Jamaica Honours Reproductive Specialist with CD

A lifelong dedication to advancing healthcare in the Caribbean has culminated in a prestigious National Honour for Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist (OB/GYN) and Reproductive Specialist, Dr. Vernon DaCosta.

Recognised for his profound contributions to medical development, particularly through his expertise in fertility research and gynaecological surgery, specialising in the treatment of endometriosis through minimal invasive surgery, Dr. DaCosta has been conferred with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (CD).

His path to becoming a pioneering reproductive specialist in Jamaica was sparked by an encounter with innovation early in his career.

After qualifying as an OB/GYN in 1991, he was introduced to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) while he worked at the Mayday University Hospital in the United Kingdom.

“I fell in love with this new and exciting sub-specialisation. I also started to notice that more women were delaying pregnancy and because of this, the infertility rate was increasing, making IVF a rapidly growing area in gynaecology,” Dr. DaCosta recalls, in an interview with JIS News.

He points out that at the time, there were no IVF labs in the Caribbean, and he made it his ambition to bring this advanced care closer to home.

His most impactful contributions include co-founding a formal Colposcopy Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) with Dr. Carol Rattray for the treatment of precancer lesions of the cervix, and for the training of students and residents.

Dr. DaCosta also introduced no-scalpel vasectomies for male contraception and he, along with Professor Joseph Frederick and Dr. Shaun Wynter, started the first IVF unit in Jamaica.

Dr. DaCosta shares that he was also involved in starting Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery (MIGS) at the UHWI, and he was one of the founders of the Caribbean Association of Gynaecologic Endoscopic Surgeons (CAGES).

His academic work consists of the publishing of 32 peer reviewed papers in local and international journals, and he is a member of the local endometriosis support group.

Considering his achievements in gynaecology, it is hard to imagine that there could have been a world where Dr. DaCosta brought his propensity for innovation to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

“My grandmother always told me that I was going to be a doctor. However, in high school my ambition was to become a nuclear scientist and work at NASA. But that changed when my friend was admitted to hospital,” Dr. DaCosta says.

His contribution has impacted the development of the medical landscape in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and even more so improved the lives of many women.

“The introduction of MIGS and IVF has transformed the way we treat women with endometriosis regarding their quality of life, especially in minimising their pain and improving fertility,” he tells JIS News.

As for the reason he specialises in the treatment of endometriosis in women, Dr. DaCosta says: “It was my desire to improve their quality of life and helping them to achieve their goal of having children”.

He has achieved this using minimally invasive surgeries to treat women with endometriosis.

Dr. DaCosta explains that this form of surgery has many advantages. These include it being an outpatient procedure, so no overnight admission is required, and it is less traumatic for the patient.

Additionally, the technique provides more visibility as the surgical field can be magnified resulting in a more precise surgery; the recovery is quicker, and trauma to the immune system is reduced.

He says that more needs to be done to improve public awareness for the effective diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

“Doctors, the Government, and the media will need to play a greater role in educating the public on the symptoms and signs of endometriosis. We also need to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. DaCosta says.

“Endometriosis usually starts from as early as the first period. Therefore, any girl with significant period pains lasting for more than two days should be investigated for endometriosis,” he urges.

Dr. DaCosta, who was a Director at the Hugh Wynter Institute for Reproductive Healthcare and Endoscopic Surgery at The University of the West Indies, where he remains a consultant, is excited about the next wave of advancements.

These include AI-assisted robotic surgery; Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery; smaller instruments, and fluorescence-guided surgery to detect microscopic endometriosis.

Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. DaCosta maintains a profound commitment to education.

“Mentoring is extremely important in improving the skill level of our younger doctors,” he affirms, viewing it as a crucial step to improving the quality of care offered to the people of Jamaica.

On being awarded the National Honour, Dr. DaCosta expresses profound gratitude.

“I am humbled and profoundly honoured, and it feels like a validation of my lifelong commitment, not just mine, but that of every person who has chosen this path of caring and healing,” he tells JIS News.

Dr. DaCosta’s work is far from over. As he celebrates this achievement his next major goal remains consistent with his work philosophy: “To continue mentoring the younger generation of doctors.”