Hailey Tran
The Dr. Elias Santana Hospital, also known as Los Americanos, was established in 1984 in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The hospital was founded following the destruction of a small institution in Boca de Nigua by Hurricane David in 1979. The hospital was named after a young Dominican pediatrics specialist in the US who dedicated his life to serving the poor. The hospital has become a leading center for ophthalmology, performing around 9,000 eye surgeries annually, and has trained numerous ophthalmologists from around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1984 |
| Location | Calle Duarte, Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic |
| Founders | John Shannon and Dr. William T. Hunter, Jr. |
| Named after | A young Dominican pediatrics specialist in the US who dedicated his life to the poor |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
| No. of patients per day | 600 |
| No. of operations per year | 9,000 |
| No. of ophthalmologists trained | 272 |
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What You'll Learn
- The hospital was founded in 1979 after Hurricane David destroyed a small institution in Boca de Nigua
- The government donated land and philanthropists funded the hospital's construction
- The hospital was named after a young Dominican doctor who dedicated his life to the poor
- Dr. Juan F. Batlle founded the ophthalmology residency program in 1985
- The hospital has touched the lives of nearly 2 million people in the last 35 years
The hospital was founded in 1979 after Hurricane David destroyed a small institution in Boca de Nigua
The story of the Hospital Dr. Elías Santana began in 1979 when Hurricane David struck the southern region of the Dominican Republic. The hurricane destroyed a small institution in Boca de Nigua, which was dedicated to serving the medical needs of the poor and marginalized in the country. In the aftermath of this disaster, the Dominican government donated 50 plots of land from an old sugar cane plantation to support the establishment of a new hospital. This initiative was funded by donations from various sources, including the government and philanthropic supporters of the missionary projects. The hospital was named after a young Dominican doctor, Elias Santana, who had passed away prematurely. Dr Santana had dedicated his life to serving the underprivileged as a paediatrician in the United States, embodying the spirit of selfless service that the hospital aspired to uphold.
The Hospital Dr. Elías Santana was officially established in 1984 in Los Alcarrizos, on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The hospital has become a renowned centre for ophthalmology, providing sight-restoring treatments to a nation with a significant need for eye care. The hospital's ophthalmology residency training programs have equipped medical professionals from the Dominican Republic and other countries, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and India, with the skills to serve their communities back home.
The roots of the hospital's mission can be traced back to the 1970s, when the original mission, founded by John Shannon and Dr. William T. Hunter, Jr., began hosting visiting doctors and dentists from the United States and Canada for short-term projects. During these projects, it became evident that many impoverished patients lacked access to basic eye care and could not afford eyeglasses or cataract surgery. As a result, the need for a permanent installation became a priority, leading to the establishment of the Hospital Dr. Elías Santana.
The hospital has touched the lives of nearly two million people over the past 35 years, performing eye operations on approximately 132,000 patients during the same period. It currently receives around 600 patients per day and performs about 9,000 eye operations annually, primarily for cataracts and glaucoma. The hospital has also trained 272 ophthalmologists from around the world and has produced notable figures in modern ophthalmology, some of whom have replicated similar initiatives in their communities.
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The government donated land and philanthropists funded the hospital's construction
The Dr. Elias Santana Hospital was established in 1984 in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. The hospital was named after a young Dominican doctor who was a US-based paediatrician. Dr Elias Santana dedicated his life to serving the poor, and the hospital was created to embody his spirit of service.
The hospital was established following the destruction caused by Hurricane David in 1979. The hurricane destroyed a small institution in Boca de Nigua. The Dominican government responded by donating 50 tareas of land from an old sugar-cane-growing colony. Philanthropists and donors associated with missionary projects then raised the funds required to build the hospital.
The hospital has a strong focus on ophthalmology. This is due in part to the influence of Dr. Edward Norton, under whose guidance Dr. Batlle, a resident at Bascom Palmer in Miami, helped secure the equipment and resources needed to establish the hospital's ophthalmology department.
The hospital has continued to receive support and donations from various organisations. For instance, in 1984, James P. Gills helped equip the ophthalmology department and establish a postgraduate programme in ophthalmology. The hospital also has links to the LDS Church, whose values align with those of the hospital and its founders, the Hunter family.
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The hospital was named after a young Dominican doctor who dedicated his life to the poor
The Hospital Dr. Elías Santana, located in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, was established in 1984. The hospital was named after a young Dominican doctor, Elias Santana, who dedicated his life to serving the poor.
