The WITNESS Project® of Tampa Bay created the S.A.F.E. program to unite cancer survivors and increase the optimal well-being of each person. The WITNESS Project® is a national faith-based program that emphasizes the early detection and prevention of breast and cervical cancer in the black community through survivorship.

The S.A.F.E group will complement the efforts of The WITNESS Project® by providing a venue for survivors to share their experiences in overcoming cancer. The goal of the program is to raise the self-esteem of cancer survivors through support and discussion while providing education, empowerment and encouragement.

This group will meet the second Saturday of each month and will host different speakers, activities and events to help uplift cancer patients and build strong relationships.

This event is open to the public. Breast and cervical cancer survivors are encouraged to attend and share their stories.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. to Linda Paige at Linda.Paige@moffitt.org or call (813) 745-4304.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
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Photo ID: LECOM School of Pharmacy Bradenton faculty member Heather Petrelli, second-year medical student Dianne Frankel and second-year pharmacy student Maude Desir present a check to Bobbi Larson, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Manatee County chapter.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and LECOM School of Pharmacy offer innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine and pharmacy. From campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Prepare yourself for medicine as your life’s profession.

Take Care Advisor (www.TakeCareAdvisor.com) is at the cutting edge as a health care organization in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice, Florida. Though geriatric care management is newer to the health care arena in comparison to other health care businesses, the innovation on Take Care Advisor’s part is the requirement that our Geriatric Care Managers are registered nurses, with the health care experience and background to bolster their position as the client advocate. With their additional computer skills, Take Care Advisor’s Geriatric Care Managers electronically record clients’ medical information and progress placing Take Care Advisor at the forefront and as a leader in geriatric care management. Take Care Advisor seamlessly integrates a bio-psycho-social approach to health and wellness using a system of best practices.

All lifesaving donors will enjoy a limited edition, “Give Blood. Play Roller Derby” T-shirt and a FREE ticket to the March 27th Bout, plus a wellness checkup, including a cholesterol screening.

Generally healthy people, age 16 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds can be blood
donors. Photo ID is required. For eligibility questions prospective donors can call 1-800-68-BLOOD (25663)

The Tampa Bay Derby Darlins are part of the newest incarnation of Roller Derby. The Darlins are still offering up that good old fashioned roller derby excitement of the past, but this unrehearsed, all-female full-contact sport is raising the bar for entertainment value in sports. These ladies of the derby are doing it on their own terms. For further information on the team visit www.tampabayderbydarlins.com

Headquartered in St. Petersburg Florida, FBS provides over 350,000 blood donations to patients at 92 hospitals and other ambulatory healthcare facilities throughout 42 Florida, Georgia, and Alabama counties, through the participation of volunteer donors.

“This program is an important way for those living with colorectal cancer to learn more about the nation’s second-leading cancer killer,” said Donna Quinlan, Colon Cancer Alliance program director. “By encouraging increased dialogue between patients, health care providers and caregivers, we hope to help patients learn how to successfully continue their daily activities and ultimately improve their quality of life.”

The seminar will allow patients to interact with leading colorectal cancer physicians on topics from the latest treatment advances with targeted therapies to the importance of good nutrition. Patients and caregivers will also have the opportunity to listen and support one another in their collective battle against colorectal cancer. The program is part of a series of free educational events held throughout the country in 2010 that is funded by unrestricted educational grants to the Colon Cancer Alliance from Genentech BioOncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genomic Health and Sirtex.

According to a Harris Interactive survey of more than 500 cancer patients and 300 oncologists, patients who discussed cancer topics with their physicians were more knowledgeable about their condition than those who did not hold discussions. In addition, patients who did not have discussions with their physician were less knowledgeable about the possibility of treatment delays, infection, impact of low red and white blood cells, and proper patient education.

To register for the Tampa seminar or for information on additional seminars, call 1- 877-422-2030 or visit the Colon Cancer Alliance Web site at www.ccalliance.org.

About Colorectal Cancer
Although more Americans have become aware of colorectal cancer in recent years, one person dies of the disease every ten minutes. Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States. In fact, one in 18 people in the United States will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime, yet if caught early, it is one of the most curable cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 147,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2009.

About The Colon Cancer Alliance
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a national patient advocacy organization, with chapters located across the country, and the official patient support partner of Katie Couric’s Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF’s NCCRA). The CCA is dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. The CCA battles colon cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy. The CCA invites any and all organizations, government agencies, members of the medical community and individuals impacted by this disease to join the CCA in their mission to eradicate colorectal cancer. The Colon Cancer Alliance’s toll-free helpline is 1-877-422-2030, or visit the Web site at www.ccalliance.org.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

SCBB plans to analyze its technical operations processes to maximize efficiencies, evaluate business processes for redundancies, and identify potential cost savings. During the past five years, SCBB has implemented six new databases, with another four to be added during the 2009-10 fiscal year. Some of the technology purchased by SCBB is mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration but much of it is medically-advised for safety and efficiencies.

“These rapid increases of new software have outpaced our ability to manage the data and convert it into useful information,” says Rhonda Peters, Director of Development. “The grant will help us determine how to maximize efficiencies, enhance our business operations and decision making.”

“The Foundation Board recognized that this plan will help Suncoast Communities Blood Bank continue to thrive as a first-rate healthcare organization. The grant allows for the blood bank to strategically manage growth and further operational efficiency,” says Teri A. Hansen, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. “We believe in providing the resources that will help our community members solve problems and move forward. By supporting the blood bank, we are furthering the future of quality healthcare for all of our residents.”
About SCBB
For more than 60 years, Suncoast Communities Blood Bank (SCBB) has been saving lives by providing blood collection and transfusion services to our community. Much has changed in medicine since 1949, revolutionizing how we save lives. What remains the same is the need for human blood. There is no viable substitute for the selfless act of donating it. Now as then, we can’t operate without you.

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This joint public health initiative was put into place to promote a healthy lifestyle for hospital employees, patients and visitors. Tobacco use of any kind is strictly prohibited on all three hospital campuses. According to the Florida Department of Health, tobacco free campuses reduce second hand smoke exposure and encourage tobacco users to quit.

Manatee County Health Department’s executive director, Dr. Jennifer Bencie, will present awards to all three hospitals during the month of March. This is the first year of the award that the health department plans to present annually. Recipients will be chosen based on the innovation and success of their public health initiatives.

Interested media outlets are welcome to attend the Public Health Hero Award presentation at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in conference room 1.

“This conference was the first of its kind offered by the Small Business Development Center and we are excited that it was a success,” said Eileen Rodriguez, Regional Director of the SBDC at USF. “Many attendees shared that the information they received from the speakers was quite insightful and extremely valuable.”

Attendees heard from experts who actively work at the practice level as well as the legislative and legal level. Experts included practice consultants who regularly deal with business planning, implementation and strategy. Among the speakers was Mona Counts, PhD, who teaches Rural Family Nursing at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Counts is an active participant in legislative policy making. She recently met with Nancy-Ann Deparle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform.

The all-day conference covered negotiating third-party payer contracts, healthcare information technology, legislative healthcare policy as well as HIPAA and STARK III. In addition, there was a roundtable where three healthcare practice owners shared their experience and insight.

As part of a statewide initiative to create Centers of Excellence throughout Florida, the SBDC at USF began a concentration in healthcare practice management last year. SBDC counselors have specialized expertise in several healthcare related topics and have presented business topics to medical professionals and students at USF. The SBDC offers several services in regards to healthcare management, including free one-on-one business assistance with starting and growing a healthcare practice and a three-hour seminar called, “The Business Side of Medicine.”

For more information about the conference, Small Business Development Center or the Centers of Excellence, please visit www.sbdctampabay.com.

“By doubling the size of our campus and adding the latest available technology and equipment, the expansion in effect creates a new hospital campus,” said John Couris, chief operating officer, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital.

The new hospital campus features:
The three-story, 45,000 square foot Starkey Medical Tower with new private patient rooms, increasing the total number of patient beds at Morton Plant North Bay by over 25 percent to 154 beds. The Starkey Medical Tower also includes a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), cardiac unit, medical surgical unit, new respiratory care services and community education facilities.

The new four-story, 56,000-square-foot Medical Arts Building is the center for outpatient care and offers an expanded four-bed sleep disorders center, outpatient lab, outpatient rehabilitation services and an enclosed, connected walkway to the main hospital. All patient registration services have been centralized to the Medical Arts building which has a covered walkway connecting it to the hospital. The building also contains offices for primary care physicians and specialists, a new addition to the Morton Plant North Bay campus.

Advanced Care
“The Starkey Medical Tower features the most advanced medical technology for patient care. This is most evident in the new Intensive Care Unit,” said Peter Rossi, MD, president of Morton Plant North Bay’s medical staff. Equipment and outlets usually located on walls or taking up space on the floor are attached to a system with moveable arms allowing for the bed to be positioned in the center of the room to provide the care team with more accessibility to the patient. The ICU also features new state-of-the-art beds featuring an air mattress system, scale, lateral rotation and percussion for patient comfort and caregiver productivity. Nursing work stations are located just outside patient rooms so that nurses can be closer to their patients.

Improved Patient Access
“The Medical Arts Building will give us the opportunity to improve access to patient care by having more physician offices right on our hospital campus,” said Couris. Additionally, the Medical Arts Building has dedicated space for outpatient rehabilitation. “Previously outpatient rehabilitation was provided within our Mitchell Rehabilitation Hospital alongside hospital patients. Now patients can come directly to the Medical Arts Building and receive rehabilitation therapies in a setting dedicated to their needs,” said Couris. Plans also call for a coffee bar located in the building later in the year.

In addition to the Starkey Medical Tower and Medical Arts Building, additional features planned for completion later in 2010 include:
Renovations to the Mitchell Rehabilitation Hospital
Renovations to the hospital’s emergency room with four additional beds
A fitness trail along the hospital’s water retention area with exercise stations
New physician’s lounge

Cost of the Morton Plant North Bay expansion is $49 million. The architect for the project is Harvard Jolly, Inc., Tampa, Florida. The developer of the medical office building is Lauth Property Group also based in Orlando. The contractor is Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC of Orlando, Florida.

For more information about Morton Plant North Bay Hospital’s expansion, call (727) 953-6906.

About Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
Established in 1965, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is a 154-bed facility committed to improving the health of everyone it serves. In 2008, the hospital was awarded Magnet Designation for the second time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the most prestigious national recognition of excellence in nursing care. Morton Plant North Bay has also received the Gold Seal of ApprovalTM for Primary Stroke Care from the Joint Commission. Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is located at 6600 Madison Street, New Port Richey, Fla.

About BayCare Health System
BayCare Health System is the largest community-based health system in the region, providing expert medical care for a patient’s lifetime. Composed of hospitals and numerous affiliated services, the system connects patients to a complete range of services throughout the Tampa Bay area. Together, BayCare organizations seek to advance the health of their patients and their communities.

Member hospitals are Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph’s Children’s, St. Joseph’s Women’s, St. Joseph’s Hospital North and South Florida Baptist. On the web: www.baycare.org.

Rebecca is joining the practice, as a replacement for Shanna Moore, PA-C, who recently left the field of Dermatology to pursue other interests. “Rebecca is the perfect addition to our team” says Dr. Cary Dunn. “She came to us highly recommended. With her qualifications, I am confident in her ability to provide exceptional patient care.”
Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University in 2006. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University in 2009. Rebecca is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and scored in the top 2 percentile of examinees on her certification exam. Rebecca received a certificate for excellence in nursing from the Kentucky Nurses Association in 2006. She is a member of the Sarasota Council for Advanced Practice Nursing. Rebecca practiced in the field of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She decided to go into Dermatology because her father is a melanoma survivor.

Dr. Cary Dunn has been treating patients in southwest Florida for more than ten years. He is a Board Certified Dermatologist with advanced fellowship training in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the technique that offers the highest cure rate. Dr. Dunn’s offices are in Sarasota, Venice, Arcadia and Englewood. Dr. Dunn’s team of practitioners includes, Rebecca Thompson, ARNP-C and Joseph Santini, PA-C. For more information please contact Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Molly Turner (941) 556-5960, or visit our website at www.caryldunnmd.com

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home health Care Services provides an affordable solution for older individuals or couples capable of managing their physical needs, but who require non-medical assistance, light housework, meal preparation and/or companionship in order to remain at home.

According to Tamunday, RIGHT ACCORD services can be arranged far as little as three hours, or as many as 24 hours, a day. Short term assistance or longer term care is available seven days a week, including holidays.

When a potential client calls the company, Tamunday will arrange a meeting with the client and his or her families to discuss what services are needed. “Cost is on an hourly basis so hours can be decreased or increased base on changing needs,” Tamunday said.

One-on-one services to the company’s clients are performed by the Caregivers who are employed, thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. Special attention is given to matching caregivers with clients to achieve the utmost compatibility.

“Elder care has become the top problem in our society today as it replaces child care as the number one issue for the men and women in today’s work force.” Tamunday said. “Already people are spending more time caring for or providing for the care of their elderly parents that they did caring for their own children. The problem will only magnify with the aging of the population.”

A census Bureau report released on May 20, 1996 forecasts that the 65 – plus
population will grow from one in every eight Americans now to one in every six by 2020 and one in every five by 2050. The fastest-growing segment of the population will be the people ages 85 and older, whose numbers are expected to double to 7 million by 2020.

“Research shows that older people who remain at home live longer and happier lives than do people of similar circumstances that are forced to leave their homes to live in other environments. RIGHT ACCORD can help the elderly remain in the comfort of their own homes for much longer periods of time,” said Tamunday.

RIGHT ACCORD mission is to accelerate the pace of in – home care to the elderly allowing them to stay independent longer.

The Company can be reached at (941) 366-0801

At 14 months old, Samantha was diagnosed with Chediak-Higashi Syndrome and received her first stem cell transplant from her donor Shaila, who was a non related genetic match. Then two days prior to her 2nd birthday Samantha was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. On her birthday, she became so ill with a serious infection that she received a second infusion of stem cells from Shaila that had been preserved. Once the infection passed, Samantha was given the remaining extra stem cells. Luckily they engrafted before Shaila gave a second stem cell donation which she was being prepared to do. Samantha’s mother Jacki has since remarked, “Shaila saved her life three times and was willing to do it again. Shaila truly is our hero!”

Before, during and after each of these three stem cell infusions Samantha received numerous transfusions of red blood cells and platelets donated by local Illinois donors. Samantha is now healthy and will be celebrating her 4th birthday with a cake a few weeks early during this special celebration!

Shaila Lopez enrolled in the National Marrow Donor Registry in April of 2003 and became the stem cell donor for Samantha’s transplant in December of 2007. Shaila is also the mother of a 4 year old girl and works for K-Force in Ybor City.

For many of the 30,000 patients who will be diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic anemia and 60 other fatal diseases this year, the only chance for survival is a Marrow or Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) transplant from a compatible donor. FBS facilitates more than 200 such transplants each year as the Southwest Florida Outreach Center for the National Marrow Donor Program.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, in good health and no more than 25% over your ideal body weight, you can join the more than 46,000 Tampa Bay area volunteers who have already joined the “Be The Match” registry. Simple swabs from inside the mouth to collect DNA samples for tissue typing is all that is required along with registration paperwork. Currently, FBS has funding to cover the laboratory typing fees. Prospective enrollees can visit any FBS Donor Center or bloodmobile to sign up. For further information about the “Be The Match” program call 727-568-2110.

Headquartered in St. Petersburg Florida, FBS provides over 350,000 blood donations to patients at 92 hospitals and other ambulatory healthcare facilities throughout 42 Florida, Georgia, and Alabama counties, through the participation of volunteer donors.

Dr. Sarah Hoffe, assistant member of the Radiation Oncology Program, was named 2009 Physician of the Year during the Moffitt Faculty Appreciation and Recognition Ceremony on Feb.11.

“I am very honored. As a radiation oncologist, I have to rely on a strong team. I feel fortunate to work with such a talented group of colleagues in radiation oncology, GI, radiology and pathology,” Hoffe said. “At Moffitt, we have a great multidisciplinary staff that I am proud to be part of.”

Hoffe specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. She dedicates time to writing clinical trials, book chapters and research papers. She has a special interest in educating and mentoring medical students and residents in training. She’s also active in the community, giving lectures and volunteering as the medical adviser for a cancer survivor group in Sun City Center.

Jiandong Chen, Ph.D., senior member of the Molecular Oncology program, has been named Researcher of the Year for his outstanding contributions and advances to the understanding of cancer through innovative medical research. Chen is involved in research of the p53 gene, which encodes an anti-cancer protein that actively stops the development of tumors.

“We are most excited about our recent research in understanding the molecular mechanism of p53 activation by irradiation and chemotherapy,” Chen said.

Chen joined Moffitt in 1999 and has served on many NIH study sections. He has published 53 papers and is a respected scientist in the tumor suppressor protein p53 field. Since 1997, Chen began receiving NIH peer-review funding for his basic research in cancer biology. He is a co-investigator in the lung cancer SPORE project, which is focused on improving outcomes for patients with lung cancer. In addition, Chen trains graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, many who have become independent researchers.

Additional Achievement Awards:
Educators of the Year

Clinical Mentorship: Jane Messina, M.D.
Research Mentorship: Alvaro Monteiro, Ph.D.
Publication Awards

Highest Impact Factor Score – Basic Science: Philip Tofilon, Ph.D.
Highest Impact Factor Score – Clinical Investigations: Robert Gatenby, M.D.
Highest Impact Factor Score – Population Science: Thomas Sellers, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Most Cited Faculty Member: Jin Q. Cheng, Ph.D., M.D.
Team Impact: William S. Dalton, Ph.D., M.D., & Robert Gatenby, M.D.
Clinical Trial Awards

Highest Accrual of Patients on Therapeutic Clinical Trials – Solid Tumors: Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D.
Highest Accrual of Patients on Therapeutic Clinical Trials – Hematologic Malignancies: Jeffrey Lancet, M.D.
Highest Number of Active Investigator – Initiated Trials: Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D.
Licensed Intellectual Property

The following inventors were recognized for Licensed Agreements in 2009:

Jin Q. Cheng, Ph.D., and Saïd Sebti, Ph.D. A License Agreement with Lyndor Biosciences, LLC (Sub of Samtheo BioPharma, LLC) was signed March 2, 2009. The licensed product is an AKT/PKB inhibitor: API-1
Srikumar Chellappan, Ph.D., Saïd Sebti, Ph.D., and Nicholas Lawrence, Ph.D. A License Agreement with Debiopharm S.A. was signed May 5, 2009. The licensed product is Rb-Raf inhibitors.
Saïd Sebti, Ph.D. A License Agreement with Tigris was signed July 21, 2009. The licensed products are Biomarkers (p27 and pAkt) for predicting response to a GGTI Compound.
Patient Satisfaction Award:

Catherine Chodkiewicz, M.D.
Excellence in Safety Award:

Eleanor Harris, M.D.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
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“This is recognition of Moffitt’s commitment to give hope to cancer patients and their families, and to improve the lives of those who provide the cancer care – our employees,” said Nick Porter, executive vice president, Institutional Advancement and Corporate Relations at Moffitt. “Creating a healthy work environment isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s the right thing to do.”

The CEO Cancer Gold Standard was developed by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer to assist organizations in reducing the burden of cancer. The gold standard recognizes organizations with the commitment to take actions in reducing the cancer risk of their employees and their families through five critical pillars. These five areas represent the dedication to a healthy workplace through risk reduction, lifestyle change, early detection and quality care.

