INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CERTIFICATION
Most of the medical centers available in Cuba are certified ISO 14001 and ISO 9001: which is an international status given to institutions adhering to British Standard Institution (BSI) when it comes to excellence in medical conduct, hygiene, sanitation, and administration.

EXPERT EVALUATIONS
All treatments requests are evaluated by teams of Cuban medical experts in order to deter
mine the most suitable treatment protocol.

NO WAIT TIME
As opposed to treatment in your own country, Cuba prides itself in offering quality medical care without the long wait. The average amount of time it takes for the treatment program to start is between 2 weeks to a month.

CUBAN DOCTORS ARE SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST
In the last 5 years, over 50 thousand patients from 40 countries have benefited from Cuban Medical expertise. Cuban doctors are known for their hands-on expertise, countries throughout the world host Cuban medical missions to fill in any shortfall and to deal with highly complex situations.

MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
Cuba is recognized for its medical breakthroughs in treatment, and in some instances, curing diseases that are considered incurable in some of the most advanced medical centers in both North America and Europe. Some of these breakthroughs and cures include:
One of the world’s most advanced countries in the field of Orthopedic surgeries One of the world’s most advanced countries in the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa degenerative disease which leads to blindness Effective treatment for hard to treat skin conditions such as Vitiligo, Psoriasis, and Alopecia. Five cancer patent vaccines which proved effective in the treatment of. Many people are unaware that Cuba was the country which developed CimaVax , Vaxira (for the treatment of certain types of Lung cancers), Nimotuzumab (for the treatment of certain types of Head and Neck cancers), Heberferon
for the treatment of certain types of Nevoid Basil-Cell Carcinoma Syndrome, some of the most effective anti-cancer drugs known to treat advanced Lung cancer and Head and Neck and brain tumors, HeberProt-P, the most effective treatment for Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

HIGHER HEALTH STANDARDS THAN MANY OTHER ADVANCED NATIONS
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cuba attains higher health indicators than advanced countries such as the United States.

CUBA IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND
With breathtaking beaches, a tropical oceanic climate, and natural beauty, many people believe it to be the most gorgeous island on Earth. The magic of Cuba can be seen and heard everywhere; you can feel it in the food and drink, in the architecture, in the smiles of the local people and even in the air.

By RHAZES GLOBAL

In just over 10-years, Dror Paley, MD, FRCSC, has built the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, FL, into the global leader in limb-lengthening and spine deformities treatments, and today continues offer world-class pediatric to adult orthopedic care for a wide variety of bone and joint ailments. Dr. Dror Paley is internationally renowned as a pioneer in orthopedic care having developed over 100 new operative procedures for bone and soft tissue reconstruction of congenital, developmental and post-traumatic limb disorders. The Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute is a Center of Excellence in specific areas of orthopedics including spinal deformity, limblengthening, joint health, stature lengthening, pediatric orthopedics, hip pain, physical and occupational therapy, foot and ankle deformity and multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute is located at 901 45th St., Kimmel Building, in West Palm Beach, FL.

“We offer cutting edge solutions for the simplest to the most difficult orthopedic problems with very high success rates of 98 percent. We frequently solve the unsolvable,” Dr. Paley said.

Travelling to another country for the most advanced medical treatment, or medical tourism, is on the rise and at the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute on any given day sees patients from every continent on the planet who seek the treatment of Dr. Paley and his team. Communication with families from all over the world is paramount and Dr. Paley is master communicator on the subject and in different languages, he speaks English, Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. He has been practicing medicine since 1980. While Dr. Paley’s schedule is very busy while in West Palm Beach, he also finds the time to travel around the world meeting community leaders and the people who live there. Dr. Paley regularly presents his findings to scholars in medical communities in numerous countries across the globe.

“My international reputation creates a global referral network. Doctors I teach from around the world send us patients,” Dr. Paley said.

Dr. Paley’s education and training includes: completion of pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship training from the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, AOA-COA North American Traveling Fellowship – Limb Lengthening and External Fixation Traveling Fellowship from the Hospital of Lecco, Lecco, Italy, Hospital Borgo Roma, Verona, University of Rome, Rome, Kneikott Institute, Kurgan, USSR, Nufield Orthopaedic Hospital, Oxford, England and an additional hand and trauma surgery fellowship from Sunnybrook Medical Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto.

