Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute Welcomes Director of Advanced Heart Failure Sandra Chaparro, MD

Cardiologist Sandra Chaparro, M.D., has been named director of Advanced Heart Failure at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

Dr. Chaparro earned her medical degree at Universidad El Bosque School of Medicine, Bogota, Colombia, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. She also completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Missouri, as well as a fellowship in the Section of Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. She has an extensive background in academia, research and clinical practice.

Most recently, Dr. Chaparro was associate professor in the Section of Heart Failure and Transplantation at the University of Miami Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was also director of the Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship Program, the Heart Failure Clinic and the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program.

Dr. Chaparro’s broad research experience includes serving as principle investigator and participating in numerous clinical studies on medications, devices and therapies for heart failure and coronary artery disease. She has given many invited presentations at cardiology symposiums and is on the editorial panels of several medical journals. She also has had numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and is a member of national scientific committees of the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. Furthermore, she is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Helping to educate the next generation of physicians, Dr. Chaparro has taken an active role in teaching, advising and mentoring fellows and residents.

Broward Health Welcomes New Leaders

Broward Health Imperial Point has announced Joseph Paul, CGMA, AICPA, as its new Chief Financial Officer and Christina Grove, MBA, MHA, as Broward Health's new Executive Director of Physician Practices and Urgent Care. Romaine Layne, who most recently served as CFO at Broward Health Imperial Point has been promoted to the position of CFO for the Ambulatory Services Division of Broward Health.

A certified chartered global management accountant, Paul has more than 20 years of hospital financial leadership experience with nationally recognized healthcare organizations. Prior to joining Broward Health Imperial Point, Paul served as CFO, CSO (Chief Staffing Officer) and Compliance Officer for Wellington Regional Medical Center in Wellington, Florida. Previously he spent 11 years serving in financial positions in HCA hospitals throughout Florida.

Paul graduated from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics before completing post graduate work at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

A skilled healthcare executive with 20 years of leadership experience in physician practice, hospital-based and other physician related settings, Grove most recently served as market operations director for Tenet Physician Resources.

Grove earned her master's degree in health care administration and her master's degree in business administration from Columbia Southern University. She also earned her bachelors' degree in organizational management from Palm Beach Atlantic University, as well as her practical nursing degree from Middlesex School of Nursing.

FDA Approves Miami Cancer Institute to Perform New In-house Test for COVID-19 in Its Molecular Diagnostic Lab

The Food & Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Baptist Hospital of Miami Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Miami Cancer Institute, to perform a new COVID-19 swab tests in-house. The test was developed at Miami Cancer Institute, which is part of Baptist Health.

Identification of COVID-19 patients is critical in order to either self-isolate at home or admit the patient to a specific area of the hospital. This in-house testing allows Miami Cancer Institute to perform a number of tests twice a day and receive results within 24 hours. The lab is able to perform 40 - 80 tests per day with capacity for more in the near future.

“Having this test allows us to expand our in-house testing capability, allowing us to make treatment decisions more quickly and quarantine patients appropriately,” said Edwin Gould, M.D., chief of pathology, Miami Cancer Institute. “We were fortunate to have all the highly sophisticated equipment and expertise needed already in-house– making the switch possible in a short timeframe.”

As an added layer of safety, the testing process begins in a leased GermFree trailer, which resides behind the Miami Cancer Institute facility and contains ventilated air space and laminar flow hoods. The remainder of testing is performed in the building’s laboratory. The GermFree trailer, which was used as a pharmacy during Miami Cancer Institute’s construction, includes equipment like microbiology hoods that allow for molecular testing of COVID-19.

Dentists Donate Medical Supplies for Broward Health Caregivers

Since launching the COVID-19 Relief Fund to benefit front line caregivers, Broward Health Foundation has received an outpouring of support from the South Florida community and beyond. On April 7, two Fort Lauderdale dentists joined the swell of supporters by delivering N95 masks and other much-needed medical supplies.

Father-and-son periodontists Mark and Tom McCawley donated their surplus of 530 masks, 1,800 gloves and 100 surgical gowns. Mark McCawley, D.M.D., said they were moved to donate because “we just see what all you guys do in the community to keep us safe, to keep us healthy, and we just felt like we needed to do something to keep you guys as healthy as possible.”

The Foundation’s president, Bill Diggs, said donations like the ones from the McCawleys are just as critical as larger donations. “Every person can help us to make sure that our front line medical staff stays safe so that they can take care of you,” he said. “Having individuals embrace what we do, means everything.”

The Foundation continues to collect monetary and in-kind donations for the safety and well-being of Broward Health caregivers and their patients. To donate or learn more about the Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, visit BrowardHealth.org/COVIDRelief.