The five pillars for gold standard recognition are:

A tobacco-free establishment with cessation initiatives and counseling in the workplace.
An establishment that encourages a healthy lifestyle by providing nutritious food choices and by providing access to nutrition and weight control programs.
An organization that demonstrates a commitment to physical activity by eliminating barriers to active lifestyles.
A cancer-screening establishment that ensures health plans focusing on cancer detection and prevention.
An establishment that provides access to quality treatment and clinical trials through educational programs, cost efficient health programs and accessibility to accredited cancer centers.

Michele Talka, director, compensation of benefits and HRIS at Moffitt, will serve on the Gold Standard Accreditation Review Board for this year. Talka will work with the board to develop initiatives to reduce the risk of cancer to organizations across the United States.

Moffitt joins 37 other organizations across the country that met the high standard for cancer prevention, screening and care guidelines.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to “do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families.” The CEOs responded by creating and encouraging the widespread adoption of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard which calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and workplace culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ and the web-based accreditation process and support, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
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“Beth’s deep experience in marketing, management, and business development will be a tremendous asset for Aging Wisely as we continue to enjoy rapid growth and serve an increasing number of families and caregiving professionals,” said Linda Chamberlain, CEO of Aging Wisely. “The caregiving industry in Florida and the United States is burgeoning, and will continue to do so as baby boomers age. Having someone with Beth’s experience on the Aging Wisely team will be invaluable as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of expansion.”

Prior to joining Aging Wisely, Potter enjoyed a long career in retirement and financial planning. She also has more than a decade of senior marketing experience, managing teams through expansions and new product launches. “I am confident that my problem solving and strategic thinking strengths, coupled with my background in strategic marketing, will serve us well and help further Aging Wisely’s business goals and the quality of life of our clients,” Potter said.

Beth Potter succeeds Liz Barlowe as COO. Barlowe, whose extensive care management expertise helped build Aging Wisely’s national reputation for excellence, has been a key member of the Aging Wisely management team since she joined the company in 2000. She is leaving to embark on a new venture as CEO of a company she and Chamberlain are launching together.

Aging Wisely’s growth mirrors the growth in the up and coming industry of professional care management, featured in “careers for the next decade” on PBS’s Nightly Business Report. Aging Wisely has been a fixture in the community since 1998 and continues to develop services and staff to meet the growing and changing needs of families.

About Aging Wisely
Aging Wisely, LLC is a private care management and consultation company, serving seniors and younger clients faced with illness or disability. Services provided by Aging Wisely include comprehensive assessments and recommendations, coordination of legal, financial, medical and community services, crisis intervention, counseling and consultation, advocacy, and screening and monitoring services. Aging Wisely serves clients in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties as well as families nationwide.

For more information, visit www.agingwisely.com.

Delta Dental of Missouri, a nonprofit organization, is the dental benefits leader in Missouri and a member
of Delta Dental Plans Association, the largest dental benefits provider in the U.S. More than 90 percent of
Missouri dentists participate in a Delta Dental network and four out of five dentists participate nationally.
In Missouri, more than 1.3 million members in over 1,400 companies, large and small, choose Delta
Dental. Nationally, nearly one in three families with dental benefits chooses Delta Dental—54 million
members from 89,000 companies. Delta Dental is also committed to improving the oral health and overall
health of the children in our community and demonstrates that commitment through its charitable support
and outreach initiatives that include the Delta Dental Health Theatre, Give Kids A Smile and the Delta
Dental Land of Smiles educational touring theatre program.
To learn more about Delta Dental of Missouri visit, www.deltadentalmo.com. Additional information about
Advantica EyeCare can be found online at www.advanticaeyecare.com.
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A decade later, when the University of South Florida surgeon interviews aspiring surgeons about their career plans, she enthusiastically talks about her family – her husband their four children, ages 4, 9, 13 and 15 — hoping they will feel comfortable broaching the topic. She wants the young women she mentors to know that, with planning and support, they can successfully juggle a rewarding career in surgery with family and motherhood.

“Multi-tasking is a definite strength many women bring to the table,” said Dr. Ross, assistant professor of surgery and director of surgical endoscopy at USF Health.

More than 50 percent of medical students are now women, yet only 6 percent consider careers in surgery. Even fewer end up in surgical residencies, opting instead for specialties like pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology or internal medicine. Barriers cited as deterrents to entering surgery include lack of role models, perceptions about an “old boy’s club” culture and sexual discrimination, and a work environment unfriendly to family life.

Concerned about improving the odds for attracting more women to surgery, Dr. Ross launched the USF Women in Surgery initiative from her home in September. Later this month, Feb. 27, USF and Tampa General Hospital will sponsor a national symposium for women who are or hope to become surgeons. Experts from across the country will gather at the Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg Beach, FL, to discuss the issues and challenges confronting women as they seek to advance in a changing, but still male-dominated, field and to share successes and advice for breaking the glass ceiling in surgery.

Dr. Ross recruited one of her mentors Dr. Julie Freischlag, the William Steward Halsted professor and chair of surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as the keynote speaker. Told by one dean who interviewed her for his departmental chair of surgery “that he just couldn’t give that surgery job to a woman,” Dr. Freischlag didn’t take no for an answer. The award-winning surgeon-in-chief at Hopkins with seven years tenure, she is one of only three women chairs of academic surgery programs in the country and one of six ever. She will share some gender-specific findings of a recent survey on burnout and career satisfaction among American surgeons commissioned by the American College of Surgeons.

Depending upon the subspecialty, 30 to 50 percent of applicants to surgical residency programs are now women, said Dr. Freischlag, a vascular surgeon, but the perception of the operating room as a macho domain persists. “The environment must be made more amenable to women,” she said. “We (leaders in surgery and academic medicine) need to push back against the attitude that surgeons are the jocks – the NASCAR drivers and football players – of the hospital, and women don’t belong in such a rough-and-tumble sport.”

Dr. Freischlag and Dr. Ross advocate proactively recruiting and retaining women surgeons by being receptive to their desire for more flexible work schedules to accommodate family needs and providing opportunities for them to lead and enrich their careers.

It’s not only a good thing to do, it’s crucial to prevent an eventual shortage of surgeons as demand for the specialty grows, Dr. Freischlag said. “Half the medical students are women, so if residencies only accept men, there won’t be enough doctors to become surgeons for the next generation of patients.”

Dr. Ross encourages women to network and seek out mentors to help guide them through the tough years of surgical training. Men can be effective mentors for women, she said, particularly “men with daughters.” Dr. Ross found her mentor in Dr. Alexander Rosemurgy, professor of surgery and medicine at USF Health and surgical director of the Digestive Disorders Center at Tampa General. The two are now partners in a practice that focuses on minimally-invasive surgeries of the upper GI tract and disorders of the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.

Climbing the professional ladder in a field where women are still the minority, Dr. Ross has the drive, discipline, talent and passion to succeed. She publishes frequently. She helped pioneer the advanced minimally-invasive procedure, known as laparoendoscopic single-site surgery, in her specialty. She is invited to consult with manufacturers to help refine the equipment and technology needed to take minimally-invasive surgeries to the next level.

She is also quick to tell you that she married the right person; Jack, her husband of 20 years, is supportive of a nontraditional wife who doesn’t “cook, clean or do laundry.” They planned pregnancies around Dr. Ross’ undergraduate and medical school studies, hospital shifts and years of surgical residency. Her mother came from Israel, where Dr. Ross was born and raised, to help with the children. “That family support is extremely important,” she said.

Dr. Ross and Dr. Freischlag are optimistic about the future of women in surgery. The new generation of young physicians pushing for improved work-life balance – limits on workload, more flexible schedules, family-friendly policies — may help steer more women to careers in surgery, they say.

Dr. Freischlag hopes to look back in 20 years and see about a third of surgery departments headed by women and more women surgeons represented among tenured faculty. “Over time, as more women in the medical education pipeline enter surgical programs and stay, they will feel more comfortable assuming leadership roles,” she said. “If women really want to change the rules and advance, they have to be in charge to do it.”

Being a surgeon will never be easy, but Dr. Ross wants women considering the field to know how rewarding it can be. “Holding someone’s hand while you are taking them to the operating room and then fixing them so they can lead a better life – it connects you to patients on a very different, deep level,” she said. “Sometimes when I’m operating I could pinch myself, because I can’t believe they actually pay me to do something I love so much.”

The National Women in Surgery symposium is supported by an educational grant from Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company. Covidien launched a comprehensive platform in 2008 to champion current and future female surgeons in all stages of their careers.

For more information or to register for the upcoming USF Women in Surgery Career Conference, please go to www.cme.hsc.usf.edu/wis/. For more information on the USF Women in Surgery initiative, contact Dr. Sharona Ross at sross@health.usf.edu, or call 813-844-4006.

- USF Health -
USF Health (www.health.usf.edu) is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.4 million in research grants and contracts last year, the University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community-engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Diane Fojt, CEO of Corporate Crisis Management (CCM), and Dr. Martin D. Cohen, CCM’s Clinical Director, are part of a volunteer Disaster Medicine/Disaster Behavioral Health (DBH) mission to Haiti. For the first time, tele-medicine technology, using two-way, wireless streaming video, will be used to provide virtual face-to-face psychological consultation to responders in the field. These Psychological First Aid (PFA) and other DBH services can be made available in disaster sites where behavioral health personnel are otherwise unavailable or in short supply.

Fojt and the rest of the Haiti 2010 Telemedicine/ DBH medical strike team are headquartered near the Hospital Adventiste d’Haiti site in Port au Prince, and will begin their work at nearby Sacred Heart Hospital. The CCM team will provide both on-site and remote virtual Disaster Behavioral Health consultations with experts/specialists such as Dr. Cohen here in the U.S. to the team’s medical responders in Haiti. The mission will also assess the feasibility of and plan for offering these and related psycho-educational services to other medical, hospital and clinic staff and other volunteers in Haiti.

CCM is a consulting firm specializing in education and intervention services to reduce the impact of traumatic events. Fojt has more than 30 years experience as a consultant on disaster and trauma response, and was instrumental in the development of Florida’s Disaster Behavioral Health Response Plan as a member of the Florida Crisis Consortium. Dr. Cohen is a practicing clinical psychologist and consultant, Clinical Director of the Tampa Bay Region Critical Incident Team and the state‘s DBH team, and has trained thousands of professionals in the technologies of managing traumatic stress.

For more information on the mission or Psychological First Aid or Tele-Disaster Behavioral Health, call Diane Fojt 813.600.7021 dfojt111@gmail.com or Dr. Martin Cohen 813.988.6557 or 813.727.6557 CCM.Dr.Cohen@gmail.com .

The USF Hope House will hold an open house 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at its new location, 2304 Cleveland St. W. in Tampa.

The event coincides with National Eating Disorders Week, Feb. 22-26, 2010. During this week, including at the open house, Hope House will offer free confidential eating disorder assessments to those either concerned about themselves or someone they know.
“Unfortunately, the numbers with eating disorders just keep on increasing. In fact, there has been a 117 percent increase in young adults with eating disorders in the past six years,” said Dr. Pauline Powers, professor of psychiatry at USF Health and nationally-recognized expert in the field of eating disorders. “At Hope House, we focus only on eating disorders and provide education and outreach, early intervention and supplemental intervention.”

The USF Hope House partners with Fairwinds Treatment Center, an inpatient treatment program in Clearwater, FL, that specializes in eating disorders.

Since it was launched with a grant by the Davis Foundation in 2007, Hope House has helped hundreds of affected individuals and their families begin their journey to recovery. “Without the support of the Hope House family and friends program, I am not sure what I would have done or who I would have turned to,” said Patti Stevens, whose sister suffers from anorexia.

The Hope House is located at 2304 Cleveland St. W, Tampa, FL 33609.

- USF Health -
USF Health (www.health.usf.edu) is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.4 million in research grants and contracts last year, the University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community-engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The physician assistant at Moffitt is a domestic violence survivor from her first marriage. She feared her ex-husband and hid the verbal and physical abuse from her family. She believed speaking up would disappoint them and make the violence worse. “You don’t talk to people about it because you are ashamed,” Pate said. “You reach a point when you are being abused that you think that it is what you deserve.”

Now, Pate wants to turn her experience into something positive to help survivors find support. Her desire for change led her to join the Domestic Violence Task Force at Moffitt Cancer Center.

This new group is dedicated to spreading domestic violence awareness to the community. The Task Force will host the free program “Domestic Violence: Through The Eyes of the Responder” from 5 to 7 p.m. March 4 in the Ferman Family Conference Room at the Vincent A. Stabile Research Building, 12902 Magnolia Drive.

This presentation will provide medical staff with the knowledge they need to help a patient or loved one in a domestic violence situation. The program will examine the roles of law enforcement, the functions of victim advocates, and the local services and shelters available in Hillsborough County.

Guest speakers include:

Charles Nelson, regional director of the Guardian ad Litem 13th Judicial Circuit
Nanci Newton, director of the University of South Florida Victim’s Advocacy Program
Joanne Olvera Lighter, president and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay
Detective Dale Osada, Tampa Police Department

This presentation is open to the public. The program fulfills the requirement for Nursing Licensure in Florida. Each participant will be awarded two contact hours under Florida provider number FBN-3184. No partial credit will be given.

The Greater Tampa Chapter of Oncology Nursing Society will sponsor a drive for The Spring of Tampa Bay organization during the event. Clothing, food and toiletry donations will be accepted.

Pizza and light refreshments will be served. R.S.V.P. to Brenda Howard at Brenda.Howard@Moffitt.org or (813) 745-5771.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Academy program of Youthful Aging Home Health Care, Sarasota.

Dr. Karen Miller, PhD, is Director of the Neuropsychology Externship Training Program

at the University of California-Los Angeles, where she trains graduate students. Her clinical and

research career has focused on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive

impairment, and memory enhancement for age-related memory decline.

She is the author of the recently-published “The Estrogen-Depression-Connection.”

Brain Academy at Youthful Aging aims to delay the slowing of brain power through

specially-targeted games. The organization reports positive results from competitive

game-playing by older people who otherwise are threatened by deteriorating thinking power.

Youthful Aging is the boutique service which helps seniors do things they don’t think

they can do, without harm or hurt. The company is headquartered at 7220 Beneva Rd, Sarasota

FL 34238. nkobritz@youthfulaging.net. Telephone 941/685-9532.

Passport Health of Sarasota is part of the largest network of travel medicine advisors and vaccine providers in the nation. The Sarasota location is the newest Passport Health office in the U.S. and is one of 172 locations in 36 states. Passport Health has been recognized by the Center for Disease Control, the Department of Defense, the White House, plus local and foreign governments for superior performance.

Passport Health of Sarasota specializes in providing travel health consultations, vaccinations and travel products to international travelers for business, leisure, religious, educational and charitable purposes. The business provides clients with critical information to help them prepare for their trip and stay healthy while outside the U.S.

Health Travel Consultations: During a one-hour health travel consultation, each traveler receives a personalized country specific booklet which is called an “itinerary”. The client can receive counseling and all immunizations and medications in one visit since all vaccines are routinely in stock.

Travel related products like portable water purifiers, country specific malaria prophylaxis, and anti-diarrhea kits are available as are vaccines that may be required and/or recommended such as Hepatitis A and B, Flu, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Yellow Fever, pre-exposure Rabies and Tetanus.

General Wellness Vaccines: In addition to travel medicine consulting, Passport Health of Sarasota provides the community with a comprehensive range of vaccines that are not necessarily related to travel, including general wellness (lifestyle) vaccines such as Gardasil (human papilloma virus or HPV), Zostavax (shingles vaccine), and Adacel (includes pertussis for prevention of whooping cough).

Physicians increasingly outsource patient immunizations to the local health department and Passport Health of Sarasota provides an alternative for these patients. Local health departments do an admirable job of dealing with the health needs of the public, including vaccinations. However, busy professionals and families as well as older members of the community often prefer a premium-level, more attentive and more convenient experience when the choice is available and the cost difference is minimal.

An additional advantage over local health department is that Passport Health of Sarasota educates its clients about administered vaccinations, allowing its clients to make informed choices and select vaccines that do not contain controversial ingredients, such as thimerosal, a mercury-containing organic compound.

On-site Corporate Flu Vaccination Clinics: In the coming year, Passport Health of Sarasota will use its supplier relationships to amass a large inventory of flu vaccine for the next flu season. It will work with employers throughout the region to provide on-site flu vaccination clinics for their employees. Passport Health staff members will be contacting manufacturers, schools, professional offices, and other large businesses to schedule flu vaccination clinics for the fall.

Immigration Medical Exams: Passport Health of Sarasota is proud to announce that its Medical Director has been designated as a Civil Surgeon by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It will be one of a few places in the Sarasota area and the only Passport Health office in the nation where immigration physicals may be obtained for immigrants completing the process of becoming permanent residents (“green cards”). This service is available to all qualifying immigrants and not just clients of Jaensch Immigration Law Firm.

Passport Health of Sarasota is open to the public by appointment with a centrally located office on Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota and offers a pleasant, well-care environment with little waiting, ample parking, knowledgeable staff, and ready access to vaccines that can often be hard to find. The Sarasota office will serve Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee counties in Florida. It is under the direction of Arthur J. Hodge, M.D., Medical Director and Gail “Dee Dee” Eldridge, R.N., Executive Director/Nurse Manager.

Passport Health of Sarasota is a joint venture of P. Christopher Jaensch, Managing Partner of Jaensch Immigration Law Firm, and Dr. Kamal Mekhael. Mr. Jaensch grew up in Sarasota and earned B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Florida. He has practiced immigration law in Sarasota for over 14 years. Dr. Mekhael is a Financial Planner and chartered broker from Canada. He currently serves as president of his own financial services firm. Prior to his business career, Dr. Mekhael obtained his Ph.D. in pharmacy from the Bio-pharmaceutical Centre in Geneva University, Switzerland followed by Post Doctoral work and teaching experience at both McGill University and Concordia University.

About Jaensch Immigration Law Firm: The law firm was established in Sarasota in 1984 and provides a wide range of immigration legal services to families, students, investors, entrepreneurs, professional and skilled workers, health care workers, athletes, coaches, aliens with extraordinary and exceptional credentials and more. Its website is www.VisaAmerica.com. Its blog of local immigration news is: www.ImmigrationSarasota.com

About Passport Health of Sarasota: Passport Health of Sarasota is located at 2195 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota. Its website is www.PassportHealthSarasota.com. For more information contact Executive Director/Nurse Manager, Dee Dee Eldridge, at 941-362-0304 or send email to DeeDee@PassportHealthSarasota.com

“Moffitt Cancer Center is very, very special to me,” Shula said. “My breast cancer foundation has donated a lot to Moffitt because we knew they would do the best with the money. What Moffitt is doing with cancer research is unbelievable. That’s why I’m proud to be a part of it…and honored to receive this award. Hopefully someday we’ll find a cure for cancer.”

The event was hosted by Moffitt Board of Advisors’ Chair Sam Donaldson, an ABC News veteran, who got the crowd roaring early in the evening with his high-energy delivery. Donaldson said Shula’s accomplishments as a leader were immeasurable.

“His dedication on and off the field has been an inspiration to many and has sparked Moffitt Cancer Center to bring together his family, friends and cancer warriors to say ‘thank you,’ ” he said.

Donaldson was joined by event co-chairs Bob Griese, the quarterback of that “perfect” 1972 Dolphins team, and his wife, Shay.

“Don has been a great mentor and a wonderful friend,” said Bob Griese, also a member of Moffitt’s Board of Advisors. “He has worked hard to find a cure for cancer through the Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer research, and many lives have been made better for it. We consider it an honor to present this award to him.”

