USVI and Miami Institutions Collaborate on Pioneering Cardiovascular Health Program

In a significant step towards enhancing cardiovascular health in the USVI, a collaborative program has been launched by leading health institutions in Miami and the US Virgin Islands.

This Monday, Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, alongside local health leaders and representatives from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, announced the commencement of the Cardiovascular Research Empowerment Workforce initiative.

Spanning five years, this program is designed to offer both research and educational opportunities to 50 individuals from the Virgin Islands with an interest in cardiovascular medicine. The program includes a two-week stint at the University of Miami, where participants will learn advanced research methodologies. Following this, they will undertake paid research roles within the V.I. Department of Health throughout the summer, receiving guidance from both local and University of Miami experts.

Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion highlighted the critical role of cardiovascular research in advancing medical knowledge and enhancing patient care, especially considering heart disease as a prominent cause of mortality. Dr. Sonjia Kenya, who formulated this program at the Miller School of Medicine, aims to motivate these 50 Virgin Islanders towards careers in cardiovascular medicine and encourage their return to contribute to their community.

Dr. Kenya recounted her initial meeting with DOH Chief Medical Officer Tai Hunte-Cesar during a global health and infectious disease residency at the Miller School of Medicine. She shared, “Our bond was forged over a mutual dedication to serving our community with culturally-relevant strategies and evidence-based medicine.” Dr. Kenya expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with Dr. Hunte-Cesar in developing this program and further research initiatives to tackle local health disparities.

University of the Virgin Islands President Dr. David Hall lauded the initiative as a step towards realizing UVI’s ambition of housing a medical school. He described it as bridging existing healthcare provisions with future aspirations, notably highlighting Dr. Hunte-Cesar’s involvement as the potential founding dean of the proposed medical school.

Dr. Tai Hunt-Cesar shared her personal journey, highlighting how her research under Dr. Kenya’s mentorship led to a publication on community health workers, exemplifying the practical impact of research. She expressed her eagerness to mentor the upcoming generation of health professionals over the program’s duration.

The application window for the Cardiovascular Research Empowerment Workforce program is now open, starting January 29 and closing on February 29. Selections will be made by April 1, with the program scheduled to run from June 17 to August 9.