Baptist Health South Florida Chairman of the Board,
Judge Robert Dubé; President and CEO, Brian E. Keeley.
Trustees: Tony Alonso, Calvin Babcock, Yerby Barker,
Wendell Beard, George Cadman III, James Carr, the Rev.
William Chambers III, the Rev. David W. Cleeland, George
Corrigan, William Dickinson, Joyce Elam, Herbert Greene,
M.D., George Harth, Jay Hershoff, Charles Hood III, the Rev.
Dr. Gary Johnson, Norman Kenyon, M.D., Rudy Kranys,
the Rev. Richard Ledgister, the Rev. Wilner Maxy, Paul May,
the Rev. Dr. Marcos Ramos, Aida Shafer, Ronald Shuffield,
Roberta Stokes, W. Peter Temling, the Rev. Tom Thompson,
Bill Tillett, Scott Weston, the Rev. Dr. William White.
Baptist Hospital of Miami Board Chair, Calvin Babcock;
President, Medical Staff, Eugene Eisner, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Bo Boulenger.
South Miami Hospital Board Chair, Yerby Barker;
President, Medical Staff, Guillermo Pol, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Mendez.
Homestead Hospital Board Chair, the Rev.William Chambers
III; President, Medical Staff, George Tershakovec, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, William Duquette.
Mariners Hospital Board Chair, Jay Hershoff;
President, Medical Staff, Elisa Brown-Soltero, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Rick Freeburg.
Doctors Hospital Board Chair, Norman Kenyon, M.D.;
President, Medical Staff, Jack Cooper, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Lazo.
West Kendall Baptist Hospital Board Chair, Tony Alonso;
President, Medical Staff, Juan Carlos Verdeja, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Javier Hernandez-Lichtl.
Baptist Outpatient Services Board Chair, Roberta Stokes;
Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Rosello.
Baptist Health Enterprises Board Chair, James Carr;
Chief Executive Officer, Ana Lopez-Blazquez.
Baptist Health South Florida Foundation Board Chair,
Rudy Kranys; Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Parsons.
Directors of Affiliated Boards Yvette Aleman, Dick
Anderson, George Aronoff, Orlando Bajos, James Barker,
Matthew Becherer, Robert Berrin, Bonnie Blaire, James
Boruszak, Steven Brodie, Bette Brown, Joseph Buchanan,
Robert Burstein, Miguel Cano, Willie Carpenter, Mark Caruso,
M.D., Gerald Case, Ray Castellanos, Mauricio Cayon, Barron
Channer, Maria Costa-Smith, Agustin de Goytisolo, Elizabeth
Diaz de Villegas, Lani Kahn Drody, Joyce Elam, Tomas Erban,
Manuel Fernandez, Rev. Otto Fernandez, Armando Ferrer,
Ph.D., Carlos Garcia, Peter Gardner, Maria Garza, William
Gilbert Jr., Robert Gintel, Gretchen Goslin, Michael Graham,
M.D., Leif Gunderson, Barry Halpern, M.D., Kent Hamill, James
Harris, Alysa Herman, M.D., Gerald Hirsch, Nathan Hirsch,
M.D., G. Glenn Huber, Jacque Huttoe, Jeanne Jacobs, Ph.D.,
David Johnson, Lane Jones, S. Lawrence Kahn III, George
Kakouris, George Knox, Manuel Lasaga, Katrina Lavene,
Cynthia Leesfield, Maria Camila Leiva, Orlando Leon, M.D.,
Andrew Levy, James Loewenherz, M.D., Victoria London,
Miriam Lopez, John Maas, Bruce MacArthur, Joseph McCain,
DMD, Derek McDowell, Jo McGregor-Ganus, Stanley
Margulies, M.D., Joy Martin, Charlie Martinez, Andrew
Menachem, Hans Mueller, Patricia Mull, Ramon Oyarzun,
Martha Pantin, Johanna Paterson, Ann Pope, Samuel Porco
Jr., DMD, Juan-Carlos Quintero, DMD, Ramón Rasco, Charlen
Regan, Ian Reiss, M.D., Bonnie Rippingille, John Rock,
M.D., Domingo Rodriguez, Steven Sapp, Joel Schenkman,
M.D., Betty Schilling, I.E. Schilling, Robert Shafer Jr., Emery
Sheer, Joel Shepherd, Karent Sierra, DDS, Paul Soulé,
Patricia Stanley, Lee Stapleton, Rene Taylor, Patricia
Thorp, Bill Tillett, Joseph Traina, M.D., Sats Tripathy, Nick
Waddell, Jeff Weiner, Warren Weiser, Lisa White, William
Wilson III, Robert Zolten, M.D., Leonard Zwerling, M.D.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Roymi V. Membiela
EDITOR Jo Baxter
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Christine Kotler, Patty Shillington
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Liz Doup, Elizabeth Rosenthal,
Adrienne Sylver, Phyllis Teitelbaum, Tanya Walton
ART DIRECTOR Elizabeth Lane Lawhorn
PHOTOGRAPHY Steven Brooke, Gort Productions,
Mabel Rodriguez
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Georgette Koch, Barbara Moore,
Laura Pincus, Kelli Romano, Dorothy Stein, Anne Streeter,
Shannon J. Zemantauski
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Centered on me.
At South Miami Hospital’s Center for Women & Infants, our patient
care navigator is your convenient, personal guide to getting the
care you need. From scheduling appointments to helping you find
the right doctor, she will be with you every step of the way. It’s a
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navigator, call 786-662-8585 or visit CenteredOnMe.com.
Women & Health
Lymph node study changes cancer care
T
here was one thing lawyer Elizabeth
du Fresne knew when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000: She
didn’t want all of her underarm lymph
nodes removed along with the cancerous lump in her breast. “I had painful
rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and
didn’t want to risk developing lymphedema,” she said.
Lymphedema is a persistent and painful
swelling in the hand and arm that affects
about 15 percent of women whose lymph
nodes are removed. The swelling results
from disruption of the flow of lymph fluid in
the arm, caused by the surgery.
Ms. du Fresne’s breast surgeon, Robert
Derhagopian, M.D.,
was reluctant to leave
the nodes because
cancer was found
in a crucial sentinel
node under her
arm. Removing the
remainder of the
nodes would eliminate any cancer that
Robert Derhagopian, might have found
M.D.
its way to them. But
together, Ms. du Fresne and her surgeon
sought out research studies, consulted
with several cancer specialists and carefully weighed the risks and benefits. They
made a shared decision to leave her lymph
nodes intact. After treatment with lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy, Ms. du
Fresne is alive and well 11 years later.
Today, based on a groundbreaking
study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association, that decision would have been easier for Ms. du
Fresne and her doctor. According to the
research, it may not be necessary to
remove multiple underarm lymph nodes
in women with early breast cancer, as has
traditionally been done. If cancer is found
in only one or two crucial sentinel nodes,
removing more nodes does not improve
survival or change the need for radiation
and chemotherapy.
