By STAFF WRITER,Nassau Guardian

World-renowned oncologist Dr. Arthur Porter is slated to address the country's 18th Annual Bahamas Business Outlook conference to be held at the Wyndham Nassau Resort on Sunday, Jan. 18th. Dr. Porter, chief executive officer at McGill University Health Centre, is a first time speaker at the Outlook conference which is themed, "Effective Strategies for a Strong Economic Rebound". He will address the topic, "Health is a Healthy Business."

"This is an important and extremely timely conference," said Dr. Porter. "Who would have predicted in January 2008 that we would be facing a recession 10 months later [now 12 months later]. While most believed there would be a 'correction' no one thought it would come soon and so hard. However, with every cloud there is a silver lining and now is no exception.

"As we consider healthcare as a business we need to look at the opportunities from two vantage points — firstly ensuring that our healthcare system is so robust that our local population has the confidence in it, and those who have a choice, make the choice to have their care right here and keep their dollars within the local economy. Secondly there is an enormous opportunity to expand our system to new opportunities — so-called 'health tourism'."

Dr. Porter brings a unique blend of medical practice, finance and business experience to healthcare leadership. He received his early education in Sierra Leone and Kenya, East Africa. After attending the University of Sierra Leone, he transferred to Cambridge University in England, where he received his B.A. in anatomy, M.A. in natural sciences and his medical degree. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee and certificates in medical management from Harvard University and the University of Toronto. He received his diplomat status and fellowship in healthcare administration from the American Academy of Medical Administrators.

Following his training in medical and radiation oncology, Dr. Porter assumed several senior positions in Canada, including that of senior specialist at the University of Alberta, chief of radiation oncology at the London Regional Cancer Centre and Chairman of Oncology at Victoria Hospital, Ontario, Canada. In 1991, he was appointed radiation oncologist-in-chief, professor and chairman of the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University.

Dr. Porter's extensive international background includes medical practice, business and academic leadership positions in Canada, Europe, Africa and the United States. He has also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and World Bank, and has worked to establish international research and treatment programs in Turkey, India, Yemen, here in The Bahamas, Brazil, Liberia, and throughout Europe. He has been awarded several fellowships and holds testimonial resolutions from scientific and medical associations.

Dr. Porter opened the first state-of-the-art cancer center in The Bahamas.