University of Technology, Jamaica
Excellence Through Knowledge

UTech Forges Historic Partnerships with Health Providers

Official Signing: Seated from left, Prof. Ashok Kulkarni, Deputy President, Dr. Ernest Madu, CEO and Chairman, Heart Institute of the Caribbean, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ, President, Dr. Neville Walton, Executive Director, Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute sign MoU documents formalizing collaborative arrangements. Witnessing the historic signing is Associate Prof. Eugenie Brown-Myrie, Dean, College of Health Sciences and Dr. Colin Gyles, Acting Dean, Faculty of Science and Sport. The signing ceremony was held on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at Lillian’s Restaurant, UTech Papine campus.,

The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) has forged a historic partnership with renowned health providers, the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) and the Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute (WSMI) that will see a wide range of mutually beneficial outcomes in such areas as research, academic programmes and health services. The formal signing of memoranda of understanding with the two institutions was held at a special ceremony on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at Lillian’s Restaurant, UTech Papine campus.

UTech President Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison,OJ in welcoming the partners on board said that the collaboration will be immediately beneficial to UTech student athletes. “We want to ensure that not only have we established the Faculty of Science and Sport that will study the scientific underpinnings of sports, sports performance and sports management, but we want to ensure the preparation of our athletes to the best possible physical fitness and mental conditioning.”

Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Associate Professor Eugenie Brown-Myrie welcomed the twin signing as the “dawning of a new day at UTech.” The Dean noted that both agreements will be beneficial for the College in meeting requirements for training at clinical sites and for experiential learning and internship opportunities for students. She noted that the recently launched Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme offers specializations in cardiovascular pharmacology therapy and sports medicine.

Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science and Sport, Dr. Colin Gyles, in lauding the value of partnerships to national development, said that “we must make the best of what is available everywhere to have a national product that can compete with the rest of the world.” He noted that both the WSMI and the HIC being centres of excellence in their own right in partnership with UTech makes for “a winning, world beating team.”

CEO and Chairman, Heart Institute of the Caribbean, Dr. Ernest Madu who is also Adjunct Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Imaging Technology in the College of Health Sciences told the gathering of academics and members of the medical and sporting fraternities that his Institute was pleased to be partnering with UTech to advance infrastructural and human resource development, emphasizing that collaboration is the best way to go in a low resource environment.

Dr. Neville Walton, Executive Director, Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute said that the Institute was pleased to be collaborating with UTech in the development of athletes and Jamaica’s future professionals in areas of research and new technology initiatives. Dr. Walton announced that UTech student athletes and members of the UTech community will benefit from discounted rates for services provided at the Institute.

Heart Institute of the Caribbean

The Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) is the premier centre of excellence for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the Caribbean. Under the MoU arrangements both institutions will share joint information on research and programmes in cardiovascular medicine and sports physiology, including but not limited to:

• Designation of the HIC as a Centre of Excellence for Cardiovascular Medicine and Sports Physiology at UTech
• Training and certification for studies in Cardiovascular Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Nursing, Paramedic Technicians, EKG Technicians and Physician Certifications in Cardiovascular Techniques and Procedures, and other allied Health or clinical disciplines.
• Faculty, physician and student/trainee exchange
• Scientific conferences, seminars, workshops and symposia
• Clinical rotations and internships
• Grant applications and research collaborations
• Community outreach activities and programmes
• Healthcare and Medical Informatics Technology Development
• Discounted health services to the UTech community

Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute

The Winchester Surgical and Medical Institute (WSMI) is a one-stop health care facility – the only of its kind in the Caribbean, offering a wide range of surgical and medical services with specialization in ambulatory surgery. Under the Memorandum of Understanding arrangements with UTech, the institutions will cooperate on matters related to sports science; instructional delivery; surgical and medical management including but not limited to:

• Designation of WSMI as a Centre of Excellence for Ambulatory Surgery, Medicine, Sports Medicine & Surgery, and Research at UTech
• Surgical and medical management of athletes, staff and students of UTech
• Discounted health services to the UTech community
• Resource sharing
• Staff development and training
• Continuing education and public education programmes
• Joint publications

Donation of Laboratory Coats

Dr. Lorenzo Gordon, President of the Cuba/Jamaica Friendship Association hands over to Associate Professor Eugenie Brown-Myrie, Dean, College of Health Sciences, one of 300 lab coats donated to the University.

The Cuba/Jamaica Friendship Association in the spirit of collaboration used the occasion to donate 300 white laboratory coats for conducting research work in the University’s laboratories. The donation was made by President of the Association Dr. Lorenzo Gordon.