BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – June 24, 2026 – The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has opened a new era of accessible cardiac care for its citizens, with the official onboarding of Dr. Angel Luis Olivera, a globally respected Cuban interventional cardiologist and academic, to lead the nation’s first full public cardiology service at the main Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital.
With 40 years of specialized clinical practice under his belt, Dr. Olivera ranks among the most experienced cardiovascular experts in the Caribbean region. His arrival marks a landmark achievement in the federation’s long-term goal of bringing world-class specialist care directly to local communities, eliminating the need for many patients to travel abroad for routine and advanced cardiac diagnosis and management.
Over the coming weeks, Dr. Olivera will roll out a comprehensive suite of cardiology services in phased stages at JNF General Hospital. The new offerings include twice-weekly outpatient cardiology clinics, 24/7 inpatient cardiac coverage, in-house echocardiograms for both admitted patients and emergency department cases, advanced diagnostic imaging via CT angiograms, continuous 24-hour Holter heart monitoring, and pacemaker insertion procedures for eligible patients. Beyond immediate clinical services, he will also guide the Ministry of Health in planning for a future cardiac catheterization facility, a critical next step for delivering full-spectrum advanced cardiac care locally.
A seasoned professor with a deep commitment to medical capacity building, Dr. Olivera will also prioritize training the next generation of local cardiac care providers. He will lead weekly continuing medical education (CME) sessions for all involved medical and nursing staff, centered on evidence-based cardiology fundamentals and modern best practices. He will also deliver specialized hands-on training in echocardiography and other diagnostic techniques for general practitioners and internal medicine physicians. Additionally, he will spearhead the development of standardized clinical protocols for acute cardiac emergency management, ensuring consistent, rapid, evidence-based care across all hospital departments.
Dr. Olivera’s recruitment is a core component of the federation’s coordinated national strategy to address the rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases, spearheaded by Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Health Dr. Terrence Drew. He joins a growing network of newly recruited specialist clinicians that includes a vascular surgeon, endocrinologist, intensive care specialist, additional nephrologist, neurologist, emergency care specialist, and additional urologist. This multidisciplinary team, supported by expanded hiring of specialist nurses, general practitioners and allied health technical staff, is focused on integrating prevention, early screening, and comprehensive treatment for chronic conditions ranging from heart attacks and strokes to peripheral vascular disease and end-stage renal disease.
Unlike previous models that relied almost entirely on overseas referrals for cardiac care, this new integrated approach prioritizes proactive identification of at-risk patients, placing prevention at the center of the nation’s public health agenda.
“The arrival of Dr. Olivera marks a defining moment in the history of healthcare in St. Kitts and Nevis,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement. “For the first time, our citizens will have access to a full, in-country cardiology service in the public service. This is not simply the addition of a specialist — it is the beginning of a new chapter in how we care for the heart health of our nation.”
Dr. Daveen Wilkin, Medical Chief of Staff at J.N.F. General Hospital, noted that while a full cardiac catheterization lab is still in the planning stages, Dr. Olivera’s appointment lays critical groundwork for that future milestone. “This appointment lays the groundwork for that future — building expertise, informing referral pathways, and improving how we diagnose and manage cardiac patients today,” Wilkin explained. “My hope is that patients receive earlier, more accurate diagnosis and better-coordinated care, even when advanced procedures still require travel abroad. Every improvement in assessment and timing can mean a safer journey and a better outcome. Looking ahead, I hope this role is the beginning of a roadmap toward establishing catheterization services here at home — so that, in time, our patients won’t need to leave their island to receive life-saving cardiac care. This is a step forward, and a promise of more to come.”
The Ministry of Health extended a warm official welcome to Dr. Olivera, noting that his decades of experience and commitment to clinical excellence will deliver lasting benefits to the health and well-being of people across St. Kitts and Nevis for years to come.