Introducing the Introducing the Center for Medical Tourism Center for Medical Tourism

ResearchResearchDavid G. Vequist IV, Ph.D.David G. Vequist IV, Ph.D.

Founder/DirectorFounder/DirectorCenter for Medical Tourism ResearchCenter for Medical Tourism Research

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The OpportunityThe Opportunity

Medical Tourism, as an industry, is Medical Tourism, as an industry, is growing tremendouslygrowing tremendously

Many countries and organizations are Many countries and organizations are entering this marketentering this market

These entities and other stakeholders These entities and other stakeholders need the best information from which to need the best information from which to develop strategies and determine the develop strategies and determine the correct direction will most likely be correct direction will most likely be successfulsuccessful

There is a strong need to determine the There is a strong need to determine the ‘truth’ about medical tourism trends ‘truth’ about medical tourism trends

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The CenterThe Center

Vision- To serve as the premier academic Vision- To serve as the premier academic center for Medical Tourism/Travel research center for Medical Tourism/Travel research in the world. The center will provide high-in the world. The center will provide high-quality research and thought leadership in quality research and thought leadership in the economic, social justice, and societal the economic, social justice, and societal impacts of the Medical Tourism/Travel impacts of the Medical Tourism/Travel industry. The center will uphold the Core industry. The center will uphold the Core Values of the Mission of the University of the Values of the Mission of the University of the Incarnate Word: Faith; Service; Innovation; Incarnate Word: Faith; Service; Innovation; Truth; and Education. We bring together Truth; and Education. We bring together the diversity and the quality of our the diversity and the quality of our resources to promote wider access to low resources to promote wider access to low cost, high-quality healthcare.cost, high-quality healthcare.

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The Center (cont.)The Center (cont.)

Mission- The mission of the Center for Medical Mission- The mission of the Center for Medical Tourism/Travel Research is to study and Tourism/Travel Research is to study and document trends and the economic, social document trends and the economic, social justice, and societal impacts associated with the justice, and societal impacts associated with the transnational movement of people in the pursuit transnational movement of people in the pursuit of healthcare. We develop relevant and timely of healthcare. We develop relevant and timely research that integrates approaches from a research that integrates approaches from a variety of fields, disciplines and viewpoints. variety of fields, disciplines and viewpoints.

We are committed to conducting influential, We are committed to conducting influential, ethical research in the area of Medical ethical research in the area of Medical Tourism/Travel, to examine, explore, and Tourism/Travel, to examine, explore, and evaluate the needs and expectations of the evaluate the needs and expectations of the business, governmental, scientific, and medical business, governmental, scientific, and medical communities; public health organizations; the communities; public health organizations; the public at large; students, and other stakeholders.public at large; students, and other stakeholders.

Research AgendaResearch Agenda

Research Agenda:Research Agenda: The genesis and drivers of medical tourism The genesis and drivers of medical tourism How countries are marketing medical How countries are marketing medical

tourism destinations tourism destinations Consumer choice and medical tourism Consumer choice and medical tourism Adequacy of quality of care at medical Adequacy of quality of care at medical

tourism facilities tourism facilities Various stakeholder perceptions and Various stakeholder perceptions and

attitudes toward medical tourism attitudes toward medical tourism Assessments or evaluations of medical Assessments or evaluations of medical

tourism practices tourism practices

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Research Agenda (cont.)Research Agenda (cont.)

Research Agenda:Research Agenda: Technological and privacy issues in Technological and privacy issues in

medical tourism medical tourism Economic, regional, political, social, Economic, regional, political, social,

cultural and cross-cultural issues cultural and cross-cultural issues associated with medical tourismassociated with medical tourism

Economic impact of medical tourism on Economic impact of medical tourism on countries where it occurs, industries countries where it occurs, industries affected by the trends (e.g., affected by the trends (e.g., pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, etc.), and medical/healthcare jobs in the etc.), and medical/healthcare jobs in the affected countriesaffected countries

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Research Agenda (cont.)Research Agenda (cont.)

