Barbados Luncheon: Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute Physician to Advise Women About Heart Disease
Marcus St. John, M.D., a Grenadian-born Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute physician who grew up in Barbados, will serve as keynote speaker at the “Go Red Affair” luncheon on July 30 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Barbados. Dr. St. John will discuss how heart disease differs in women, as well as the risk factors associated with it. Among all women who die each year, one in four dies of heart disease.
“I am looking forward to educating women about heart disease and collaborating with my colleagues from across the Caribbean,” Dr. St. John said.
Participants are asked to wear red as there will be prizes given for “Best Red Dress.” Donations are welcome, and all proceeds will be given to Rotary International for their drive to eradicate polio worldwide. The luncheon is being hosted by Baptist Health South Florida International Services. To attend the luncheon, please email Kathleen Tuitt by July 27 at kathleet@baptisthealth.net.
Dr. St. John will also lecture on “Percutaneous PFO Closure for the Treatment of Stroke: The Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute Experience” at the 24th annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference in Barbados from July 28-31. The 2009 conference theme is “Meeting Emerging Challenges to Cardiovascular Care in the Caribbean.” A patent foramen ovale, or PFO, is a small hole in the heart that occurs when the opening between the two chambers of the heart fails to close after birth. In some cases, the hole can lead to stroke.
Dr. St. John is board-certified in interventional cardiology, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., and Harrison College in Barbados. He is currently a partner at Yeh, Quesada & St. John.
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute is renowned for clinical research and pioneering less invasive techniques to treat heart and circulatory disease. Since it was established in 1987, Institute physicians have pioneered the use of less invasive techniques, including: stent-grafts for aortic and thoracic aneurysms; carotid stents; closure devices for patent foramen ovales and atrial septal defects; and the latest treatment for stroke.
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute is an affiliate of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. It also includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Mariners Hospital and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health.