The findings of the study do not apply
to all breast cancer patients. They’re lim-
ited to women whose disease meets
certain criteria — about 20 percent of
patients, or 40,000 women annually in the
United States. The women in the study, like
Ms. du Fresne, had small tumors; and biopsies of one or two nodes found cancer, but
the nodes were not enlarged enough to be
felt. In addition, the cancer had not spread.
All the women also had lumpectomies and
radiation therapy and a majority also
underwent chemotherapy.
“The study is important,” said Dr.
Derhagopian. “But, until we get more
research data, particularly on long-term
survival, I’m going to be cautious and will
only forgo lymph node removal in carefully selected cases.”
Breast surgeon Cristina Lopez-Penalver,
M.D., is taking a similar approach. “It
changes what I do in a certain group of
women—those who meet the study criteria.” She added that she makes the decision “after considering all factors, including the patient’s preference.”
Elizabeth du Fresne decided against
lymph node removal.
“It’s a big decision that every woman
needs to make with her surgeon,” Ms. du
Fresne said. “I’m confident that my doctor and I made the best decision for me.”
— Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.
SHARING FAMILY TIME ANYTIME
New mom Stephanie Morales, along with husband Luis Salazar (left), son Miguel
Morales, 4, and family members John and Laura Busta, bonds with tiny Mason
Andres Salazar at Baptist Hospital. Baptist Health hospitals are moving toward
“open visitation” to encourage the inclusion of family and friends at any time.
This is part of our patient- and family-centered care philosophy.
RESOURCE
3
Targeting cancer’s
molecular tracks
An experimental pill — no chemo, no radiation, no surgery — was all
Jorge Averhoff needed to put his cancer into quick and painless remission. His ongoing treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia, a blood
cancer that causes an overproduction of white blood cells, has been so
tolerable that the 36-year-old father of two boys has never missed a
day of work or a workout at the gym because of side effects.
Ricardo Estape, M.D.
4 RESOURCE
Just a few years ago, Mimi Rodriguez’s breast cancer treatment regimen would have included
chemotherapy following her mastectomy. But a new test, Oncotype DX, which analyzed a group of genes
in a tumor sample from her breast cancer, showed the odds were very high that her cancer would not recur
and that adding chemotherapy to an oral anti-hormone therapy would not benefit her.
“I did not need chemo,” said Ms. Rodriguez, 46, “and that was a blessing.”
Nadine Nunberg, 49, opted for a preventive hysterectomy and removal of her ovaries after she was
treated for breast cancer and learned from a genetic test that she had a BRCA mutation associated with a
high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The operation, which followed a double mastectomy and
chemotherapy, was done by gynecological surgeon Ricardo Estape, M.D., with the help of a robotic arm he
controlled from a nearby console. Thanks to tiny incisions and robotic precision, Ms. Nunberg had little
bleeding and a very short recovery time.
“It was easier than the cesarean delivery of my daughter,” Ms. Nunberg said.
The experiences of Mr. Averhoff, Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Nunberg reflect the broad new landscape of
cancer care. Research into the genetic underpinnings of cancer is leading to targeted treatments that are
less harsh and more effective. New drugs and high-tech tools soften the once-debilitating side effects of
chemotherapy and radiation. Interventional radiologists work with radiation specialists to reach tumors
that were once inoperable. Surgeons use minimally invasive laparoscopes and robotic arms to improve
precision and lessen the impact of operations.
Baptist Health cancer specialists Grace Wang, M.D., and Leonard Kalman, M.D., have seen the dramatic
shifts in cancer care since they began practicing in 1982. At that time, effective treatment options were
scarce for some patients with advanced cancer. In addition, patients experienced significant side effects
from many chemotherapy drugs, and more invasive surgical procedures required much longer recovery
periods. When common diseases like lung cancer or colon cancer recurred after surgery, patients survived
for only months. “You don’t realize until you think about it how far we’ve come,” Dr. Kalman said. “We now
have some patients with recurrent colon cancer and lung cancer living for years.”
Dr. Wang, who specializes in breast cancer, notes that the death rate from breast cancer has dropped
30 percent since 1990. Five years from now, nine out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer will be
alive. “We’re talking about survivorship issues now. I spend a lot of time during office visits emphasizing
lifestyle changes — a low-fat diet, low alcohol and exercise — because these add to your quality of life and
can increase survival and decrease
recurrence.
“It’s an exciting time in oncology,”
Dr. Wang said.
Indeed, one dramatic surgical
advance now allows certain women to
become pregnant and give birth via Csection after treatment for early-stage
cancer of the cervix. Conventional
treatment left patients infertile. “We
used to remove the uterus,” said Baptist Health gynecologic cancer surgeon
Manuel Peñalver, M.D., chairman of
obstetrics and gynecology at Florida
International University’s Herbert
Wertheim College of Medicine.
Today, thanks to a special surgical
technique and minimally invasive
approach with a laparoscope, Dr.
Peñalver can remove the cervix
through the vagina and then reattach
Nadine Nunberg, now cancer-free, has routine follow-up visits with Grace Wang, M.D.
the uterus to the top of the vagina.
“Preserving reproductive capacity is a big thing,” said Dr. Peñalver, who, along with his partners, has
spared the fertility of more than a dozen women with early-stage cancer of the cervix.
Minimizing side effects
Today, even people whose cancer can’t be cured are often able to maintain a high quality of life for many
years. Consequently, there’s a growing focus on preventing or limiting the side effects of treatment, so people with cancer can more fully enjoy their lives.
Some women with advanced ovarian cancer now can receive chemotherapy as the first course of treatment to shrink the tumor before it’s surgically removed. “Reducing the tumor bulk makes surgery less
aggressive and easier on the patient,” Dr. Peñalver said.
The side effects associated with chemotherapy — nausea and vomiting — are largely a thing of the
past, thanks to new drugs such as aprepitant and palonosetron. “My patients are pleasantly surprised
when it’s not as bad as they thought,” Dr. Wang said.
Patients on certain cancer drugs are vulnerable to serious infections due to a drop in white blood cells
and may end up hospitalized from this dangerous side effect. But another medication, pegfilgrastim,
counters that side effect, stimulating the rapid return of white blood cells after chemotherapy. “These
growth factors for white blood cells are keeping patients out of the hospital,” Dr. Wang said.
Manuel Peñalver, M.D.
Continued on page 6
RESOURCE 5
Continued from page 5
Some cancer treatments, including hormone therapy, certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation to
the pelvis, decrease bone density, putting patients at risk for fractures. But drugs prescribed for osteoporosis are very effective at stopping bone loss and increasing bone density.
New ways to give pain medicine are more convenient and faster-acting. For example, the pain drug
fentanyl can be absorbed through a skin patch or inside the cheek as a berry-flavored lollipop.