Dr. Paley completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery from the University of Toronto Teaching Hospitals, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, his internship in orthopaedic surgery from Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, and graduated medical school from the University of Toronto, School of Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

In addition, Dr. Paley leads a medical observership program. Dr. Paley has lectured and demonstrated surgery in more than 80 countries and provides training for specialists from around the world through a fellowship program.

“We constantly have fellows visiting from all over the world. They come from over 50 countries. They then go home and provide some of these services and often refer patients with the most difficult problems,” Dr. Paley said.

“There are always new international fellows coming (to the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute) for training.”

Dr. Paley said medical tourism is on the rise, 90 percent of the patients he and his team care for are from outside of the State of Florida, they’ve come from all 50 states and even more amazing is the fact, the people of 90 different countries and counting have had procedures performed at the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute. One recent report pointed out as many as 8,000 hotel rooms are booked in the Palm Beach County, FL, area every year by Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute patients.
While Dr. Paley leads this one of kind orthopedic center, perhaps as equally impressive is the team he’s built to care for a patient population ranging from newborns to centenarians.

Recently, Claire E. Shannon, MD, a fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon with special focus in limb deformity joined Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in Sept. 2019. Dr. Claire Shannon recently joined Dr. Paley and is opening her new practice at the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute. Dr. Shannon specializes in pediatric orthopaedics, limb lengthening, congenital limb deformities, post-traumatic deformity and complex hip and pelvis procedures. She is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Shannon is on-staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

Prior to joining Tenet Florida Physician Services (TFPS) and the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, Dr. Shannon served as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in the division of pediatric orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine located in Baltimore, MD. At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Shannon’s specialty included the treatment of pediatric and young adult patients with congenital and developmental limb deformities, foot and ankle problems, complex hip and pelvis problems, and traumatic injuries including fractures. Today, Dr. Shannon is affiliated with Johns Hopkins as honorary faculty.

For her education and training, Dr. Shannon completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Shannon finished her residency and internship in orthopedic surgery at Case Western/University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. She graduated medical school from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY.

Dr. Shannon presented her research and findings relating to orthopaedic surgery and pediatric orthopaedic surgery to the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery for a medial article titled: “Final Fusion After Growing Rod Treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis: Is it Really Final?” Dr.

Shannon’s peer-reviewed article “Hip Arthroscopy for Extra-Articular Hip Disease” published in the Current Reviews in Muscoskeletal Medicine journal.

In addition, Dr. Shannon contributed research to a $100,000 NFL Charities Medial Research Grant. Dr. Shannon also completed book chapters and monographs on the topic of “Salter Innominate Osteotomy” published in the Pediatric Pelvic and Proximal Femoral Osteotomies: A Clinical Casebook, 1st Ed., and “Hip Instability in Down Syndrome” in Pediatric Pelvic and Proximal Femoral Osteotomies: A Clinical Casebook, 1st Edition. Dr. Shannon has been practicing medicine since 2011.

Bradley M. Lamm, DPM, FACFAS, joined the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in 2016 to lead the Foot & Ankle Deformity Correction Center. Dr. Bradley Lamm is a board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon. He previously served as the head of Foot & Ankle Surgery at the International Center for Limb Lengthening (ICLL) at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Lamm specializes in the treatment of foot, ankle, and lower leg conditions in both children and adults.

Dr. Lamm is an expert in treating diabetic foot deformities, ankle disorders, sports or athletic injuries, arthritis, flatfoot, bunions, hammertoes, and various other foot and ankle ailments. He has extensive experience in joint distraction, a new technique which uses external fixation to preserve ankle and toe joints and prevents the need for fusion or replacement. Dr. Lamm performs minimally invasive surgery techniques to correct diabetic Charcot foot and to lengthen the metatarsals and toes for patients with Brachymetatarsia.

In June 2019, Dr. Lamm was featured for a new surgery to fix bunions only available at the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in West Palm Beach, FL. According to several news reports and the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, Dr. Lamm created an internal device called a mini bunion manufactured by Crossroads Extremity Systems.

