MIAMI, FL – November 10, 2016 — Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida has expanded two of its signature cancer care departments, with the additions of psychosomatic psychiatrist Geetha Nampiaparampil, M.D. and psychologist Regina Melchor, Psy.D to its Cancer Patient Support Center. These physicians will focus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders that contribute to a cancer patient’s emotional distress. The two will work closely with M. Beatriz Currier, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s director of Cancer Patient Support Center, to enhance quality of life and health outcomes following a cancer diagnosis.

In addition, Miami Cancer Institute’s Symptom Management & Palliative Medicine Service continues to expand with the added expertise of Suleyki Medina, M.D., who joins Mariana Khawand-Azouli, M.D, as one of the department’s two initial attending physicians.

“Having representatives of many different disciplines involved in patient care is an important part of the Institute’s mission to treat the whole individual, not just the disease,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “These physicians bring highly specialized skills and experience that will enable Miami Cancer Institute to deliver personalized, patient- and family-centered care from diagnosis through survivorship.”

Dr. Nampiaparampil is Board-certified in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and completed her psychiatry residency at Saint Vincent’s Hospital-Manhattan/New York Medical College and St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital/Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, both in New York. She also completed a psychosomatic medicine fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She has conducted research studies related to her specialty and is published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and text books. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Nampiaparampil was an assistant professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, an attending psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, and most recently an attending psychiatrist at JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida.

Regina Melchor, Psy.D., earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from Albizu University in Miami, graduating summa cum laude. She completed a psychology residency at the Institute for Child and Family Health, also in Miami, and a fellowship in psychosomatic medicine and psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is an adjunct faculty member in the psychology departments at Albizu University and Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, and has held teaching roles at several higher education institutions. She has published numerous articles in medical journals and frequently lectures on her specialty to peers and community members. She is also affiliated with several professional associations, including the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and the International Psychosocial Oncology Society.

Dr. Medina is Board-certified in internal medicine and geriatrics and is one of two initial attending physicians of Miami Cancer Institute’s Symptom Management & Palliative Medicine service. She received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, and completed a residency in internal medicine at NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she was honored with the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Award for Excellence. She also completed two fellowships — in geriatrics and hospice and palliative care — at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/ Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Medina is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society and American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Medina and Dr. Khawand-Azouli will both report directly to Leonard Kalman, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s deputy director and chief medical officer.

Miami Cancer Institute will begin to move into its new, $430 million state-of-the-art facility on the Baptist Hospital of Miami campus early next year. Opening day for patient care is planned for January 16, 2017.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional patient experience, advanced clinical research and state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. To accelerate its mission of hope, caring and innovation, Miami Cancer Institute has announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access potential breakthrough therapies in South Florida. For more information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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Mariners Hospital is proud to announce the certification of its Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The hospital was recognized for its commitment to improving quality of life by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular programs are designed to help people with heart disease live longer, control symptoms, stop or reverse damage, lessen the physical and emotional effects, and improve stamina, strength and confidence. For people with cardiac problems such as heart attack, angina, cardiac surgery, and heart failure, individualized treatments plans include exercise, nutrition education, stress management, and encouragement and support for patients and their families.

The hospital’s Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program participated in an application process that required extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other professional societies. Each program is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee, and Certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years. Mariners Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program also is accredited.

Mariners Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation services are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients must have a prescription from their physician. For more information, call 786-434-1632.

About Mariners Hospital
Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About AACVPR
Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families.

Contact: Jennifer Pages, [email protected], 305-434-1020

TAVERNIER, FL – August 9, 2016 – Mariners Hospital has received four stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS report ranks hospitals on overall quality, including patient experience. Mariners Hospital is the only hospital in Monroe County to receive this high mark.

All Baptist Health South Florida facilities were rated among the best in South Florida, showing our leadership and commitment to the highest-quality patient-centered care in the region. With a full range of medical, diagnostic, surgical and wellness services, Mariners Hospital provides comprehensive care to the Florida Keys.

“Mariners Hospital is committed to maintaining the highest standards of clinical and service excellence,” said Rick Freeburg, chief executive officer for Mariners Hospital. “We offer the best of care to our patients because our physicians, nurses and support staff truly care about the health and well-being of our community. Their medical expertise, care and compassion earn us these honors time and time again.”

About Mariners Hospital
Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida 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 and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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Contact: Georgi Pipkin, 786-596-3309

The sculpture was finished in 1994 and took almost three years to complete. In his piece, artist Paul Baliker captured a grandfather sharing fish tales with his son – under a large, arching fish.

About Mariners Hospital

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Contact: Jennifer Pages, 305-434-1020

Mariners Hospital now offers one of the most advanced mammography tools available — 3-D mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis — making it the only Keys facility to offer this latest technology.

“Patients experience little difference between a conventional 2-D mammogram and 3-D imaging,” said radiologist Michael Silberman, M.D., one of the radiologists who reads mammograms at Mariners.  “The exam takes only a few seconds longer, and the positioning is the same.  The real difference is in the information available to the doctor.