Technological advances
High-tech tools and techniques developed in recent years for radiation help target therapy to the millimeter, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Both Baptist and South Miami Hospitals offer image-guided radiation therapy, or IGRT, the most
advanced form of radiation therapy available. IGRT uses CT imaging, known as cone beam CT, to visualize a region of the body immediately before and while radiation is delivered. This enhances the accuracy
of the radiation dose by allowing doctors in real time to visually track the tumor, which may change position during the course of treatment.
In addition, Baptist and South Miami also use “respiratory gating,” which pinpoints the slightly changing position of a tumor as the patient breathes. The system turns the radiation beam on and off, according to the location of the tumor during the breathing cycle. Respiratory gating refines radiation for lung,
liver and pancreatic cancer treatment, and further reduces side effects.
New techniques and uses of technology also are easing radiation treatment.
Certain early-stage breast cancer patients, for example, can be treated with partial breast irradiation,
instead of radiation to the whole breast, which reduces both the time spent in treatment and the potential side effects. Preliminary results of a research study on partial breast irradiation based at Baptist Hospital are “very encouraging” and will be published later this year in the International Journal of Radiation
Oncology * Biology * Physics, said Andre Abitbol, M.D., Baptist Hospital’s associate medical director of
radiation oncology. Those early results suggest that partial breast irradiation is safe and as effective as
whole-breast radiation with certain patients.
For early-stage, inoperable lung cancer, another innovative treatment, stereotactic ablative body
radiotherapy (SABR) has had high rates of success in keeping tumors at bay. “This has resulted in significant control of lung cancer,” Dr. Abitbol said. Three years after treatment, tumor control was achieved in
more than 95 percent of cases reviewed in several recent studies. In fact, the effectiveness of SABR in
patients with inoperable tumors is comparable to what is typically achieved with surgery. That finding may
give some patients with operable tumors the choice of having SABR instead of surgery.
Other patients with inoperable tumors have a new minimally invasive option for treatment in the
growing field of interventional oncology. Baptist Health’s interventional radiologists can freeze, burn or
radiate some types of cancer in the liver,
kidney, lung, colon or bone. The doctors
use real-time images to guide needles
and catheters under the skin to the
tumors, where the treatment is delivered.
These less invasive techniques are proving to extend and improve life for some
people with metastatic cancer.
Personalizing treatment
Leonard Kalman, M.D., confers with nurses in his office.
6 RESOURCE
An explosion of insight into the fundamental makeup of tumors is fueling the
creation of so-called molecularly targeted
drugs. This is the wave of the future, Dr.
Kalman and Dr. Wang agree. As scientists
discover more about the molecular pathways that lead to tumor growth, they can
create more drugs to block those growth
mechanisms. “The hottest topic in cancer
care is personalized medicine,” Dr.
Kalman said.
Research into the genetic underpinnings of cancer is leading to
targeted treatments that are less harsh and more effective.
MOFFITT CANCER CENTER
Targeted therapies work in different ways. Some cause the death of cancer cells or help the immune
system destroy them. Others block enzymes and growth factor receptors or affect the proteins that control
gene expression. (For the National Cancer Institute’s fact sheet on targeted cancer therapies, go to
cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/targeted.)
One of the first major targeted therapies for breast cancer, what Dr. Wang called “a miraculous breakthrough
drug,” was trastuzumab (more commonly known by the brand name Herceptin). It is credited with the complete remission of HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer in women such as Mayra Blel, who began taking the
drug after breast cancer spread to her lung. Almost a decade later, “I am cancer-free,” said Ms. Blel, 55.
It was also a targeted drug, nilotinib, that stopped Mr. Averhoff’s cancer — most likely by interfering
with the signal to produce leukemic cells. “I am in MMR — major molecular remission. It’s wonderful,” Mr.
Averhoff said.
Targeted drugs also are available for some types of colon, stomach, kidney, head and neck, lung,
pancreatic and blood cancers. In the case of non-small cell lung cancer with the EGFR mutation, patients
Jorge Averhoff
can take an oral drug (Tarceva) and avoid harsher chemotherapy, Dr. Kalman said.
While dozens of targeted drugs already have been developed to address some of the more common characteristics of
malignant tumors, over time tumors develop additional
molecular and genetic changes and some patients’ tumors
become resistant to their original therapy. A landmark study, in
which Baptist Health is participating, is underway to create an
unprecedented repository of tumor specimens and patient
information. Moffitt Cancer Center’s Total Cancer Care™ will
Melanoma
Skin Cancer
develop a database of the genetic profiles of tumors.
Researchers hope to use that data to develop new targeted
drugs.
One day, as tumor analysis becomes even more sophisticated, cancer patients may take medicine individually
designed for them based on features unique to their tumor.
“We are moving toward understanding the genetic and
molecular profile of an individual patient’s tumor. If we
Glioblastoma
accomplish this, we will be able to direct our therapy specifiBrain Cancer
Adenocarcinoma Cervical Cancer
cally against that tumor, minimizing side effects and avoiding
treatments that will not work,” Dr. Kalman said. “Everyone’s
Ninety-seven participating surgeons make Baptist Health
trying to get there.”
one of the top contributors of tumor specimens to TampaSome people may avoid cancer altogether through genetic
based Moffitt Cancer Center’s landmark study, Total
tests both existing and on the horizon. For cancer-related
Cancer Care.™ The study is creating a database of tumor
genetic mutations that can be confirmed with a simple blood
genetic profiles for the development of targeted therapies.
test, those at high risk can opt for preventive care. That may
Researchers hope to use that data to develop new
include close monitoring, targeted medications such as tamoxtargeted drugs.
ifen (in the case of breast cancer risk) or surgery to remove the
organs. Ms. Nunberg, a strong advocate for genetic testing
awareness, wishes she had known about the BRCA test before
she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “My cancer was highly preventable,” she said.
A final aspect to personalized medicine is the bond between patient and doctor. Ms. Nunberg said her
cancer team specialists — Dr. Wang, Dr. Estape, breast surgeon Robert Derhagopian, M.D., and plastic surgeon Deirdre Marshall, M.D. — “are the most fantastic human beings who make it their mission to effect
change and educate the public.
“I have access to healthcare anywhere — Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Sloan Kettering — and I chose
these doctors,” she said. “There isn’t anything better out there as far as their skill, knowledge and humanitarianism.”
— Patty Shillington and Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.
RESOURCE 7
KidStuff
Tot defies odds; survives near-drowning
n mid-February, weeks shy of his third
birthday, Georgie Montes was pulled
lifeless from a backyard swimming pool.
He wasn’t breathing. He had no pulse.
Georgie’s outlook was poor, but doctors
at Baptist Children’s Hospital quickly
began hypothermia, cooling his body to
minimize and prevent brain damage. Ten
days later, Georgie walked out of the hospital. And by the time Georgie turned 3 on
March 10, he was running, playing and
shouting. It was a celebration of not just
his survival, said his parents, but of the fact
I
that he showed few to no lasting signs of
his near-death experience.
“There aren’t words to express how he
has recovered,” said his mother, Rita. “It’s
surreal.”
