Orthopaedic Surgeon Dedicated to Patient Care

As consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, in Westmoreland, Dr. Darren Fray brings more than medical expertise to the operating theatre; he is passionate about healing, patient care, honesty, empathy and service.

“I grew up in Montego Bay [St. James]. I went to Cornwall College, then Montego Bay Community College for CAPE. I did my medical training at the University Hospital of the West Indies and graduated in 2011,” he told JIS News in an interview.

Following internships and senior house officer training at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Dr. Fray entered the orthopaedic surgery programme at the University Hospital of the West Indies, completing it in 2020.

His path to medicine was shaped not just by passion, but by heritage, as both his parents are doctors. He outlined that he drew particular inspiration from his father.

“My father, Dr. Delroy Fray, was a general surgeon… just seeing how he cared for patients inspired me. [However], I wanted something more exciting, more hands-on. Orthopaedic surgery had that mechanical, precise edge. That’s what drew me in,” he recalled.

Orthopaedic surgery focuses on the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. That includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and even the skin.

Dr. Fray  underscored that the specialty demands not only precision and endurance, but emotional resilience.

“Orthopaedic patients often have sudden injuries, accidents that upend their lives. I like helping them get back on their feet, literally. Whether it’s an elderly person with a fracture or a child with a broken limb, it’s about giving them their independence back,” he said.

He highlighted that some cases are forever etched in his memory because of their complexities.

“There was a child who got injured during a domestic dispute. The attacker ran over her. She had soft tissue damage, the skin over the bone was gone. We stabilised the bone and brought in plastic surgeons. It was hard. You want to fix everything, but you can only do so much. You leave the rest to God,” Dr. Fray told JIS News.

He also cited a Security Guard that was shot in the hip during a robbery. “We fixed it with screws, but they [the screws] failed. We had to dig deeper, offer a second surgery, and eventually got the bone to heal. He’s up and moving now. That one stayed with me,” he reminisced.

“Sometimes we go above and beyond what we usually do. But you try your best, and when patients know that, they’re usually grateful,” he added.

Practising in the public system comes with limitations. “One private surgery can equal to a month’s public salary. But it’s not about the money. It’s the joy of getting people back on their feet. That’s what keeps me here,” Dr. Fray said.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which made that commitment even harder.

“We were doing emergency surgeries, and that’s it. Elective cases had to be delayed. And when we finally got back to it, the injuries had healed, but not in the right position. You see them and think, ‘If only we had gotten to this earlier’. That was hard,” he recalled.

“You’d see patients come in after weeks or months, and you have to manage expectations. You tell them, ‘We can try to fix it, but it may not be perfect.’ It was a test of patience, for us and for them,” Dr. Fray said.

The surgeon emphasised the importance of balancing surgical skill with human connection in his profession.

“It’s not just fixing the bone. You have to counsel the patient. I usually explain it percentage-wise, there’s a 30 per cent chance you’ll walk again, or that you might need crutches. That way, everyone is on the same page. You want to give hope, but not false hope,” he pointed out.

To young doctors, Dr. Fray offers some honest words of wisdom. “If you’re drawn to tools, alignment, precision, [then] orthopaedics might be for you. But it’s demanding. Surgeries can go long. You have to give your best, even when it’s late, even when it’s hard. This is service. Know that, and you’ll do well,” he said.

Through it all, Dr. Fray remains grounded in purpose. “My role is to provide orthopaedic care to the public with the best attitude and clear communication, and it’s also to train younger doctors, guide their growth. That’s part of the legacy too,” he told JIS News.