The Tribune

FREEPORT – The Okyanos Heart Institute, slated to begin operating on Grand Bahama in early 2014, has already begun to make an impact within the local community.

The company, which aims to bring a new standard of care and better quality of life to patients with coronary heart disease using cardiac stem cell therapy, has announced that they will be hosting a free educational seminar for the business community and all other interested individuals on Tuesday October 22.

The event will take place 5.30-6.30pm, in the Coral Reef Room of the Pelican Bay Hotel.

The institute said participants will not only receive a thorough overview of proposed stem cell therapy but will also be given updates on employment opportunities and contractual services that will be needed once the facility opens.

“This is a very exciting time for Grand Bahama,” said Ian Rolle, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

“Several new ventures including Okyanos, a new call centre and many others, are about to open, affording opportunities for diverse areas of employment for hundreds of residents on the island.”

At the upcoming meeting Okyanos officials will provide a preliminary list of medical, clinical and administrative jobs that the institute will need to fill towards the end of the year.

Additionally, an overview will be given of what services will be needed from small businesses on the island, such as janitorial, hospital grade laundry, transportation, lodging, catering and pest control.

“Okyanos Heart Institute will have a number of service needs from the local business community,” said Erika Mangrum, senior vice president of communications for the company.

“We hope to meet potential suppliers and servicers and share what our needs will be from service providers, and share employment needs once we are close to opening in February.

“We could not be more enthused about bringing patients to the beautiful island of Grand Bahama in the hopes of improving the quality of their lives by restoring flow to their hearts.”

Even now, Mr Rolle noted that scores of Grand Bahamians are already benefiting from employment as preparations continue in advance of Okyanos’ arrival.

Presently, more than 70 construction workers are busily completing final phases of the medical complex on the upper floors of the First Commercial Centre on the Mall Drive.

“As each of these new developments come on stream, it’s creating job opportunities in the preliminary construction phase and post-operations. This increased employment subsequently brings about an economic injection and positive well-being within the local community,” Mr Rolle said.