Children who remain in the water for as
long as Georgie (estimated at five to seven
minutes), often don’t live. Or, if they do,
many have irreversible brain damage, said
Arcenio Chacon, M.D., medical director of
the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit.
“A number of factors were in Georgie’s
favor,” Dr. Chacon said. “It was a cold day,
For Georgie Montes, 3, playing with a puzzle is just fun. But occupational therapist
Gloria Vignau knows better. Handling small puzzle pieces helped Georgie refine
his motor skills after nearly drowning.
8 RESOURCE
in the 50s in Miami, and the water was
colder than usual. He was a healthy little
boy before he fell in the pool. His outcome
may have been different if he’d had asthma
or some other medical problem.”
As soon as Georgie was resuscitated and
then stabilized in Baptist Children’s Emergency Center, he was moved to pediatric
intensive care. There, he was sedated and
placed in a coma and on a ventilator to help
him breathe. The cooling blanket was
tucked around his body, and his temperature was maintained for two days at around
93° Fahrenheit, five degrees lower than the
98.6° considered normal.
“Hypothermia slows the metabolic
process,” explained pediatric neurologist
Ken Butler, M.D., who also cared for
Georgie. “The belief is that if you can slow
down the mental processing, you can slow
the damage to brain cells. It’s kind of like
running an engine with no oil. If you keep
running the engine, there’s permanent
damage. But if you shut the engine down,
you prevent the damage.”
Hypothermia is successfully used for
injuries that interrupt the flow of oxygen to
the brain, such as heart attack. Both Baptist Hospital’s and South Miami Hospital’s
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units for
premature and very ill infants also use
hypothermia for some newborns whose
brains are deprived of oxygen during birth.
“We really didn’t know what to expect
when Georgie woke up,” said his father,
George. “When his body was warmer and
he was coming off the sedatives, a physical
therapist came in and tried to get him to
move his arm to grab a block. He couldn’t
do it. He slept that night and when he
woke up, he grabbed my cell phone,
unlocked it, went to his favorite app and
started playing the game.”
The rest of Georgie’s remarkable recovery proceeded in a similar, rapid fashion.
“It was astounding,” his dad said. “Even
the staff was calling him a miracle baby.”
— Adrienne Sylver
All about kids
Join the parenting experts at Baptist Children’s Hospital for enlightening conversation and practical advice. Each program is
held in the auditorium at Baptist Hospital
and costs $5, unless otherwise noted.
You must reserve your space by calling
786-596-3812.
KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE
With a jump, Kelia Mallas, 2, heads toward AquaKids Coach Ellie in
a swim class for toddlers.
SWIM LESSONS FOR TOTS?
Georgie Montes took swimming lessons, received a certificate and
was a natural in the water, said his father, a physical education
teacher. No one knows for sure how Georgie circumvented the fence
that surrounded his uncle’s pool; and a fall into cold water wearing
heavy winter clothes is no match for a toddler. Still, his father believes
that small children should learn to swim.
Coach Lou Manganiello agrees. He’s taught kids, although not
Georgie, to swim for three decades and runs AquaKids at the Winston
Park pool and Westminster Christian School. “There’s no such thing as
drown-proofing,” he said. “It’s impossible to duplicate every panic situation. Trying to prepare a child involves having them roll onto their
backs and float, or kick to the wall. Those are the skills we stress. And
if it gives them an extra minute or two, it could save a life.”
Begin swim lessons when children are between 18 and 24 months
old, advises Coach Manganiello. The American Academy of Pediatrics, a group that used to endorse swim lessons only for kids ages 4
and up, changed its opinion recently to say that children ages 1 to 4
can benefit from formal swim lessons as long as they are healthy and
developmentally ready.
“It’s a skill you can’t be without in South Florida. We talk to the kids
and parents about the rules,” Coach Manganiello said. “You don’t
go in the pool unless an adult is with you. Even during lessons, they
are not allowed to let go of the wall until we give them permission.”
Also important, he adds, is for everyone in the home to know CPR
and how to dial 911. Georgie’s uncle started CPR and paramedics
told his father that it may have helped. And finally, don’t forget pool
maintenance, the use of fences and alarms — and sunscreen.
—Adrienne Sylver
Thursday, June 23, 7-9 p.m.
Having fun on Facebook,
in chat rooms and on
other social networking
sites may increase your
child’s circle of friends.
But who is “chatting”
with your child online, and
what might their intentions
be? Sgt. Joseph Bermudez of the MiamiDade Police Department shares tips for
parents and kids to keep your family
Internet-savvy and cyber-safe. For parents
and children age 8 and up.
DISCOVERING ART & MUSIC
TOGETHER
Thursday, August 25, 7-9
p.m. You might have a
petite Picasso or a budding Beethoven in your
home, but your child
doesn’t have to be a prodigy
to benefit from the brain-boosting power of art and music. Art therapist
Patricia Isis, Ph.D., and music therapist
Joseph Goelz take parents and children on
an adventure to explore the magical world
of art and music together. For parents and
school-age children.
8900 North Kendall Drive
RESOURCE 9
Senior{Focus
Preventive care
can soothe aging feet
efore Cristina Alejandre started taking
her 89-year-old mother for regular foot
care, she didn’t think much about aging
feet. “This has made me a lot more
conscious of what can happen,’’ she
said. “I realize I need to take care of them.”
At 64, Ms. Alejandre is among the early
wave of 78 million baby boomers now seeing firsthand how feet change with age and
how time takes its toll.
“The same thing that happens to other
parts of the body happens to the feet,’’ said
podiatrist Jason Hanft, DPM, medical director of South Miami Hospital’s Foot and
Ankle Residency Program. “The production
of collagen slows and you lose elasticity, just
as you do in your face and hands.”
Ultimately, your aging feet become
B
more sensitive to the outside environment. The skin no longer
responds as effectively to external
traumas, such as pressure, abrasions and cuts. It’s also more disposed to fungal problems and
viral infections, such as warts.
“That once strong barrier now
has a chink in its armor,” said Dr.
Hanft, who treats Ms. Alejandre’s
mother.
In addition, the “fat pad” or cushion on the ball of your foot gets thinner
with age, said Thomas San Giovanni,
M.D., a Doctors Hospital orthopedic surgeon who is a foot and ankle specialist.
That cushioning functions as a shock
absorber when you walk.
“When you lose it, you can feel as if
you’re walking on the bones,’’ he said.
Over-the-counter or prescription medications can typically handle the skin problems. And corrective shoe inserts usually
can alleviate the pain caused by the thinning “fat pad.”
Some foot problems are inherited,
including bunions, the large bony bump at
the big toe joint. People aren’t born with
the problem; rather, they inherit the foot
types that are prone to developing
bunions. High-heeled or ill-fitting shoes
can irritate bunions, causing redness, pain
and swelling, but they don’t cause them,
Dr. Hanft said.
