Cayhill:--- The St. Maarten Medical Center has expanded its medical services with the addition of a new medical specialty, Nephrology.
Beginning May 4th, the hospital will have a full time Nephrologist in its employ. Dr. María Teresa Gil González comes to the institution with 17 years of experience in hemodialysis, clinical nephrology, hypertension and vascular risk.
Dr. Gil studied and worked in Alicante, Spain, her homeland. She obtained a Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the Alicante University, and then received her Specialization in Nephrology from Hospital General Universitario de Alicante.
Dr. Gil is the first fulltime nephrologist to be employed at the SMMC. Since the opening of the department in 1991, dialysis patients received full time medical care from an internist. A year and a half ago, a relationship with a Hospital in Curaçao began, where two nephrologists would visit the dialysis patients for two days, twice monthly. The nephrologists visit on rotations.
This working relationship with the visiting nephrologists will continue with Dr. Gil in service to maximize the best medical support in a team of skilled specialists. Naturally, her primary patient group is the dialysis patients and pre-dialysis patients; patients who may need hemodialysis treatment in the near future.
As a Nephrologist, Dr. Gil will also use her background in Internal Medicine to give support to the specialty of Internal Medicine at SMMC.
Dr. Gil says "this is a professional challenge, where I can offer my knowledge and experience on hemodialysis and clinical nephrology. I hope to be a part of the Internal Medicine team, and work all together to improve the quality care of the patients. It is a personal challenge too, coming from Spain to the island, learning and mixing with a different cultural environment. I am sure it is going to be a positive step".
Internist Dr. Visscher Joins Medical Staff
Dr. Maarten Joost Visschers is among the newest members of the medical staff at the St. Maarten Medical Center, having been employed as an Internist.
Specialized in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Dr. Visschers is passionate to reduce the burden of infectious disease in underprivileged groups.
Dr. Visschers obtained his Master of Science and Doctorate in Medicine from the Maastrict University in 2005 and 2007 respectively. There he completed his specialty training in Internal Medicine and most recently a Fellowship of Infectious Diseases. During that time, he also did a traineeship in Tropical Infectious Disease, with emphasis on returning travelers, at Amsterdam Medical Centre.
After finishing his training, Dr. Visschers began looking for a job abroad that would enrich his practice. He chose St. Maarten as the island is at the crossroads of many cultures. "Even though we live on a small island which limits extensive medical care, working in a small team of other medical specialists and paramedics strongly motivates me to provide optimal care to those in need."
With the services of Dr. Visschers, the SMMC will increase care in the field of Internal Medicine. Dr. Visschers will work together with internist Dr. Samay Nadery.