Crist surprised guests when he entered the room with his wife, Carole. The governor congratulated Shula for his outstanding leadership.

“It’s a great event tonight for Don and Mary Anne Shula,” Crist said. “It’s important that we all pull together to fight this dreaded disease and eradicate if from the world, and Moffitt is the way to do it.”

Other notable guests were: Florida former Gov. Bob Graham; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; Senator Connie Mack; Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deacon Jones; and Bruce Allen, general manager of the Washington Redskins.

Guests bid competitively for items in the silent auction. Auctioneers were Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski, all of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” who stirred the crowd with opportunities to win a Westin Beach Resort Escape, courtesy of The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale; two Ladies Tiffany Grand ® watches, courtesy of an anonymous donor; a 10-11 day European Cruise, courtesy of Celebrity Cruises; golf and cocktails with Bob Griese at Jupiter Hills Golf Course, courtesy of Bob and Shay Griese; and a round of golf with Coach Shula at Indian Creek Golf Club in Miami followed by dinner at his home and two tickets to the Shula’s skybox for the Dolphin game of the top bidder’s choice.

The host committee included Bruce and Kiersten Allen; Ed and Marsha Droste; Jon and Cindy Gruden; Dave “Lags” Lageschulte; H. Lee and Dianne Moffitt; Les and Pam Muma; Kristi Quarles; Dale “Champ” Regnier; Robert and Peggy Rothman; and Patrick and Sharon Sobers.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

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This is an enormous feat, as it requires extensive research and time to apply. Kim Sachse, Take Care’s Insurance Specialist, facilitated the application and approval process. For clients, this means Take Care may now provide out-of-network care and services to clients who hold BCBSFL policies.

According to the Emergency Nurses Association, Oak Hill Hospital’s Emergency Department was the first Emergency Department in this region to achieve 100% Board Certification for its emergency nursing staff.
Bob Foster, RN, MSN (Master of Science in Nursing degree), MHA (Masters in Healthcare Administration degree), announced that 22 staff members are certified.

They are: James Aemisegger, Candace Aubertin, Elizabeth Beaulieu, Claire Bell, James Eger, Lindsay Gibson, Larry Jackson, Lisa Kramer, Carolyn Larosa, Kim Loucks, Lisa Mathews, Barbara Meister, Michelle Melichar, Eric Melton, Christina Montgomery, Dee Null, Sherry Pope, Zoriana Rodgers, Sharon Stevens, Tracy Swetokos, Bonnie Thompson, Michael Ward

According to Jacqueline C. Stocking, Board Certified Emergency Nurses’ Board Member, in the September 2009 edition of Emergency Nurses Association’ ENA Connections magazine, Certification, as defined by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), is “the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to provide optimum health outcomes.” ABNS believes specialty certification is the standard by which the public recognizes quality nursing care.

About Oak Hill Hospital:
Oak Hill Hospital has been serving the Nature Coast since 1984. It is the largest medical facility in Hernando and Citrus County (214 acute care beds), is the area’s second largest private employer, and offers Hernando County’s only comprehensive heart program including open heart surgery.
Approximately 300 physicians, 1,000 associates, and 360 volunteers comprise Oak Hill Hospital’s healthcare delivery team.
Oak Hill has achieved distinction as the:
· First Chest Pain Center in Hernando and Citrus County accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
· First primary stroke center to be fully accredited by the Joint Commission in Citrus and Hernando County.
· First comprehensive Women’s Imaging Center in Hernando County and the first imaging center offering digital mammography with computer aided detection.
· First hospital in the area to be recognized as an accredited cancer institute by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

It is located at 11375 Cortez Boulevard, Spring Hill, 1.9 miles east of US 19 on State Road 50. For more information about this release, please contact Richard W. Linkul, Director of Marketing, at 352-597-6383 or Richard.Linkul@hcahealthcare.com. In Citrus call 352-628-6441.

For more information about Oak Hill Hospital, visit our website at www.OakHillHospital.com.

From spilled coffee and soda to blood and other bodily fluids, the fabric is treated so that liquid literally beads up and falls off of the clothing. In addition, the treated fabric rapidly kills infectious microbes that it comes into contact with. Vestex garments also have a built in cooling mechanism as the clothing wicks away moisture, such as sweat, from the skin keeping medical professionals cool even in the most heated situations.

The Vestex line of clothing is manufactured by Vestagen Technical Textiles out of Orlando. However, the fabric is treated, cut and sewn in Haiti.

Haiti Tie In

The timing couldn’t have been better for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Vestagen Technical Textiles to join forces as one of the hospital’s Registered Nurses, Wilma Schmidt, is preparing for a trip to Haiti.

This week, representatives from Vestagen visited the Ranch to show employees what this new line of clothing is capable of. Schmidt stopped by to watch the demonstration and began discussing her upcoming trip with the Vestagen representative. Vestagen offered to provide scrubs to Schmidt along with seven others from her church group free of charge.

This won’t be Schmidt’s first trip to Haiti as her group has helped build four churches and clinics in the poverty stricken country. She says the heat can be unbearable and is anxious to wear Vestex clothing while working in Haiti. Schmidt said, “It’s going to make working in those conditions more bearable since we won’t be soaking wet with sweat all day long.” Schmidt says she is expecting the worse in Haiti, but praying for the best.

Please contact Jennifer Bryan in Marketing for more information on the Vestex clothing now in use at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center or if you would like to interview Wilma Schmidt regarding her upcoming trip.

The St. Petersburg Recreation Therapy Conference, hosted by the city’s Therapeutic Recreation Division and Bayfront Medical Center’s recreation therapy program, takes place at the Sheen Conference Center at Bayfront Medical Center, 701 Sixth St. S., January 29, 30 and 31.

Recreation therapy improves the functional skills and overall quality of life for people with illness, injury or other disabilities. A wide variety of sessions include such topics as equine therapy, new innovations in assistive technology, adaptive kayaking and building community/hospital partnerships to develop paralympic sports training programs.

Event organizer Cory Kapes said, “At first we expected about 35 to attend, but with a great program and great weather in beautiful St. Petersburg, many more are making the trip. We are at full capacity.”

Note for media: Best photo opportunity time is on Friday, January 29 at 12:30 p.m. for the general session when Mayor Foster and officials from Bayfront Medical Center welcome guests.

In September, the city of St. Petersburg was recognized nationally with the 2009 National Institute on Recreation Inclusion Organizational Excellence Award for its programs to provide services and opportunities to children, youth and adults with differing abilities.

For a full program schedule, contact 727-893-7918 or visit www.stpete.org/recreation/docs/St_Petersburg__Conference.pdf. For more information about recreation therapy see www.nctrc.org.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the GWTG–Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award addresses the important element of time,” said Bari Berger, RN BSN, Stroke Program Coordinator at Edward White Hospital. The hospital has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. This includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate. “As the first Primary Stroke Care Center in Pinellas County, it is an honor for Edward White Hospital to receive this award, said Carol Pappas, MD, Medical Director of the Edward White Hospital Stroke Program. “The team has worked diligently to meet the requirements, and I am very pleased.”

To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award, Edward White Hospital consistently complied for at least one year with the requirements in the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs, and smoking cessation. This twelve-month evaluation period is the second in an ongoing self-evaluation by the hospital to continually reach the 85 percent compliance level needed to sustain this award.

“The American Stroke Association commends Edward White Hospital for its success in implementing standards of care and protocols,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., Vice-Chair of the national Get With the Guidelines Steering Committee and Vice-Chair of the Neurology department and director of acute stroke services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”

Get With The Guidelines–Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the GWTG Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke — 610,000 are first attacks and 185,000 are recurrent. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States is suffering from a stroke. This deadly condition accounts for 1 out of every 18 deaths in the United States.

Edward White Hospital is a 167-bed community hospital dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the St. Petersburg area for more than 30 years. For more information about Edward White Hospital, visit: www.EdwardWhiteHospital.com

The All Children’s Health System Board of Directors oversees the Hospital, Foundation, Research Institute and other All Children’s holdings. Officers for 2010 are:
· Claudia Sokolowski, Chairwoman. Ms. Sokolowski is the Vice-President of Corporate Affairs for Great Bay Distributors. (Largo)
· Jack W. Kirkland Jr., Vice-Chair. Mr. Kirkland is a CPA with Kirkland, Russ, Murphy & Tapp, P.A. (Clearwater)
· Louie N. Adcock Jr., Secretary. Mr. Adcock is President of Fisher & Sauls, P.A. (St. Petersburg)
· J. Mark Stroud, Treasurer. Mr. Stroud is President-Florida Marcus Partners. (St. Petersburg)

The All Children’s Hospital Board oversees administration of the hospital. Officers for 2010 are:
· Joseph W. Fleece III, Chairman. Mr. Fleece is an attorney with Baskin Fleece. (Clearwater)
· J. Kenneth Coppedge, Vice-Chair. Mr. Coppedge is Regional Vice President of Branch Banking & Trust Company. (St. Petersburg)
· Edward C. Kuehnle, Secretary. Mr. Kuehnle is President of Catalina Marketing Services. (St. Petersburg)
· Mark Lettelleir, Treasurer. Mr. Lettelleir is President/CEO of Modern Business Associates. (St. Petersburg)

Five new members have been added to the Hospital Board:

· Michael Barody – Executive Director, Regal Palms
· Hamden H. Baskin, III – Attorney, Baskin Fleece
· Vincent Dolan – President & CEO, Progress Energy
· Nancy Cross Hamilton -Retired Nursing Instructor
· Ray Smith – President, Smith Fence

The All Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees oversees fundraising efforts. Four new members have been added to this board:
· Martha Little – Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
· Tom Mahaffey – The Mahaffey Company
· W. Paul Resop, II– President, Resop, Inc.
· Barbara Sansone – Community Volunteer

Ex-officio members of the Foundation Board include the Chairs of the All Children’s Hospital Guild and the All Children’s Hospital Development Council. In 2010, a new ex-officio member was named:
· Jeff J. Rogo, President, All Children’s Development Council

All Children’s Hospital Foundation Board officers for the coming year are:
· Timothy R. Barber, Chairman. Mr. Barber is President/CEO of Altorr Technologies. (St. Petersburg)
· Stephanie Goforth, Vice-Chair. Ms. Goforth is Senior Vice President, Wealth Strategists Manager of Northern Trust. (St. Petersburg)
· Darlene Grayson, Secretary. Ms. Grayson is a Family Wealth Advisor with GenSpring Family Offices. (St. Petersburg).
· Martha Little, Treasurer. Ms. Little is Executive Director of Morgan Stanley. (Tampa)

Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting more than 2.3 million Americans. Dr. Rattehalli and Dr. Goyal will be discussing minimally invasive options now available.

This presentation is sponsored by The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point and will take place at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Conference Center, 14000 Fivay Road, in Hudson.

This event is free to the public. Refreshments will be served. Due to limited seating, reservations are required, and can be made by calling (727) 869-5498 or 1-888-741-5119.¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is a 290-bed acute care facility located in Hudson, FL. Home of the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute, over 350 physicians, 900 employees and 500 volunteers comprise their integrated healthcare delivery team. Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been designated a 100 Top Hospital seven years by Thomson Reuters and has been named twice (1999 & 2002) by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery. It has an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center and an Approved, With Commendation, Community Cancer Program, from the College of Surgeons.
www.heartoftampa.com

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Located in Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University has more than 26,000 students. It is the largest independent institution of higher education in the southeast and it is the 6th largest independent institution nationally. Its College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathic Association and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

In addition to serving as the West Coast Academic Center for Nova Southeastern University, Largo Medical Center partners with 14 teaching hospitals located in Florida and Georgia through the Consortium for Excellence in Medical Education. “Largo Medical Center’s commitment to medical education ensures that its patients benefit from the latest advancement in medical knowledge while maintaining an outstanding educational program at all levels,” says Anthony Silvangni, D.O., Dean of Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Largo Medical Center medical education program enjoyed expansive growth in 2009. Under the leadership of Anthony Ottaviani, D.O., M.P.H., who serves as Chief Academic Officer and Director of Medical Education, the Largo Medical Center medical education program added two new fellowship training programs and one new residency program and increased the number of residents in training by over 30%.

Largo Medical Center’s medical education program is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to train physicians at the post graduate level in the following:
Traditional Rotating Internship
Family Practice Residency
Anesthesiology Residency
Dermatology Residency
Internal Medicine Residency
General Surgery Residency
Orthopedic Surgery Residency
Rheumatology Fellowship
Cardiology Fellowship
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Gastroenterology Fellowship
Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship
Largo Medical Center is a 456 bed facility located on two campuses. Services provided to its community include breast care at the Florida Breast Institute, knee care at the Florida Knee and Orthopedic Pavilion, spine care at the Florida Spine and Neuro Center, heart care at the Tampa Bay Heart Institute, respite care at The Retreat at Indian Rocks and emergency, inpatient rehabilitation, behavioral medicine, sleep disorders, wound care and more. Largo Medical Center is home to the largest Osteopathic medical education program in the southeastern United States.
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A complimentary lunch will be provided.

On display will be the “Faces of Lung Cancer,” a collection of photographs and personal stories from lung cancer patients, their caregivers and health care professionals. Educational materials and nutrition information will also be available.

This presentation is open to the public and anyone with an interest in the prevention and cure of brain and lung cancers is welcome to attend.

Registration will be from 11 to 11:30 a.m. R.S.V.P. by Feb. 8 to latte@moffitt.org or (813) 745-6438.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Carol Kinnard, Commercial Associate with Commercial Asset Partners Realty, announced the relocation of Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Services. “We were able to react quickly to provide a temporary location for their growing physical therapy practice.”

Select Physical Therapy is a leading provider of physical and occupational therapy services. They have a team of talented employees – both clinical and non-clinical – who have a strong reputation for clinical quality, effective outcomes, and positive service. For additional information, contact: Carol Kinnard (727) 376-4900

“This software, will allow us to communicate with each and every one of our nearly 14,000 donors and 180 blood drive sponsors. Reaching these individuals in a way they want to be contacted was never easily done in the past,” says Rhonda Peters, Director of Development and Marketing for SCBB. “We are excited about the possiblities this opens up to us to communicate, survey, assess and respond to blood donors needs and wants. In the future, we will also interface with on-line donor registration software.”

Every day, SCBB strives to maintain a three day blood supply, and to never delay a surgery due to lack of blood products. However, SCBB along with other blood centers around the US, face a shrinking pool of eligible donors while population and demand for blood continues to grow.

“We intend for this software to help us retain our donors and enhance the efficiency of blood drives,” says Scott Bush, Chief of Technical Operations for SCBB. “We hope that by the end of the first year of implementation, we will see a 27 percent increase in the number of donors who give two times or more during a year.”

Major features of the software include tracking, segmenting and targeting donors and campaigns to measure effectiveness, eliminate inefficiencies and streamline communications between SCBB and its constituents.
About SCBB For 60 years, Suncoast Communities Blood Bank (SCBB) has been saving lives by providing blood collection and transfusion services to our community. Much has changed in medicine since 1949, revolutionizing how we save lives. What remains the same is the need for human blood. There is no viable substitute for the selfless act of donating it. Now as then, we can’t operate without you.

He converted his Ultra Classic to a trike so he could keep on riding.

“After taking so much chemo, the chemo brain gets to you after a while. I didn’t want to give up riding, and here I am,” said Rosson, 59, a member of the Harley Owners Group of Brandon. He went into remission after his first round of chemo at Moffitt. More cancerous spots popped up in April, but chemo shrunk them in half. Now Rosson is about to begin a new trial drug.

Rosson is just one of many expected to ride in the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Miles for Moffitt Poker Run on Feb. 13. Dave Andreychuk will be the honorary chair, and Radical Randy and the Street Team will emcee. Party in the Kitchen will entertain. It’s $15 per rider, and $5 for additional hands. The best hand wins $500, the worst $50.

All proceeds will benefit research at Moffitt Cancer Center. Like the research Dr. Alan List is performing to develop new therapies for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

When List, executive vice president and physician-in-chief at Moffitt, isn’t in the lab or treating patients, he enjoys taking his Road King Classic for a spin. He and his wife, who rides a Softail Deluxe, are geared up for the poker run.

“We have one of the largest cancer centers in the country right here in our back yard, and I couldn’t think of a more fun event to do to support it,” List said. “For anyone who owns a motorcycle and loves to go on these poker runs, this is a fun event to benefit such a great cause — fighting cancer at Moffitt.”

Patients like Rosson couldn’t agree more. “Moffitt means my life. I’m here today because of them,” Rosson said. “I hope others in the community participate in the poker run to help more patients like me.”

The poker run begins at the Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey — with stops at Moffitt, Harley of Tampa and Clear Channel — and ends at the Harley of Brandon. Last bike out at 11 a.m., last bike in at 1 p.m. There will be a 50/50 drawing, raffle baskets and entertainment.

Sponsors include Florida Bank, Clear Channel Radio & Outdoor, Pepin Distributing, Reliable Aviation, Rebein Law Firm, de la Parte & Associates, The Catering Company, Moffitt, Bill and Karen Dalton, Alan and Kim List, and Dave R. Parker.

For more information, contact Susan Meadows at (813) 745-1346 or Susan.Meadows@moffitt.org, or visit www.MilesforMoffitt.com.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

With FDA Orphan Drug Status, Biovest has a seven-year period of market exclusivity for BiovaxID upon approval, thereby offering competitive protection from similar drugs of the same class. Orphan Drug Status also provides Biovest with eligibility to receive potential tax credit benefits, potential grant funding for research and development and significantly reduced filing fees for marketing applications. Based on statistically significant Phase III study data demonstrating an extended disease-free survival benefit, Biovest expects to file a Biologic License Application (BLA) with the FDA by approximately mid-year in order to seek U.S. approval of BiovaxID. The Company also expects to file regulatory applications seeking approvals in Europe and Canada.

In other news, Biovest announced that the Company will present at the Biotechnology Showcase to be held in San Francisco next week, running concurrent with the JP Morgan 28th Annual Healthcare Conference.

Event: Biotechnology Showcase™ 2010
Place: Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco
Biovest Presentation Day/Time: Wednesday, January 13th at 9:00 a.m. (PST)
Conference Website: www.ebdgroup.com/bts/
If qualified investors or corporate partnering candidates are interested in scheduling a meeting with Biovest in San Francisco, please contact Douglas Calder at 813-864-2558 or dwcalder@biovest.com.

According to Biovest’s President, Mr. Samuel S. Duffey, the Biotechnology Showcase kicks off the year with an opportunity to update institutional investors, bankers and analysts as the Company prepares to emerge from reorganization. “We expect to make announcements in the near future that will demonstrate that we have taken full advantage of the reorganization process in restructuring debt and contractual obligations. We anticipate emerging from reorganization in the first part of 2010 with our current shareholder base successfully preserved and with a greatly improved balance sheet, which will enable management to focus on executing our business and drug development plans,” stated, Mr. Duffey.

About Biovest International, Inc.

Biovest International, Inc. is an emerging leader in the field of personalized immunotherapies targeting life-threatening cancers of the blood system. Developed in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, BiovaxID® is a patient-specific, anti-lymphoma cancer vaccine, demonstrating statistically significant Phase III clinical benefit by prolonging disease-free survival in patients suffering from indolent follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Biovest has developed and markets a proprietary line of automated hollow fiber bioreactor systems, including the innovative AutovaxID® which is a production platform for the scalable manufacture of difficult-to-produce biologics including personalized medicines, monoclonal antibodies, cell culture vaccines and therapeutics targeting highly infectious agents. Since 1981, Biovest has been offering its clients a wide range of instrumentation and cell culture contract manufacturing services. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida with its bio-manufacturing facility based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Biovest is publicly-traded on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market with the stock-ticker symbol “BVTI”, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Other OTC: ABPIQ).