The tendency to develop hammertoes,
a toe that curls due to a bend in the middle
joint, is also inherited. So the condition
KEEPING BUSY
Val Janik, a lively 93-year-old, says keeping busy keeps her healthy. One way she
does that is by volunteering at Homestead Hospital’s Gift Shop — something she’s
done for 32 years. “I really enjoy interacting with our customers,” she said. “I don’t
want to just sit and watch TV.” For information about volunteering at any Baptist
Health hospital, contact the hospital’s volunteer services department.
10 R E S O U R C E
may occur despite wearing appropriate
footwear.
When bunions or hammertoes are so
severe they cause acute pain, surgery may
be necessary for relief. But often, corrective
shoe inserts, which can relieve foot problems, and footwear wide enough to
accommodate bunions and high enough
to accommodate hammertoes are simpler
and effective solutions.
Though you can’t stop aging, you can
take precautions to keep your feet in good
form. Wear properly fitted shoes with good
support and cushioning. To catch problems early, make a daily foot inspection
part of your routine, “like brushing your
teeth,’’ Dr. Hanft advised. Clean your feet
thoroughly, including between the toes.
And once a week spray your shoes with a
disinfectant and let them sit for 30 minutes to kill fungus. Staying active also can
help promote healthy feet and keep them
flexible.
As a young concert pianist, Bess Russinof Kronowitz worried more about her
hands than her feet. Now 100, she sees Dr.
Hanft for her foot care and follows his
advice concerning hygiene.
“Even a little thing can become a big
thing if you don’t take care of it,’’ she said.
“At my age, I feel very fortunate that I can
— Liz Doup
still walk on both feet.”
SeniorCalendar
June, July & August
If you’re 55 or older, take advantage of the programs and health screenings offered by Baptist Health just for you. Programs are free
(unless otherwise noted). Space is limited and registration is required for all programs. A tour of the host facility may follow. For programs
in English, call 786-596-3812; for programs in Spanish, call 786-596-3814; or e-mail us at [email protected]. For more
information on other Baptist Health programs, visit baptisthealth.net.
Baptist Medical Plaza at Doral
9915 NW 41 Street, Suite 210
Health Resource Center
Dance for the Health of It,
Friday, June 17, 1-2 p.m.,
Carol Kaminsky,
instructor.
Ending Knee Pain,
Tuesday, August 23,
7-8 p.m., Dr. Richard Levitt,
orthopedic surgeon.
Baptist Health Resource
Center at Informed Families
2490 Coral Way, 2nd Floor
Exercises to Avoid Falls (in Spanish),
Friday, June 10, 1-2 p.m.,
Lida Rivera-Perez, physical therapist.
Aging and Spirituality (in Spanish),
Friday, July 22, 1-2 p.m., the
Rev. Guillermo Escalona, chaplain.
Strike Back Against Stroke (in Spanish),
Friday, July 29, 1-2 p.m., Dr. Sergio
Jaramillo, neurologist.
Improve Your Vision With Cataract
Surgery (in Spanish),
Monday, August 29, 1-2 p.m., Dr. Ariadna
Gonzalez, ophthalmologist.
Baptist Medical Plaza at
Westchester
8820 Bird Road, Suite 400
Health Resource Center
Living Well: Exercising for Better
Health, Thursday, July 14, 7-8 p.m.,
Mary Desimone, exercise physiologist.
The ABC’s of IBS (Irritable Bowel
Syndrome), Tuesday, July 19, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Seth Rosen, gastroenterologist.
Is Your Diabetes Under Control?
(in Spanish), Monday, July 25, 7-8 p.m.,
Vivian Fernandez, registered dietitian.
Baptist Medical Plaza at
Coral Gables
10 Giralda Avenue
Stroke: What to Do When It Strikes,
Monday, August 1, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Italo Linfante, interventional
neuroradiologist.
Women’s Health Resource
Center
8950 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 105
High Blood Pressure: It’s Not Just a
Number (in Spanish), Wednesday, June
22, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Mario Almeida-Suarez,
internal medicine.
Community Center
at Ludovici Park
17641 Old Cutler Road
Palmetto Bay Library, 2nd Floor
What Is Minimally Invasive Heart
Surgery? (in Spanish), Tuesday,
June 21, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Niberto Moreno,
cardiothoracic surgeon.
Vitamins: Clearing Up
the Confusion, Tuesday,
June 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m.,
Marie-Elsie Ade,
pharmacist.
Vitamins and Your Health, Tuesday,
July 12, 7-8 p.m., Julia Khalil, pharmacist.
Meditating for Better Health,
Tuesday, July 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m.,
Patricia Isis, art therapist.
Diabetes: Focus on Your Health,
Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m.-12 noon,
diabetes management lectures, nutrition,
eye care, health and podiatry screenings
and exercise demonstrations.
Ageless Skin:
What’s New in
Dermatology?
Wednesday,
July 27, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Deborah
Longwill,
dermatologist.
Surgical Treatments for Glaucoma
(in Spanish), Monday, August 22, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Carlos Buznego, ophthalmologist.
Stress Less: What to Expect From a Cardiac Stress Test, Wednesday, August 31,
7-8 p.m., Dr. Alvaro Gomez, cardiologist.
Homestead Hospital
975 Baptist Way
Diabetes: Focus on Your Health (in
Spanish), Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m.12 noon, diabetes management lectures,
nutrition, eye care, health and podiatry
screenings and exercise demonstrations.
Ongoing Programs
SHINE. Get help with Medicare and
other insurance concerns. Free.
Call 305-670-6500, Ext. 270, for an
appointment with a bilingual counselor.
Senior Advantage. Offering adults 55
and older a dining discount at most of
our hospitals, volunteer opportunities
at locations close to your home and free
participation at most educational
programs. No enrollment necessary.
For information, call 786-596-3895.
R E S O U R C E 11
‘Simply Spectacular!’ West Kendall
Something to celebrate!
The new West Kendall
Baptist Hospital is affiliated
with FIU's Herbert Wertheim
College of Medicine.
12 R E S O U R C E
est Kendall Baptist Hospital has everything you’d expect in a new facility —
advanced diagnostic tools, a critical care unit packed with the latest technology, an emergency center equipped to handle 40,000 patients a year and care
provided by skilled, compassionate doctors and employees. But the first new
non-replacement hospital in Miami-Dade County in more than 35 years has
a few surprises, too. Opened April 27, West Kendall Baptist Hospital features
room service so that patients can eat when they feel hungry, bedside computer
documentation in every patient room and numerous “green” advances like a
charging station for electric vehicles.
Located off North Kendall Drive at 9555 SW 162 Ave., the $210 million hospital was built
on a 30-acre parcel of land largely in response to community demand. “Our neighbors
invited and encouraged us to build a hospital,” said Javier Hernandez-Lichtl, CEO. “They
wrote 4,500 letters in support of our application to the state, many of them telling stories of
how long it took them to reach Baptist Hospital in congested traffic. It’s wonderful to be
able to serve them now.”