Tom Minas, MD, FACS, joined the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in 2018 after 30 years at Harvard Medical School, where he was a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery. He is a founding member of the ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society-1997) and present Vice President of the Society. He brought Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) to the United States in 1995 from Sweden and has done the most Cartilage Transplants in the world. He is a pioneer and innovator, having invented many surgical techniques to treat osteoarthritis in the young and old arthritic patient and has developed and patented customized individually made knee eplacements. His work in patient-specific knee replacement has led to the introduction of a family of tissue preserving, customized implants based on patient-specific imaging data to restore native articulating geometry. Dr. Minas specializes in various procedures.

Dr. Minas has published and lectured extensively on cartilage repair and joint preservation of the knee. He has written a textbook, over a dozen book chapters, as well as more than 100 peer- reviewed articles in international journals. Additionally, Dr. Minas has directed multiple international conferences on biologic repair of arthritic joints. He was recently awarded by the America Knee Society the prestigious Insall Award in 2013 for his work on the Long-Term Outcomes assessment of ACI in the knee. For more information, check out the Cartilage Repair Center website.

In 2015, David Feldman, MD, joined the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute to lead the new Spine Deformity Center and Hip Pain Center. Dr. Feldman was previously Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery and a professor of Orthopedic Surgery and pediatrics at NYU Langone Medical Center / NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Dr. Feldman specializes in pediatric orthopedic surgery and subspecializes in children with scoliosis and severe limb and hip deformities as well as hip and knee arthroscopy and advanced joint preservation techniques in children and adults.

After graduating from the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in 1988, Dr. Feldman interned in general surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery in June 1993 and spent the next year in fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto with a special interest in pediatric orthopedic surgery and pediatric spine surgery. Dr. Feldman brings over 20 years of experience in pediatric orthopedics, spinal deformity and joint preservation to the practice.

Craig A. Robbins, MD, was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He attended the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in English, and then ultimately returned home to graduate from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1999. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Tulane University in New Orleans in 2004. Dr. Robbins then completed his pediatric orthopedic fellowship in Memphis, TN, at the Campbell Clinic, in 2005. Following this, he completed a mini-fellowship in limb deformity correction with Dr. Paley in Baltimore.
After training, Dr. Robbins and his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi. He spent 4 years in private practice and then in 2009 transitioned to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In that same year he was named “Doctor of the Year” by DrScore.com for having the highest patient satisfaction rating of all physicians in their database.
Dr. Robbins enjoys all aspects of pediatric orthopedics, but his specialty is treating children with congenital and acquired limb abnormalities. These include femoral deficiency, tibial and fibular hemimelia, congenital pseudarthrosis, post-traumatic growth arrest, malunions, nonunions, and various angular and axial deformities such as genu varum, genu valgus, limb length discrepancy, and Blount’s disease. In addition, Dr. Robbins treats limb deformities in adults. Dr. Robbins has ectured around the country and regularly serves as an expert faculty member teaching techniques of external fixation and deformity correction to orthopedic surgeons.

Christina M. Schilero, DPM, joined the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in 2016 after completing her residency in foot and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery at West Houston Medical Center. She has completed a fellowship with Dr. Paley and performs specialized treatments for a variety of foot and ankle conditions. She also specializes in an innovative approach to complex wounds.

“We cover the full array of orthopedic subspecialties. Our specialists are all the top of their fields,” said Dr. Paley.

The Mission of the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute is to provide the most technologically advanced treatments to improve the lives of those who suffer from congenital, developmental, and post-traumatic orthopedic conditions. We are a world-renowned center specializing in:

• Limb Deformity Correction & Lengthening                          
• Spinal Deformity Correction                                        
• Joint Preservation                                                        
• Advanced Pediatric Orthopedics

Serving children and adults from the local community, the United States, and the World, the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute offers comprehensive, coordinated care from an experienced team of professionals designed for the specific needs of each patient. At the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, our treatment philosophy focuses on reconstruction over amputation, and a commitment to preserving limbs and joints and restoring function.

The Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute is located on the campus of St. Mary’s Medical Center, home to the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital. St. Mary’s boasts a dedicated team of physicians, nurses, and staff to offer a broad spectrum of outstanding medical care, including acclaimed pediatric services, trauma, stroke, orthopedics, and obstetrics.

Specialized Services at St. Mary’s Medical Center:

• Surgical Special Care Unit  
• The Palm Beach Children’s Hospital
• Advanced Imaging & Radiology Suites
• Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine Center Physicians, specialists and insurance companies around the world refer their patients to the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute.

The world-class surgeons and the personalized approach of the Patient Care Coordination Team provide comprehensive second opinions and consultative support for referrers to assure patients achieve the right diagnosis and the right access to care. As a Center of Excellence in highly complex orthopedic clinical services, the Institute seeks global partnerships to expand its footprint and advocacy through referral treatment, professional consultancy, and physician training that supports the entire lifespan of families in need of orthopedic care.

The level of clinical expertise equals the overflowing compassion and personalized experience delivered by the Patient Care Coordination Team. Families can trust they will receive the world- class comprehensive medical care, and world-class compassion.

The Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute is located at: 901 45th St., Kimmel Building, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

In 1918, the organization opened its first medical service and began financing the creation of hospitals, medical schools, and dental clinics throughout the country. In 1919, Hadassah built hospitals in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Haifa, and Safed. Subsequently, all hospitals except the two Jerusalem hospitals under Hadassah guidance — Hadassah Ein Kerem and Hadassah Har HaZofim (a complex on Mount Scopus) — were transferred to the municipal authorities.
Today, Hadassah is one of the largest medical centers in the Mediterranean region. Its students undergo practical training in five medical schools, in addition, Hadassah is the research base of the medical faculty of the Hebrew University. There are research institutes of oncohematology, neurology, genetics, and other branches of medicine. Hadassah is internationally known as a leader in the development and implementation of new treatment protocols, drugs, methods, and medical technologies. Doctors of the clinic often go to provide charity care to places of major earthquakes, epidemics, and zones of armed conflicts. The hospital is constantly expanding with new buildings constructed and additional units and laboratories.

Unique diagnosis and treatment in Hadassah
Video for the article to this block: https://youtu.be/3mI-v4_J5dA                                                                                                                   Сaption: Hadassah changes lives of people around the world

Cancer treatment
One of the highest priority areas in Hadassah is oncology. If cancer is suspected, the clinic uses the most modern and accurate diagnostic methods, such as the genetic tests InVitae, Caris Target Now, Foundation One, his
Since its establishment, Hadassah’s staff has followed the fundamental principle: the clinic works for the benefit of all its patients, regardless of racial or religious differences.
tological studies, and the latest MRI, CT, and PET-CT methods. All the advanced oncological treatment methods are used here, such as all types of chemotherapy with minimal side effects, including intraoperative HIPEC therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy,
immunotherapy, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, HIFU technique, electro-, cryo- and laser destruction, etc.

Hadassah did not confirm about 34% of all oncological diagnoses of other clinic

Innovations

• Last year, Hadassah presented the only supersensitive PET-CT device in Israel, able to detect tumors 2-3 mm in size, which was impossible before the commissioning of the innovative unit.
• The clinic offers exclusive radiotherapy using the ultra-precise Novalis TrueBeam Stx device, which reduced the duration of the course by 30-50%.
• For the first time in Israel, Hadassah oncologists have begun using NanoKnife technology to remove localized prostate cancer.
• Hadassah treats neuroendocrine tumors using advanced Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) technology. This therapy is 2-3 times more effective in the clinic than in oth er Israeli medical centers because only here the radioactive material for therapy is produced directly in the hospital campus and is used immediately.
• The clinic has cured more than 200 patients with metastatic melanoma who were declared hopeless in other medical centers. The treatment was carried out using a unique vaccine developed by Professor Michal Lotem.

Video for the article to this block:https://youtu.be/qhNriiphznUVideo

Сaption: Stuart Greenberg came to Hadassah with a diagnosis of fourth-degree melanoma with metastases in the stomach. Doctors in the United States said that he had only a few months left to live, but they saved his life in Hadassah.