For further information, please visit: http://www.biovest.com

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such statements include, but are not limited to statements about BiovaxID®, AutovaxID™, events occurring after dates hereof, and any other statements relating to products, product candidates, product development programs, the FDA or clinical study process including the commencement, process, or completion of clinical trials or the regulatory process. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results of Biovest to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and the additional risks discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Biovest undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. The product names used in this statement are for identification purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Dr. Mark David Hurwitz, vice chief of the Department of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, will present, “MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery: Current Status and Future Directions.”

Hurwitz will examine the latest information on MR guided focused ultrasound surgery and the ExAblate system by InSightec. He will lead a discussion on the following topics:

· The advantages of InSightec’s noninvasive, ionized radiation-free magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) over other thermal ablative cancer therapies
· The current approved and clinical research applications of MRgFUS
· The future role of MRgFUS in multidisciplinary cancer care

A small model of the ExAblate table and a cutaway of the MRI will be in the reception area for viewing.

This presentation is open to the public, and anyone with an interest in the future of cancer care is welcome to attend. No continuing medical education will be provided for this lecture.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served in the atrium from 1 to 2 p.m. R.S.V.P. to Sheila Findley at Sheila.Findley@Moffitt.org, or call (813) 745-2286.

About InSightec
InSightec Ltd. is a privately held company owned by Elbit Imaging, General Electric, MediTech Advisors, LLC and employees. It was founded in 1999 to develop the breakthrough MR guided Focused Ultrasound technology and transform it into the next generation operating room. Headquartered near Haifa, Israel, the company has over 160 employees and has invested more than $150 million in research, development, and clinical investigations. Its U.S. headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please go to: http://www.insightec.com/.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

“I am honored to serve as the vice president of the Moffitt Foundation,” Stern said. “Philanthropic support is vital to accelerating and expanding the world-class patient care, research and education that Moffitt is known for. Those who invest in Moffitt are valued partners in supporting our mission — to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. I look forward to working closely with them to ensure our goals are achieved and our patients’ quality of life is enhanced.”

Stern will direct and manage an ongoing strategic plan for the Foundation and build consensus for fundraising goals among internal and external constituencies.

“We are fully confident Susan is the leader that will take our fundraising efforts and the Foundation team to the next level, regionally and nationally,” said William S. Dalton, Ph.D., M.D., center director and CEO of Moffitt. “Her knowledge of the issues and overall expertise make her the ideal choice.”

Prior to joining Moffitt, Stern had a long history in fundraising and philanthropic efforts. She has held fundraising and development positions with the American Red Cross, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.

Stern graduated with a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Florida, with a minor in political science. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Athena Society and National Healthcare Advisory Board for Philanthropy. Stern is on the board of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers and St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, and she is a sustaining member of The Junior League of Tampa.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Weiner comes to Universal from Strategic Health Consulting, working with high-tech start-ups, insurance plans and healthcare providers. Previous positions include VP of Medicare Finance at Amerigroup, VP of Consulting and Client Service for DataLoom Solutions and Northwest Regional Finance Manager with PacifiCare Health Systems. Weiner received his MBA in Finance & Entrepreneur Studies from Seattle University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Business Finance from Central Washington University. He currently sits on the Board of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Martin joined Universal from Wellcare Health Plans in Tampa where he was Project Manager Special Needs Plans. His prior experience includes stints as a Senior Project Manager at MetLife Insurance and a Sr. Planning Analyst at Fidelis Care in New York City. Martin is also an Adjunct Professor at Monroe College in the Bronx, NY teaching Project Management and Management Information Systems (MIS) in both the undergraduate and graduate schools. A graduate of the College of Aeronautics in Queens, NY, Martin received his MBA from the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, NY.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 100,000 individuals located in eleven states (Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah). For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

A brand new All Children’s Hospital opens the very same day just two blocks away for thousands of west Florida youngsters who count on us for specialized care. The same skilled staff who’ve established All Children’s reputation for high-tech/high-touch care will immediately begin work in a new, more spacious and efficient setting.

The ten-story, state-of-the-art pediatric specialty hospital is the central focus of All Children’s $403-million construction project. Other elements include a seven-story Outpatient Care Center, a 700-space Visitor Parking Garage and a Central Energy Plant designed to keep the hospital fully functional (with air conditioning) for up to three weeks in the event of a disaster or power interruption. Altogether, they comprise one of the largest commercial construction projects in Florida.

When ground was broken on the replacement hospital in May of 2005, All Children’s Health System President & CEO Gary Carnes remarked, “I would hope that through the advances that physicians and others are making in medicine, that this would be the last hospital as we know it that is ever built for children.”

“Moving Day” is planned for Saturday, Jan. 9, starting bright and early at approximately 6 AM. All Children’s care teams will transport all hospitalized youngsters and their parents to the new facility at 501 Sixth Avenue South, St. Petersburg. The plan calls for patients to be wheeled through an underground tunnel that connects All Children’s to neighboring Bayfront Medical Center and across elevated walkways that lead to the new All Children’s Hospital.

The completed new hospital and its neighboring Outpatient Care Center will provide nearly a million square feet of space devoted to pediatric health care. Virtually all of the hospital’s 259 licensed beds will be in individual rooms. It’s a change designed to meet family needs while enabling more efficient delivery of care to hospitalized kids who are often too sick to share space with another patient.

One full floor of the hospital is shelled space that stands ready for future growth. Another floor of the new All Children’s will be a first-ever “hospital within a children’s hospital.” The hospital’s third floor has been leased to Bayfront Medical Center, which will open and operate its labor & delivery suites and a well-baby nursery under the name Bayfront Baby Place.

Other key features of the new hospital include the 97-bed All Children’s Hospital Guild Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Occupying an entire floor of the new hospital, the NICU is one of the largest in the southeastern United States. It was made possible by a $4-million gift from the Hospital’s nine Guild branches across Florida’s Suncoast.

The Walmart & Sam’s Club Emergency Center on the hospital’s first floor more than triples the size of All Children’s existing pediatric emergency center. It was made possible by a $5-million pledge from some 10,000 Walmart, Sam’s Club, Super Center and Distribution Center associates at 98 locations throughout west central Florida.

The Vinny Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders Center will occupy half of the hospital’s seventh floor. Designed with a positive pressure environmental system, the center will allow patients whose immune systems are compromised by disease, treatment or transplant to avoid isolation in their rooms. A dedicated playroom for these patients – one of four in the hospital overall – is located within the Center. The Cancer & Blood Disorders Center is possible through a $3-million pledge from the Tampa Bay Lightning’s star and team captain Vinny Lecavalier.

Another unique feature of the new hospital is its rooftop helistop for med-evac helicopters transporting critically ill children. Unlike other hospital helipads, All Children’s was designed to accommodate the weight and rotor span of most military helicraft. This can be a vital difference in a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, which saw some hospitals wheeling patients to adjacent parking garages where military choppers capable of carrying multiple patients could safely land to evacuate them.

Prior to surgery, Hatfield says his pain was “unbearable,” but just four months later; he’s back on the water fishing for snook, reds and trout and has no problems walking, driving or doing day-to-day activities.

The human body is designed with limited space for surgeons to access the ankle. This new surgical procedure enables physicians to insert the ankle prosthesis and build a stabilizing stem piece-by-piece. They then attach the pieces inside the tibia, which is the lower leg bone. This process enabled Dr. Rell to “build” a rod inside Hatfield’s ankle which is four times longer than an ordinary ankle implant. The added length provides improved stability and lessens the chance of future complications.

Dr. Rell says the new total ankle replacement procedure may be ideal for many patients who are considering a fusion. He adds, “Although a fusion is effective in alleviating ankle pain in an arthritic patient, the downside is once you fuse the joint, there is an increase in stress transferred to the adjacent joints in the foot and knee.” In addition, a fusion will permanently eliminate any motion in the ankle and requires a patient stay off the foot for 10 – 12 weeks. With the new ankle replacement procedure, range of motion is restored and patients are able to begin bearing weight on the foot six weeks after surgery.

If you ask Hatfield, he says there’s “no comparison” and highly recommends the Inbone Total Ankle to others who are dealing with severe pain.

For more information on Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s Surgical Services, call 941-782-2295. If you’d like to schedule an interview with the doctor and/or patient mentioned in this press release, please contact Jennifer Bryan at the contact information listed below. To view an informational video on the Inbone Total Ankle, visit http://www.inbone.com/SurgeonTotalAnkle.aspx.

Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting more than 2.3 million Americans. Dr. Rattehalli and Dr. Jimenez will be discussing minimally invasive options now available.

This presentation is sponsored by The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point and will take place at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Conference Center, 14000 Fivay Road, in Hudson, on Tuesday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m.

This event is free to the public. Refreshments will be served. Due to limited seating, reservations are required, and can be made by calling (727) 869-5498 or 1-888-741-5119.———————————-

today announced the successful installation of their EvoLucia™-brand LED lighting fixtures at

Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota.

Sarasota Memorial, the second-largest public hospital in Florida, replaced 250-watt metal

halide cobra head lights in its parking lot with 75-watt EvoLucia™-brand LED cobra head

lights, reducing electricity use by 67 percent. The hospital also recently installed 24-watt

EvoLucia UTL-1 utility spotlights on the grounds to improve visibility at night. The spotlights

replaced 250-watt metal halide light sources as well, resulting in approximately 90 percent

reduction in energy use for those applications.

The new EvoLucia LED lights are completely maintenance-free, requiring no lamp

replacements for more than 12 years of nighttime use, dramatically reducing the high constant

expense of replacing lamps and ballasts in older technologies.

“The new LED lamps are more cost-efficient, but more than that, they will improve the

security of our campus by providing longer-lasting coverage and cleaner, whiter lighting for

improved visibility at night,” said Sarasota Memorial Public Safety Director Mickey Watson.

“Our older lights required considerably more maintenance and subsequent costs for replacement

parts.”

Many cities, campuses and corporations throughout the country are actively retrofitting

high-watt, high-intensity discharge (“HID”), incandescent and even fluorescent lights with LEDs.

Sunovia recently announced the installation of EvoLucia LED cobra head lights at Marine Corps

base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. and throughout the town of Fairview, TX.

“The cost and energy-saving benefits of LED lighting are undeniable,” said Sunovia

Director of Sales and Marketing Ed Kramer. “LED lighting is no longer the ‘future’ of lighting;

the technology is here now, and Sunovia is advancing it every day to deliver products that are

unmatched in performance, quality and durability.”

Further information about the Sarasota Memorial Hospital lighting retrofit, and about

Sunovia’s EvoLucia-brand LED indoor and outdoor lighting products, may be obtained by

contacting the company directly at: Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc., 6408 Parkland Drive,

Suite 104, Sarasota, FL 34243. Telephone: (941) 751-6800. Fax: (941) 751-3583. E-mail:

sales@sunoviaenergy.com. Visit Sunovia on the World Wide Web at: www.sunoviaenergy.com

and www.evolucialighting.com.

##

About Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.

Sunovia Energy Technologies is a Sarasota, FL-based company that commercializes and markets products within the LED lighting and solar markets that reduce carbon emissions, promote national security and preserve the environment. Sunovia owns the exclusive marketing rights to products produced by EPIR Technologies, Inc., including infrared sensors and devices for the civilian and military night vision markets.

Sunovia’s LED lighting technologies are among the most cost and energy-efficient in the world, and are marketed under the brand name EvoLucia(TM) (www.evolucialighting.com).

Sunovia owns a significant equity interest in Illinois-based EPIR Technologies, Inc., the pioneer of single crystal II-VI solar modules and a global leader in the field of IR sensors and IR imaging. EPIR’s collective infrared knowledge and experience is believed to exceed that of any company in the world. Its founder, Chairman and CEO Dr. Sivalingam Sivananthan, is a recognized world leader in HgCdTe growth.

EPIR holds the patent for growing CdTe directly on a Si readout integrated circuit, for which the company developed a manufacturing capability with Congressional support. Sunovia and EPIR co-own the solar technologies and solar products that are developed under the Exclusive Partnership Agreement. The Partners have a network of close collaborative relationships, including the Army Research Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate, BAE Systems, and other laboratories around the world.

More information about the exclusive partnership between Sunovia and EPIR is available in Sunovia’s Securities and Exchange filings at www.sec.gov, or at the partners’ Web sites, www.sunoviaenergy.com and www.epir.com.

The Sunovia(TM) logo is a registered service mark of Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Sunovia Energy products and services and EvoLucia(TM) products and services are provided by Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements made by Sunovia in this press release are forward-looking in nature. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Sunovia believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: development and maintenance of strategic acquisitions; domestic and international acceptance of our product lines; defending our intellectual property and proprietary rights; development of new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; successfully completing commercial testing of new technologies and systems to support new products and services; and attracting and retaining qualified management and other personnel. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Sunovia’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.
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The awards, beginning Jan. 1, 2010, are from the state’s James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program. The USF recipients were among 35 Florida scientists competitively selected from among 66 grant proposals.

The principal investigators and their projects are:

· Eric Bennett, PhD, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
“Regulated and Aberrant Glycosylation Modulate Cardiac Excitability,” $713,117, two-year James and Esther King grant. Dr. Bennett will investigate processes involved in regulating the heart’s electrical system that could lead to new therapies for diseases such as congenital disorders of glycosylation, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure.

· Benjamin Djulbegovic, ScD, MD, Department of Internal Medicine
“When Are Clinical Trials Ethical for Both Future and Study Patients?” $595,410, two-year Bankhead-Coley grant. Ethicists and physicians often disagree whether clinical trials benefit the volunteers currently enrolled in the trial as well future patients (society). Dr. Djulbegovic will search for the common ground by identifying those situations where clinical trial participation serves both trial and future patients equally well.

· Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Allergy and Immunology) and USF Nanomedicine Research Center

- “4-D Live Cell Imaging System,” $499,994, one-year James and Esther King shared
instrument grant. With this new computerized imaging system, combining a
sophisticated microscope and ultrasensitive camera, scientists can look inside cells and
better identify which proteins and enzymes are produced. The shared instrument will
allow several College of Medicine laboratories to advance their drug development
research more rapidly. The project’s three co-investigators are Robert Deschenes,
PhD, Department of Molecular Medicine; Bruce Lindsey, PhD, Department of
Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology; and Santo Nicosia, Department of Pathology
and Cell Biology.

- “Targeted Gene Therapy by SNAP Delivery Method for Treatment of Lung Cancer,” $710,792, two-year Bankhead-Coley grant. Dr. Mohapatra is investigating a new treatment for lung cancer that uses nanoparticle-mediated gene therapy delivered by a cell-based delivery system to treat metastatic lung cancers. The exceedingly small particles may double as powerful diagnosis and treatment vehicles – by carrying emitting agents that enhance MRI imaging and more accurately detect and track disease, as well as therapeutic genes to destroy the cancer once it is targeted. Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, is a co-principal investigator.

· Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, Department of Molecular Medicine
“Nanohole Sensor-Based Detection Technology for Cutaneous Metastatic Melanoma,” $621,696, two-year Bankhead-Coley Program grant. Using metastatic melanoma as a model, Dr. Mohapatra will develop an ultrasensitive sensor that could identify a highly specific combination of biomarkers for earlier detection of cancers. The study will evaluate technology that detects the presence and concentration of pathogens or disease antigens in the blood and lymph by monitoring how a polarized laser beam interacts with a gold-coated surface perforated with evenly-spaced nanoholes. The technology integrates a tiny chamber, which allows fluid containing the sample to flow over the gold surface and has the potential to detect multiple protein-protein interactions simultaneously. Dr. Mohapatra will collaborate with Dale Larson of Draper Laboratory (Boston and Tampa) and scientists from the Draper Bioengineering Center at USF.

More than $19.5 million in new Biomedical Research Grants were awarded by the state. The larger than usual number of awards was made possible by the Florida Legislature’s recent decision to dedicate up to $50 million of the state tobacco user fee increase to the James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program in 2009-10.

For the full list of funded grants, visit http://www.floridabiomed.com/news/newsdetail120409.html

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.3 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

Studies show that immediately placing a baby on the mother’s bare chest after delivery promotes breast feeding, stabilizes the baby’s blood sugar and stabilizes the baby’s blood temperature (the mother’s chest actually rises right after delivery providing the baby with added warmth!).

The skin-to-skin program has been underway at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center for the past six months for vaginal deliveries; now our nurses are putting the program in place for cesarean section mothers too. However, if a mother is unable to hold the baby following a cesarean section delivery, the father may step in and have the newborn baby placed on his chest.

This practice is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

LWRMC Perinatal Education/Lactation Services Coordinator, Leslie Theiler said, “Many have lost sight of just how important touch is for a newborn baby. While it’s no doubt thrilling for a mom to hold her baby for the first time, it’s just amazing to know how much of an affect the mother is having on her baby the moment the little one is placed in her arms.”

Interested media outlets are encouraged to contact Jennifer Bryan in Marketing at the information listed below for interview scheduling. For information on the Women’s Center at Lakewood Ranch, please call 941-782-2222.

Short treatment duration (thirty minutes or less), limited downtime and a lower price tag combine to make AccuLift a convenient, less invasive alternative to the traditional facelift. Dr. Holcomb is credited with being a co-developer of this new procedure, along with Lutronic, Inc. Lutronic is a leading developer and manufacturer of medical laser systems for dermatological and aesthetic surgery applications. Dr. Holcomb was selected by Lutronic to assist with development, testing and refinement of this breakthrough technology.

AccuLift’s NYC launch attracted representatives from major beauty and lifestyle publications, including Allure, Better Homes and Gardens, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Town and Country, Real Simple, Self, and Woman’s Day.

Dr. Holcomb states that AccuLift is changing the way that injectable fillers are used in many patients and may also reduce the need for repeat filler injections. “AccuLift is a rare defining step forward for aesthetic facial contouring and rejuvenation,” explains Dr. Holcomb. “With facial contour improvements that cannot be obtained with filler injections or even surgery, AccuLift has quickly reshaped the way that I envision and practice facial aesthetics,” he stated.

In addition to the many aesthetic benefits of AccuLift, today’s economy is also a factor for those considering this new procedure. AccuLift is significantly less expensive than traditional procedures, requires only local anesthetic, and has very little down time – allowing patients to almost immediately return to work with a great, toned look. And unlike most injectables, AccuLift does not need to be repeated time and time again.

Due to a need for a formal education program to train other surgeons, Dr. Holcomb founded the Institute for Integrated Aesthetics, a training and educational facility devoted to teaching Accu-Lift procedures to other facial plastic surgeons. Dr. Holcomb has already instructed surgeons and dermatologists from destinations across the globe, including Italy, Korea, Puerto Rico, Alabama, California, Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, etc.

Dr. Holcomb is a double board certified (American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Board of Otolaryngology), fellowship-trained (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) facial plastic and cosmetic laser surgeon.

He is immediate past president of the Florida Society of Facial Plastic Surgeons as well as the Sarasota County Medical Society. He also serves on the boards of Lutronic Corporation, Physicians Indemnity Risk Retention Group and The Aesthetic Practice Association. He has presented at plastic surgery conferences here and in Asia, Canada, Europe and South America. Dr. Holcomb is also distinguished for creating the Aesthetic Light & Laser Center, located in Sarasota, one of the most comprehensive in Florida.

Founded in 2000, Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Light & Laser and Aesthetic Skin Care Centers are located on the 8th floor of the Kane Plaza at 1 South School Avenue, Sarasota. The Institute for Integrated Aesthetics was founded in 2009 and is located at the same address. To learn more about Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery or the Institute, please call 941-365-8679 or visit SRQFPS.com.