In fact, weeks before West Kendall Baptist Hospital opened its doors, people were
already coming to the hospital, hoping to get care. Some were sick enough to have to make
the trek to Baptist Hospital via ambulance.
Baptist Hospital Opens
By the numbers
4,500 Letters received from residents in
support of building the new hospital
1,100+ Direct workers involved in
constructing the hospital
18,000 Cubic yards of concrete
Moraima Lugo Morales and her husband, Ruben,
attended the grand opening. “We live just a few miles
away and we have been waiting for this day,” she said.
“We were here for the groundbreaking and we participated in many of the community talks where we were
asked for our input. We are thrilled to have such an outstanding facility close to home.”
The hospital has 133 private patient rooms, a 24hour emergency center with 34 private exam rooms for
adults and children, outpatient surgery and diagnostics,
inpatient medical and surgical services for adults and
maternity care. It already has approval from the state to
add beds when necessary for the fast-growing West
Kendall community.
The Baptist Diagnostic Center located in the Medical
Arts Building adjacent to the hospital offers CT, mammography, ultrasound, bone density scanning, X-ray,
electrocardiogram and lab services.
Continued on page 14
used for construction
1,720,112 Feet of cable installed
for computers and other technology
(that’s enough to reach from Miami to
Jacksonville)
900+* Employees working on-site
133* Inpatient beds
34 ER treatment rooms
100% Room service for meals
*Expected to increase with future growth.
R E S O U R C E 13
Continued from page 13
Going for the green
Baptist Health has implemented
a number of “green” measures
at West Kendall Baptist Hospital.
In fact, the hospital was built to
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
standards and is awaiting its
final green-level rating. Here are
a few of the environmentally
friendly features:
• Building placement and large
windows were chosen to use
as much natural light as possible.
West Kendall Baptist Hospital is the first Baptist Health hospital with an academic affiliation, housing an accredited family medicine residency program through
an affiliation with Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of
Medicine. FIU students will become residents at the hospital when they graduate.
Already, more than 100 of the hospital’s 500 physicians have teaching positions at the
medical school.
“There is a shortage of primary care in South Florida and nationwide,” said Brian
E. Keeley, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “Patients end up in the ER for even
minor illnesses. It’s much more expensive to be treated in an ER instead of in a doctor’s office or an urgent care center. As we train more family medicine physicians, the
healthcare needs of those in West Kendall will be better served.”
The hospital also is focused on patient- and family-centered care, said Mr.
Hernandez-Lichtl. It is open to visitors around the clock, and features a philosophy of
involving the entire family in care decisions with the direction of the clinical staff.
While some hospitals are difficult to navigate, West Kendall Baptist Hospital has a
friendly environment. An information desk sits in the main lobby and one bank of elevators behind it leads to every patient area.
Built to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds, the hospital was also designed to
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Even details
such as positioning the hospital to take advantage of natural daylight in order to use
less electricity were taken into consideration. (See related article.)
“My family has always relied on Baptist Health hospitals,” said Ixamar Palumbo at
the grand opening. “But we live near 152nd Street, so this is far more convenient. And
it’s simply spectacular.”
For more information, go to westkendallbaptisthospital.com.
— Adrienne Sylver
• First hospital in Florida to offer
a charging station for electric
vehicles.
• Preferential parking for hybrid
and other fuel-efficient cars.
• Dual-flush toilets,
226 in all (less water is used
to flush liquid waste).
• Special white roofing products
used to reflect light and heat.
• Low-flow fixtures such as
faucets and shower heads.
• Construction debris
was recycled.
• Recycled materials used
in much of the furniture.
A spacious lobby awaits hospital visitors.
14 R E S O U R C E
A grand, grand opening
Trumpets blared. Children reached new heights. And, in the end, fireworks exploded in gold, red and white in the night sky. It was all part of the
community grand opening celebration of West Kendall Baptist Hospital on
Sunday, April 17.
Approximately 10,000 people joined the fun, which included rides, bounce
houses, magicians, face-painting, a carousel and a climbing wall for kids.
Bands entertained the crowd and Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez said, “It’s a beautiful hospital. Hopefully, we will never
see you here because that means you are healthy. But the people of West
Kendall deserve the opportunity to have top-notch healthcare without
having to travel so far.”
Area residents got a sneak peek of the first floor of the hospital. “This
is less than five minutes from our house,” said Jackie Blanco, who came
to the opening with her husband, Chris, and their 6-year-old daughter,
Sofia. “It’s much more convenient. And it’s so nice.”
FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg,West Kendall
Baptist Hospital Board Chair Tony Alonso,
Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman
Joe A. Martinez, and West Kendall Baptist
Hospital CEO Javier Hernandez-Lichtl
R E S O U R C E 15
Here & There
Man sheds 275 pounds, gains a new life
n January, after crossing the finish line of his first half marathon,
Several times daily, he consumes small portions of healthy
Saad Ismail hugged his running partner, then cried.
food: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, chicken and fish. No fried
“I couldn’t believe it,’’ he said. “Two years before that race, I food, sweets or alcohol. He also started exercising, increasing the
was almost dead.”
time and intensity as he shed pounds.
In January of 2009, Mr. Ismail, a Coconut Grove financial
At first, he could walk only for 10 minutes a day around his
adviser, carried 450 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame and suffered neighborhood. But as his fitness level improved, he wanted a
multiple health problems related to his obesity.
new challenge and signed up for the ING Miami Half Marathon.
That same month, Anthony Gonzalez, M.D., medical director of With his friend and trainer Richard Desautels, he ran the 13.1South Miami Hospital’s Weight-loss Surgery Program (786-662- mile course in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 12 seconds. He finished
8745), performed gastric bypass surgery to help him lose life- just minutes ahead of Dr. Gonzalez who was running his first
threatening weight.
half marathon.
Today, Mr. Ismail weighs 175, having shed 275 pounds. The 55During the run, Mr. Ismail found himself thinking: “Why did I
year-old father and grandfather no longer takes medication for high let myself go?” He was lean and physically fit as a youth. But knee
blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, depression, lower injuries ended his career as a professional soccer player in Gerback pain and plantar fasciitis. His waist shrank from 77 inches to 32. many by age 25. Over time, the pounds piled on.
Once sedentary, he now runs and works out almost daily.
“If there was a diet, I tried it,” he said. But he always regained
“The surgery gave me the chance to alter my life,’’ he said. “I the weight and added more.
feel so much healthier.”
Now at his goal weight, he’s training for more races and ultiBefore surgery, Mr. Ismail interviewed eight or nine doctors, mately wants to run the Boston Marathon to mark the fifth
then chose Dr. Gonzalez. “He answered every question in detail anniversary of his surgery.
and was straightforward and honest,’’ Mr. Ismail said.
“I’m living proof,’’ he said. “You can change your life.”
Dr. Gonzalez explained that the surgery involves creating a
— Liz Doup
small pouch at the top of the stomach,
which limits food intake, and attaching the
small intestine to it. Food goes directly from
the pouch into that portion of the small
intestine, bypassing most of the stomach.
