Dedicated Cardiologist, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, is a ‘Special Person’
Ready to save more lives
Many Guyanese if given an option between greener pastures and giving back to their homeland would choose the former. But there are a few, who against all odds, would decide that the land of their birth must always be first preference. Such is the mind set of popular Cardiologist, Dr. Mahendra Carpen.
Since becoming a doctor, Dr. Carpen served his country then sought to advance himself overseas where he eventually gained employment. The well-trained heart doctor could have today been a part of just about any cardiac facility in the developed world. In fact he was about to take up an appointment of a lifetime, when he was beckoned to come back home. He couldn’t know at the time what the outcome would have been, but he opted to take a chance on his country, and he is happy that he did.
Since 2012, Dr. Carpen has assumed the role of Consultant Cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI). The facility, which was founded by renowned Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens, represents a public/private partnership with Government. It occupies space at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and has been playing a major role in the evolution of heart care in Guyana.
According to Dr. Carpen, he couldn’t be more overjoyed to give his input to a laudable facility that has not only given recognition to Guyana, but more importantly, has been helping to extend the lives of many individuals.
PASSION FOR CRICKET
But maybe from a young age he knew he was destined to be a medical practitioner. You see, during a recent interview Dr. Carpen recalled when he was just about eight years old, he accompanied his mother to a doctor’s office. Something about the man in the white coat with the stethoscope around his neck inspired the young Mahendra, and even then he professed he was going to become a doctor.
A lovely family portrait
However, there was something about growing up in the Albion, Berbice area that caused many young boys, including Mahendra, to gravitate to cricket.
Born Mahendra Muthu Arnold Carpen, he was the second son born to parents Arnold and Gloria Carpen, on February 8, 1974. He grew up with his family at a modest domicile at Albion, Corentyne in Berbice, and attended the Cropper Government School at Albion Front, which was a mere three doors away.
This, however, did not mean that he was an early bird. In fact he recalled “I generally used to be late for school. I guess it was always difficult for me to wake up early in the morning.” Maybe this was because school might have been his least favourite place at the time. He would have much rather head to a ‘ball field’ to indulge in a game of cricket.
“Cricket was like every young boy’s life. At the time every young boy dreamt of playing for the Albion Sports Complex team and then the Berbice team, and then of course, for Guyana…I was no different,” recounted Dr. Carpen.
He readily admitted that cricket was his passion back then, and continues to captivate his attention even today, but mostly on-screen rather than on the field. After all, he is far too busy saving lives these days.
But cricket had started taking a backseat many years before be delved into the medical profession. Although he wasn’t too attentive during his early primary school days, towards the end he was more focused than most. In fact he was among the country’s top performers who were identified to be among the first batch to attend the then prestigious President’s College (PC).
PC, as a secondary level institution, was the brainchild of the late Head of State, Forbes Burnham, to nurture the minds of the most outstanding pupils produced at the primary level. The school first opened its doors in 1985, and Mr. and Mrs. Carpen were bold enough to let their young son be a part of the new schooling environment.
“To this day I always give my parents credit for the courage and the ability to let their 10-year-old child leave home from the countryside to go and live among complete strangers at Golden Grove, among other kids the same age,” Dr. Carpen reflected. He recalled that while there were some uncertainties in the new school environment, everyone was excited.
Attending PC, according to him, really helped to groom him as an individual.
In the company of several CHI team members
“Coming from the countryside you had certain pre-conditioned thoughts, and mingling with people from different backgrounds really helped to change that. At PC you had an opportunity to learn more, not just academics, but about people and how to conduct yourself; you learned how to be fair,” Dr. Carpen added.
EMBRACING MEDICINE
He is convinced that during each phase of life there is always something that guides you to the next level. Recalling his experience at the doctor’s office, he disclosed how everything about the profession appeared intriguing. Perhaps it was because the doctor, the late Herman Ramsammy, who was said to be a legend in the profession in his heyday, had a fascinating aura that could captivate even a young boy.
“It was just everything about him that grabbed me…the way that he was helping people, his kindness; I couldn’t help noticing it all,” recounted Dr. Carpen.
The spark that was evoked many years earlier when he visited the doctor’s office, was fully aroused by the time be completed secondary school. He headed straight for the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine to commence his medical studies.
“I had a rather fulfilling all-round University experience,” Dr. Carpen shared, as he recalled that soon after graduating, he participated in the Reserve Officers’ Course offered by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). To date he remains an active Reserve Officer.
His main focus, however, was practicing medicine at the GPHC. But being a mere general practitioner was not enough for this vibrant character. He was soon mesmerized by the work of Dr. Ramsundar Doobay, who practiced cardiology.
“His skills in cardiology and the way he made it exciting was one of the big reasons why I found the area (cardiology) so interesting,” Dr. Carpen said.
Added to this, he recalled that during his four-and-a-half-year sojourn in Jamaica to complete his post-graduate studies, he met yet another Guyana-born medical practitioner, Dr. Charles Denbow, who helped to further stimulate his interest in cardiology.
After completing his studies in Jamaica he practiced for two years in the Bahamas. At the time he was awaiting acceptance to advance his cardiology studies in Canada.
DABBLING IN MUSIC
But it wasn’t all books for him during his studying days. In fact Dr. Carpen recalled that he was lucky to learn the skill of making music since his secondary school days. He was very proficient in playing the guitar, thanks to former PC music teacher, Mr. Kenton Wyatt.
He would eventually take advantage of his acquired talent and joined the Majestic Band. He was still in Medical School at the time, but he made the time to be a part of the band’s many performances at night spots: including Palm Court and the Pegasus Hotel. He even shared the stage on a few occasions with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Chaka Demus and Pliers, and even played bass for The Drifters when the vocal group toured this part of the world some years ago.
