2 minute read
International Connections
Dr. Joe and the Cayman Islands
For almost 60 years, Baptist Health has stood for the highest quality healthcare in South Florida, featuring one of the largest hospital-based international programs in the United States. Baptist Health ranks
among the best hospitals in the country, according to government health studies and rankings systems like
U.S. News & World Report. Thousands of people each year travel to Miami from around the world to visit Baptist Health’s respected physicians and medical facilities, and we, too, have worked to expand our reach to establish an international presence outside of our country’s borders.
Joseph Ostroski, M.D., one of Baptist Health’s early general surgeons, has dedicated time and effort to help serve our international neighbors for close to 50 years. As the physician liaison between Baptist Health Foundation and the Cayman Islands, Dr. Joe, as his patients affectionately refer to him, began working with the Cayman Islands community even before he embarked on his journey with Baptist Health. For years, he immersed himself in their community, assessing patients and serving as their link to our organization. His roster of patients ultimately grew from
dozens, to thousands. With the help of Baptist Health International, Dr. Joe has been instrumental in bringing patients from the Cayman Islands to South Florida, making it possible for them to be treated by some of the best physicians and clinical staff.
The Cayman community has truly embraced Dr. Joe as one their own, simply stated – he is family. His kindness and overwhelming commitment to their community has left an impact and filled a void no one even knew existed. Because
of this, many have come forward to show their support of Dr. Joe through philanthropic contributions benefiting the Joseph T. Ostroski, M.D., Endowment – a fund created to establish an endowed chair, ensuring that his legacy will live on for years to come.
As we look forward to the future and envision how our international presence and philanthropy can integrate, we are reminded of the impact Dr. Joe continues to leave on the Cayman community and how his story is a gateway to the bigger picture. The generosity and gratitude of those
he has served will ensure that other members of their community can come to Baptist Health to receive the medical attention they need. Dr. Joe’s passion for healthcare and the grateful Caymanians who have donated to the Joseph T. Ostroski, M.D., Endowment have led the way for us to continue growing Baptist Health’s connections beyond South Florida.
Expressions of Support: Bahamas Community
Baptist Health sprung into immediate action to provide support as aid efforts began after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas. Rose Rahming, Baptist Health’s local representative in the Bahamas, assisted with the coordination of relief efforts from the National Emergency Operations Centre, as well as the Baptist Health International office in Nassau. Baptist Health South Florida worked with the Bahamian authorities to provide a significant amount of medical supplies to the functioning hospital in the region, Princess Margaret Hospital located in Nassau. Baptist Health also notified Bahamian authorities that our doors were open for any patient transfers from those affected by the storm. Locally, Baptist Health partnered with South Florida-based Operation Helping Hands, which was activated by United Way of Miami-Dade, to provide disaster relief to our Bahamian neighbors and friends in their critical time of need.