Dr. Gonzalez also emphasized that the surgery helps patients lose weight only if they
eat healthy and exercise afterward.
“There’s great success with bariatric
surgery but also failure if patients don’t
change their habits,’’ Dr. Gonzalez said.
“Saad is dedicated and hard-working and
that’s the key.”
The Weight-loss Surgery
Program uses a team approach,
with psychologists, nutritionists, social workers, plastic surgeons and physical and respiratory therapists working with
patients. The program also offers
a monthly support group, which
Mr. Ismail attends.
“It’s helpful, because for
success you must change your
attitude, and I did,’’ Mr. Ismail
said. “I don’t diet. Now, this is
Saad Ismail gives a thumbs-up as he finished the half marathon last January.
After losing 275 pounds, he's less than half his former self (see photo inset.)
just how I eat.”
I
16 R E S O U R C E
Baptist Health cited as ‘Most Ethical’
aptist Health has been named one of the 2011 World’s Most
Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a think tank
dedicated to advancing best practices in business ethics,
corporate social responsibility and anti-corruption and sustainability.
Ethisphere reviewed thousands of companies and chose 110
businesses that surpassed their peers in corporate responsibility,
including 43 organizations headquartered outside the United
States. To evaluate the companies, Ethisphere looked at codes of
ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories, investment in
innovation and sustainable business practices and corporate citizenship.
“Over the years, we have developed and nurtured a corporate
culture of integrity,” said Brian E. Keeley, Baptist Health president and CEO. “We expect all employees to behave in a manner
that reflects these high standards. Our volunteer Board members, who serve without compensation, agree to adhere to a rigorous conflict of interest policy. Our pledge to honesty and
integrity is part of our commitment to excellence that results in
B
the high-quality care we deliver
to every patient.” On average,
Baptist Health hospitals score
more than twice as high as other
hospitals in Miami-Dade and
Monroe counties on numerous
measures of quality compiled by
the U.S. government.
Approximately 14,000 employees work for Baptist Health at
seven hospitals and numerous outpatient locations. A Code of
Ethics manual serves as a standards guide, addressing issues
such as how to report perceived ethical or legal violations and
restrictions on the acceptance of gifts and honorariums.
“We put our patients first, above all else, and we are committed
to the core values of honesty, integrity and transparency,” said
Mr. Keeley. “These are the cornerstones of our corporate culture.”
This is the fifth year Ethisphere has published its World’s Most
Ethical Companies list. Other winners include American Express,
Adidas, Ford Motor Company and Starbucks. —Adrienne Sylver
MRI-safe pacemaker a breakthrough
or years, doctors have warned patients with pacemakers not to undergo an MRI for fear that the powerful magnet in the
machine could interfere with the pacemaker’s operation, causing an irregular heart rhythm, burns from the electronic leads
or other problems. Today, there’s a new, MRI-safe pacemaker, and in April, doctors at Baptist Cardiac
& Vascular Institute became the first in South Florida (and were among the first in the nation) to
implant the device in a patient.
“This is groundbreaking technology,” said Efrain Gonzalez, M.D., medical director of electrophysiology at the Institute and the doctor who performed the procedure. “MRI is becoming our imaging
choice for many, many diseases, and now we’re able to send our patients safely for the procedure.”
About 30 million MRI scans are done each year in the United States. Medical experts say that of the
1.5 million Americans who have pacemakers, more than half will someday require an MRI because of
its ability to show detailed and clear images of soft tissues. MRI scans are used to diagnose many diseases including cancer and diseases of the liver, pancreas, kidneys, heart, brain and spinal cord.
Pacemakers are most commonly implanted to treat a slow or irregular heartbeat, congenital disease
and congestive heart failure. The new device, developed by Medtronic, can be placed into “safe” mode Efrain Gonzalez, M.D.
for patients who need an MRI.
For 82-year-old Carmen Suarez, the new technology came just in time. “For the past three years, my heart has been getting
worse and worse,” she said. “Sometimes it pumps too fast, sometimes too slow. The doctors said I could not wait any longer to
get a pacemaker. But I also have a brain aneurysm and they like to do an MRI every six months to make sure it has not gotten bigger.” Now, Ms. Suarez can have both the pacemaker and the necessary brain scans.
“It’s exciting to be part of something that enables us to improve care for our patients,” said Ricardo Cury, M.D., medical director of cardiac imaging for the Institute.
The new pacemaker can be implanted in 30 to 45 minutes, the same time as required for the old technology. Usually,
patients go home the next day.
— Adrienne Sylver
F
RESOURCE
17
Here & There
Marking the opening of the new Doctors Hospital rehab facility were (left to right) Ed Garabedian, who oversees the center;
pro athletes Kevin Smith, Udonis Haslem, Nat Moore, and Jonathan Vilma; hospital CEO Nelson Lazo; Willis McGahee and
Dick Anderson. Team mascots (far right) tried out the new equipment.
Pro athletes celebrate new rehab facility
Who’s Who of premier professional
athletes joined Baptist Health doctors, therapists, community leaders
and others at the March opening of
Doctors Hospital Sports Medicine &
Rehabilitation in Coral Gables, an expansion of Doctors Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center.
The 10,000-square-foot facility features
the latest high-tech equipment and is twice
the size of the previous center, which is
located in the hospital. Doctors Hospital
physical therapists treat patients recovering from injuries or surgeries of the knee,
shoulder, foot and ankle and back, as well
as other orthopedic problems.
At the event, former Miami Dolphins
Dwight Stephenson, Dick Anderson and
A
Ofelia Rodriguez
18 R E S O U R C E
Nat Moore joined New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Baltimore Ravens
running back Willis McGahee, Detroit Lions
running back Kevin Smith, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem and Baseball Hall of
Fame member Andre Dawson in viewing
the facility. Mssrs. Anderson, Vilma, McGahee, Smith and Dawson are among many
pro athletes who have been treated by the
Doctors Hospital rehab team, which has
long attracted outstanding athletes from
across the nation.
“It was an honor for us to have them
come out and support us,’’ said Ed
Garabedian, a veteran physical therapist
and Doctors Hospital’s assistant vice president, who oversees the center. “We are
proud to be an elite rehab facility serving
the community with the latest equipment.
People also come from out of the country
to get care here.”
The physical therapists, all with master’s
degrees or higher, emphasize manual therapy techniques and incorporate the Pilates
method, which uses a whole-body
approach to rehabilitation. A certified hand
therapist is also available. Physical therapists and certified strength and conditioning specialists offer assessments and training for specific sports, including football,
baseball, tennis, cycling and running.
The center, at 1222 S. Dixie Highway,
offers easy accessibility and free parking.
It’s open weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For
more information, call 786-467-5160.
— Liz Doup
READER WINS $1,000 Ofelia Rodriguez, who works the night shift at an animal hospital, was sound
asleep when the phone rang with the news that she had won $1,000 in Resource’s website contest.