“At the time I had a lot of hair,” joked Dr. Carpen as he drew attention to his clean-shaven head which he has grown accustomed to.
FAMILY LIFE
At the bedside of a recovering patient.
His family has also grown very much accustomed to the image he has established for himself. In fact it must have been very alluring to Jodi-Ann Swaby, who accepted Dr. Carpen’s request of marriage nine years ago. They tied the knot on July 14, 2007, in Jamaica.
According to Dr. Carpen he met his lovely wife, a Jamaican national, while working at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, back in the day. Their interest in each other might have burgeoned simply because they share an interest in the medical profession. She also is a doctor currently practicing at the Woodlands Hospital as an Internal Medicine Specialist.
While Dr. Carpen and his wife soon after marriage moved to Canada where their first child was born, they later moved to the United States to advance their respective studies. It was in the US that his second daughter was born.
“We have two beautiful daughters – five-year-old Alexis and two-year-old Olivia,” the Cardiologist blurted out with immense pride.
“My most important role is to be their father and a good husband to my wife, and every day I am reminded of these roles.”
But according to him, advancing his career and simultaneously building a family has had its unique challenges. He, however, takes solace in the fact that “I am not the only one faced with these challenges. Thousands of people do it every year…they try to balance their family, professional lives and they try to study. It is what you have to do to progress.”
It was while resident in the US that Dr. Carpen, who had already made a name for himself in the field of cardiology, was contacted by CHI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary Stephens, who urged him to lend support to the already evolving cardiac care facility in Guyana.
At the time Dr. Carpen was preparing to take up a crucial position at the University Hospital in Jamaica, his wife’s homeland.
“It was a few days before I was supposed to send in the final paperwork, agreements and contracts with signatures, etcetera, that Dr. Stephens called me and told me about the vacancy and the need in Guyana. We had a long discussion, and then we had follow-up conversations and emails, and one thing led to another and I decided to come home,” Dr. Carpen said.
Of course the thought crossed his mind whether he’d made the right choice, but according to Dr. Carpen, “I don’t have any doubts anymore.”
He divulged that while he and his wife have been working hard to make things work, it was however very difficult to leave his family behind, in Boston, US, to accept his appointment at CHI. His wife was unable to travel with him at the time, since she was still engaged in her studies. Fortunately his employers granted him the privilege to make many extended trips to the US to visit his family. They were eventually able to join him.
“I think we have come to the realization that of all the options we had, we kind of won the lottery by coming to Guyana. We have picked the best location for our family, for our lifestyle…we are very comfortable with the choice we have made,” Dr. Carpen reflected.
Although making the decision to return home was initially a tough one, he added that “I can say with fair confidence that this is our last stop.”
INVOLVEMENT AT CHI
For Dr. Carpen, being able to offer his expert service at CHI brings with it a feeling that he relishes every day. “To be home helping my fellow Guyanese, it’s a special reward in itself. It can’t really be measured in monetary terms, and that in itself makes a lot of it worthwhile.”
While weekends could be just as busy as weekdays for the Cardiologist, he does not complain. He doesn’t even frown at the many calls from other doctors seeking advice on how to deal with patients with heart-related concerns. In fact, a day in the life of Dr. Carpen could include him rendering his services at private hospitals and even reaching as far as Berbice to hold clinics.
For instance, two Saturdays ago after completing a clinic in Berbice, he was summoned to return to CHI to conduct an emergency stenting procedure. The patient to whom he attended may not have survived another day had Dr. Carpen not intervened.
He related that although helping to save and improve the quality of people’s lives is no easy task, his work is made much easier because of the team with which he works.
“It is not about me, I was fortunate to have the support of a team that is experienced and trained. This is our fourth year working together and I think we kind of know what each other is thinking when we are dealing with patients; we work rather smoothly together,” Dr. Carpen mused.
At CHI, patients have access to a wide variety of heart care services ranging from the simple electrocardiogram to angioplasty. Even open heart surgery is offered there.
The vision Dr. Carpen has for CHI is to always improve the service offered and to ensure that each person who enters the facility is able to access the same level of care regardless of gender, race, social and financial status, religion or even political affiliation. This approach, Dr. Carpen said, is a major step in the right direction.
KEEPING FOCUS
What keeps Dr. Carpen going is his ability to balance his profession with his family life, and this balancing act is perhaps his best talent yet. After a busy day of work two Saturdays ago, Dr. Carpen recalled that “I went to join my wife and two kids, and we went to a birthday party. We left the birthday party around eight-thirty and then we went to have a bite at Night Cap, and that was the end of my Saturday…The balance has to be there. You just have to know what the priorities are in your life”.
He advised that “while persons may be ambitious to progress academically and professionally they don’t have to put aspects of their lives on hold…you balance it; you make sacrifices where necessary, and you will eventually get there. It may take long nights, it may take long weekends, it may even take you getting up early, but it will not be like that all day, every day, or all the time for the rest of your life.”
He believes that he has over the years “put in the hard work,” thus he is now able to reap countless rewards. And rewards, according to him, “are not measured in finances alone, but the satisfaction that you are doing something good and you’re helping people who a lot of times would not have been able to find the kind of help that you can provide.”
Because of his work in cardiology, Dr. Carpen, accompanied by his wife, will next month be heading to Rome, Italy, to be inducted as a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology. This gesture is perhaps one of the greatest honours that a cardiologist could receive. It essentially represents peer recognition for excellence in service in the practice of cardiology.
However, even before he receives that prestigious acknowledgement, Dr. Carpen is duly being awarded the honour of ‘Special Person’ by this publication. And no one would disagree that he deserves it.
