Seven Jamaicans receive life-changing scoliosis surgeries

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Oct 17, 2025 11:37 AM | Health
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Dr. Jaysson T. Brooks, Orthopedic Surgeon from Dallas, Texas, shares a moment with a young patient and her mother before her surgery last Thursday at Kingston Public Hospital.

The Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), in partnership with the Back to Healing (BTH) Foundation, successfully completed a two-day scoliosis surgical mission on October 9–10, performing corrective spine surgeries on six patients and the placement of a Halo Traction for one patient, all of whom are recovering well post-operatively.

The mission aimed to address severe cases of scoliosis among adolescents, restoring mobility and improving their quality of life. This year’s initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Mr. Courtney Cephas, Executive Director of the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation Ltd (NHEF) and founder of the Back to Healing Foundation, Mr. Marcus John; Dr. Ian Neil, Head of Orthopedics at KPH, Dr Trevor Bygrave, Acting Senior Medical Officer and Mr Barrington Graham, CEO at KPH.

As part of this year’s mission, a 15-member surgical and support team from the United States hosted a series of lectures at KPH’s auditorium. The session brought together orthopedic and neurosurgery residents from KPH and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), along with nurses and physiotherapists. The lectures and hands-on training provided critical exposure to advanced spinal surgery techniques, equipping local professionals with tools to better manage complex spinal conditions.

According to the founder of Back to Healing Foundation, Mr. Marcus John, “Beyond the surgeries, Back to Healing is deeply committed to Jamaica’s long-term orthopedic development. We’ve officially established this medical mission as an annual partnership with KPH, and we plan to continue returning year after year.”

In addition to the training and surgical mission, the Back to Healing team generously gave KPH the remaining supplies from this mission. Due to financial constraints, many parents are unable to afford these essential implants, making the donation a vital support to patient care at the hospital.

Dr. Ian Neil, Head of Orthopedics at KPH, expressed gratitude for the collaboration, noting the long-term impact of the mission;

“A major highlight of this mission was the donation of mobile halo-gravity traction equipment, which allows us to safely prepare patients with severe spinal deformities for surgery. One patient is already benefiting from its use. While local expertise exists to perform these complex procedures, the necessary implants and equipment are often too costly or unavailable for most of our patients. We are deeply grateful to the Back to Healing team for helping to reduce our long waiting list,” said Dr. Ian Neil, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at KPH.

The partnership between KPH and the Back to Healing Foundation stands as a model of international collaboration in healthcare merging global expertise with local talent to transform lives.