VITAS® Healthcare Joins FirstNet® – Public Safety’s Communications Platform Built by AT&T

VITAS® Healthcare is the first approved hospice provider to connect to FirstNet- the nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety. The company’s access to FirstNet enables VITAS employees to use the highly secure and reliable communications tool for patient care and assistance in any circumstance while in the field.

FirstNet is designed to improve communications across public safety entities nationwide, allowing first responders to communicate with one another easily and quickly during everyday situations, big events or emergencies. This capability is integral to solving communications roadblocks that previously have been imposed on public safety agencies and first responders.

VITAS was selected to join FirstNet and utilize services because of the support the company provides to hospitals for both patient care and emergency preparedness. VITAS serves as an extended primary user– an organization or agency that could be called on during an emergency response to help support public safety. Eligibility for extended primary user status is rigorously reviewed before service is approved to help ensure that FirstNet’s unique capabilities remain dedicated to first responders and those who support them.

“We are honored to join FirstNet and be given the opportunity to serve our patients quickly, efficiently and securely,” said Nick Westfall, President and CEO of VITAS. “We applaud AT&T for the development of this innovative program and dedication to public safety.”

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Voted Best Heart Center in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center recently was voted as the best heart center in Palm Beach County from the Palm Beach Post 2020 Best of Palm Beach County Awards Contest. The Best of Palm Beach County awards celebrate and recognize the best our community has to offer, and residents of Palm Beach County vote on the awards. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center was the first hospital in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast to perform open-heart surgery, nearly 19,000 over the past 37 years, and has remained a leader in providing heart care ever since.

Holy Cross Hospital Named One of Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2020

Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale has been recognized as part of Newsweek’s annual list of World’s Best Hospitals for 2020 and Best-In-State Hospital in Florida.

“This recognition as one of the world’s best hospitals is a testament to the care and compassion our patients experience here at Holy Cross Hospital,” said Doug Strong, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Holy Cross. “We are proud of our Associates who continuously deliver people-centered care and operational excellence every day.”

Broadcaster Bob Costas Named “Joe DiMaggio American Icon”

Bob Costas was recently named the 2020 recipient of the “Joe DiMaggio American Icon Award” at a fundraiser for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Costas, one of the world’s most accomplished broadcasters, was recognized for representing the values that Joe DiMaggio stood for and contributions that have influenced American society. He follows former U.S. President Bill Clinton, basketball legends Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Pat Riley, music’s Gloria and Emilio Estefan, baseball’s Derek Jeter, and best-selling author James Patterson as previous American Icon award winners.

St. Mary’s Medical Center Performs Its First Awake Aneurysm Craniotomy

St. Mary’s Medical Center is now performing awake aneurysm craniotomies. A weak area in the blood vessels can develop into a balloon called an Aneurysm, carrying an inherent risk of bursting. This is treated either by coiling, or a surgical technique known as "clipping". During this procedure, the skull is opened, and the aneurysm on the artery is clipped, preventing it from bursting and causing a brain hemorrhage

“These surgeries are traditionally performed under general anesthesia, but the clipping of aneurysms while patients are awake, is a novel way of treating this condition,” said Dr. Raghuram Sampath, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon on staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center. “Having the patient awake is the most reliable way to ensure we don’t cause damage to the brain, while safely securing the aneurysm.”

During the surgery, the patient does not feel pain, as all the sensitive nerves on scalp are anesthetized. During the surgery, the surgeon speaks to the patient, and asks them to perform simple tasks, making sure their motor and speech function remains intact.

Good Samaritan Medical Center Performs Its First Incisionless Surgery to Treat Heartburn

Surgery without an incision is now a possibility. The new Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure, or TIF, using the innovative EsophyX® device for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is now available at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

“The TIF procedure can significantly improve quality of life for our patients,” said Dr. Kimmerle Cohen, Oncological And Hepatopancreaticobiliary surgeon at Good Samaritan Medical Center. “GERD is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution. Reflux medication like PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) can help relieve patients' heartburn symptoms but don't solve the underlying anatomical problems or prevent further disease progression. Even on PPIs many patients are still unable to eat the foods they want or have to sleep sitting up to reduce nighttime reflux. In addition, recent studies have shown that long- term use of PPIs can lead to inadequate absorption of minerals such as calcium and can result in bone fractures. After the TIF procedure, clinical trials show that most patients can eat and drink foods they avoided for many years. Reflux no longer impacts their life like it previously did.”

The TIF procedure is based on established principles of surgical repair of the antireflux barrier, except that it is “surgery from within” performed transorally (through the mouth). The procedure reduces hiatal hernia and re-establishes the high pressure zone between the stomach and esophagus restoring the natural, physiological anatomy to prevent gastroesophageal reflux. Because the procedure is incisionless, there is reduced pain, reduced recovery and no visible scar.

1 thru 10 out of 10