What began over a decade ago as a casual conversation en route to a wedding along the Junction main road has since blossomed into one of the most transformative ventures in Caribbean health care — the Vein Centers of Jamaica (VCJ). This entity was created with the goal of revolutionising vascular services across the region and has today grown to become a beacon of excellence in its field.

As the first and only vascular surgery practice in Jamaica, VCJ has positioned itself as a leader in the Caribbean. Established in 2012 by co-founders and directors Dr Hilary Brown, a Jamaican national, and Dr Bart Muhs, her American colleague, the centre is a product of years of friendship and professional collaboration. The two vascular surgeons, who previously worked together at Yale University, were united by a shared vision: to deliver high-quality, board-certified vascular surgery services to a region historically underserved in this complex and critical medical specialty.

“VCJ is the only vascular surgery practice in Jamaica having board-certified vascular surgeons. The business focuses on diseases of the arteries and veins and operates primarily out of locations in Kingston and Montego Bay. Through the services offered, there is a strong focus on providing minimally invasive treatment for vascular diseases, avoiding the need for hospitalisation, anaesthesia, and surgical incisions,” Muhs recently told the Jamaica Observer as he shared start-up details for the company.

Recalling the early days as both challenging and exhilarating, Dr Muhs noted that the company has spent the last 13 years building a solid reputation for providing this unique service in the Caribbean. While Jamaica remains VCJ’s primary market, its clinics increasingly attract patients from across the region.

“Our physicians were the first in Jamaica to perform endovascular aneurysm repair eliminating the need for hospitalisations and incisions. We performed the first aortic aneurysm repair completely without incisions. Our work has been published in international peer reviewed journals, noting a success rate of greater than 80 per cent in Jamaican patients who have had ulcers and wounds on their legs for greater than five years before being treated by us. We were also the first in Jamaica to use a minimally invasive stent graft to treat a traumatic aortic rupture,” Muhs further said in outlining some of the ground breaking work being done by VCJ’s highly trained medical team.

In addition to its clinical achievements, VCJ continues to strive toward becoming an employer of choice, actively recruiting talented medical professionals such as nurses, technicians, and support staff — roles vital to the organisation’s ongoing success.

With its eye on innovation and expansion, the centre is broadening its portfolio of surgical and non-surgical techniques.

Among the centre’s growing list of services now offered are three main treatment options. These include sclerotherapy, which involves the injecting of “foamed sclerosant drugs” within a blood vessel, as well as VNUS closure, which is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure used to close diseased veins and phlebectomy, which involves the surgical removal of medium to large varicose veins which often appear near the skin’s surface.

Earlier this year, VCJ introduced podiatry services to its clinic, a strategic move to support patients with foot and other vascular complications. Looking to the future, the center aims to further diversify its offerings.

As part of its broader growth strategy, VCJ recently acquired a property on Harbour Street in downtown Kingston, where it is currently constructing its third and largest facility. The state-of-the-art site is poised to become a landmark health-care investment in the city and a clear statement of the centre’s commitment to expanding access to advanced care.

“We believe downtown Kingston is ready for this kind of development — one that puts people’s health at the centre. This new location represents our dedication to both equity and excellence in care,” Brown said while speaking at the launch event.

“This space is still taking shape, but our vision is clear. What we are building is more than just a clinic…we are building trust in a community that deserves access to cutting-edge health-care services and chapter three is about reaching deeper, not just wider,” Muhs added.

With innovation at its core and the delivery of world-class patient care high on the agenda, VCJ said it continues to chart new territory as it works to bring life-changing vascular care to communities across Jamaica and beyond. To this end, what therefore started on a drive through the hills has not only morphed into becoming a thriving, revolutionary force in Caribbean medicine but also as a facility whose emergence continues to offer proof that with vision, partnership, and passion; even the most ambitious ideas can take root and flourish.

Despite the many successes over the years, the company’s director remains even more bullish on developments left to come.

“Several other opportunities are now being looked at which could see the addition of mobile vascular screening services and treatment locally that will help to eliminate the need for some customers to travel to Kingston or Montego Bay. Additionally, our international outreach continues, with a primary focus on expansion to other parts of the Caribbean especially now as we gear-up to launch a satellite office in Turks and Caicos,” Muhs said of plans on the horizon.