MIAMI ― January 6, 2020 ― Internal Medicine and Pediatrics physician Karen Williams, M.D., has joined Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high-quality medical care to patients of all ages, as part of Baptist Health Primary Care. Dr. Williams specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including simple and complex health conditions, chronic disease management, minor emergencies and the coordination of specialty care. She also focuses on wellness and prevention to help patients prevent disease, decrease disability and maintain good health.

Dr. Williams received her medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo ― School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed an internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She then joined Johns Hopkins Community Physicians in Odenton, MD., where she was a primary care physician. Most recently, Dr. Williams was a physician clinical specialist with the Maryland Department of Health, where she focused on tuberculosis control, refugee health and adolescent health.

“With our diverse and international population in Miami, we are fortunate to have Dr. Williams, with a broad background in family and population health, join the Baptist Health Primary Care team,” said Bernie Fernandez Jr., M.D., CEO of Baptist Health Medical Group.

Dr. Williams is Board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. She is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Obesity Medicine Association and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association.

She is affiliated with Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital and will see patients at Baptist Health Primary Care – Galloway, 7400 SW 87 Ave., Suite 260.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI – December 20, 2019 – Great Place to Work and Fortune have honored Baptist Health South Florida as one of the 2019 Best Workplaces for Diversity. The Best Workplaces for Diversity stand out for creating great workplaces for all employees, regardless of their personal characteristics. Baptist Health took the No. #48 spot on the list.

To determine the list, Great Place to Work analyzed the experiences of women, under-represented races/ethnicities, LGBTQ people, employees who are Boomers or older, and people who have disabilities, comparing their survey results to their colleagues’ results at the same organizations. All told, these anonymous survey responses on more than 60 survey questions reflecting day-to-day workplace treatment represented more than 4.8 million employees’ work lives.

“We’re proud that our diverse employee population is a reflection of the South Florida community we are privileged to serve with compassion and inclusion,” said Adriene McCoy, Baptist Health’s senior vice president and chief human resources officer. “Being named on this list once again is a meaningful honor for our organization, as it reinforces the importance we place on people –our employees, our patients and families and our community.”

“Building great workplaces for all is not only the right thing to do – it’s also a critical way leaders build business value,” said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “In our study of nearly 2,000 companies we found that key metrics related to equity and inclusion not only drive stronger company innovation, but also predict whether companies will thrive or stumble during a recession.”

The Best Workplaces for Diversity list is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE based on anonymous employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified™ organizations. Baptist Health South Florida has also been included on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list by Great Place to Work® and Fortune for the last 19 years.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Best Workplaces for Diversity
Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index™ survey responses representing more than 4.8 million employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists published with FORTUNE, visit Greatplacetowork.com.

About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising®, their culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. They recognize Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces™ in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For® list published annually in Fortune.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Cancer Experts from Around the World Convene in Miami January 24-25, 2020 for Symposium on Immunotherapies for Hematologic Malignancies

MIAMI – December 19, 2019 – Some of the world’s leading experts from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania and Florida International University will join Miami Cancer Institute on January 24-25 for the inaugural Symposium on Immunotherapies for Hematologic Malignancies.

Held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Coconut Grove, the symposium aims to provide updated information about advances in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, blood and marrow transplants and immunotherapies.

Hematologists, oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, palliative care staff, medical oncologists, hematology nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals will partake in the two-day summit, which will provide information on new immunotherapies and potential treatment combinations. Attendees will also hear updates on evolving immunologically and molecular-based system therapies, and how these therapies can be combined with autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants.

“Over the last few years, there have been many novel therapies developed for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. We need to find a way to optimize combinations of these drugs and strategize how to achieve the best outcomes for patients,” says Summit Director Guenther Koehne, MD, PhD., deputy director and chief of hematologic oncology and blood & marrow transplant at Miami Cancer Institute, joined by Summit Co-director Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD, Dean of FIU Wertheim College of Medicine “We have invited experts from all over the country to present their ideas on how we can advance the field and change the standard of care.”

