Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬!

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Institute of Health Science Education invites researchers and healthcare professionals to submit papers for the 19th Guyana Medical Research Conference.

📅 Submission deadline: July 31, 2026
📧 Email: [email protected]

Scan the QR code for further details and be part of advancing medical research in Guyana.

𝗚𝗣𝗛𝗖 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽

The Urology Section of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation recently hosted Dr. Kirk Gooden, Consultant Urologist at the Port of Spain General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago, for a Radical Prostatectomy Surgical Workshop. The workshop provided an opportunity for the GPHC urology team to refine its surgical skills and strengthen existing prostate cancer services. During his visit, Dr. Gooden also observed robotic urological surgeries performed by Dr. Rajendra Sukhraj, Head of Urology at GPHC, making the collaboration a valuable two-way exchange of knowledge and experience between regional colleagues.

A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat prostate cancer that is believed to be confined to the prostate gland. During the operation, the entire prostate gland is removed, along with the seminal vesicles and, in some cases, nearby lymph nodes. The goal is to completely remove the cancer and provide patients with a potentially curative treatment.

While this was the first workshop of its kind at GPHC, Dr. Sukhraj explained that radical prostatectomy is not a new procedure at the hospital.

"Our urologists were already performing the surgery before the workshop,” he explained. “The workshop was therefore intended to build on the team’s existing experience, refine our surgical techniques and improve outcomes for patients. It also provided a teaching opportunity for our urology trainees.”

Over the course of the workshop, four radical prostatectomy procedures were successfully completed.

According to Dr. Sukhraj, the experience was highly beneficial for everyone involved. The local surgical team had the opportunity to exchange ideas with Dr. Gooden, whose experience helped validate many of the techniques already being used at GPHC while introducing additional approaches that can further improve surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.

"Workshops like these allow us to learn from each other because we face many of the same challenges across the region," Dr. Sukhraj noted.

In addition to performing surgery, the team discussed patient selection, surgical decision-making and how to manage complex situations that can arise during procedures. The hands-on nature of the workshop allowed surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses to train together in a real clinical environment, strengthening communication, teamwork and coordination in the operating room.

Dr. Sukhraj emphasized that the training has further strengthened GPHC's ability to provide radical prostatectomy as part of its growing range of specialist urological services.

"This workshop was not about introducing a new procedure but about ensuring we can offer radical prostatectomy more consistently as a treatment option for patients with prostate cancer," he said.

The initiative also supports the Ministry of Health's ongoing efforts to promote prostate cancer screening and early detection. As more men are diagnosed at an earlier stage, having a skilled surgical team capable of providing advanced treatment options will continue to improve outcomes for patients across Guyana.

During his visit, Dr. Gooden also met with Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran, Director of Medical and Professional Services, and presented him with a copy of his book, ‘Never Stop Believing’. The book shares his remarkable journey from growing up with a single mother in an underserved community in Kingston, Jamaica, to becoming a respected urological surgeon, community leader, and motivational speaker.

🍲𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

Think your team has the best cook-up? Gather your colleagues and join us for a day of delicious food, culture, and friendly competition!

📅 July 31, 2026
🕛 12:00 p.m.
📍 Lamaha Parking Lot

📝 Registration closes Thursday, July 23, 2026.

📲 Scan the QR code to register or contact the Communication Unit at 227-8254 for more information.

Let’s celebrate Emancipation together! ❤️🖤💛💚