“The 3-D technology gives doctors a clearer view of breast tissue,” he said. “The 3-D mammogram unit takes 25 images in slices through the breast, much like a CT scan, making it less likely cancer will be hidden behind other tissue.”
With conventional mammography, the radiologist views the breast tissue in a flat image.  Sometimes breast tissue appears overlapped, making it difficult to see all the individual structures and making normal breast tissue look abnormal.  Three-D mammography virtually eliminates these challenges and allows the radiologist to better see the different structures as well as the location, size and shape of any abnormal tissue, such as smaller, more invasive cancers.

Dr. Silberman believes the greatest benefit provided by 3-D mammography is the reduction in the number of patients called back for additional testing.  In the past, if the radiologist saw an area that was questionable, the patient would be asked to return for additional imaging. Now when the breast tissue can be seen in smaller, thinner sections, a second look is frequently unnecessary.  Three-D mammography has been shown to lower recall rates by 17 to 40 percent, saving patients the anxiety and expense of having additional tests.

He noted that some healthcare professionals say there is a risk associated with the radiation dosage in a 3-D mammogram.  “But the dosages for a traditional and 3-D test are so very close that any risk is outweighed by the benefits.

“Patients should definitely pose the question to their doctors.  Ask if a 3-D mammogram would be beneficial for them. Based on the denseness of a woman’s breast, the doctor will be able to answer that question.”

Mariners continues to provide traditional digital mammograms. To schedule a mammogram at Mariners, call 305-434-1588.  A doctor’s prescription is required.

Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

Contact: Jen Pages, 786-243-8664

Mariners Hospital has been named one of the nation’s top hospitals by the Leapfrog Group, an independent, quality-review organization. This is the third time Leapfrog Group has recognized Mariners as a Top Rural Hospital.

Mariners was one of a group of 94 standout hospitals honored at a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C.  The list included 24 Top Rural Hospitals, 61 Top Urban Hospitals and nine Top Children’s Hospitals.  Mariners Hospital is one of two rural hospitals in the state to make the list.

The Leapfrog Top Hospital distinction, which is given to less than seven percent of all eligible hospitals, recognizes hospitals that deliver the highest quality of care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures and reducing hospital readmissions for patients being treated for conditions such as pneumonia and heart attack.

Selection is based on the results of The Leapfrog Group’s annual hospital survey, which measures hospitals’ performance, focusing on three critical areas of hospital care: how patients fare, resource use and management structures established to prevent errors. The Leapfrog Group describes the Top Hospital designation as the most competitive national hospital quality award in the country.

“The Leapfrog survey is recognized as the gold standard for comparing hospital performance,” said Mariners Hospital CEO Rick Freeburg.  “This award was given to Mariners Hospital in recognition of its exceptional quality, patient outcomes and efficiency.  I am extremely proud of receiving this designation a third time.  Our commitment to patient safety and quality care is our top priority. This award confirms that we truly are performing at exceptional standards.”

“Leapfrog’s Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious distinctions any hospital can achieve in the United States. It recognizes institutions for their excellence in quality of care and patient safety, as well as their commitment to transparency. By achieving Top Hospital status, Mariners Hospital has proven it’s a premier institution and deserves to be recognized for its dedication to the families and patients in the Upper Keys,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

The Top Hospital award is not given to a set number of hospitals, but rather, to all urban, rural and children’s hospitals that meet the high standards defined in each year’s Top Hospitals Methodology.

To see the full list of institutions honored as a 2014 Top Hospital, please visit LeapfrogGroup.org/TopHospitals.

Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health, the largest healthcare organization in the region. In addition to Mariners Hospital, Baptist Health includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital as well as more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians and includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net.

The Leapfrog Group (LeapfrogGroup.org) is a national nonprofit organization using the collective leverage of large purchasers of healthcare to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality and affordability of healthcare  for Americans. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey allows purchasers to structure their contracts and purchasing to reward the highest performing hospitals. The Leapfrog Group was founded in November 2000 with support from the Business Roundtable and national funders and is now independently operated with support from its purchaser and other members. The Hospital Safety Score (HospitalSafetyScore.org) is an initiative of The Leapfrog Group.

Contact: Sheila Konczewski, 305-434-1020, [email protected]

Just as the rings of a tree can help scientists reconstruct past climate conditions, so can ocean sediment cores reveal the history of what has taken place in the marine ecosystem.

For over eight years, Anna Wachnicka, PhD, a research faculty member at Florida International University’s Southeast Environmental Research Center, in collaboration with a team of scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) lead by Lynn Wingard, PhD, has been analyzing sediment cores from the estuaries and coastal regions surrounding South Florida and the Florida Keys. Since 2013, Dr. Wachnicka has brought cores collected from the Marquesas Keys to Mariners Hospital for CT scanning.  Recently she brought four cores from the Florida Bay’s mangrove islands.