“As a next-generation cancer treatment destination known for its leading clinical care and research, compassionate patient experience and state-of-the-art technology, Miami Cancer Institute is very pleased to put this topic at the forefront,” Dr. Koehne adds. “It is critical to discuss current drug combinations as well as how transplants will fit into the new era of therapeutics.”

Sponsored by several top-tier biopharmaceutical and biotech organizations, Celgene, Genentech, Janssen, Sanofi, Jazz, Novartis, Atara, EUSA Pharma, Kite, Medgene, the symposium will provide a wealth of new information from every presentation. Attendees can expect many presentations that feature primary principle investigators who have immediate insights into the results of clinical trials. In particular, there will be sessions dedicated to the latest approaches using CAR-T cells, as well as how to use these treatments effectively with stem cell transplantation.

The Miami Cancer Institute symposium will feature multiple short sessions that cover all types of hematologic malignancies, allowing attendees to get a full snapshot of current therapies and clinical trials.

“The scope and scale of this event will enable attendees to engage with colleagues and build relationships that will ultimately affect how we treat these diseases and care for patients,” Dr. Koehne says.

Visit https://cme.baptisthealth.net for more information about accreditation, registration and the summit agenda. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit is available for the summit.

Guenther Koehne, MD, PhD.
Summit Director

Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD.
Summit Co-Director

About Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute brings to South Florida access to personalized clinical treatments and comprehensive support services delivered with unparalleled compassion. No other cancer program in the region has the combination of cancer-fighting expertise and advanced technology—including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, and one of the only radiation oncology program in the world with each of the newest radiation therapies in one place—to diagnose and deliver precise cancer treatments that achieve the best outcomes and improve the lives of cancer patients. The Institute offers an impressive roster of established community oncologists and renowned experts, clinical researchers and genomic scientists recruited from the nation’s top cancer centers. Selected as Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer (MSK) Alliance, Miami Cancer Institute is part of a meaningful clinical collaboration that affords patients in South Florida access to innovative treatments and ensures that the standards of care developed by their multidisciplinary disease management teams match those at MSK.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Tavernier, FL – December 17, 2019 – Mariners Hospital has been named a Top Rural Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group, an independent watchdog organization focused on improving healthcare standards. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award recognizes achievements in patient safety and quality and is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive. Mariners Hospital is one of only 118 hospitals out of 2,100 eligible facilities in the country to be named a Top Hospital. This is the third time the Keys hospital has earned the Top Rural Hospital honor.

“We are pleased that Mariners Hospital has been recognized by The Leapfrog Group for the high standard of care that our physicians, nurses and staff deliver every day,” said Rick Freeburg, CEO of Mariners Hospital. “Our team members are highly skilled, dedicated and compassionate, and they care deeply about the patients and families we serve. This prestigious award is a direct reflection of our their unwavering commitment to provide high-quality, patient-centered care in the safest healthcare environment possible.”

To qualify for the Top Hospital distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers in the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses performance across many areas of patient care, including infection rates, surgical safety, maternity care and medication errors prevention. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

“We are pleased to recognize Mariners Hospital as a 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This demonstrates extraordinary dedication to patients and to the Keys community. We congratulate the board, staff and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible and who share pride in this achievement.”

To see the full list of institutions honored as 2019 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

About Mariners Hospital
Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

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BOCA RATON, FL – December 16, 2019 ­– Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida, is the first hospital in Palm Beach County to launch a long-term monitoring program for cryptogenic stroke patients to help reduce their risk of a secondary stroke. The multidisciplinary stroke team at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute (MNI) offers the option to insert a small implantable cardiac monitor to continuously monitor heart activity to capture abnormal heartbeats and rhythms, which often go undetected and can increase stroke risk significantly. This data is relayed quickly to specialty cardiac physicians so that they can promptly initiate treatment when required.

