My name is David Walcott. I’m a physician and an entrepreneur from a small island called Jamaica. I am pursuing a dream of bringing world- class healthcare into the Caribbean and Latin America.
Growing up in both Jamaica and the USA, I was frustrated with the extortionately high healthcare costs in the USA, while also being
challenged by public hospitals in Jamaica, where patients suffered from a lack of resources. This was a particularly emotional issue for me. When I was young, my mother had a life-threatening illness that could have been prevented if we only had first-world medical care.
This experience spawned the seed of a vision to ensure that emerging markets like the Caribbean and Latin America could benefit from first- world healthcare. I envisioned a system that made sure all citizens in emerging market have access to essential healthcare regardless of their financial circumstances. I had a vision of a healthcare ecosystem where all stakeholders of health—providers, payors, and innovators—would collaborate in the name of quality patient care. If people had access to the health services they need without the risk of financial hardship, they would be able to lead productive lives and care for their families. I was determined to pursue this vision.
I sought to learn about healthcare in first-world countries, so I taught myself several languages and visited more than 50 countries. Instead of copying any single healthcare system, I thought we should emulate the best aspects of many.
My next aim was a platform to funnel healthcare resources into the Caribbean and Latin America. This led to a career working on several multi- million-dollar projects in the Caribbean and Latin America, including introducing health technologies into the region. I also became the founding partner of an investment platform that connects international capital with the area and convenes a global-reaching community controlling over US$140 billion. As we now fight the first pandemic in over 100 years, I have found myself in a position to be able to contribute and funnel a significant level of resources into the Caribbean and Latin America.
We have faced many difficulties in the past. But each time, we have overcome them through accepting the situation and rebuilding. I intend to continue pursuing my vision and contribute to universal health care in the Caribbean, Latin America, and other emerging markets.