Dr. Gormley’s Expertise Crosses International Borders

Board-certified pediatric physical and rehabilitation medicine physician Mark Gormley, Jr., MD, and the team he leads from Gillette Children's have been recognized by Jamaica's prime minister and parliament for the expert outreach care they provide that country's children. Known for his expertise in treating children and teens at Gillette Children’s with such complex conditions as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, among others, Dr. Gormley’s expertise is not limited to patients of Gillette: for the last fifteen years, Dr. Gormley—along with a care team comprised of staff from Gillette and other healthcare organizations—has taken part in three global health outreach trips to Jamaica each year. 

Like several of his Gillette colleagues, Dr. Gormely takes part in these mission trips at his own expense to provide expert healthcare to children and teens in foreign nations who may not otherwise have access to the kind of specialized care that Gillette patients enjoy. With a team of 6-10 staff—some from Gillette, some from other organizations—Dr. Gormley has been going to Jamaica for the past fifteen years, with no intentions of slowing down.

While in Jamaica, the team provides and modifies braces, wheelchairs, walkers, and other new or donated equipment. Over the course of these one-week trips, the team treats 50-75 children. “We do phenol blocks and 2-3 SDRs per trip,” Dr. Gormley says, referring to two common treatments to relieve spasticity. “We’ve had a lot of incredible successes down there ... we’re able to provide services to these kids that they wouldn’t have received otherwise, and they’ve done quite well.” 

Because so much of Dr. Gormley’s team is comprised of Gillette staff—including nurses, an orthotist, a physical therapist, a PM&R fellow, and others—and due to how often the team visits Jamaica to provide care, the team is locally known in Jamaica as “The Gillette Clinic” (though Gillette does not sponsor these trips).  

Due to the lack of specialty pediatric care available in Jamaica, Dr. Gormley and his time also prioritize sharing their knowledge and expertise with local medical providers on their trips. “We lecture to physical and occupational therapists as well as neurosurgery and orthopedics residents. We have helped several of the resident [doctors] in Jamaica secure residencies in the United States.”

While patients at Gillette enjoy a robust team of physical medicine and rehabilitation experts, Jamaica only has one resident physiatrist—Dr. Paula Dawson—who assists the team by pre-screening patients in Jamaica to ensure that those with the greatest medical needs are seen during the weeklong trips. Dr. Gormley’s team enjoys a close working relationship with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, which also helps with logistics and transportation once the medical team is in the country. The team’s close relationship with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness ensures that expert care will continue to be available well into the future for the young Jamaicans who need it most.