“I was thinking that it was a beautiful dream,” Ms. Rodriguez recalled. When it all sank in, “I was
speechless.”
As required to be entered into the drawing, Ms. Rodriguez correctly answered all six questions
designed to test readers’ ability to use the Internet to learn about health issues. The contest was part of
the cover article in the spring issue of Resource.
Entering the contest was doing what comes naturally to Ms. Rodriguez. “I always read Resource,”
she said, “and the reason is because it’s very, very informative.”
Free oral cancer screenings
Oral cancer may not be something that you think about, but it’s a cancer that’s
on the rise. “It’s usually not difficult to diagnose, but frequently goes unnoticed
until after the cancer has spread,” said oral surgeon Joseph McCain, DMD, chair
of Baptist Hospital’s Head and Neck Cancer Support Team.
That’s why Dr. McCain and other oral surgeons are offering free oral cancer
screenings on Thursdays, June 16, July 21 and August 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the
hospital’s Radiation Oncology Department.
Oral cancer has a good prognosis if caught early. It includes cancers of the lips,
tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and
soft palate and the throat. Risk factors
include tobacco use, excessive consumption
of alcohol, a family history of oral cancer and
frequent sun exposure. Historically, the disease has occurred mainly in those over age
50, but in recent years, younger non-smokers
increasingly have been diagnosed. It’s
believed that infection with the sexually
transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) is
the culprit in this younger age group.
Symptoms of oral cancer include a white
or red patch in the mouth or a small ulcer that does not heal. It’s important to
have any sore or discolored area of the mouth that does not heal within 14 days
examined by a health professional. Other symptoms are a lump inside the
mouth or in the neck; pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking or chewing; and
hoarseness or numbness in the mouth or face.
To register for the screening, call 786-596-5539. —Phyllis Teitelbaum, R.N.
HAVE DIABETES? JOIN US!
A free half-day program covering a
variety of topics to help you manage
diabetes is planned by Baptist Health.
The program will be offered in English
on July 23 at the Women’s Health
Resource Center in Baptist Hospital’s
Medical Arts Building, and in Spanish
on July 30 in the Homestead Hospital
auditorium. The program begins at
9 a.m. both days and will feature
physicians, diabetes educators and
nutritionists who will discuss ways to
keep your eyes healthy, tips for a
healthy diet and ways to manage the
disease. There will be exhibits, fitness
demonstrations and free screenings
for glucose (blood sugar), foot checks
and body fat analysis.
Space is limited and reservations
are required. Call 786-596-3812 to
reserve your space for the English
program. Call 786-596-3814 to RSVP
for the Spanish program.
Grab your mouse.
Prepare for surgery.
Life-preserving Lung Cancer Surgery
Thursday, June 16, 4 p.m.
BaptistHealth.net (in English) I BaptistSalud.net (in Spanish)
Witness robotic surgery in action. Baptist Health Cardiac & Thoracic
Surgical Group surgeon Mark Dylewski, M.D., will use the da Vinci robot to
perform surgery to treat early-stage lung cancer.
The surgery is minimally invasive. That means shorter recovery time,
allowing the patient to resume a normal lifestyle more quickly, with less
pain. In addition to the surgery itself, you’ll hear from a patient who has
previously undergone the procedure.
Join the webcast, presented in English and Spanish, and prepare to
be fascinated.
Thoracic surgeon Mark Dylewski, M.D.
U.S. 1 and SW 62 Avenue
RESOURCE
19
6855 Red Road, Suite 600, Coral Gables, FL 33143
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Paralyzed teen regaining ability to walk
14-year-old Bolivian girl is tak“I would like to play soccer and ride
ing her first steps in four years
my bike again,” Maria said from her
thanks to an intricate procedure
wheelchair.
to treat a tangle of blood vessels
Because the AVM compressed the
that had grown and wrapped
spinal cord and damaged nerve tissue
dangerously around her spinal cord.
for so many years, it’s uncertain if
Doctors in Bolivia and elsewhere had
Maria will accomplish her goals. “Her
told Maria Choma and her family that
AVM was very large and was beginning
the arteriovenous malformation
to cause weakness in her arms,” Dr.
(AVM) was inoperable, that it could
Linfante said. “I wasn’t certain she’d
bleed and cause her death and that
walk at all. But when I saw her standshe definitely would never walk again.
ing without support, it gave me great
Fortunately, Italo Linfante, M.D., medhope.”
ical director of interventional neuroAVMs can appear anywhere in the
radiology for Baptist Hospital’s Neubody. Sometimes they cause no harm
roscience Center, suggested a new
and doctors simply monitor their
approach.
growth. “AVMs in the central nervous
“An AVM is basically a ticking time
system — the brain and spinal cord —
bomb,” Dr. Linfante said. “It has the
are particularly ominous because of
potential to burst at any moment,
the chance of rupture,” Dr. Linfante
often resulting in death. Surgery wasn’t
said. Doctors can use a similar gluepossible in Maria’s case due to the size
like substance to treat AVMs in the
and location of the AVM deep within
brain.
her spinal cord.”
Maria was only a few months old
Although Dr. Linfante had little
when her parents noticed what they
hope that Maria would regain the
thought was a small birthmark on her
function of her legs because of the sigback. They saw, however, that it pulnificant spinal cord damage she sufsated with each heart beat. Her rare
fered, he decided to proceed in an
type of AVM was congenital, meaning
attempt to save her life.
it formed while she was still in the
In January, Maria came to the hos- Physical therapist Sandy Malek guides Maria Choma womb. As the years passed, although
as she uses a walker to take some steps.
pital thanks to the efforts of a misMaria grew, walked and played like any
sionary who was helping the family. In a four-and-a-half-hour other child, the AVM also grew. By about age 10, she could no
procedure, Dr. Linfante threaded a catheter not much wider than longer walk. Eventually, she couldn’t even sit upright.
a human hair into a tiny incision in Maria’s groin and up through
“Her quality of life had deteriorated to the point where her
an artery to the AVM in her spine. There, he injected a glue-like parents had to carry her,” said Beverly Smith, the nurse and missubstance called Onyx that successfully blocked the blood supply. sionary who helped get her to Miami for care. “In their tiny, remote
A day after surgery, Maria began to feel her legs for the first village, she would lay in a hammock while they worked.”
time in four years; 10 days later, she took her first tentative steps
Maria, an 8th grader, faces months of physical therapy to learn
with the support of parallel bars. In March, Maria returned for a to walk again. She must rebuild muscle strength in her legs and
second procedure to block off more of the blood supply to the core, and regain the stamina required to support herself. Because
AVM. She is now standing unsupported and is able to walk short she is still growing, there’s a chance she may need another procedistances with a walker.
dure in the years ahead, Dr. Linfante said.
“That my daughter can walk is truly a miracle,” said her
But for now, “I am happy to be more independent,” Maria said.
mother, Marciana Guasase.
— Adrienne Sylver
A
20 R E S O U R C E