DR. GRANTEL DUNDAS

Like many doctors in the early years, Grantel Dundas’ initial interest in medicine changed from one field to another With exposure and experience being the primary influencers of change, a young Dr. Dundas would shift his previous inclination in cardiothoracic surgery to his destination career choice of orthopedic surgery. “I remember being in a lecture at the University of the West Indies and I saw a patient on whom Professor Golding had done a muscle transfer ” Dundas explains muscle transfer as the process of allowing the patient to use an arm that had been previously paralyzed because of an injury.

“The idea of working on the heart was something that thrilled me But when I saw that he (Prof Golding) made something work that couldn’t I said to myself that this is really what I want to be able to do.” Right away, cardiothoracic surgery immediately paled in Dundas’ mind, and a path formed in his head to his final choice.

Dr Grantel G Dundas is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, whose reputation for detailed excellence, paired with his impeccable social graces, lay the foundation for countless successful doctor-patient interactions that would ensue during more than five decades of practice

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For Dr Dundas, his days at KPH and Bustamante Children’s Hospital as an intern and as Junior Doctor meant that one pursued the art of medicine and surgery for its own reward, which was simply ‘the satisfaction of being able to make people function well again’.

“Nothing mattered apart from the fact that our patients recovered and were able to go on with their lives.” Service above self they say, and for this stalwart, this particular period of his professional career allowed him the chance to develop his diagnostic skills, and the art of orthopaedic surgery just for itselfwithout any monetary stimulus attached to it “My reward was that I learned a tremendous amount KPH was an incredible learning ground for me.”

As a Junior Surgeon at Kingston Public Hospital in 1971, the young Resident was ending his night’s duty when an emergency call - a stab wound to the chest, took him to a place of uncomfortable growth that was both instructive and completely necessary. “I realized the knife had entered his heart and that waiting would have been lethal to the patient ” Quick thinking and immediate action saw Dr Dundas’ first unsupervised case where he was able to repair a wounded heart and save the patient’s life "I didn’t know then whether I had the courage to do it I didn’t think I had the courage " But the circumstances demanded the excellence of his training and not the presence of his fear ”

Half a century into the path he chose and loves, Grantel Dundas remains as passionate today as the day he started. Passionate and wise. "As your career unfolds, balance is key," he advises Surgeons make substantial personal sacrifices to practice in their field, and it’s important to find and maintain equilibrium to be able to handle stress “Read extensively, and find a hobby,” he recommends

Dundas describes photography as his safety valve Having fallen in love with the art form many years ago, he admittedly finds pleasure in macro photography - the 'small world', where you see things that you didn’t know were there because they are so tiny.

“There’s a thin line between art and medicine - I walk it by keeping active, and reading a lot.”

One bit of advice to share with the younger generation?