Category: <span>Insights</span>
Water Safety Series: Controlling the Risk of Legionella
By David Best, Director of Public Health “All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved” – Sun Tzu At the heart of all strategy is the desire to shape the future. Planning must follow any initial vision, which includes not…
This Paramedic Shifted From Ambulances to Ships
By Robert Cooper, Writer Margaret Cook currently serves aboard a riverboat in the Pacific Northwest for VIKAND. Maggie, 35, began her career as an ambulance paramedic at a small military base in Arizona, but her journey toward entering the medical field began long before that. “Growing up, I thought about being a doctor or nurse,”…
Fostering Diversity in the Maritime Industry
Image Caption: Copenhagen Business School Students Attend VIKAND Celebration Diversity in the maritime industry has become a critical conversation for employers worldwide, and diversity in the maritime industry is no exception. Fostering DEI principles in the workplace can enrich the lives of current employees, create an environment where all people can thrive, and position employers…
VIKAND Partner Profile: FrontM
A regular feature of VIKAND Pulse, we are proud to highlight our partners and collaborators. Together, our united efforts benefit seafarers through proactive healthcare, innovative technologies, and a global community of providers who promulgate a culture of care. In this issue, we share a conversation with FrontM’s Kiran Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer. Be sure to…
Water Safety Series: Assessing the Risk of Legionella
By David Best, Director of Public Health Risk is an important concept in the maritime industry. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “risk” as a chance or possibility of danger, loss, injury or other adverse consequences. However, if you were to ask ten different maritime industry professionals what is implied by the word risk, you…
VIKANDER Profile: Karl Bergsten
It’s said that for seafarers—and those in support of them—saltwater runs in the veins. Pair this with the experience and pastimes of VIKAND’s Associate Medical Director, Dr. Karl Bergsten, and you have just what the doctor ordered: healthy crew, prosperous operators, and guest safety. Nearly every Vikander is steeped in a life at sea and,…
5 Misconceptions About Hydroxyl Generators
When it comes to hydroxyl generator technology, there are several misconceptions that prompt organizations to make uninformed decisions when investing in and implementing the best air purification device for their workplace. Fully understanding all the capabilities of a hydroxyl generator can help organizations, specifically maritime operators, choose the right device to safeguard the health of…
Doctors and Nurses: Partners in Public Health
By David Best, Director of Public Health In an earlier article, I compared the role of a Public Health Officer (PHO) as similar to that of the Mandalorian—the protagonist from the Disney+ Star Wars franchise television series—due to the often-solitary nature of the position. However, nobody, not even someone as dedicated to a cause as…
From Transylvania to Treating Shipboard Patients
By Robert Cooper, Writer Radu Vultur’s parents were both doctors. His father was chief of gynecology and a hospital director for a time in the Transylvanian town of Reghin, Romania, and his mother was a general practitioner. But, like most children, he initially resisted following in their footsteps before “falling close to the tree.” He…
The Value of Having a Public Health Officer Onboard
By David Best, Director of Public Health It is often said that a bad day sailing is a hundred times better than a good day at work. Surely, the truth behind this saying has been tested over the course of the last two years as the challenges associated with sailing during the pandemic have exhausted…