Global 2-day event to fill significant training gap for Caribbean doctors
THE CARIBBEAN Medical Professionals’ Summit (CAMPS) will make its inaugural debut at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston from May 31 to June 2 this year.
Under the theme ‘ Toward Professional and Personal Development’, the two-day experience is geared towards providing physicians with career development guidance and mentorship from global leaders in healthcare, as well as with a deep dive into personal development. CAMPS is the first event of its kind to be organised in the Caribbean.
The CAMPS 2024 agenda is designed to cater to current student doctors at public and private institutions in the region; those who graduated f rom medical school within the last five years and are desirous of further training; and established medical specialists. There are more than 10 speakers, panellists, and workshop leaders. The keynote speakers will focus on the future of medicine, i n particular, to ensure that attendees do not plan their careers blindly, but are strategic and mindful of global human resources trends, future patient needs, and disruptive technological advancements.
Admissions consultant ShawnaKaye Lester, who holds a masters of public health in health policy and management from Columbia University, was inspired to create CAMPS based on a decade of experience providing support to physician clients in and from Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean countries. She explains that helping scores of doctors compete for post-medical school training opportunities has given her nuanced perspectives on public health.
“There’s frequent discussion about how well physicians care for patients. However, we also need frequent discussion about how well physicians are being cared for,” said Lester. “In addition to being taught medicine, our physicians need world-class career development and personal development support. CAMPS was created to be a vehicle for the continuing holistic development of physicians who are studying or working in the Caribbean, or are otherwise invested in the region. The primary goal is their professional and personal fulfillment.
“A highlight of the two-day agenda will be expert guidance, time and space for each person to make a comprehensive life plan, because life is about more than work. Most importantly, every physician will leave with a personalised blueprint for achieving their maximum career potential while enjoying maximum wellness.”