St. Maarten Medical Center recently hosted the first-ever Breast Cancer in the Caribbean Symposium (BCCS). The accredited symposium, which saw over 100 attendees ranging from medical specialists and nurses to healthcare stakeholders such as insurance companies and government officials, was held at the American University of the Caribbean in Cupecoy and featured 17 international speakers from Aruba, Belgium, Curacao, Ireland, the Netherlands and St. Maarten. Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and Honorable Minister of VSA Veronica Jansen-Webster were present to open the inaugural symposium officially.
A highlight of the symposium was the presentation of the latest data on breast cancer trends, treatments, and patient care strategies. In addition, speakers presented on topics such as the role of the general practitioner in breast cancer care, small population screening programs, non-surgical breast cancer treatments, cardiac screenings, limitations of mammography, breast ultrasound imaging, breast reconstruction, the neurocognitive effects of breast cancer and the future of screening with the integration of artificial intelligence technologies. The audience engaged with the data and fostered meaningful conversations on how patients can be supported further through the streamlining of breast cancer care on St. Maarten, the region and beyond.
SMMC’s Medical Staff Bureau Officer and the event’s organizer, Mrs. Veerle Bok-Baroud remarked “I am truly proud of the success we achieved with our recent accredited Breast Cancer Symposium. Organizing this event was both a privilege and a responsibility, as it provided a platform to share crucial research, foster discussions, and bring together a diverse range of healthcare professionals. It was a collective effort to deepen our understanding of breast cancer and improve patient outcomes through collaboration. A special thanks to the BCCS chair Dr. Felix Holiday for this amazing opportunity, guidance, and his continuous support.“
“Looking ahead, I am optimistic about the future initiatives and partnerships arising from the connections made during the symposium. We have built a strong foundation for continued research, advocacy, and improvements in breast cancer care. I look forward to seeing how these conversations translate into real-world applications that will benefit patients and healthcare professionals alike”, she concluded.
SMMC and the board thank its sponsors, Cayman Islands Health City, Henderson insurances, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Social and Health Insurances (SZV), Princess Juliana International Airport, Royal Bank of Canada, Cay Hill Pharmacy, Guardian Group Fatum, Ennia, Nagico Insurances, SIXT car rental, Windward Islands Airways International N.V., ORCO Bank, Windward Islands Bank, Prime Distributors, Sandy’s Catering, Divico, Lucky’s Shopping Center, St. Maarten Nectar, Tshirt Maxx, SHTA, NAPA Auto, Truck and Marine Parts, Shop4Less and Kids Zone.