For more information about Dr. J. David Holcomb, or to arrange an interview, contact Tricia Lewis at 941-351-0024 or email tlewis@grapeinc.com. Grapevine Communications is an award-winning advertising, marketing, and public relations firm based in Sarasota and serving clients nationwide.
###

Fawcett, Gochnour, and Guldager are three of 17 professionals to be awarded this new certification and were assessed through demonstrated education, industry experience, and a rigorous examination. The credential offers the first competency-based international certification for pharmaceutical professionals. It represents a global standard and covers a range of competencies from drug product development through manufacturing.

The CPIP certification can unlock greater career opportunities and provide a career development pathway for pharmaceutical professionals. It also provides industry-wide recognition of accumulated experience, while giving employers and suppliers a competitive advantage by ensuring that their professionals have diverse knowledge and skills that are certified to a global competency standard.

Niels Guldager has been an ISPE Member since 2000. He has 15 years of experience with biotech and pharmaceutical processes, including both operational experience as production engineer in large-scale biopharmaceutical production for both upstream and downstream process steps, and project experience as front-end study leader, process lead, and process engineer. His project focus is process and technology in front-end activities such as feasibility studies, conceptual briefs and conceptual designs. Recent projects include early design and consulting roles in projects for MAb-production facilities, vaccine facilities, and multi-product facilities. Guldager is currently engaged in single-use technology community work for ISPE and PDA. He holds a MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark.

Scott Gochnour has been an ISPE Member since 1993. He has more than 20 years of experience in formulation and process development, equipment design and qualification, materials selection and evaluation, and scale-up/validation for commercial operations. He has been with Watson Pharmaceuticals for 20 years in various engineering and management positions in Research & Development and Production Operations and is currently responsible for the formulation research, development and manufacturing of clinical supplies for topical and transdermal products. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with emphasis in Biomaterials. He is also a vice chairman of the board for the Intermountain Biomedical Association.

David Fawcett has been an ISPE Member since 1996. He has more than 19 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and founded PEC A/S (Pharmaceutical Engineering Consultants) in Denmark in 1998. At PEC, he has had the opportunity to assist such companies as Biogen Idec, CMC Biologics, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, ALK Abelló, and Novo Nordisk with project management and validation services. Fawcett began his career as a project engineer with GlaxoSmithkline in England, where he was responsible for the specification, design, installation and validation of a wide range of equipment and processes such as solvation of inhalation APIs, utensil washers, isolators; special purpose assembly equipment; and sterile syringe filling machines. Fawcett holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
To learn more about the credential and to download a free CPIP eligibility application, visit www.ISPE-pcc.org.
About the ISPE-PCC
The ISPE Professional Certification Commission (PCC), an autonomous governing body within ISPE, develops certification programs to benefit credential holders and their employers, as well as government, academia, and the public health product consumer. The PCC is composed of 12 commissioners: senior-level industry professionals representing Denmark, Japan, North America, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the general public. Visit www.ISPE-pcc.org for additional certification information.
About ISPE
ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is the Society of choice for 24,000 technical professionals working in or serving the manufacturing sector or drug development in the pharmaceutical industry in 90 countries. ISPE aims to be the catalyst for “Engineering Pharmaceutical Innovation” by providing Members with opportunities to develop their technical knowledge, exchange practical experience within their community, enhance their professional skills, and collaborate with global regulatory agencies and industry leaders. Founded in 1980, ISPE offers online learning opportunities for a global audience and has its worldwide headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; its European office in Brussels, Belgium; an Asia Pacific office in Singapore; and its newest office in Shanghai, China. Visit www.ISPE.org for additional Society news and information.

Though many of the 252 USF students in the sample did not want to miss class or work because of illness and did not have issues with the time it would take to get the vaccine, many were deterred by not being worried about getting the flu and by being afraid of the side effects.

After viewing one of nine student-produced PSAs in one survey, slightly more than 68 percent of respondents indicated they were somewhat or very unlikely to receive the H1N1 vaccine, a negligible decline from the almost 71 percent who indicated they were unlikely before viewing the PSA. Some PSAs were more successful than others at increasing intention, including a slideshow of photos of people interspersed with H1N1 facts, a FreeCreditReport.com commercial parody, and a video that shows students spreading germs – in the form of red paint – as they go from one activity to another in a carefree manner.

Courtney Wilson, a student in the course, echoes the sentiments of the respondents.

“After watching some of the videos in class, it made me think twice about touching certain objects on campus or in my daily life without washing my hands after,” she said, “but unfortunately, it doesn’t make me any more likely to want to get the vaccine.”

Despite little movement in intention to receive the vaccine, students did indicate that the PSAs increased their knowledge of H1N1, with almost 60 percent indicating the PSA they watched increased their knowledge “very much” or “somewhat.”

“This study indicates that although students feel informed about H1N1, the vaccine, and how to prevent the spread of flu, they are still not convinced the vaccine is right for them when they weigh the risks against the rewards,” said Kelli Burns, assistant professor in the School of Mass Communications, whose students conducted the research. “The challenge for any communicator is to motivate people to take action, a much more difficult task than increasing their knowledge on a subject.”

The survey project was part of a broader initiative by Burns to bring more social media tools into the classroom, particularly for collecting and presenting data. Through an Innovative Teaching Grant from the Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence at USF, Burns was able to purchase the Flip cameras students used to record and edit their videos. After uploading the videos to YouTube, students were able to embed the videos in an online survey hosted by SurveyMonkey. For another assignment, students recorded interviews using their laptops and a Monitronics microphone, created podcasts and uploaded the podcasts to their blogs. This part of the project garnered the most enthusiastic response.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the social media component of this class,” said Joan Landquist, another student in the class. “The aspect of social media really helped me apply the material. I had fun using the Flip Cam, it was a fun tool. I really enjoyed the interview project as that enabled me to interview a professional, which provided me with solid evidence as to why social media was important. I admit, I was skeptical at first, but this project was a great intro to conducting research.”

Her classmate Varuni Jaipershad agreed. “Before this class I never really used social media and I thought it was more a tool for fun. Now, I think social media can be used in many situations like gathering research and communicating with people. It is important.”

The three videos referenced in this press release can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3p_Vdy0zmo; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vuv4wUpd_E; and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODLeHQZMGho.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The USF System has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
– USF –

NAIOP is recognizing Moffitt for developing the South expansion project on the south side of the center and the M2Gen expansion project on North Malcolm McKinley Drive.

The South expansion project won the Outstanding Medical Building award for its major health care contributions to the community. Dean Head, vice president of Facilities Management & Construction, led the team of Skanska USA Building and Gresham Smith and Partners.

The South expansion includes 36 specially designed bone marrow transplant beds and is designed around Moffitt’s first implementation of a decentralized nursing station concept that is broken up into four areas to reduce noise. In addition, the expansion provides 40,000 square feet of physician and faculty offices, an expansion to the clinical lab and an expansion of the existing Radiation Oncology clinic to include two state-of-the-art linear accelerators. The team constructed a 360,000-square-foot, six-level parking garage to accommodate the growing needs of patients.

During construction, Skanska, who has expertise in health care and medical research construction, created a “safety first” program to reinforce the value of safety. The group initiated a daily exercise program to prepare workers for construction. Skin cancer screenings and first aid training were also offered.

The M2Gen project won the Outstanding Special Use Building award for the growing interest in the biomedical field and for the uniqueness of the building. The project team was lead by Head and a collaborated group from Skanska and Reynolds Smith and Hills.

M2Gen, a research center partnership between Moffitt and drug maker Merck & Co., is a wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of Moffitt. The M2Gen project includes a four-story, 96,000-square-foot biotech building. This facility will serve as the home of both administrative and technical functions of M2Gen.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
###

Campus of the FSU College of Medicine are partnering to train future physicians about

dementia and the daily challenges of aging.

Three FSU medical school students have completed three-week, community medicine

rotations with Youthful Aging, and a fourth intern, third-year student Matthew Ramseyer is

completing his internship this month. The goal of the program is for each student to develop a

framework for managing the treatment of aging patients more effectively.

While most medical students are not exposed to home health care until after they’ve

gone into practice, the Youthful Aging/FSU College of Medicine partnership offers hands on

training to third-year students, who visit the homes of dementia patients and work closely with

a registered nurse on home care therapies and communications.

“The program increases sensitivity to how aging seniors manage their medications and

their home life. That all impacts on successful outcomes for physicians,” says Nicci Kobritz,

president of Youthful Aging Home Health Care. “The students also observe wellness programs

among the frail elderly population and how wellness is integrated into their care.”

The purpose of a community medicine internship is multi-fold, says Dr. Bruce Berg,

Dean of the Sarasota Regional Campus of the FSU College of Medicine. “We expose

students to a variety of healthcare agencies outside the mainstream so that when they go to

work in the community and realize there is perhaps a need, they will remember it,” Berg says.

“The students act as investigative reporters and come back and give a presentation to other

students at the end of the rotation.”

About the Sarasota Regional Campus of the FSU College of Medicine
The FSU College of Medicine’s Sarasota Regional Campus opened its doors to its first
students in 2005. Currently, 40 of FSU’s third-and-fourth year medical students are based in
Sarasota and participating in clinical training in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics,
surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, geriatrics, psychiatry and emergency medicine under the
direction of 300 clinical faculty members. The campus is located on 201 Cocoanut Avenue in
downtown Sarasota, and the phone number is 316-8120. The website for the FSU College
of Medicine is www.med.fsu.edu. The Sarasota campus contact is Dean Bruce Berg,
bruce.berg@med.fsu.edu.

About Youthful Aging Home Health Care
Youthful Aging Home Health Care was established in Sarasota in 1994 by president and CEO Nicci Kobritz, RN, NP. The boutique practice serves clients in need of both short-term and long-term, 24/7 home health services. Youthful Aging’s service plan, which was developed by Ms. Kobritz, is individually tailored to each client to manage chronic health conditions, restore optimum physical and mental dexterity and improve overall quality of life. Youthful Aging’s goal is to enable clients to remain independent in their homes and to do for themselves. The company is headquartered at 7220 Beneva Rd, Sarasota FL 34238. The web address is www.youthfulaging.net and email is nkobritz@youthfulaging.net. Telephone 941-925-9532.

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.3 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

Consumers who log on to any of the hospital Web sites on their mobile devices will automatically be redirected to the new Web site. The new Web sites offer an abbreviated version of the hospital’s full Web site, featuring three of its most popular areas: ER Wait Times, Phone Director and Maps & Directions.

“We designed these Web sites to make our hospital Web sites more user friendly for consumers on the go,” said Melissa Hamilton, Director of Web Communications. “Our St. Petersburg General Hospital site also features a search engine for affiliated physicians, which allows for searches by name or zip code. We will expand this option to other hospital sites in the near future.”

West Florida hospitals participating in the project include: Blake Medical Center, Brandon Regional Hospital, Central Florida Regional Hospital, Community Hospital (New Port Richey), Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Edward White Hospital, Englewood Community Hospital, Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Largo Medical Center and its Indian Rocks campus, Northside Hospital, Oak Hill Hospital, Osceola Regional Medical Center, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, St. Petersburg General Hospital and South Bay Hospital.

ER wait time Web postings grew out of efforts to communicate internally on wait time status and best practices. Wait times can be viewed on individual hospital Web sites, or by visiting www.HCAdocs.org.

# # #

About Community Hospital:
The Future Medical Center of Trinity

Community Hospital is located in New Port Richey, FL. It is a leading Joint Commission accredited acute care center. Over 400 physicians, 1000 employees and 200 volunteers comprise our healthcare delivery team.

Community Hospital has received distinction in the following areas:

Chest Pain Center accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers
Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center
Accredited Cancer Program by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
State Approved Coronary Intervention Program
Dedicated Breast Care Center with Digital Mammography, 3D/4D Ultrasound, Breast MRI, and Patient Liaison to ensure the patient’s needs are met.
All private room Women’s Center for Gynecology and Urology Services
All private room Spine & Joint Care Center
The only da Vinci Robotic System in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties

Construction is underway on the Medical Center of Trinity, a 236 bed, state-of-the-art, private room facility at the corner of SR 54 and Little Road in Trinity to replace Community Hospital in late 2011.

For more information, visit our website at www.communityhospitalnpr.com.

About Oak Hill Hospital:

Oak Hill Hospital has been serving the Nature Coast since 1984. It is the largest medical facility in Hernando and Citrus County (214 acute care beds), is the area’s second largest private employer, and offers Hernando County’s only comprehensive heart program including open heart surgery.

Approximately 300 physicians, 1,000 associates, and 360 volunteers comprise Oak Hill Hospital’s health care delivery team.

Oak Hill has achieved distinction as the:

· First Chest Pain Center in Hernando and Citrus County accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
· First primary stroke center to be certified by the Joint Commission in Citrus and Hernando County.
· First comprehensive Women’s Imaging Center in Hernando County and the first imaging center offering digital mammography with computer aided detection.
· First hospital in the area to be recognized as an accredited cancer institute by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

It is located at 11375 Cortez Boulevard, Spring Hill, 1.9 miles east of US 19 on State Road 50. For more information about this release, please contact Richard W. Linkul, Director of Marketing, at 352-597-6383 or Richard.Linkul@hcahealthcare.com. In Citrus call 352-628-6441.

For more information about Oak Hill Hospital, visit our website at www.OakHillHospital.com.

About Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point:

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is a 290-bed acute care facility located in Hudson, FL. Home of the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute, over 350 physicians, 900 employees and 500 volunteers comprise their integrated healthcare delivery team. Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been designated a 100 Top Hospital seven years by Thomson Reuters and has been named twice (1999 & 2002) by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery. It has an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center and an Approved, With Commendation, Community Cancer Program, from the College of Surgeons.

For additional information on Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point visit:
www.rmchealth.com or www.heartoftampa.com

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The University offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The University has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
– USF –

This is the first time Moffitt has been recognized on the list. Survey participants from Moffitt ranked infrastructure, environment, management and policies as top strengths in the workplace.

“We are honored to be recognized as an extraordinary place for cancer research and education to take place. We are committed to maintaining a dynamic environment for academicians to collaborate and advance knowledge and their careers,” said William S. Dalton, Ph.D., M.D., CEO and center director of Moffitt.

The Scientist magazine provides coverage on the latest developments in life sciences including trends in research, new technology, news, business and careers. This year, the magazine created an online questionnaire for people working in academic institutions from around the world. Respondents were asked to evaluate their working environments on 38 criteria in eight areas.

The magazine received more than 2,350 responses from 119 institutions – 94 from the United States. The majority of this year’s respondents came from nonmedical universities or colleges.

Results and this year’s top 40 institutions list can be found in the November issue of The Scientist. Online results, analysis, charts and past surveys can be found at www.the-scientist.com/bptw.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Sarasota County Health Department, 2200 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
Woodmere Community Park and Recreation Center, 3951 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice

“We have served the at-risk population, and now, we’re prepared to provide the vaccine to the general population,” reports Chuck Henry, incident commander for the Sarasota County H1N1 response.

According to Henry, health officials will immunize as many people as possible during the two clinics Dec. 5. Both the H1N1 nasal mist, which is preservative-free, and an injectable vaccine of inactivated virus will be available.

The H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each vaccine protects against a different virus. For adequate protection against all known circulating flu viruses, people are advised to get two vaccinations: one for seasonal flu and one for H1N1 flu. Similar to the seasonal influenza vaccine, most healthy adults who receive the H1N1 vaccine will have protection in eight to 10 days. People who receive the seasonal FluMist® nasal spray vaccine must wait at least 28 days before receiving the H1N1 FluMist® nasal spray vaccine.

Blank consent forms will be available at each location for those who do not download the vaccine consent form in advance. Those who do not have access to a computer can visit the health kiosks at any Sarasota County library. The Sarasota County Call Center has a TDD line, 941-861-1833, available for those who are hearing impaired.

For more details about Saturday’s vaccine clinics, including a fact sheet about the vaccine and instructions about vaccine consent forms, call 941-861-2800, or visit the Sarasota County Health Department’s Web site, www.sarasotahealth.org.

The Vitalife_ program is available to all Members of Universal Health Care, Universal Health Care Insurance Company, and Universal HMO of Texas, and was developed as a result of the Company’s commitment to its Members. The Vitalife_ mission is to serve membership with a complete wellness benefit, and be the premier resource on Members’ journey to “Taking Charge, Being Active, and Living Well”.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 98,000 individuals located in eight states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) and expanding into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi in 2010. For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

New government guidelines for mammograms were recently released by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, a panel of experts that advises doctors on medical care, recommending women obtain mammograms every two (2) years instead of annually. The American Cancer Society continues to recommend that women over 40 have a mammogram annually, and Universal Health Care will continue to cover annual mammograms for its Members.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 98,000 individuals located in eight states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) and expanding into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi in 2010. For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

Dr. Culhane received his medical degree from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, and recently received his SM in Healthcare Management at the Harvard School of Public Health. Prior to joining Universal, Dr. Culhane was the Medical Director at PeaceHealth Medical Group in Bellingham, Washington. He previously held positions at Columbia United Providers in Vancouver, WA, Exempla Medical Group in Arvada, CO and Northwest Family Practice in Arvada, CO. Dr. Culhane is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 98,000 individuals located in eight states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) and expanding into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi in 2010. For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

The meeting hosted celebratory events for accomplished researchers who have made advances in radiation oncology. Moffitt physicians from the Radiation Oncology Program have been recognized for advances in cancer care.

Steven Finkelstein, M.D., and Catherine Park, M.D., M.P.H., were honored for their accomplishments in the advancements in the use of radiation therapy for sarcoma and breast cancer treatment.

Finkelstein was honored as the top clinical practice recipient of the Resident Clinical and Basic Science Research Award. This honor was granted to the top three resident-authors of significant works in physics, biology and clinical practice. He presented his clinical and translational abstract on the use of radiation to improve immunotherapy for the treatment of high-risk sarcoma patients. Finkelstein’s work focuses on attacking cancer cells by combining radiation therapy with immunotherapy.

Finkelstein’s research was also discussed at the Best of ASTRO session where meeting organizers explained the importance of their work.

Park was the second place winner in the radiation physics category. She presented her abstract on the use of accelerated partial breast irradiation, which is used to treat part of the breast in the early stages of breast cancer. This study was undertaken to see if the use of fiducial markers, for image guided radiation therapy, can better localize target areas to reduce toxicity and enhance accuracy of treatment.

Moffitt researchers were awarded a quarter of the distributed ASTRO Annual Meeting Travel Grants. The grants were distributed for important research in sarcoma, breast, lung and GI cancer therapy.

“This is a stellar accomplishment for our training program, and it speaks to the strength of the clinical research being done by the Radiation Oncology faculty,” said Dr. Eleanor Harris, residency program director from the Department of Radiation Oncology.

Radiation Oncology members who presented their work in educational and research sessions to thousands of renowned medical professionals included:

· Irfan M. Ahmed, M.D.
· Thomas I. Dilling, M.D.
· Dan Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D.
· Steven Finkelstein, M.D.
· Jessica M. Freilich
· Valeria M. Gironda, M.D.
· Eleanor Harris, M.D.
· Catherine Park, M.D.
· Jakob Pritz
· Chad Rusthoven
· Ravi Shridhar, M.D., Ph.D.
· Craig W. Stevens, Ph.D., M.D.
· Andy M. Trotti, M.D.
· Michael Yu, M.D.

