SO2
A cursory glance at international cricketer Chris Gayle’s Instagram profile gives a pretty accurate impression of a man who is living life to the fullest! But many — unless you’ve read his autobiography Six Machine: I Don’t Like Cricket … I Love It
or recall the 2005 West Indies tour of Australia when the cricketer was forced to retire hurt during the second Test Match in Hobart — may not know that the nexus to that approach came when he decided to have heart surgery immediately, forcing him out of the third Test and changing his outlook on life forever.
Gayle, who references India as his second home, jetted in on Saturday, January 17 to accept the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) Foundation Trailblazer Award at the HIC Foundation Palm Noir gala held on the Front Lawns of Devon House. He was recognised for his extraordinary contribution to athletics and unwavering commitment to advancing Jamaica on the world stage.
Masters of Medicine Conference founding organiser, co-founder, and president of the HIC Dainia Baugh, MD in her address shared that a series of fortuitous circumstances led to his selection. Baugh, who is also chair of the HIC Foundation, also shared that consultation with board members, including Solid Agency President Sharon Burke, and a personal request from conference keynote speaker and World Heart Federation President Jagat Narula, MD to meet international cricketer Chris Gayle, made the decision that much easier.
In fact, Narula, not only got the opportunity to meet the famed cricketer, but also presented the award to Gayle.
“Thank you so much for the recognition, I really and truly appreciate it. My first ever surgery was a heart surgery… we’re talking about 15 years ago, while I was playing a test match in Australia. I wasn’t feeling well. It was actually an ongoing issue, and I wanted to get it sorted, I don’t remember the name of the surgery, but I wanted to fix the problem. I did so [the surgery] in Australia, and thankfully it was a success. I am happy to be here, happy to acknowledge this, and sadly, I don’t know if it’s something in the family, but I lost my brother a couple months ago because of heart failure, as well,” said Gayle as he accepted the award. Looking down at the crystal plaque, and with heartfelt applause from the audience, Gayle paused for a moment before continuing, “This is actually for my brother, he is not with us…” he concluded.
Masters of Medicine Conference Founding Organiser Dainia Baugh, MD introduced the recipient of the Trailblazer Award. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Conference keynote speaker and World Heart Federation President Jagat Narula MD (right), presented the HIC Foundation Trailblazer Award to cricketer Chris Gayle as 2026 Masters of Medicine Conference Co-Chairs Edward J Miller (left) and Professor Ernest Madu, MD shared in the moment. (Photo: Tiffany Lue Yen)
Recipient of the HIC Foundation Trailblazer Award cricketer Chris Gayle addressed the gathering. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
From left: Solid Agency President Sharon Burke; Masters of Medicine Conference Founding Organiser Dainia Baugh, MD and her husband, 2026 Masters of Medicine Conference Co-Chair Professor Ernest Madu, MD; recipient of the HIC Foundation Trailblazer Award cricketer Chris Gayle; 2026 Masters of Medicine Conference keynote speaker and World Heart Federation President Jagat Narula, MD; and Warner Chappell Music exec Tasha Thorborne (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
2026 Masters of Medicine Conference Chairperson and Director, Penn Cardiology International Marietta Ambrose, MD (right) was responsible for perfectly capturing (from left), conference chairperson Renée Bullock-Palmer, MD; conference co-Chair Edward J Miller, MD; and keynote speaker, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Sharing a moment during cocktail hour were (from left) Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at Indiana University School of Medicine & Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist Onyedika Ilonze, MD; Professor of Medicine, University of Vermont Macaulay Onuigbo, MD; entrepreneur Nashay Jones; and interventional cardiologist Dr Matthew Jones.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Dr Mark Anderson (left) caught up with Jamaican-American heart failure & transplant cardiologist Dr Bryan Smith, as his wife Sarah Anderson looked on. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
2026 Masters of Medicine Conference Co-Chair Professor Ernest Madu, MD and his wife, conference founding organiser Dainia Baugh, MD (right) shared the frame with keynote speaker, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD (left) and conference chair Renée Bullock-Palmer, MD. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
It was nothing but love for media personality Yendi Phillipps and her husband, Jamaica Football Federation Operations Manager Omar McFarlane. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
President of the Senate Tom Tavares-Finson (left) and his fitness professional wife Rose joined Minister of Water, Environment & Climate Change Matthew Samuda, and his wife, Jamaica Observer Media Group Deputy Managing Director Natalie Chin Samuda for a photo-op. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
(PHOTO: TIFFANY LUE YEN)