Research Agenda:Research Agenda: Continuum of care issues when patients Continuum of care issues when patients

come back to home countrycome back to home country Legal issues regarding the care given and Legal issues regarding the care given and

responsibilityresponsibility

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Current ActivityCurrent Activity

Revised Vision, Mission, and suggested Revised Vision, Mission, and suggested Board makeupBoard makeup

Website is up and functioning Website is up and functioning (www.medicaltourismresearch.org)- (www.medicaltourismresearch.org)- also off of UIW site (www.uiw.edu)also off of UIW site (www.uiw.edu)

New Article in Issue 9 of the Medical New Article in Issue 9 of the Medical Tourism Magazine (Economic Impact- El Tourism Magazine (Economic Impact- El Salvador)Salvador)

Two NIH Grant Proposals Submitted (Internal Two NIH Grant Proposals Submitted (Internal Funding)Funding)

Agreements to perform research for various Agreements to perform research for various organizations, countries, and providers organizations, countries, and providers

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Current ActivityCurrent Activity

Philippines and Korea for FAM ToursPhilippines and Korea for FAM Tours Interview on KENS5 TV (CBS) local news Interview on KENS5 TV (CBS) local news

broadcastbroadcast Interview with SA Express NewsInterview with SA Express News LinkedIn.com siteLinkedIn.com site Capstone Project for Texas BenefitsCapstone Project for Texas Benefits Book, Papers, Research (several in pipeline)Book, Papers, Research (several in pipeline) More…More…

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Future ActivityFuture Activity

Linking off of the Linking off of the www.medicaltravelresearch.org and and www.healthtourismresearch.org sites sites

Speaking at the 2nd Annual World Medical Speaking at the 2nd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Health Congress in 2009 Tourism & Global Health Congress in 2009 (Economic impact on pharmaceutical (Economic impact on pharmaceutical industry)industry)

Research on the impact of Medical Tourism on Research on the impact of Medical Tourism on Dentists in Border communities (grant funded)Dentists in Border communities (grant funded)

Paper in the “Medical Tourism” issue of Paper in the “Medical Tourism” issue of International Journal of Behavioural and International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare ResearchHealthcare Research

Paper in new International Journal of Medical Paper in new International Journal of Medical Tourism ResearchTourism Research

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Future ActivityFuture Activity

Offering 24 hour support to News AgenciesOffering 24 hour support to News Agencies Speaker from India in San Antonio Speaker from India in San Antonio

(MD with specialty in Cardiac)(MD with specialty in Cardiac) Meet with the former “Surgeon General” of Meet with the former “Surgeon General” of

MexicoMexico Meet with industry groups and individual Meet with industry groups and individual

companies to determine research needs companies to determine research needs First ever Medical Tourism Research First ever Medical Tourism Research

conference in San Antonio in January 2010!conference in San Antonio in January 2010!

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The Benefits of the CMTRThe Benefits of the CMTR

Alignment with the MTA means more Alignment with the MTA means more data and information for MTA membersdata and information for MTA members

Bringing the truth about the industry to Bringing the truth about the industry to the various stakeholdersthe various stakeholders

Committed to helping bring affordable Committed to helping bring affordable research alternatives to those in the research alternatives to those in the medical tourism industry that need medical tourism industry that need assistanceassistance

Evaluating the social justice aspects of Evaluating the social justice aspects of medical tourismmedical tourism

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QuestionsQuestions

Please contact:Please contact: David G. Vequist IV, Ph.D., David G. Vequist IV, Ph.D.,

Founder/DirectorFounder/DirectorCenter for Medical Tourism Center for Medical Tourism ResearchResearchH-E-B School of Business & H-E-B School of Business & AdministrationAdministrationUniversity of the Incarnate WordUniversity of the Incarnate Wordvequist@uiwtx.edu