About the American Society for Radiation Oncology
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit RT Answers. To learn more about ASTRO, visit ASTRO.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center — a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

The NEW All Children’s Hospital hosted a one-day open house, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a marching band and an old-fashioned “block party” of entertainment, arts & crafts and games.

“Babies are God’s message to the world that life should go on,” reflected Congressman Bill Young in opening remarks. ”And they’re the reason places like All Children’s Hospital are so vital to our community. As I look at the incredible facility we’re touring today, I’m excited to know it’s part of the community I represent.“

All Children’s Health System President & CEO Gary Carnes recalled the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital seven years ago. “I said then – I hope this is the last children’s hospital we’ll ever have to build here. And if we adhere to our mission – fostering research, training healthcare professionals and advancing cutting-edge treatment for children, perhaps tomorrow’s kids won’t have a need for long hospitalizations. And this really will be the last children’s hospital ever built in St. Petersburg.”

The celebration gave the community a glimpse of the new facilities before patients move in for treatment on December 12th. Included in the tour was the third-floor Bayfront Baby Place, a unique “hospital within a children’s hospital” where labor & delivery experts from Bayfront Medical Center will run a birthing center and well-baby nursery.

The $403-million project (including the new Hospital and Bayfront Baby Place, its Visitors Parking Garage, Outpatient Care Center and Central Energy Plant) is one of the largest private commercial construction projects in the state of Florida. The Hospital and Outpatient Care Center comprise nearly a million square feet of space and provide the most advanced children’s health care available.

Inside the NEW All Children’s Hospital, tours highlighted key features including:

259 licensed beds for the highest level of pediatric care, most in individual rooms.
A private bathroom and shower in most patient rooms, as well as family amenities like a small refrigerator, secure storage shelves, a separate TV for parents and space for both mom & dad to stay overnight
Patient Entertainment Systems at each bedside, with on-demand access to the Internet, movies and games as well as educational programs specific to patient care.
Twelve state-of-the-art operating suites.
Three distinct intensive care units, one of them large enough to encompass an entire floor.
Four playrooms, not counting the pirate ship on the second floor rooftop playground.
The 97-bed All Children’s Hospital Guild Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, one of the largest ICUs for newborns in the southeastern United States.
A “hospital within our hospital” – Bayfront Baby Place. No other hospital in the country operates within a separate system for the benefit of patients. Bayfront Medical Center’s Baby Place bridges together the best in obstetrics and neonatal intensive care.
The Vincent Lecavalier Center for Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders, with a positive-pressure environment where kids whose treatment saps their immune system can wander down the hall to their own playroom without worrying about germs.
A cardiac catheterization lab that can quickly transform into a surgical setting when the procedure or the patient’s condition warrants.
The Walmart & Sam’s Club Pediatric Emergency Center, twice the size of our current facility with a dedicated Radiology Suite to speed up many visits
Fewer centralized nurses’ stations. Most staff will work from scattered perches, pods and dedicated computers in each patient room, keeping them closer to the youngsters in their care.
Disaster-ready features like a helipad that can handle even the heaviest military choppers used in evacuations, and our Central Energy Plant with the power, water and sewer services to keep the hospital functioning – and air-conditioned – for two weeks if necessary

Patients will move two blocks from the existing facility to the NEW All Children’s Hospital on Saturday, December 12th.

Initially there may be some limitations on supply of the vaccine so the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine first: pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

H1N1, sometimes referred to as “swine flu,” could be a large threat to public health this fall and winter. Symptoms are the same as the regular flu: fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache and body aches. Diarrhea and vomiting may also be present. Urgent care should be obtained if difficulty breathing, or chest pain occurs, or if prolonged vomiting and diarrhea are present. For infants and children care should also be obtained if the child is not able to take enough liquids by mouth to stay hydrated.

Steps should be taken to protect yourself and others from contacting any form of the flu, including wash your hands often; do not touch your face, nose, or eyes; cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or use the “elbow method;” if you must be around someone who is ill, wear a mask; if you think you have any type of flu, stay away from others. As usual, everyone is encouraged to get their regular annual flu vaccine and check with their doctor to determine whether they should receive the H1N1 vaccine.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 98,000 individuals located in eight states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) and expanding into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi in 2010. For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

Dr. Culhane received his medical degree from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, and recently received his SM in Healthcare Management at the Harvard School of Public Health. Prior to joining Universal, Dr. Culhane was the Medical Director at PeaceHealth Medical Group in Bellingham, Washington. He previously held positions at Columbia United Providers in Vancouver, WA, Exempla Medical Group in Arvada, CO and Northwest Family Practice in Arvada, CO. Dr. Culhane is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

About Universal Health Care
Universal Health Care Group is the parent company of Universal Health Care, Inc., a managed care company that has been providing Medicare Advantage Health Plans to Medicare eligible beneficiaries since 2003 – most notably the “Medicare Masterpiece Plan®” and “Medicare Masterpiece PPOsm,” as well as Florida Medicaid benefits through its “Universal U-Firstsm” Plans. The Group is also parent to Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc., which offers the popular Medicare Advantage “ANY ANY ANY Plan®.” Currently, the Group is serving over 98,000 individuals located in eight states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) and expanding into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Mississippi in 2010. For more in-depth information about the Company and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.univhc.com.

Dr. Lezama, associate professor of internal medicine at USF Health and chief of medicine at the James Haley Veterans’ Hospital, was one of two physicians in the Southeast (and the only one in Florida) to be honored in the journal’s second annual Top Hospitalists issue. A hospitalist is a physician, without a private outside practice, whose time is devoted solely to caring for hospitalized patients.

The journal solicited nominations from its readership – hospital-based internists and third-year medicine residents – last spring and summer, asking for hospitalists making notable contributions to the field of hospital medicine, whether through clinical skills, research, innovation, teamwork, community involvement, improved work flow, patient safety, leadership, mentorship or quality improvement. The editorial board reviewed the nominations and selected the top 10, including Dr. Lezama, who are profiled in the November issue.

“He is an outstanding physician with more dedication to his patients than I have seen in my career from anyone else,” said Alexander I. Reiss, ACP member and a colleague who nominated Dr. Lezama as a Top Hospitalist. “His contributions as an expert at our medical morning report have established him as the ‘go-to guy’ for difficult cases and advice for younger faculty.”

One of the youngest chiefs of medicine in the nation in one of the country’s busiest VA hospitals, Dr. Lezama is known for his ability to motivate and inspire residents and medical students. He was among 42 doctors nationwide nominated by his peers for the 2007 Humanism in Medicine Award, sponsored by the American Association of Medical Colleges. His board review series has been instrumental in boosting resident pass rates for the past seven years, and University of South Florida internal medicine residents have voted him Teacher of the Year for five years running.

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.3 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

The surgical facility will include several “FDA research ready” operating rooms where cataract, bladeless LASIK, glaucoma and cosmetic procedures will be performed. The rooms have been designed to comply with the strict standards required for FDA research studies.

The center is part of a $7.5 million expansion of an existing medical facility. Construction is expected to be completed by spring of 2010.

“Despite the economy we’ve still been able to grow and add to our practice. Once our new center is complete, we will be able to bring in some of the newest FDA research to the Tampa Bay area,” said Dr. T. Hunter Newsom, owner of Newsom Eye & Laser Center. “We feel this size of investment is needed to provide a facility capable of the research and exceptional patient care that has brought patients from across the country to seek our surgical expertise. Located only eight miles north of Tampa International Airport, this expanded facility provides more services than our other locations and allows easier access for patients traveling long distances.”

Newsom, founder and medical director of Newsom Eye & Laser Center, expanded his practice into Tampa earlier this year. Newsom Eye & Laser has offices and a research based surgical center in Sebring and Avon Park, Fl. Newsom graduated from the University of Florida with honors in research and was the first surgeon in the world to implant the Aphakic Artisan Intraocular Lens in a patient with megalocornea. He has been recognized by the American College of Eye surgeons for “Surgical Excellence” and is a Lifetime Visiting Professor at the top ranked University of Iowa.

Newsom Eye is located at 13904 N. Dale Mabry Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33618. For more information, call 813-908-2020 or visit www.NewsomEye.com.

“Moffitt is making the most of every opportunity to leverage our country’s investments in medical research to benefit people battling cancer,” said William S. Dalton, Ph.D., M.D., center director and CEO of Moffitt. “Funding from the Recovery Act allows us to move forward more quickly on a variety of fronts, accelerating the process of translating scientific discoveries into more effective patient care.”

Moffitt has applied for 110 Recovery Act funded grants, to date. Through October, 26 grants have been awarded, representing the largest portion of the cancer-related NCI monies awarded in Florida through the Recovery Act. . Moffitt also ranks 23rd out of 757 grantee institutions by the NCI for all categories of grants with over $41.5 million in grant funding Notice on applications submitted are still pending and Moffitt continues to apply for new grant monies as request for applications are published.

Moffitt’s $4 million Grand Opportunities grant is one of only seven in the nation awarded for patient-centered outcomes research in personalized medicine. Moffitt’s work in this area is focused on providing physicians and researchers access to health-related information for large populations of cancer patients, thereby improving outcomes, developing best practices and raising the overall standard of cancer care throughout the United States.

“As part of our Total Cancer Care research protocol, with over 44,000 patients consented to participate to-date, and an innovative framework that includes a Consortium of 17 health care providers in 9 states we have established a unique working model for patient-centered outcomes research. The Grand Opportunities grant allows us to further develop this infrastructure, which includes a large health care network backed by a robust health information system,” Dalton said. “This work will open new frontiers for medical research, as well as provide patients and physicians with important information to determine the most effective treatment for each individual patient.”

The NCI’s establishment of a Physical Science-Oncology Center at Moffitt is recognition of the Tampa-based cancer institute’s emergence in the field of Integrative Mathematical Oncology. This very unique and innovative program will distribute $22.7 million among 12 grantees this year to fund projects that employ physics, mathematics and other disciplines not traditionally associated with cancer research to achieve a better understanding of the physical laws governing the progression of the disease.

The other 11 institutions named as Physical Science-Oncology Centers are:

· Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
· Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
· Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
· Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
· Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
· Northwestern University, Chicago
· Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
· The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Calif.
· University of California-Berkeley
· University of Southern California, Los Angeles
· The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Moffitt is utilizing Recovery Act funding on the following types of research projects (see attached for complete list of grants):
· How lung cancer tumors grow in the body, their resistance to certain drugs and the development of innovative therapies to combat them
· Analyzing how the body’s immune system responds to cancer, how it can be used to fight cancer and the development of vaccines to aid this ability
· The use of cutting-edge technology to better understand the genetic makeup of cancers and to more effectively analyze the information gained
· Analyzing possible cancer-causing viruses, such as the human papillomavirus
· Focusing on specific cancers such as adult glioma, colorectal, multiple Myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, ovarian and prostate

“Expanding our research and health care consortium is vital to Moffitt’s efforts to develop, discover and deliver personalized medicine for cancer patients here in Florida, and we strive to make far-reaching improvements in survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients everywhere,” Dalton said.

For information regarding the distribution of Recovery Act funds by the NIH, visit http://grants.nih.gov/recovery.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

“The recent economic fallout has engendered a mass wakeup call among boomers nationwide: if they expect to live well into old age, they’d better learn how to gain control over their careers and health, and find what gives their lives meaning and purpose,” said Michelle Bauer, chief strategist of Common Language and co-producer of the Conference. “Learning how to reinvent yourself after the loss of a job held for 25 years, or a divorce, or the sudden responsibility of caring for an aging parent or chronically ill spouse is enough to knock anyone off their game.”

Dealing with any one of these life changes is challenging enough. But many boomers find themselves having to navigate several of them simultaneously, and they’re seeking solutions that will help them stay healthy, marketable, and personally and spiritually fulfilled. “The Conference is designed to give marketers greater insight into the current boomer zeitgeist and capitalize on it to successfully address the needs of this huge market,” Bauer added.

Boomers – the 78 million people born between 1946 and 1964 – are key to Florida’s economic future. They are expected to make up more than 30 percent of the state’s population by 2015. Understanding the current boomer consumer mindset and what messages and methods resonate most with them will be the primary focus of the 2010 Conference.

“Successfully engaging today’s boomer customer is all about niches and life stages, not a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Colleen Chappell, CEO of ChappellRoberts and co-producer of the Conference. “This year’s program will show marketers how to weave messages that zero in on their target customers’ unmet needs together with the most effective mix of traditional media, online media, and other vehicles for reaching them.”
“Today, every penny counts – from both the marketers’ perspective and the consumers’,” Chappell continued. “We’ll showcase the people who are achieving maximum return on investment for their companies and the greatest satisfaction for their customers.”

The Conference agenda will devote special attention to industries serving baby boomers that are poised for explosive growth in the coming decade. Florida’s competitiveness in these industries – which include anti-aging medicine, healthy and sustainable living, lifelong learning, and care giving – will be explored in keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies and best practices.

The Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Ruth Eckerd Hall. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Michelle Bauer at michelle@common-language.com or 727-510-2524.

Registration for the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference begins November 30. Tickets are $195 through January 30, $245 from February 1 – March 31, and $295 thereafter.

To learn more about the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference and register online, please visit the website at www.floridaboomerlifestyle.com.

“In light of the fact that on November 9 we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of our Heart Institute, the time is right for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point to remain focused on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing Get With The Guidelines Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population, It is an truly an honor to be the first hospital in the State of Florida to receive the Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award” said Rector.
“Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”

Get With The Guidelines Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is a 290-bed acute care facility located in Hudson, FL. Home of the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute, over 350 physicians, 900 employees and 500 volunteers comprise their integrated healthcare delivery team. Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been designated a 100 Top Hospital seven years by Thomson Reuters and has been named twice (1999 & 2002) by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery. It has an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center and an Approved, With Commendation, Community Cancer Program, from the College of Surgeons.
For additional information on Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point visit:
www.rmchealth.com or www.heartoftampa.com

With more than 15 years of experience as an HR management professional, Pedersen strengthens the Take Care team bringing her areas of expertise in recruitment and retention, policy development, HR program design and roll out, employee engagement, training initiatives, resource planning, organizational redesign and performance management, and conflict resolution. Take Care’s ongoing efforts to achieve a greater effectiveness and positive impact on the work life of every Take Care employee is evident as we grow and build the HR team at Take Care. Pedersen will lead in its growth and evolution of the HR practice. Pedersen believes in change for the better, for the employees’ benefit and growth and she is passionate about the development of the HR industry and development. Take Care welcomes Pedersen to its team–being part of a team that values its employees. Pedersen was the recipient of several awards for outstanding performance including the Chairman’s award for her dedication to the delivery of exemplary HR practices and support. She is a member of both the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Sarasota Manatee HR Association (SHRA).

Contact:
Erika Wise, ph: 941.927.2292

“I am fully confident that Jim will enable the M2Gen team to reach its full potential as we pursue long-term viability and growth opportunities,” said Dr. William S. Dalton, Moffitt’s CEO and center director.

Utterback will be responsible for developing and implementing effective growth strategies, determining commercialization opportunities, and establishing and executing pharmaceutical company-funded clinical trials. He will cultivate new and more efficient means of collecting clinical data electronically, as well as direct and raise required capital at appropriate valuations.

“We have a real opportunity at M2Gen to change the clinical trial world and bring trials and ultimately improved treatment protocols to cancer patients sooner,” Utterback said. “I like to call our world evidenced-based decision-making; our approach is to molecularly match patients to new treatments. I look forward to bringing M2Gen’s assets, our technology, our talent and our pride to produce ‘next generation’ cancer care for our clients and patients.”

Utterback has more than 25 years of experience building start-ups and organizations in health care software, products and services on three continents. Prior to joining M2Gen, he was the founder and chairman of RxcelPartners, LLC, a corporate consultant firm to CliniRx, and a global ventures adviser. He has served as president and chief executive officer at Reliance Clinical Research Services, chief executive officer at SCIREX (Premier Research) Corporation and president of the pharmaceutical division at VivoMetrics.

After graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s in psychology/economics from Washington and Lee University in 1977, Utterback graduated summa cum laude with a master’s in industrial psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1979. He has completed executive courses at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and Harvard Business School. Utterback is a member of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Drug Information Association and New York Pharma Forum.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m. For a screening appointment, call
(813) 974-4355.

(Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer football players Jerry Bell and Richard “Batman” Wood plan to attend the screening between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.)

Where: USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, FL 33613

Why: Increasing prevalence and need for early detection — As the U.S. population ages, the number of people with Alzheimer’s could more than triple over the next four decades. Extensive research in underway to detect Alzheimer’s at its earliest stages when the chances of delaying or stopping additional damage to the brain are greater.

Link between head injuries and dementia — Scrutiny of brain injuries, including concussions, among football players escalated following the recent release of a NFL- commissioned study. The study reported that NFL players have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory-related impairments vastly more often than the general population.

- About the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute –

The USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute includes specialists who evaluate and care for people with memory disorders and their families. The Institute is built upon the proven success of the University of South Florida’s national research on preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease.

The NEW All Children’s Hospital – including the Bayfront Baby Place birthing center – will be open to the public for tours on Saturday November 21st. More than an “open house,” this free Community Preview Celebration will include family-friendly entertainment and activities along with an opportunity to see the impressive, state-of-the-art facilities. Public tours will be offered from noon to 5 PM on Nov. 21st, and those interested are asked to visit www.allkids.org/preview to reserve a space.

The $403-million project (including the new Hospital and Bayfront Baby Place, its Visitors Parking Garage, Outpatient Care Center and Central Energy Plant) is the largest private commercial construction project in the state of Florida. The Hospital and Outpatient Care Center comprise nearly a million square feet of space and provide the most advanced children’s health care available.

The street in front of the new hospital – Sixth Avenue South from Fourth to Sixth Street – will be closed to through traffic to make room for the celebration. A stage directly in front of the hospital’s main entrance at 501 Sixth Avenue South will host state and local dignitaries leading up to an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11AM. Current and former patients of both All Children’s Hospital and Bayfront Baby Place will cut the ribbon signifying the official opening.

As hospital staff welcome the community on tours throughout the afternoon, the outdoor stage will host a variety of entertainment. Many of those scheduled to appear have connections to the hospital – including former patients who are members of local bands Adam 812 and Holes in Hearts, as well as several vocalists performing original music. Face painting, arts and crafts and games are also part of this “block party.”

Inside the NEW All Children’s Hospital, tours will highlight key features including:

259 licensed beds for the highest level of pediatric care, most in individual rooms.
A private bathroom and shower in most patient rooms, as well as family amenities like a small refrigerator, secure storage shelves, a separate TV for parents and space for both mom & dad to stay overnight
Patient Entertainment Systems at each bedside, with on-demand access to the Internet, movies and games as well as educational programs specific to patient care.
· Twelve state-of-the-art operating suites.
· Three distinct intensive care units, one of them large enough to encompass an entire floor.
· Four playrooms, not counting the pirate ship on the second floor rooftop playground.
The 97-bed All Children’s Hospital Guild Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, one of the largest ICUs for newborns in the southeastern United States.
A “hospital within our hospital” – Bayfront Baby Place. No other hospital in the country operates within a separate system for the benefit of patients. Bayfront Medical Center’s Baby Place bridges together the best in obstetrics and neonatal intensive care.
The Vincent Lecavalier Center for Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders, with a positive-pressure environment where kids whose treatment saps their immune system can wander down the hall to their own playroom without worrying about germs.
A cardiac catheterization lab that can quickly transform into a surgical setting when the procedure or the patient’s condition warrants.
The Walmart & Sam’s Club Pediatric Emergency Center, twice the size of our current facility with a dedicated Radiology Suite to speed up many visits
Fewer centralized nurses’ stations. Most staff will work from scattered perches, pods and dedicated computers in each patient room, keeping them closer to the youngsters in their care.
Disaster-ready features like a helipad that can handle even the heaviest military choppers used in evacuations, and our Central Energy Plant with the power, water and sewer services to keep the hospital functioning – and air-conditioned – for two weeks if necessary

The celebration is free and open to the public. Individuals who’d like to bring a “house-warming gift” are encouraged to drop off new toys near the hospital entrance for use with patients in the upcoming holid

She previously served as Media Developer at Moffitt, using the media expertise she gained as a television journalist. Nancy received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and recently graduated from the Executive MBA program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Moffitt has several experts available for interviews regarding Lung Cancer Awareness Month, including Dr. Gerold Bepler, program leader of Thoracic Oncology; David J. Drobes, Ph.D.; and Thomas H. Brandon, Ph.D., director of the Tobacco Research & Intervention Program.