The Cryptogenic Stroke Pathway program utilizes the Reveal LINQ system that includes a cardiac monitor and bedside transmitter to relay critical information to electrophysiologists at BRRH. The monitor analyzes heart data for any signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), irregular or rapid heartbeats. The device is implanted using a minimally-invasive procedure to avoid infection, reduce scarring and avoid any other medical complications. The system allows patients to continue their everyday activities without any interference for up to three years.

“Patients that have suffered cryptogenic stroke often have undiagnosed atrial fibrillation or other cardiac complications months after being discharged from a hospital. Traditional programs typically end weeks or even days after the initial stroke,” said Brian Snelling, M.D., medical director of the Marilyn & Stanley Barry Center for Cerebrovascular Disease & Stroke at MNI. “The Reveal LINQ system is enabling us to detect heart disturbances on a long-term basis to facilitate proactive treatment when needed.”

One of the first patients in the Cryptogenic Stroke Pathway program credits his life to the Reveal LINQ system. The patient, Mohammed Elfadel, came to MNI in July 2018 with a life-threatening large vessel occlusion stroke without a known cause. He received mechanical thrombectomy and was implanted with the Reveal LINQ cardiac monitor prior to discharge. Nearly one year later, the MNI electrophysiologist team detected Afib in Mohammed which required him to immediately switch medications.

MNI has maintained a 100% stroke pathway percentage since the implementation of the Reveal LINQ.

Many hospitals have protocol for patients who have experienced an ischemic stroke, only a select few implemented a long-term monitoring program designed specifically to cryptogenic stroke.

About the Marcus Neuroscience Institute
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an innovative nexus for neurologic and neurosurgical care. The 57,000-square-foot facility houses a 20-bed Neuro Intensive Care and Step-Down Unit, four dedicated operating rooms — including one equipped with intraoperative MRI and two with intraoperative CT capability — and a biplane angiography suite, a crucial component in the diagnosis and care of neurological conditions. The Institute has a staff of five neurosurgeons and eight neurologists who represent some of the most respected clinicians in their fields and is affiliated with Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.

About Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – December 13, 2019 – Baptist Health South Florida has announced the election of Robert Berrin as chair of the Baptist Health Foundation Board of Directors.

Mr. Berrin, a Miami native, real estate investor and longtime community leader is president of Capital Realty Services, a full service commercial real estate firm. He has been an active volunteer and key supporter of numerous community, charitable and civic organizations, including serving as Board Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and on the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University.

Mr. Berrin says community service is central to his family’s values. “When we are able, it is essential to put our time, energy and financial resources into building a better and stronger community.  Every community benefits when there is a shared mission of giving back and making a difference in the lives of others.”

Before assuming a three-year term as chair of Baptist Health Foundation’s board, Mr. Berrin served as vice chair for the organization, which raises critical funds to improve the health and quality of life for everyone in our community. He also served as chair of the foundation at South Miami Hospital where all three of his adult children were born.

“Time and time again, I have seen the investments Baptist Health makes in the community,” he said. “I’m proud to work with the Foundation toward our mission of increasing access to high-quality healthcare throughout South Florida.”

“Mr. Berrin has championed the importance of philanthropy to Baptist Health for many years, and we are thrilled to have him lead our Foundation Board,” said Baptist Health Foundation CEO Alex Villoch. “I am confident that his commitment to enhancing and expanding Baptist Health’s culture of generosity will benefit patients throughout our region, from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County.”

“Philanthropy is becoming increasingly important due to the financial constraints on healthcare,” Mr. Berrin said. “I’ve seen first-hand the role philanthropy has played in Baptist Health’s growth, most notably in the opening of the Miami Cancer Institute and in the expansion of the centers of excellence at Baptist Health. I am proud to step into this role as we continue to provide world class care to our South Florida community and beyond .”

Members of all Baptist Health boards serve voluntarily and without compensation. They must abide by a rigid conflict-of-interest policy that prevents them or their family members from doing business with Baptist Health or any of its subsidiaries.