Treatment of rare genetic diseases using BMT
Patients from all over the world come to Hadassah to see the doctors of the bone marrow transplantation unit, recently JACIEaccredited Professor Polina Stepensky and Dr. Irina Zaydman. Under their guidance, the clinic conducted more than 3,500 successful transplants, more than 30% of which accounted for children. Polina Stepensky often works with small patients from Russia. If necessary, parents are assisted in applying to charitable foundations for financial support of treatment. In Hadassah, a multidisciplinary team of specialists takes care of small patients: oncologists, hematologists, nurses, psychologists, teachers, and medical clowns. In order to avoid infectious complications, children are placed in special aseptic units.

Neurosurgery
In July 2018, Hadassah neurosurgeons were the first in Israel to use the world's most powerful KINEVO 900 surgery microscope, created by the famous German company – Zeiss. The device makes visible the smallest tumors and vessels in 3D; it has significantly boosted Israeli neurosurgery. Hadassah is the only medical facility in the Middle East providing treatment of stroke patients over 80 years of age. In January 2018, a 99-year-old patient underwent a similar operation. Hadassah neurosurgeons treat newborns, starting from their very birth, and elderly people of almost any age: the age of 99 years has so far been a record, but, according to Professor Jose Cohen, 100 years is not the limit.
“Few people know that many advanced technologies are being introduced in Israel – in Hadassah – earlier than in the US because we do not need permission from the FDA – the US regulatory system – but only EU per mission. Hadassah is a hospital that operates as an American structure and organization, with European regulations and a foundation, and the Judaism values. Jewish morality, the most advanced technology in the world, and the American-type administration". Professor Jose Cohen is the Head of Branch of Interventional Neuroradiology. His work and scientific activity was repeatedly marked by honorary awards, the first persons of the states trust their health to Jose Cohen, pa tients from dozens of countries around the world seek his care. Professor Cohen has no equal in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and strokes.

Orthopedics
Last year, Hadassah became the first clinic in the Middle East to apply the latest spine metastases radiotherapy technology – Spine SRS. Spine SRS software ensures a 3-4-time increase in the accuracy of radiotherapy, which reaches a record level of less than 1 mm. As a result, it is possible either to completely replace the surgical intervention with radiation therapy, or to conduct a small operation.
Hadassah was the first in Israel to use a combination of BRAINLAB's innovative navigation system and ZEEGO’s advanced imaging device to remove hard-to-reach tumors. Only thanks to this, the orthopedists managed to replace the difficult and dangerous intervention with a minimally invasive operation when removing a benign tumor located on the femur of a 27-year-old patient.

By making, the choice you can make your child start one-step ahead of real life.

We know you’re doing a great deal of research to give your baby the best gift, and I want to tell you that the RHAZES GLOBAL family is different from other companies.

Our differences, America, Britain and Turkey-based specially trained certified professional birth coach with the most important period of your life is to get your health and happi-ness of your baby in your arms.

Our birth coach (Doula) Tuğçe Atakan: “I give birth coaching services for all the families that I enter, and I provide counseling to all families about breastfeeding and baby care, and I give pre-and post-delivery preparatory pieces of training..

I give full support at any moment during your pregnancy as your birth coach. You will realize the importance of this support, especially when your pains start at 36 and 37 weeks. I can use different techniques for the comfort-able progression of birth, I can actively sup-port 15-25 hours of sleep from the moment of birth. I witness so beautiful births; I want to keep this excitement, happiness, curiosity and the privilege of witnessing the miracle of a new life coming to the world for every family I work with. It is a passion for me to tell women that birth is not a disease and to make them realize the power within them.

I accompany and teach mothers so that they can increase their confidence in their bodies and babies during their travels, and all I want is, no matter the way of birth, the moment of encounter with the baby must be eagerly anticipated, prepared and a perfect reunion”

What do we do as a Birth Coach (doula) service: we meet 4 times face to face during prenatal times during your pregnancy. Our goal is to learn your needs and priorities, to know if you have any worries or fears. This is how we can best work together with you. We talk about what you are most curious about, birth coping techniques, pregnancy pilates, breathing exercises, meditation, relaxation techniques, researching how mother relaxes, what we can do if you have a cesarean section, trying active birth positions, recognizing and choosing aromatherapy oils that we can use at birth, preparation of preferences, needs of the puerperium and breastfeeding tips.