Faces of Lung Cancer
This month, Moffitt will relaunch the Faces of Lung Cancer© Web site to include an audio component. “Faces of Lung Cancer” is a collection of photographs and personal stories of lung cancer patients, their caregivers and health care professionals.

Downtown Tampa Market – Nov. 13
Moffitt and the Lung and Thoracic Tumor Education (LATTE) program will be at the Downtown Tampa Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13. The Moffitt table will be on Franklin Street across from the Tampa Police Department. Moffitt will sell lung cancer ribbon T-shirts, lapel pins and “Faces of Lung Cancer” books with all proceeds benefiting the lung cancer patient advocacy program. For information, call (813) 745-6438 or e-mail latte@moffitt.org.

LATTE Forum – Nov. 19
LATTE will hold its semi-annual forum from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Vincent A. Stabile Research Building, 12902 Magnolia Drive. This event provides community education about lung cancer research, treatment, prevention and screening.

The forum will include a tour of the Thoracic Research lab; patient testimonials; a keynote address by Dr. York E. Miller, pulmonary medicine at Denver’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and an Ask the Experts panel presentation. Panelists include Bepler; Dr. Thomas J. Dilling, Radiation Oncology; Dr. Lary A. Robinson, Thoracic Surgery. Resources and educational materials will also be available.

For information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488). Space is limited and reservations are required. R.S.V.P. by Nov. 16.

The Great American Smokeout – Nov. 19
The Great American Smokeout, a campaign begun in 1976 to encourage smokers to quit for one day, is geared toward the more than 45 million smokers in the United States.

If you’re interested in participating in the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19, Moffitt’s Tobacco Research and Intervention Program is a valuable resource. The FreshBreak™ Smoking Cessation Clinic offers free and low-cost smoking cessation programs. TRIP also is seeking participants to enroll in ongoing studies of smokers.

You can reach the TRIP office at (813) 745-1751.

Proclamations
Several local governments will issue resolutions supporting Moffitt during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Community members are invited to join Moffitt supporters, patients and staff in accepting the proclamations at the following public meetings:

Brevard County
Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m.
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne

City of New Port Richey
Nov. 17, 7 p.m.
5919 Main St., New Port Richey

City of Melbourne
Dec. 1, 9 a.m.
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne

City of Tallahassee
Dec. 8, 3 p.m.
301 S. Monroe St., Fifth floor, Tallahassee

Clinical Trials
Overview of Moffitt’s Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer

Informed decisions about treatment should include consideration of the standard of care, as well as current clinical trials, in which new agents that have shown promise in earlier studies are being investigated. Early knowledge of clinical trials can reduce risk for a missed opportunity to be screened for participation in an appropriate treatment study. To increase awareness about lung cancer clinical trials, we are providing the following information: study title, identification number, a brief description of its purpose and a few of the major eligibility criteria.

A Phase IIB Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study of Enzastaurin HCL (MCC 14787) Principal Investigator: Dr. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D.
The purpose of this study is to develop a treatment for the future prevention of lung cancer and to identify biochemical changes in the airway cells (cells lining the airway or respiratory system, for example, nose, windpipe and lung) that may lead to lung cancer. To take part in this study, participants must be in good health, 45 or older, are a former smoker who smoked for many years and have quit smoking for more than one year and are able to swallow tablets. For more information, call Tim Estrella at (813) 745-3685.

A Randomized Phase II Trial Using Dendritic Cells Transduced with an Adenoviral Vector Containing the p53 Gene to Immunize Patients in Combination with Chemotherapy with or Without All Trans Retinoic Acid (MCC 15206) Principal Investigator: Alberto Chiappori, M.D.
The purpose of this research study is to test a tumor (cancer) vaccine given along with chemotherapy to determine if this vaccine will increase the amount of time that people who have this disease will live. Participants with extensive stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) are encouraged to contact Jamil Ahmed at (813) 745-7280 for eligibility criteria.

· Randomized Phase III Multicenter Trial of RRM1 & ERCC1 Directed Customized Chemotherapy versus Standard of Care for 1st Line Treatment (MADeIT) (MCC 15005) Principal Investigator: Charles Williams, M.D.
The primary objective is to evaluate if chemotherapy selection based on tumoral RRM1 and ERCC1 expression (arm A, the experimental arm) results in superior outcome in patients with untreated, advanced NSCLC compared to standard of care treatment with gemcitabine and carboplatin (arm B, the standard arm). Patients diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IIIB or IV may contact Amanda Sweeney at (813) 745-1457 for more information and eligibility criteria.

Safety and Efficacy Study of Concurrent Cetuximab plus Conformal Thoracic Radiotherapy (CTRT) in Patients with Inoperable or Unresectable, Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (LA-NSCLC) (MCC 15294) Principal Investigator: Alberto Chiappori, M.D.
This research is being done to find out if a treatment consisting of a combination of thoracic radiotherapy with cetuximab, given together, and followed by chemotherapy with docetaxel and cetuximab (also given together) will kill the cancer cells in the patient’s body and shrink the size of their tumor without causing unacceptable side effects. This may allow patients to live longer or decrease the frequency and/or severity of the symptoms caused by the cancer without increasing the frequency and/or severity of the symptoms caused by the treatment. For more information and/or eligibility criteria, call Aaron Becker at (813) 745-4679

Phase I/II Study of LBH589 in Combination with Erlotinib for Advanced Aerodigestive Tract Cancers (MCC 15461) Principal Investigator: Jhanelle Gray, M.D.
The purpose of the study is to 1. Find out if Erlotinib and LBH589 can be safely given together in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or Head and Neck (H&N) Cancer. 2. Learn more about the side effects of these two drugs when combined together. 3. Learn how these two drugs work in cancer cells when they are combined. 4. Learn how this combination affects the ways in which they are absorbed by the body and eliminated. 5. Find the highest doses of Erlotinib and LBH589 that can be safely given without causing serious side effects. For more information and eligibility criteria, call Leticia Tetteh at (813) 745-4617

· Phase II ERCC1 and RRM1-Based Adjuvant Therapy Trial in Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MCC 15755) Principal Investigator: Charles Williams, M.D.
o The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of assigning adjuvant treatment based on tumoral RRM1and ERCC1 gene expression in patients with complete surgical resection of stages IA (> 2 cm) and IB NSCLC. For more information or for eligibility criteria, call Aaron Becker at (813) 745-4679.
· Stress Management and Exercise During Cancer Chemotherapy (MCC 13782) Principal Investigator: Paul Jacobsen, Ph.D.
o The primary purpose of this study is to find out how stress management training alone, exercise training alone, and the combination of stress management training and exercise training might improve the quality of life of patients as they go through chemotherapy. If you are a Moffitt patient and would like more information about this study, call Christine Marsella at (813) 745-1810.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
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The study will examine participants for early signs of pancreatic cancer. The goal is to identify the disease at an early stage to help prevent precancerous or cancerous growth.

Klapman is the head researcher in the study. One of his goals is to prevent pancreatic cancer by developing a noninvasive screening blood test that could help identify the disease early. “Because pancreatic cancer is so lethal, research should focus on early detection and prevention, which may ultimately improve survival of this deadly disease,” Klapman said.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Only an estimated 25 percent of diagnosed patients will survive the first year of treatment. The disease is highly fatal because of the lack of reliable screening tests.

Bill Jacobs is a 67-year-old participant who has been involved in Klapman’s study for the past three years. Jacobs lost his father, Richard, in 2007 and younger sister, Nora, to the disease in 2008. “Given the severity of the disease and its grave circumstances, it is great relief to be under the consistent supervision of an exemplary team of experts,” Jacobs said. “Each visit and procedure has been very efficiently performed.”

Jacobs and his sister, Christine, decided to join the study together to help in the quest to find a cure. “The study is a great direct benefit to the participant and, hopefully, to other persons and families who face this disease,” Jacobs said.

Klapman is searching for 100 participants who meet at least one of the following criteria:

You have two first-degree relatives with pancreatic or breast cancer.
You have three family members with pancreatic cancer, and at least one is a first-degree relative.
You have Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and are older than 30.
You have hereditary pancreatitis.
You have familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome.
You have inherited the BRCA2 gene and have a family history of pancreatic cancer.
You haven’t been screened for pancreatic cancer with a CT or an endoscopic ultrasound scan in the past three years.

Interested participants will have a clinical consultation to determine eligibility. Accepted participants will provide a sample of blood and urine specimens along with clinical data.

Participants will be asked to consent to an endoscopic ultrasound screening exam with the possibility of fine needle aspiration to biopsy potentially abnormal areas. If screenings are abnormal, participants may be asked to undergo surgical and radiographic evaluation.

For more information on enrollment, call Tiffany Campos at (813) 745-8358 or e-mail Tiffany.Campos@moffitt.org.

For more information on pancreatic cancer, visit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center — a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Colleague Excellence Awards are given in recognition of outstanding customer service and performance. Recipients for the 2009, 3rd Quarter are; Amy Hertog, RN from the Wound Care Department; Susan Schillace, RN from the Special Care Unit and Vicki Murphy, RN from the Education Department

“Essential Piece Award” recipients are recognized for their demonstration of customer service and for being those that truly go above and beyond to demonstrate their dedication to customer focused services. The 3rd. Quarter recipients are: Brent Adams, RN from the Infusion Center; Terri Kennedy, RN from Telemetry and Jackie Butler, RN from the Cardiovascular Operating Room.

Ethics Inspired Award identifies colleagues who act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness in the conduct of business and the delivery of high-quality healthcare. The yearly Ethics Inspired Award recognizes outstanding performance and lasting ethics, compliance and corporate. This year’s Ethics Inspired Award winner was presented to Marcia Hanshaw, RN from the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Recognized for 5 years of service were Barbara McGinty from Clinical Medical Services; Dennis Chambers and Elaine Snee both from Environmental Services; Nizama Muratovic, RN from Medical Telemetry; Gerald Grabowski from Food & Nutritional Services; Sonja Bower, RN Elizabeth Ronan and Diana Vanhousen, RN all from Medical/Oncology and Maria Lussen, RN from the Surgery Department.

Recognized for 10 years of service were Alvin Ellenwood from the Spine Care Center; Miguel Aday-Torres from Plant Operations; Jilean Barker, RN and Lise Laquerre, RN both from the Cardiac Pulmonary Recovery Unit; Betz Chelena from the Food and Nutritional Services and Robert George from Special Services.

Recognized for 15 years of service were Maurice Rhodes and Guy Sanders, RN, both from the Cardio-Pulmonary Recovery Unit; Deborah Gause from Food & Nutritional Services; Muriel Joy from Medical/Oncology; Diana Williamson from the Vascular Lab; Kim Bettineschi from Radiology and Alice O’Hara from the Surgery Department.

Recognized for 20 years of service were La Juan “Johnnie” Keegan from Food & Nutritional Services; Walter Leder from Respiratory Services; Michelle Anderson from PAS; Nancy McClellan and Barbara Staley, both from Laboratory Services and Sandra Hofacker, RN and Bonnie Rigsby, RN both from the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Celebrating 25 years of service was Joanne Cline from Sterile Processing and Martha Finfrock from Fiscal Services.

Each colleague was recognized at a reception on Thursday, October 29, 2009 and rewarded with a gift certificate and other acknowledgments, respective the award received and the years of service to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

The Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Volunteer Organization also selected award winners at the reception (please see separate press release on volunteer award winners).

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is a 290-bed acute care facility located in Hudson, FL. Home of the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute, over 350 physicians, 900 employees and 500 volunteers comprise their integrated healthcare delivery team. Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been designated a 100 Top Hospital seven years by Thomson Reuters and has been named twice (1999 & 2002) by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery. It has an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center and an Approved, With Commendation, Community Cancer Program, from the College of Surgeons.

CPR 100 was initiated by student leaders of the American Red Cross Club at USF and is their first major university-community event. The club has a membership of over 600 students and has been honored with several awards for its outstanding efforts in leadership and preparedness.

“We are building a culture of preparedness throughout the university,” said Robin Ersing, associate professor in the School of Social Work and faculty advisor for the event. “If more people had the skill and self-assurance to act immediately instead of waiting for help, so many lives could be saved.”

According to the American Red Cross, every year sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of more than 166,000 people in the United States and as many as 94 percent of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching a hospital. The organization recommends that at least one person in every household and place of business receive training.

“The training being offered will help the USF community but also the community at large as each trained person goes about their daily lives,” Ersing said.

For a century, the Red Cross has been helping people save lives through preparedness and health and safety education and training. Red Cross training provides the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency. The university-level club at USF was founded in 2007, is led by students and faculty and supported by the Tampa Bay chapter’s staff. In April 2009, USF’s American Red Cross Club was named the USF campus Volunteer Organization of the Year. Beyond this event, the club offers student training and volunteer opportunities on and close to campus as well as in all areas of American Red Cross service, including disaster relief, services to the armed forces, international, health and safety and youth matters, hospital volunteering and more.

In the two short years since the club’s formation, USF Red Cross Club advisor, Ersing, and what has grown to more than 600 registered club members, have received several awards, including being recognized as heroes at the chapter’s 2009 Heroes Celebration. Ersing was awarded the American Red Cross Good Neighbor Award in 2008 for her dedication to the USF Club and the chapter. Two club officers, Ramzy Lotfi and Michael Parsons, received the chapter’s 2009 Collegiate Leadership Award for their significant leadership performance, highest standards of volunteer service and commitment to the mission of the American Red Cross.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
– USF –

“George comes to HPS with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the information technology industry,” said Jeff Bak, President and CEO, HealthPlan Services. “This expertise, coupled with his leadership skills and dedication, make him a great addition to the HPS team.”

Prior to joining HealthPlan Services, Durot spent 24 years with IBM, where he held a number of sales leadership and services general management positions. These include Global Technology Services Vice President, leading IBM’s insurance industry outsourcing business from a sales, service delivery, and financial management standpoint, and Sales Director of the financial services sales team in Georgia and Tennessee. He also held general management positions with ENTEX Information Services and Whittman-Hart.

Durot holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University,

About HealthPlan Services
HealthPlan Services (HPS), a Water Street Healthcare Partners affiliate, is the largest independent provider of service and technology solutions to the insurance and managed care industry. Since 1970, HPS has offered customized administration and distribution services to insurers of individual, small group, voluntary and association plans, as well as providing valuable solutions to thousands of brokers and agents that sell into this market. HPS’ proprietary, scalable technology provides innovative consumer-facing solutions that are turnkey self-service tools for our insurance carriers and distribution partners. HPS offers an ever-expanding array of services to a diverse and growing client base, and administers products that include medical (PPO, HMO, indemnity, consumer-driven), dental, vision, life, disability, cancer, critical illness, accident, long term care, limited medical, as well as various other ancillary insurance. HPS is committed to providing extraordinary service to its customers. For more information about HPS, visit www.healthplan.com.

About Water Street Healthcare Partners
Water Street Healthcare Partners is a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on health care. With more than $1 billion of capital under management, Water Street is one of the most active investors in the health care industry. The firm has a strong track record of building market-leadership companies across key growth sectors in health care. It has partnered with some of the world’s leading health care companies on its investments, including: Gentiva Health Services, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and Smith & Nephew. Water Street’s team is comprised of industry executives and private equity professionals with decades of experience investing in and operating global health care businesses. The firm is headquartered in Chicago. For more information about Water Street, visit www.wshp.com.

Bayfront Medical Center has changed the lives of many Goodwill clients by hiring them into jobs ranging from registered nurse to food service attendant. Last year alone, the 502-bed hospital hired 30 people who received Goodwill’s employment services at WorkNet Pinellas. The hospital’s “Earn As You Learn” program and tuition assistance allow employees to develop their careers to their full potential, in stride with Goodwill- Suncoast’s mission. Paychecks that are among the highest in the area for healthcare workers, combined with flexible scheduling and opportunities for advancement, make Bayfront Medical Center an outstanding employer.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast was founded in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1954 and is currently the number one-ranked Goodwill in the nation for the number of people placed in jobs each year. Its mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties, including employment services for people with all types of employment barriers, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities, and community corrections programs. Goodwill is consistently ranked among the nonprofits most deserving of support based on the high percentage of revenue funneled to its programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

Sarasota has instituted a “no-handshaking-policy.”

The company posted a sign to that effect in its reception area. The sign explains also that it

has installed hand sanitizing stations throughout its offices and plant, and is urging employees

and visitors to use them.

The CDC, says the poster, says “that the transmittal of the H1N1 virus will be greatly

reduced by implementing measures” against handshaking and in favor of hand sanitizing.

“If you are ill, we ask that you leave the premises immediately, visit your doctor for

diagnosis, and report your status to your supervisor,” says the poster. “You should not return

to work until authorized by your doctor, which should be such time as you are symptom free,

including fever-free, for 24-48 hours.”

Osprey is particularly sensitive to sanitation because it breeds beneficial bacteria under

sterile conditions.

Osprey’s bacteria serve the agricultural, waste water, and environmental markets. Its

bacteria are bred to be hungry and to open drain fields, protect vegetables, and clean up

industrial and marine spills.

The company is headquartered at 1833-A 57th St., Sarasota FL 34243. Email

ldanielson@ospreybiotechnics.com. Web site is www.ospreybiotechnics.com. Telephone

941/351-2700.

The University of South Florida is one three sites for the $1-million study, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The other two sites are the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Miami. The USF arm of the study will receive approximately $500,000.

Autism spectrum disorders, collectively referred to as autism, cause pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language and the ability to relate to others and can range from a severe from (called autistic disorder) to a much milder form known as Asperger syndrome. Anxiety disorders affect as many as 80 percent of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, triggering distress and impairment over and above that caused by an autism diagnosis alone, said Eric Storch, PhD, principal investigator for the multi-site trial and associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at USF Health.

“As yet, there are no tried-and-true methods for treating the anxiety that often accompanies autism,” Dr. Storch said. “Cognitive behavioral therapy has worked very well for typically developing kids with anxiety. The goal of this study is to adapt this therapy for use in early adolescents with autism and co-occurring anxiety.”

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves exposing a patient to what they fear in controlled, graduated doses in an attempt to decrease their anxiety over time and prevent a compulsive or avoidance response. It has become a gold standard treatment for youngsters with anxiety disorders who do not have complicating conditions like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The researchers will first adapt a CBT protocol they have developed for younger children to meet the characteristics and clinical needs of early adolescents (ages 11 to 14) with autism. They will accomplish this by treating numerous youngsters and consulting with other autism experts. Then, the team will enroll 32 adolescents with autism in a randomized trial across the sites. The participants will receive either the newly developed CBT protocol or a modified relaxation training protocol (control group). Those who receive the control treatment will receive CBT afterwards.