About Baptist Health Foundation
The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation.

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Miami, Fla. – December 10, 2019 —Lourdes Boue has been named Chief Executive Officer of West Kendall Baptist Hospital. Boue previously served as Vice President of Operations for the hospital, and was part of the team that opened West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Miami-Dade County’s first new hospital in more than 35 years. She succeeds Javier Hernandez-Lichtl, who was recently named CEO of Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute.

“Aida Shafer, Chair of the West Kendall Baptist Hospital Board of Directors, and I are pleased to announce the appointment of Lourdes Boue as the CEO of West Kendall Baptist Hospital, a hospital she has been a part of since day one,” said Bo Boulenger, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Baptist Health South Florida. “Lourdes brings impressive executive and strategic experience, coupled with a passionate commitment to the patients and families we serve, to the community as a whole and to our staff and medical staff.”

Shafer added, “Lourdes joined the West Kendall Baptist Hospital executive leadership team prior to the opening of the hospital, and has been a strong contributor to the hospital’s success these past 10 years, in all areas of quality, service, and growth. We are excited for her to continue leading the hospital in her new role.”

Boue has more than three decades of experience as a healthcare executive in South Florida. She has been an executive with Baptist Health South Florida for the past 15 years, starting as vice president for Baptist Outpatient Services, where she was responsible for urgent care centers in Miami-Dade County and for the growth and development of several physician joint ventures, including single and multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers and sleep centers. She has also served as Director of Strategic Planning for the organization. Prior to joining Baptist Health, she was the CFO for the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged and audit/consulting manager for an international accounting firm.

As Vice President of Operations for West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Boue was responsible for the hospital’s general operations, including the planning, implementation and ongoing evaluation of services offered at the hospital. Boue serves as the growth champion for West Kendall Baptist Hospital, working closely with Baptist Health Strategic Planning and Construction Management to plan for the four-story clinical expansion targeted to begin in 2020 to meet the healthcare needs of the growing West Kendall community. She also was instrumental in driving the surgical services expansion at the hospital just four years after the hospital’s opening.

Active in our community, Boue is past Chairman of the Board for the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, past Chairman of the State of Florida Board of Accountancy Probable Cause Panel and past co-chairman and member of the Agency Audit Committee for United Way of Miami-Dade. She currently serves as a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami.

Boue is a graduate from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science degree in Leadership.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI ― November 27, 2019 ― West Kendall Baptist Hospital has received a Community Benefit Achievement award from the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) for its efforts to improve the health of the community. The honor, given during the FHA’s annual Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service Awards in Orlando, recognized West Kendall Baptist Hospital in the 150-beds and under division. The award highlighted the Healthy Hub, where more than 25,000 free health screenings have been performed since opening in the hospital lobby in 2015.

The Healthy Hub is a one-stop health kiosk that provides screenings such as blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat and weight. Aiming to improve overall fitness and balance ― and decrease the risk of falls ― TRX MAPS was added last year. It measures mobility, muscle activation, posture and symmetry as participants do three squats and then provides results and suggested exercises to target problem areas.

A dedicated registered nurse is on site to provide education and motivate participants to improve their health and return for reassessment. She also gives them “green” prescriptions to encourage them to visit local parks and green spaces. If they do not have a primary care physician or need a specialist, they are referred to one. On occasion, participants are whisked to the emergency room if results indicate a potentially dangerous problem.

“At the Healthy Hub, we have served community members as young as 11 and as old as 86,” said Javier Hernandez-Lichtl, CEO of West Kendall Baptist Hospital. “In many cases, participants are surprised that they are at risk for illness and disease. What is most satisfying is seeing area residents get a better understanding of their health status. Many have been empowered to change their lifestyle because of a visit to the Healthy Hub. They have become healthier by losing weight, lowering their cholesterol and glucose levels and even by stopping smoking.”

