eMagazine September 2022

OUR PEOPLE,
OUR MISSION
Global Health
eMagazine
To Practice Medicine In A Place
That Was So Foreign Yet So familiar
Written by Melissa Alvarez, MD
Cardiovascular Disease Fellow, PGY-V
Danbury Hospital
September 2022
Highlights
Spotlight
Reflections
Health Disparities Within Our
Borders
Nursing Division
Havana is a place I’ve been hearing about
my entire life. Both my parents were born in
Cuba, and my father was raised in downtown
Havana. Growing up I heard so many stories
about the island from my relatives, but it was
a place I never thought I would get the opportunity to visit. I had also heard a lot
about Cuba from the media, movies, and documentaries—everyone knows Cuba
is the home of classic cars, good rum, and healthcare for all.
Cuba’s healthcare system is usually described in a positive light. Every citizen
has healthcare, which means people in Cuba do not face the same challenges
as people in the United States in terms of healthcare costs. At the same time, this
does not mean that all citizens have equal access. The hospitals face serious
challenges with lack of access to medicines, equipment, and cardiac devices.
Among the Letters
Our Beautiful Planet
Art to Remember
Who We Can Be
Article of he Month
Videos of the Month
Global Health Family
Calendar
Photo News
Resources
Outside of my father’s childhood home
Outside the hospital we were working at
with Dr. Jarrett
During my time at a dedicated cardiovascular hospital in the capital city, dozens
of patients were awaiting pacemaker placement due to supply shortage, and
there was lack of access to Plavix, a key medication for patients who have a
heart attack. I wonder about the challenges rural hospitals face.
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