“I contacted Mariners Hospital about the possibility of using their CT machine to create three-dimensional images of the cores, because the hospital is part of this neighborhood that includes our marine environment,” Dr. Wachnicka said.  “The information revealed by the 3D images from the CT provides significant clues to the impact of climate change on the marine ecosystem.  The CT images offer a much better view of the sediment layering than the X-rays we had been using.  That helps tremendously in recovering the rich data embodied in the sediment.”

Dr. Wachnicka explained that the CT’s high resolution can reveal details of the core structures that cannot be detected by X-rays or visual logging. The CT images also help the scientists to discriminate between drill core artifacts and natural structures.

With the information extracted from the cores, Dr. Wachnicka and the USGS scientists can reconstruct what has taken place in South Florida and the Keys over the last few thousand years. One centimeter of core can yield from one to a few years of data, providing many insights into the effects of global climate change, sea level rise and human effect on coastal and marine environments.

“Every sedimentary layer that we can see on the CT images tells us a story about past environmental conditions. Our paleoenvironmental studies will provide data that will be used to model and predict both current and future environmental conditions under different climate change scenarios,” said Dr. Wachnicka.

She started her studies to determine how human alterations such as digging canals and home and road construction can affect water quality in the ecosystem in Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay and the Keys.   She later expanded the study to include the impact of climate changes on the marine ecosystem. “It’s like a jigsaw” she said.  “Closer to the coast, we see the human influence on marine ecosystems.  Further away, such as Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas, we gather information about the effect of climate change.”

She and the USGS team are now collecting cores from mangrove islands, which provide information about island development, impact of sea level rise on the island and climate change-driven precipitation changes.  “Using the 3D images from Mariners 64-slice CT scan have helped tremendously with our work, moving it along faster than if we had continued to use only X-rays,” she said.

Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health, the largest healthcare organization in the region. In addition to Mariners Hospital, Baptist Health includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital as well as more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians and includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health recently was listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#19 in the nation and #1 in Florida) and has remained on the list for 14 years. It also was recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fourth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. Visit BaptistHealth.net.

Contact: Sheila Konczewski, 305-434-1020; [email protected]

We all remember how much fun it was to ride a bicycle when we were young. But what if riding a bike could make a difference and help Keys residents suffering from liver disease?

Dr. Neal Rakov, a gastroenterologist at Mariners Hospital, will embark on a 3,300-mile cross-country bicycle journey March 1 in San Diego.  He anticipates finishing April 20 at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, Fla.  His goal: To help increase awareness of liver disease and to raise $50,000 for Mariners Hospital’s liver health program.

(Photo: Dr. Neal Rakov turns into the Mariners Hospital parking lot as he finishes one of his preparation rides for his cross-country bicycle ride.  Dr. Rakov, a gastroenterologist at Mariners Hospital, is undertaking a 3,300-mile cross-country bicycle journey to help increase awareness of liver disease and to raise $50,000 for Mariners Hospital’s liver health program.)

Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death in people between the ages of 45 and 54 in the United States. “People with liver disease are often stigmatized, because liver disease is often associated with poor lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Rakov. “Many people assume that liver disease is caused primarily by alcohol and drug abuse.  While alcohol and drug abuse continue to be one of the causes, the truth is that liver disease can occur for many other reasons including the mounting obesity rate in the United States.” There are more than 100 liver diseases affecting 30 million Americans, or one in 10 U.S. residents, of every age and ethnicity from every social and economic background.

Like the rest of the nation, Monroe County, Fla., where Dr. Rakov practices medicine, is seeing an ever-increasing number of people with liver diseases such as hepatitis C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver cancer. Of the 67 Florida counties, Monroe ranks third in the number of deaths from liver disease.

Statistics on the prevalence of liver disease are startling:
Up to 5.4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection. About 65 percent and 75 percent of the infected populations are unaware that they are infected with HBV and HCV, respectively;

• Up to 25 percent of Americans may have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that can cause life-threatening liver damage;
• Primary liver cancer is one of the few cancers on the rise in the United States; and
• Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States.

“Many of the patients I see in my office have liver disease,” Dr. Rakov said.  “I decided to do this cross-country bicycle ride not only to raise awareness but to raise money so that Mariners Hospital could offer more services to people with liver disease.  For example, I would love to be able to do pre-transplant liver evaluations here in the Keys, so patients wouldn’t have to drive to Miami for that service.  We have about 10 to 15 patients a year who are on the transplant list.

“Many liver diseases are preventable or reversible and nearly all are less expensive to treat if detected early,” Dr. Rakov said.  “Part of the money I raise will go to education and awareness.  If I can help one person live a longer, fuller life as a result of this ride, it will be worth every pedal stroke.”

If you are interested in contributing to Rakov’s Ride, you can visit BaptistHealth.net/RakovsRide or contact Wendy Gentes, development officer for the Mariners Hospital Foundation, at [email protected].

Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. In addition to Mariners Hospital, Baptist Health includes Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute, Homestead Hospital, Doctors Hospital, West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health.

Contact: Sheila Konczewski, 305-434-1020