant to our members and their practices.