“Considering the rising number of young adolescents diagnosed with autism, and the lack of proven treatment options for those suffering from anxiety,” Dr. Storch said, “our work developing a treatment protocol could substantially help address the mental health needs of early adolescents with autism.”

USF co-investigators for the NICHD study include Tanya Murphy, MD, professor and Rothman Endowed Chair of Developmental Pediatrics in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry; and Adam Lewin, PhD, and Jane Mutch, PhD, both assistant professors of pediatrics.

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.3 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

For more information on Nurse Practitioners or ways for you to celebrate your local Nurse Practitioner, please visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners website at aanp.org. For information about state and local ARNP organizations, contact Florida Nurses Association at info@floridanurse.org.

The Florida Nurses Association has been the primary advocate for advanced practice nurses in Florida since they lobbied for them to be included in the Florida Nurse Practice Act in 1979. Since that time, they have worked in collaborative agreements with physicians to provide primary care to Florida citizens.

The Florida Nurses Association mission statement is to serve and support all registered nurses through professional development, advocacy and the promotion of excellence at every level of professional nursing practice. For more information on FNA, please visit floridanurse.org.

The University of South Florida is one three sites for the $1-million study, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The other two sites are the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Miami. The USF arm of the study will receive approximately $500,000.

Autism spectrum disorders, collectively referred to as autism, cause pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language and the ability to relate to others and can range from a severe from (called autistic disorder) to a much milder form known as Asperger syndrome. Anxiety disorders affect as many as 80 percent of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, triggering distress and impairment over and above that caused by an autism diagnosis alone, said Eric Storch, PhD, principal investigator for the multi-site trial and associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at USF Health.

“As yet, there are no tried-and-true methods for treating the anxiety that often accompanies autism,” Dr. Storch said. “Cognitive behavioral therapy has worked very well for typically developing kids with anxiety. The goal of this study is to adapt this therapy for use in early adolescents with autism and co-occurring anxiety.”

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves exposing a patient to what they fear in controlled, graduated doses in an attempt to decrease their anxiety over time and prevent a compulsive or avoidance response. It has become a gold standard treatment for youngsters with anxiety disorders who do not have complicating conditions like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The researchers will first adapt a CBT protocol they have developed for younger children to meet the characteristics and clinical needs of early adolescents (ages 11 to 14) with autism. They will accomplish this by treating numerous youngsters and consulting with other autism experts. Then, the team will enroll 32 adolescents with autism in a randomized trial across the sites. The participants will receive either the newly developed CBT protocol or a modified relaxation training protocol (control group). Those who receive the control treatment will receive CBT afterwards.

“Considering the rising number of young adolescents diagnosed with autism, and the lack of proven treatment options for those suffering from anxiety,” Dr. Storch said, “our work developing a treatment protocol could substantially help address the mental health needs of early adolescents with autism.”

USF co-investigators for the NICHD study include Tanya Murphy, MD, professor and Rothman Endowed Chair of Developmental Pediatrics in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry; and Adam Lewin, PhD, and Jane Mutch, PhD, both assistant professors of pediatrics.

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.3 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

Sarasota Chamber of Commerce; local hospitals; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. As a
next step, the collaborative will be reaching out to the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, a 5-year, $30
million national effort designed to foster and share similar activities in other U.S. regions.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice will invest $150,000 and will also oversee the fiscal operations
of the collaborative. “This is a great opportunity for organizations in both counties to work together on a
significant issue: creating high paying jobs,” said Mark Pritchett, vice president for community investment for
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, and co-chair of the collaborative.
“This is just the beginning,” said Sherod Halliburton, executive director of the City of Bradenton CCRA, and
co-chair of the collaborative. “We are inviting investment, partnerships, and insights because there is so
much to accomplish.” The CCRA, a $200,000 funder, will help bolster resource management for the
collaborative.
The Community Briefing was hosted by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn Sarasota
Bradenton Airport, 8009 15th Street East, Sarasota, Florida.
About the Manatee Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative
The Collaborative is dedicated to moving low-wage workers into higher-paying jobs while providing
employers with the skilled employees they need. This “dual customer” approach is critical to ensuring
employers have access to qualified employees, working residents earn family-sustaining wages, and the
region is both economically sustainable and competitive.
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About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality
of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects
that promote community engagement and lead to transformational change. For more, visit
www.knightfoundation.org.
About the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice builds strong communities through leadership, partnership,
and endowed philanthropy. A public charity committed to improving the quality of life in the communities
it serves, it is the largest community foundation in Florida with assets of approximately $200 million. The
Foundation was founded in late 1995 and has awarded $92 million in grants in the areas of arts and culture,
health and human services, education, civic affairs, and the environment.
The Board of the Foundation envisions a region known for endowed philanthropy, a vital nonprofit
community, and the ability to address emerging issues.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.gulfcoastcf.org.

Moffitt and Premier Community HealthCare Group are uniting to celebrate healthy living in the Tampa Bay area. The annual fair will host fun activities for the entire family including health screenings, educational health tips, music entertainment, door prizes and games for children.

Blood pressure and cholesterol checks; blood sugar checks for diabetes; as well as vision, dental and memory checks will be available. Screenings offered to children include height and weight checks.

Mammograms and Pap screens will be available by appointment only. Most private insurances, Medicare and some Medicaid plans are accepted. For people without health insurance, free screenings may be available if eligible.

All health screening will be performed by professionals at Moffitt and the Premier Community HealthCare Group.

Sponsors for this event include Premier Community Healthcare Group, Inc., Florida KidCare, Pasco Regional Medical Center, Moffitt, and the Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network.

For more information, please call (352) 523-3657

About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center — a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

She will join Johnathan M. Lancaster, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Women’s Oncology at Moffitt and chairman of its Department of Women’s Oncology, and Christine Laronga, M.D., FACS, program chief of Moffitt’s Don and Erika Wallace Comprehensive Breast Program, for an entertaining and information-packed luncheon. Lancaster will share news about breakthroughs in research and treatments of women’s gynecologic cancers, including basic science and clinical trials that explore the genetic “fingerprint” of a patient’s cancer and known resistance to treatment. Laronga will report on plans for a landmark clinical study involving mastectomy patients.

“Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the gynecologic cancers,” Lancaster said. “It kills more women than any other type of gynecologic cancer. Patients do well initially until they become resistant to chemotherapy.”

Lancaster and his colleague Robert M. Wenham, M.D., M.S., FACOG, are part of a landmark national study to discover ways to counter resistance to ovarian cancer treatments. The study uses genetic expression signatures from the patient’s tumor as a biomarker to select a woman’s chemotherapy. Researchers take a biopsy of the tumor, extract its genetic material, place the material on a gene chip, and create a personalized fingerprint to predict the tumor’s response to different anticancer agents. This research allows physicians to select one of the two common, frontline drugs that work better in certain patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer.

Moderator Heidi Godman, the medical editor at WWSB, ABC 7, will be on hand to welcome guests and field questions. To purchase a ticket or for more information, contact Sue Bliss in the Moffitt Foundation at 1-800-456-3434, Ext. 4860, or (813) 745-4860 or visit us online at www.InsideMoffitt.com.

About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

According to the Department of Labor, employment opportunities for personal and home care aides – also called home care companions and personal attendants – is projected to grow by 51 percent between 2006 and 2016. Even as some of the later members of the famed Post-World War II “Baby Boom” generation are faced with providing care for aging family members, some of the earlier Boomers are beginning to look at care alternatives for themselves. These unique demographics are contributing to the significant increase in need for professional caregivers.

The role of home care aide or personal attendant is ideal for individuals coming from a non-healthcare background who are looking to begin a career assisting the elderly, disabled, and ill.

“Because it accommodates various levels of education and life experience, the position of home health aide is often the first step towards a successful career in healthcare,” says Ryan Sparks, Care2Learn Vice President of Content. “It is not uncommon for personal and home care aides to advance to become Home Health Aides or Certified Nursing Assistants. Some even continue their education to become Licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses. A little experience in the field is often exactly what it takes to reassure people that a career helping others is someplace they can make a difference and a living.”

Care2Learn’s 40-hour online certificate program uses a variety of blended learning techniques, interactive exercises, audio narration, “checkpoints” and more to keep students engaged and encourage retention. The courses can be taken at a student’s own pace and cover a broad spectrum of essential topics. In addition to titles such as “A Closer Look at Elder Abuse,” “Making a Positive Difference Everyday,” and “Dealing with Difficult People,” more complicated issues are addressed in a series. Each course in the “Care Basics” and “Dementia Care,” series, for instance, covers a separate aspect of the topic.

Because the home care aide field presents an exceptional opportunity in an otherwise difficult economy, workforce development coordinators are encouraged to contact Care2Learn at 941-567-2042. The Care2Learn Personal and Home Care Aide – Online Workforce Development Certificate can help candidates land positions in the field by showing potential employers that they have had comprehensive, job-specific preparation for the role.

About Care2Learn

Founded in 2000, Care2Learn provides online education solutions to the post-acute healthcare market, which includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home healthcare and hospice facilities. The Care2Learn course library includes approximately 2,700 accredited course hours delivered to more than 320,000 healthcare professionals in all 50 states.

Acquired by RedVector, an online continuing education company for the design, engineering, and construction industries, Care2Learn continues to grow by offering customized online eLearning universities to companies who want to offer training and education solutions to their entire staff in a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and readily accessible manner. For further information, call 1-866-703-9497 or visit www.Care2Learn.com.

USF will be one of 35 sites and eight sub-sites in the United States and Puerto Rico participating in the two studies, which are sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), both part of the National Institutes of Health. Investigators plan to vaccinate about 130 HIV-infected women and 140 HIV-infected children and young adults around the country.

USF is participating in both studies as part of its role as a site of the International Maternal-Pediatric-Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group (IMPAACT) network, a project of NIAID and NICHD that develops and implements multi-center HIV treatment and prevention research trials.

In the first study, on HIV-infected pregnant women, about 10 women are expected to be enrolled in the Tampa Bay area, said Dr. Karen L. Bruder, USF assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the principal investigator for USF’s study site. Dr. Bruder also is medical director of the Genesis at HealthPark clinic of Tampa General Hospital.

The study is particularly important for this group of women because pregnant women already are at greater risk of suffering serious complications from the H1N1 virus, largely because their immune systems do not function at their normal levels. If a pregnant woman also is infected with HIV, her immune system is further compromised.

“She is already immuno-suppressed,” Dr. Bruder said.

The study will look at how the vaccine affects the woman and her infant — for instance, how many antibodies to the H1N1 influenza virus does the woman develop in response to the vaccine? Are those antibodies transferred to the fetus? After the baby is born, does it still have antibodies to the virus?

The study will also evaluate whether the vaccine affects the woman’s HIV viral load or the cells in the immune system that are often affected by HIV.

Women in the study will receive two doses of vaccine. The women’s response to the vaccine will be evaluated during pregnancy, at delivery, and at 3 and 6 months after delivery. The babies will be evaluated when they are 3 and 6 months old.

USF’s work in the study will be performed at Genesis, Tampa General and at USF clinics.

In the second study, at least four HIV-infected children or young adults will receive the H1N1 vaccine at the USF clinics, said Dr. Jorge Lujan-Zilbermann, associate professor of pediatrics and principal investigator for the USF site of the study.

This study will divide subjects into three age groups: ages 4 to 9, 10 to 17, and 18 to 24. As in the first study, the children and young adults will receive vaccine in two doses three weeks apart. Study subjects will be followed for seven months.

The study will examine how safe the vaccine is, how effectively it stimulates the immune system to make antibodies to the H1N1 influenza virus, and how long children and young adults maintain these antibodies in their blood after being vaccinated. The study will also look at other immune responses.

The vaccine all study subjects will receive contains inactivated virus, so it will not be possible for them to contract H1N1 influenza from the vaccine. Because of the increased vulnerability of HIV-infected pregnant women, children and youth, the trials will test whether doses of the licensed 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine that are higher than doses being tested in other groups can safely elicit protective immune responses in these populations.

The IMPAACT sites participating in these studies will receive vaccine from Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics of Cambridge, Mass, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information about NIH-sponsored clinical trials of H1N1 influenza vaccine in HIV-infected pregnant women, children and youth, see http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/H1N1HIVTrials.htm and http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/H1N1VacHIVChildYouthPregWomenqa.htm

- USF Health -
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.4 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

“It is an honor to be chosen to serve as president-elect of such a prestigious organization,” Dalton said. “I’m looking forward to providing advice and counsel as well as representing the interests of AACI’s member institutions”

The AACI and the Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) held their 2009 Annual Meeting this week in Washington, D.C. Dalton attended a board meeting in his new role. The meeting brings leaders of AACI cancer centers — center directors and executive-level administrators — together with leaders of national cancer research and advocacy organizations, industry, and government health agencies to share best practices and devise solutions to common challenges.

Dalton was the founding director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Arizona. Dalton was first hired by Moffitt in 1997 as the associate center director for Clinical Investigations and was appointed deputy director in 1999. He was the professor and founding chairman of the Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, now the Department of Oncologic Sciences, at the University of South Florida from 1999 to 2001. He served as dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson from 2001 to 2002. Dalton returned to Moffitt in August 2002 in his current leadership role.

AACI comprises 95 of the leading cancer research centers in the United States. AACI’s membership roster includes National Cancer Institute-designated centers and academic-based cancer research programs that receive NCI support.

The association is dedicated to promoting the nation’s leading research institutions’ efforts to eradicate cancer through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program of cancer research, treatment, patient care, prevention, education and community outreach.

About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

A 21-member panel of private-sector experts representing health care plans, providers, purchasers, consumers and researchers comprises the council. They are being called upon to contribute varied perspectives on the health care system and provide recommendations to the AHRQ director and the HHS secretary on priorities for a national health services research agenda planning.
HHS is the principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans by providing effective services. AHRQ is the health services research arm of HHS. In fiscal year 2007, AHRQ created the Comparative Effectiveness Portfolio to provide health care decision-makers —including patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policymakers — with up-to-date, evidence-based information about their treatment options to make informed health care decisions.

The White House transition team recently utilized Dr. Gonzales’ expertise while formulating priorities and policies for HHS. He brings a unique combination of medical training — including psychiatric residencies at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School — and management expertise gained while working for top-tier public and private health organizations. He has dedicated the past 18 years to developing, overseeing and nurturing cutting-edge research, training and evaluation projects. He recognizes the vital connection between research, practice, education and policy to create lasting, widespread improvement.

Under the direction and leadership of Dr. Gonzales, the newly created BCS secured $39 million in external funding in FY 2008-09, second only to the College of Medicine at USF. Dr. Gonzales is currently the principal investigator on a $1.24 million research grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce healthcare disparities among Latinos with co-occurring depression and chronic medical conditions. He is also PI on a $285,000 NIH grant to develop a three-year integrated, interdisciplinary research conference series.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
– USF –

About Aurora Imaging Technology Inc.
Aurora Imaging Technology Inc. is a private company based in North Andover, Mass. committed to expanding the fight against breast cancer. Aurora strives to manufacture the highest quality and most cost-effective breast MRI solutions and partners with a growing number of the nation’s finest breast care centers to provide the ultimate in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. The Aurora System is in clinical use at a growing number of leading breast care centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia. To find an Aurora Breast MRI System near you, visit www.auroramri.com

About The Wellness Community
The Wellness Community is a national organization with local affiliates -there are 24 Wellness Communities across the United States and two international affiliates, in Tokyo, Japan and Tel Aviv, Israel. The Southwest Florida TWC facility is located on Clark Road in Sarasota, with satellite program offerings in Longboat Key, Bradenton, Venice, and Newtown. Since opening the Southwest Florida offices in 1996, more than 13,000 people have utilized TWC services.

About Clear Channel Radio
Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company’s content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others. The company’s operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com. Clear Channel Radio serves the Sarasota-Bradenton communities with radio stations: 107.9 WSRZ, 92.1 Lite FM, 106.5 WCTQ, 105.9 The Buzz, and 1320/1450 AM – The Dove.

“To date, we have identified only a few studies that have systematically examined identified psychosocial constructs that influence the experience of cancer-related pain in older adults,” said Baker. “Meanwhile we’ll be implementing an education-based cancer pain management intervention among these elderly cancer patients. The use of elderly adults, in this study, will provide new information on the role these psychosocial factors have on influencing the management of cancer pain symptoms.

“This project is proven to work in that it is a simple and direct method of disseminating important information to older adults, particularly in older minority patients (i.e., Blacks), who are often misinformed and disenfranchised. More importantly, it will prove beneficial in serving as an initial step in addressing and possibly eliminating identified barriers to effective cancer pain management among the elderly and other marginalized populations.”

The NIH/NCI Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Diversity is given to projects that support the awardee’s transition to independent researcher. According to NIH, the grant was designed “to support and enhance the likelihood of success for underrepresented minority investigators who have committed to basic, clinical, and prevention and population-based research careers in cancer.” Baker is using the funding to serve both her career and the public interest.

“This career development funding mechanism will allow me to develop a knowledge-base in geriatric oncology as well as gain a better understanding the dynamics of health disparities in relation to cancer and pain, and why they continue to be of growing concern locally, nationally, and internationally,” she said.

Primary mentors on the project are: William Haley (USF School of Aging Studies); Susan McMillan (USF College of Nursing); Lodovico Balducci, MD (Moffitt Cancer Center); Brent Small (USF School of Aging Studies), and Karen O. Anderson (MD Anderson Cancer Center Texas).

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
– USF –

“I’m delighted by the decision of the BWG-CMC group,” said ISPE President and CEO Robert P. Best. “This marks a significant opportunity for PQLI. We can now provide even greater support to the biotechnology community in the implementation of the advanced concepts of Quality by Design. We will introduce the case study at our Annual Meeting, and we have plans to use it extensively around the world in discussions with industry and regulators throughout 2010 and beyond.”

The CMC-BWG consortium comprises some 40 members from seven companies (Abbott, Amgen, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Medimmune, and Pfizer) and was established in 2008 to develop a case study illustrating how the principles of Quality by Design (QbD) can be applied to the development of biotechnology products, focusing on monoclonal antibodies. The A-Mab case study discusses the development of a monoclonal antibody and incorporates many advanced and aspirational QbD concepts.

“The CMC-BWG team has created an amazing and unique case study that is generating intense interest and excitement amongst the Industry and Regulatory Agencies around the world,” said ISPE PQLI Project Manager, John Berridge, who served as one of the facilitators for A-Mab. “Many have questioned whether the principles of QbD are applicable to biotechnology. A-Mab answers that question with a resounding ‘yes.’ The mission was to describe a future state based on new ways of thinking and A-Mab definitely challenges the sometimes conservative ways industry does things today. We were constantly pushing the envelope to capture an aspirational QbD state showing enhanced product and process understanding. This is not a mock submission seeking regulatory approval. A-Mab provides many illustrative, sometimes controversial, examples of ways to implement QbD and will stimulate discussion about how the science supports these examples and how we can enhance future biotechnology product realization. This is an exciting ‘next step’ in the biotechnology work of PQLI.”

About ISPE
ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is the Society of choice for 24,000 technical professionals working in or serving the manufacturing sector or drug development in the pharmaceutical industry in 90 countries. ISPE aims to be the catalyst for “Engineering Pharmaceutical Innovation” by providing Members with opportunities to develop their technical knowledge, exchange practical experience within their community, enhance their professional skills, and collaborate with global regulatory agencies and industry leaders. Founded in 1980, ISPE offers online learning opportunities for a global audience and has its worldwide headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; its European office in Brussels, Belgium; its Asia Pacific office in Singapore; and its newly established office in Shanghai, China. Visit www.ISPE.org for additional Society news and information.

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