The Healthy Hub is one of many programs spearheaded by West Kendall Baptist Hospital that relates to the health and wellness of the community. The hospital also drives Healthy West Kendall, a partnership with schools, businesses, government and civic organizations. Healthy West Kendall was selected as part of the inaugural cohort to participate in Communities of Excellence 2026, a learning collaborative that used the Baldrige Framework to elevate the community.

About West Kendall Baptist Hospital
West Kendall Baptist Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI – November 27, 2019 — Medical oncologist Sarah Joseph, M.D., has joined Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, the state’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. Dr. Joseph will primarily be a hospital-based hematologist-oncologist. She will see new patient consultations and manage the day-to-day care of patients requiring hospitalization.

Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Joseph earned her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She also earned a Master of Science degree in Experimental Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She completed a residency in internal medicine at UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg, Pa.  Her post-doctoral training also included a fellowship divided between Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa. and McGill University. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and a member of the American College of Physicians.

“Managing the care of cancer patients who require hospitalization calls for specialized training and expertise,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “Our patients will benefit from Dr. Joseph’s proven record of providing compassionate, high-quality, safe care.”

Dr. Joseph is affiliated with Baptist Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute brings to South Florida access to personalized clinical treatments and comprehensive support services delivered with unparalleled compassion. No other cancer program in the region has the combination of cancer-fighting expertise and advanced technology—including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, and one of the only radiation oncology program in the world with each of the newest radiation therapies in one place—to diagnose and deliver precise cancer treatments that achieve the best outcomes and improve the lives of cancer patients. The Institute offers an impressive roster of established community oncologists and renowned experts, clinical researchers and genomic scientists recruited from the nation’s top cancer centers. Selected as Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer (MSK) Alliance, Miami Cancer Institute is part of a meaningful clinical collaboration that affords patients in South Florida access to innovative treatments and ensures that the standards of care developed by their multidisciplinary disease management teams match those at MSK.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Tavernier, FL – November 26, 2019 – After enduring four years of chronic pain and swelling and multiple surgeries and therapy sessions to treat his foot injury, Keys resident and Mariners Hospital Imaging Director, J.C. Holmes, is finally getting relief, thanks to hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions at Mariners Hospital. While receiving treatment in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, patients like Mr. Holmes are completely immersed in 100 percent oxygen delivered at high pressure. The process greatly increases the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, which speeds healing, helps fight infection, eliminates toxic substances and provides other health benefits.

Mariners Hospital has the only hospital-based hyperbaric chamber in the Florida Keys. The clinical team often utilizes the therapy to treat decompression sickness—a hazard of scuba diving also known as “the bends,”— as well as other conditions such as serious infections, bubbles of air in the blood vessels and wounds that won’t heal as a result of diabetes or radiation injury.

“When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen than normal to heal and survive,” said Scott Fowler, manager of Hyperbaric Medicine at Mariners Hospital. “We take over when traditional wound care doesn’t work.”

The treatment protocol for Mr. Holmes’ L-shaped foot injury consisted of 30, two-hour sessions in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The chamber’s large size enabled Mr. Holmes to relax, sleep, watch TV or talk with his hyperbaric therapist while receiving treatment.

“The team at Mariners Hospital was wonderful,” he said. “You are in a very intimate setting, and they put you at ease. They helped with any questions or anxiety I had and walked me through every step.”

Within the first 10 days of treatment, Mr. Holmes noticed a decrease in pain and swelling.

“This is the first year out of the last five that I have lived relatively pain-free,” he said. “Now, every time I peddle a bike pain-free, I think of how thankful I am to the hyperbaric medicine team.”

About Mariners Hospital
Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Photos/captions:

The hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Mariners Hospital is a large cylinder with clear viewports, comfortable seating and standing room.

Kathi Merriman, R.N., monitors patient J.C. Holmes.

Scott Fowler, manager of Hyperbaric Medicine at Mariners Hospital, and Kathi Merriman, R.N., review results.