When you decide to give birth in the United States, you have three options.

– The first thing that comes to mind is to go to the city you know or to undergo this process through intermediaries (often making mistakes).

– Your second option (the option you are most at risk of making mistakes) is to explore everything and embark on this adventure on your own.

– The third: EXPERIENCE is very important for birth in America. The most important thing to consider is actually EXPERIENCE. RHAZES GLOBAL team and our BIRTH COACH in America will not put you under the risk!

On the day of birth, we take you from your home to the hospital. We will always be there for you in communication with the nurses and the hospital.

You will not experience stress; you will give birth comfortably without thinking about the next step.                                                                                                                   From the moment your labor pains begin, after your baby is in your arms, we are actively supporting you for minimum 15 hours without going to sleep until you leave your birth room and settle in your private room.

• Hospitalization for 2 days at natural birth and 3 days at ce-sarean section.
• Ensuring all kinds of health checks and needs related to the baby and mother during the hospital stay.
• We visit every day during the hospital stay. We provide the necessary legal procedures to be initiated and, if necessary, private vehicle transfer support between the home and the hospital.
• Welcome, gift and package for your baby in the hospital.
• Provide your baby with a special car seat on the day of departure. (They do not allow the vehicle to leave the hospital without a seat)
• After leaving the hospital, we provide full support to the mother in the supply of medicines that mother needs to buy at the pharmacy.
• After leaving the hospital, we provide a private baby bed to your home.

However, diversity in representation is just part of the equation. That only addresses demographics. However, when there is an inclusion imperative, caregivers have a sense of purpose and belonging. Add to that cultural competence—which is responding appropriately to people of varying backgrounds, in a way that recognizes differences and allows individuals to feel respected and valued—and you have a well-formed ecosystem designed to serve all equally and with respect.

As a healthcare system with national and global reach, Cleveland Clinic serves and hires people from all walks of life. I myself am a native Croatian, with stops along the way in Zurich, Boston, Abu Dhabi and Cleveland. To say that the cultures were different from one location to the next is an understatement. Success, though, demands an understanding and appreciation of each culture.

These are not just platitudes. We walk the talk. Every day. Around the world.

We may fall short from time to time, as almost all organizations will, but it’s not for lack of trying. Each stumble offers another opportunity to improve. Shaping culture is never finished. It’s an ever-evolving effort.

To that end, two recent initiatives illustrate how we continue to do better.

In my annual State of the Clinic message, I announced a goal that by 2024 we will have leadership that fully reflects the diversity of those they lead.

In addition, we recently signed on to support the mission of Time’s Up Healthcare, pledging that sexual harassment and gender inequity have no place in the healthcare workplace; that every employee should have equitable opportunity, support and compensation; and

that we will continue to strengthen our efforts as we work toward the goal of a safe, respectful and equitable workplace.

Whatever the initiative may be, it requires a focused, concerted effort from everyone within the organization. We achieve this by integrating best practices of diversity, inclusion, equity and cultural competence into all that we do—including expanding access to quality healthcare services and improving policies, procedures and hiring of caregivers to reflect the diversity of those we serve.

Cleveland Clinic’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides strategic support for creating an inclusive culture, through education, recruitment, employee development, and collaborations on diversity-related initiatives. Some may view diversity and inclusion as wise business practices. And I suppose it is. Ultimately, though, it’s simply the right thing to do.

Patients have more choice than ever before, and it’s imperative that we understand their needs in order to improve patient outcomes, engagement, retention and conversion. Our goal is to provide relationship-centered care for both our caregivers and our patients—a lifelong relationship centered on health, wellness and each patient’s individual needs.

Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Dr. Tom Mihaljevic

The idea of setting up a private medical center dates back to 1992. Its initiators are famous Lithuanian cardiac surgeons – professors Vytautas Sirvydis and Giedrius Uždavinys. It took several years since the idea turned into reality, but ultimately, the Heart Surgery Center opened its doors in the summer of 1998 in one of the neighborhoods of Vilnius city. The center was oriented towards the patients from CIS countries and it was built using the most cutting-edge and innovative technologies, furthermore, its laboratories and operating-rooms were equipped with the latest medical equipment from European and Japanese manufacturers. Its trustworthiness and high level of service has been ensured not only by the team of the doctors that are well known throughout the country but also by an intensive care unit, which made it possible to carry out complex medical surgeries requiring intensive post-operative care.

Shortly after focusing on cardiac surgery and orthopedics, center managers began to invite professionals from other fields, who had accumulated experience both in Lithuania and in the rest of the world and had earned a good reputation among patients.

Activities were continuously developed and it wasn’t long before a range of services provided by the center has expanded and quickly covered almost all areas and levels of medicine: from consultation with different professionals and medical tests to complex surgeries that have not been performed by any other private medical center since then.

The Heart Surgery Center became a private hospital and health care center Kardiolita Hospital in 2011.

Ongoing Strategy: The Best of Everything

Although the name itself has changed and the range of activities has expanded significantly, the medical center, which has started with staffing it with the best doctors and provision of top-level services, has retained its core of activity to this day. Vilnius Kardiolita Hospital – the only private medical clinic in Lithuania, which, like the public hospitals, has a team of reanimatologists who are on duty all day every day. This enables to perform not only laser and minimally invasive procedures but also the most complex surgical operations.

Kardiolita Hospital employs the most experienced doctors in Lithuania. This is not just a declaration of the health institution made accessible to the public, but also a fundamental background of the company’s philosophy. Professionalism has been encrypted in its genes – after all, these clinics have emerged from the efforts of two topqualified, experienced and respected Lithuanian doctors.

From the very beginning, the center was equipped with the best medical equipment that was renewed over time, yet all its managers and owners have believed that the greatest strength and asset of the medical institution is anything but equipment. The focal points have always been people, their competencies, knowledge, and experience.
Simultaneously expanding its range of services and adding more fields of treatment to its basket of services, Kardiolita Hospital has been continuously inviting new members to join its professional community.

Management was looking for lead doctors – stars in their field of specialization, who had already earned recognition and respect of their patients – and in the long run, the medical center gathered the whole constellation of the country’s best doctors. Today patients looking for the best eye specialist, allergist, gastroenterologist, vascular surgeon, or any other specialist already are aware that very likely such specialist works at Kardiolita Hospital. Dr. Darius Aukštikalnis, dr. Virgilijus Sakalinskas, Prof. Dr. Valerijus Ostapenko, Prof. Dr. Balys Dainys – just a few of the well-known names in the medical community that can be found on the list of specialists working at Kardiolita Hospital. By the way, Prof. Giedrius Uždavinys, who was one of the founders, provides consultations to patients in Kardiolita Hospital.

Not only in Vilnius, not just for Lithuanians

For a long time – up to 2017 – Kardiolita Hospital was the medical center of the capital. Two years ago for the convenience of the patients, its branch was established in Kaunas city, therefore people, experiencing health problems do not need to go to the capital. In addition, more choices in terms of doctors are being offered.
The potential of medical tourism is furtherbeing developed: in our country, patients from the East are looking for highly qualified medical services.
The number of patients coming from abroad has increased significantly when the Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery Center at Vilnius Kardiolita Hospital opened its door.

It focuses on the following beauty services: plastic and reconstructive surgery, laser treatment for skin care and beauty purposes, removal of birthmarks. Many patients also come to the Obesity Treatment Center, where the weight-related problem is solved in a complex way: patients are consulted by a dietitian, endocrinologist, psychologist, and surgeon.

Over the last few years, consistent work with foreign markets has resulted in the increasing number of European citizens, e.g. Scandinavian, British, and Irish, who are interested in our services. However, the majority of patients are Lithuanians.

The vision of future of Kardiolita Hospital does not differ much from its original vision: to be a medical institution that employs best doctors in the country, and a place where patients solve their health-related problems and satisfy the beauty needs quickly and conveniently. One more thing stays the same: professionalism here as elsewhere goes hand in hand with a warm atmosphere and human attention, which is certainly no less important in terms of health and sensitive life periods than the most modern infrastructure or equipment.