The story of the hospital began in the 1970s with a mission founded by John Shannon and Dr. William T. Hunter, Jr. This mission aimed to bring medical and dental care to impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic by hosting visiting doctors and dentists from the United States and Canada. However, a pressing need for eye care among the poor became evident, as many people could not afford eyeglasses or cataract surgery.
In 1979, Hurricane David struck the southern region of the Dominican Republic, destroying the mission's original building in Boca de Nigua. In response, the Dominican government donated land from an old sugar cane colony to support the mission's reconstruction. The hospital was built with funds raised by donors and philanthropists committed to the mission's cause.
The hospital has since become a renowned institution, known for its dedication to providing eye care to underprivileged communities. It receives around 600 patients daily and performs approximately 9,000 eye surgeries each year, primarily for cataracts and glaucoma. The hospital has trained 272 ophthalmologists from around the world and has produced notable figures in modern ophthalmology. The hospital's residency program in ophthalmology, founded by Dr. Juan F. Batlle in 1985, has been instrumental in advancing the field in the Dominican Republic.
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Dr. Juan F. Batlle founded the ophthalmology residency program in 1985
Dr. Juan F. Batlle Pichardo, a native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, founded the ophthalmology residency program at the Elias Santana Hospital in 1985. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha academic fraternities. Following his internship, he was accepted into the residency training program in ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami, where he excelled and was invited to become Chief Resident in 1984. During his fellowship, he pursued subspecialties in retina-vitreous, pediatric ophthalmology, and neurophthalmology.
After completing his training, Dr. Batlle returned to Santo Domingo and founded a social assistance center for the poor, in addition to joining his father's ophthalmology practice. This charity clinic, named the Elias Santana Hospital ("Los Americanos"), was established in 1984 in Los Alcarrizos with donations following the destruction caused by Hurricane David in 1979. The hospital was named in honour of a young Dominican doctor who passed away prematurely and had dedicated his life to serving the poor.
Dr. Batlle has been the Chief of the Ophthalmology Service at the Elias Santana Hospital for 25 years, during which he has donated his time to help underprivileged patients and train ophthalmology residents. He also founded Centro Laser, where he established a multi-specialty practice with a focus on cataract and refractive surgery, as well as vitreoretinal surgery. His contributions to ophthalmology extend beyond the hospital, as he has advised on numerous research papers and participated in clinical trials and studies, including the development of intraocular lenses and implantable contact lenses.
The ophthalmology residency program founded by Dr. Batlle has graduated 120 residents and over 200 ophthalmic technicians, many of whom have gone on to become prominent figures in modern ophthalmology. The program has attracted students from various countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and India. Through his work, Dr. Batlle has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals and advanced the field of ophthalmology, both in the Dominican Republic and internationally.
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The hospital has touched the lives of nearly 2 million people in the last 35 years
The Hospital Dr. Elias Santana was established in 1984 in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. The hospital was founded following the destruction caused by Hurricane David in 1979, which destroyed a small institution in Boca de Nigua. The hospital was built thanks to the donations of various parties, including the Dominican government, which donated 50 tasks of land, and philanthropists and donors associated with missionary projects.
The hospital's name was chosen to honour a young Dominican who passed away prematurely and was a paediatrician in the United States. This young man, Dr Elias Santana, dedicated his life to serving the poor and embodies the hospital's mission and commitment to service. The hospital's values align with those of the LDS Church and the Hunter family, who were instrumental in its founding. The Hunter family, including Dr William T. Hunter, one of the hospital's founders, came to the Dominican Republic as missionaries. Today, the hospital operates 11 clinics in addition to its main facility.
The hospital has received support from various organisations, including Medical Ministry International, which has been active in the Dominican Republic since 1969. Through its one and two-week projects, Medical Ministry International has trained many volunteers and leaders to serve those in need in the Dominican Republic and beyond. The organisation's National Directors in the country, Teo Beato, M.D., and Frida Luna, M.D., began working at the Elias Santana Center as volunteers in 1987.
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Frequently asked questions
The hospital was founded in 1984, following donations after the destruction caused by Hurricane David in 1979.
The hospital is located in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
The hospital was named after a young Dominican pediatrics specialist in the United States who dedicated his life to serving the poor.
The hospital specializes in ophthalmology and has a particular focus on serving the poor and needy, providing eye care services at affordable prices.
The hospital was established by the Hunter family, who were missionaries in the Dominican Republic, along with support from other organizations and individuals such as James P. Gills and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
