Saint Michael's Medical Center Sponsors Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic

NEWARK, N.J. (February 26, 2007) –– Physicians affiliated with Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark will be embarking Wednesday on a two-week medical mission to an impoverished area of the Dominican Republic as part of a pilot program sponsored by the hospital. They expect to be treating a variety of diseases and plan to establish a pharmaceutical pipeline to ensure that patients with chronic illnesses continue to receive the medicines they need.

“I earned my medical degree at a university on the small Caribbean island of Saba,” said Clayton Everline, M.D., a third-year resident at Saint Michael’s Medical Center who proposed and developed the pilot program. “This mission stems from a yearning to bring my experience and training back to the islands, to benefit the local people.”

Joining Dr. Everline on the mission to Sabana Grande de Boya will be Katherine Hanify, M.D., who specializes in internal medicine and women’s health; Suraj Saggar, M.D., an infectious diseases specialist; Chris Boni, M.D., a pulmonologist; and Umberto Jiminez, a clinical pharmacist. They will be stationed at a medical clinic in one of the Dominican Republic’s major agricultural centers, where thousands of Dominican and Haitian migrant workers work grueling hours in local sugarcane fields. The five are prepared to provide medical treatment and preventative education to patients who have little or no access to health care.

“While some conditions can be treated with antibiotics and cured quickly, chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, require a lifetime regimen of medicine and expert care,” said Dr. Everline, who hopes that this will be just the first of many missions.

The pilot program is funded in part by a grant from Saint Michael’s Medical Center. However, future missions will depend on support from the community, explained Dr. Everline.

“My colleagues and I hope to make regular return visits to our outpost at Sabana Grande de Boya,” said Dr. Everline, “and we invite the public to help make it possible. Anyone who would like to support our medical mission can send a tax-deductible donation to Congregacion Hermanas Misioneras del Corazon de Jesus, 109 Parker Street, Newark, New Jersey.”

Saint Michael’s Medical Center, a 337-bed regional primary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark’s main business and educational district, is an affiliate of Cathedral Healthcare System, a nonprofit, multi-hospital system that also comprises Saint James Hospital and Columbus Hospital in Newark. All are affiliated with Catholic Health and Human Services Corporation and support the mission of the Archdiocese of Newark. More information is available online at www.cathedralhealth.org.