Seminar participants

Mar. 9 -- Two nationals of the Federation, Second Lieutenant Dr. Vance Gilbert and Dr. Giovanna Mathew-Mattener were among several participants who attended a Telehealth and Diabetes Seminar at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, Florida.

Drs. Matthew and Mattener were among representatives from all seven Regional Security Service (RSS) states who participated in the seminar held at the request from the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, in which they partnered with the Florida State National Guard (FSNG) and the RSS.

The seminar included presentations from the University of Miami staff regarding areas of telehealth and diabetes. Telehealth was added to the seminar to provide quick and cost effective means of consultation and research for RSS member state medical professionals.

The RSS participants visited several University of Miami locations, including the Diabetes Research Institute. This emphasis was predicated upon the fact that diabetes is a widespread public health issue throughout the Eastern Caribbean region.

The other 10 persons from the RSS states participating were: Captain Prince Ramsey and Captain Mikyla Frederick from Antigua and Barbuda; Captain Virgil Rene Best and Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George from Barbados; Dr. Paul Ricketts from Dominica; Inspector Terrence Julien from Grenada; Principal Nursing Officer, Kurthney Surage and Dr. Ayo-Oluwa Adeola Adesanya from St. Lucia; Family Nurse Practitioner Carmina Walker, and Sergeant of Police, Ornan Jacobs from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

As a consequence of this seminar, RSS personnel are better equipped to educate their members about the risk factors associated with diabetes. Those who act on this information via behavioral change will be able to reduce their likelihood of succumbing to this disease.

Dr. Paul Ricketts, Commonwealth of Dominica noted, the telehealth method of instruction demonstrated a new and cost effective approach to educating people about diabetes.