Heart Institute of the Caribbean’s Masters of Medicine Conference returns

The Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) is to stage its 2025 International Masters of Medicine Conference on January 18 and 19 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

A media release notes that the event ‘is rooted in academic and research excellence, and marks a pivotal step in accelerating the development of evidence-based cardiovascular care in Jamaica, while enhancing the global reputation of the HIC International Masters of Medicine Conference.

“As the leading cardiovascular conference in the Caribbean, the International Masters of Medicine Conference continues to attract global thought leaders in cardiovascular medicine. The 2025 edition, under the theme ‘Her Heart Matters’, will explore cardiovascular disease in women, with special focus on the crucial relationship between menopause and women’s heart health, highlighting the importance of awareness and preventative strategies. The sessions will aim to increase the understanding of heart disease in women and develop expertise in evaluating the relationship between menopause and heart disease,” it continued.

The conference will feature speakers from the Yale School of Medicine, Harvard University, UCLA, and other top institutions.

These experts, recognised for shaping the practice of cardiovascular medicine, will share critical insights, further positioning Jamaica as a hub for advanced cardiovascular care and scholarship in the region. Yale School of Medicine is also providing continuing medical education accreditation for attendees.

Dr Ernest Madu, founder and executive chairman of HIC, emphasised the significance of the initiative: “At HIC, our mission is to ensure that patients in Jamaica have access to world-class cardiovascular care. By aligning with Yale University, a global leader in cardiovascular medicine, we are poised to innovate and pioneer new advancements in care delivery. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to evidence-based medicine and academic excellence.”

The release continued: “This event also establishes a dynamic framework for intellectual exchanges and collaborative research between HIC and Yale’s Section of Cardiovascular Medicine. Key elements include a multifaceted approach to enhancing cardiovascular care through intellectual exchanges and joint initiatives. Faculty and staff from both institutions will engage in cross-training to foster systemic improvements, while cardiovascular fellows from Yale will undertake clinical electives at HIC, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with its renowned consultants, the first of whom will join HIC in January 2025. Additionally, monthly joint clinical conferences will be hosted by both institutions, beginning in December of this year. Furthermore, both HIC and Yale are actively developing and implementing innovative research projects aimed at advancing cardiovascular medicine.

Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Vice-Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine (Education) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr Edward J. Miller MD, PHD, shared, “This year’s Masters of Medicine Conference will help us continue to enhance clinical capacity in cardiovascular medicine throughout the region by sharing some of the latest developments in women’s health, cardiomyopathies like cardiac amyloidosis, and other cardiac conditions.

Through our collaboration with the Heart Institute of the Caribbean, I am optimistic that we will continue improving access to high-quality care in Jamaica, while also building bidirectional research programmes to advance our collective understanding of cardiovascular disease.”

TOPICS

The 2025 International Masters of Medicine Conference will address a diverse array of pressing cardiovascular health issues, with topics carefully selected by experts from HIC and Yale School of Medicine. These include cardiomyopathy in low- and middle-income countries, heart disease in women, the impact of menopause on cardiovascular health, cardiac amyloidosis, capacity development in cardiovascular medicine, and advancements in cardiac imaging and gene therapy. The conference will also tackle structural barriers to accessing cardiovascular care and strategies to improve health equity.

“These topics are vital as they address the unique challenges faced by patients in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, paving the way for innovative, evidence-based solutions that will enhance healthcare outcomes and build capacity for advanced cardiovascular care in the region,” shared Dr Madu.

The release notes further that this initiative directly supports HIC’s mission to improve access to advanced cardiovascular care for all Jamaicans. Through infrastructural and human resource development, HIC aims to reduce the reliance on overseas travel for treatment, bringing high-value expertise directly to local patients. Furthermore, the collaboration will enhance the training of Jamaican medical professionals, equipping them to deliver cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments.

Dr Madu shared, “Through this work, HIC seeks to accelerate the development of evidence-based cardiovascular care in Jamaica to improve patient outcomes, expand local infrastructure and manpower for advanced care delivery, and enhance scholarly exchanges to better address cardiovascular diseases in Jamaica. Additionally, we aim to provide access to costly yet essential therapies at more affordable rates and establish Jamaica as the premier destination for cardiovascular care in the Caribbean.”

To learn more about the International Masters of Medicine Conference 2025, please visit:

www.mastersofcardiology.com.