viera md spring 2015

A passionto serve

Love of tennis leads Lebron to medical career

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4 | VIERA MD MAGAZINE

s p r i n g 2015C O N T E N T S

6 Letter from the editor / Here’s the dish

8 Community calendar / Endorphin source

9 Construction starts on next phase of Brevard Medical City in Suntree

10 Dr. Lebron – A passion to serve

14 Smartphone app studies heart health

15 YMCA, Florida Blue team up to combat diabetes

16 Pinsky pairs prevention with top performance

17 Florida Dermatology Associates opens Suntree office

18 Haridopolos launches medical practice in Viera

19 Viera MD nabs gold and silver at ADDY Awards

20 Viera Medical Mile a road to recovery

21 Suntree family credited for new fetal surgery advances

22 Robot surgery a Central Florida first

25 Health screening at Viera Stadium

26

186

10

22

21

FL Health Care Association sets 2015 legislative priorities

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The town of Viera has long been in the works according to a master plan, and now

that plan is paying off big time in the medical field. The three sons of Andrew

Duda purchased the cattle ranch in the 1940s as much for family R&R than as for

commerce. In the 1960s when it was decided that an interstate highway would slice

through the A. Duda & Sons property, a plan was hatched to one day develop the

land on either side of I-95 into what is now called Viera. (Here’s your fun trivia fact for

the day: While DUDA is known nationwide for growing produce [flip over that package

of Dandy brand celery and you’ll find that uppercase four-letter word], no edibles

have ever grown in Brevard soil, and sod production didn’t start until the 1970s.)

The placement of Health First Viera Hospital in what is now the developing area

of west Viera created the anchor needed to draw a new medical community to

the area. It will be the center of a growing medical arts community similar to Holmes

Regional Medical Center, another Health First hospital that was once the place to

go for residents in the Suntree and now Viera communities. Increasingly, to the

delight of local residents, the 30-minute drive for healthcare is no longer required.

Not far away, and even more conveniently tucked into a residential area, is what we

at Viera MD have coined the Viera Medical Mile. Spyglass Hill Road, from Murrell

Road to Baytree Drive, is packed with every type of medical practice or diagnostic

service imaginable, from pre-infancy to end-of-life care, and many a specialty condition

in between. Everything is new and state of the art, typically with upscale design inside

and out. Viera residents love it for the convenience, and it could not be more handy

for Suntree residents, because zoning from Baytree Drive east to Pinehurst Avenue is

all residential. Doctors love spending their workdays in a place that would be great to

live, and many of them do, making it convenient for them as well.

As a Suntree resident with children, I concur with everything Viera resident Kristen

Cook says in the article on Medical Mile on page 20. It could not be better placed.

Mike Gaffey

vieramd.comSpring 2015 • Volume 2, Number 2

BLUEWATER CREATIVE GROUP7630 N. Wickham Rd. Suite 105

Viera, FL 32940 242.1235

EDITORSManaging Editor Jill Gaines

Editor Mike Gaffey

LAYOUT & DESIGNCory Davis

COVER PHOTOGRAPHKeith Betterley

WRITERSMike Gaffey • Katie Parsons

Maria Sonnenberg • Melinda Millsap George White • Linda Wiggins

© 2015 All rights reserved. Bluewater Creative Group Inc. bluewatercreativegroup.com

A sister publication to Viera Voice. All material contained in Viera MD print or electronic

versions is strictly copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Duplication or reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without permission of

Bluewater Creative Group, Inc. We cannot accept liability for omissions or typographical

errors. Listings, feature articles or advertisements do not constitute an endorsement. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Viera MD is a free publication and is available at many Viera physician and

other business offices.

Take a walk a long Viera ‘Medical Mi le’

HERE’S THE DISH Red Hot Beet and Watermelon Salad INGREDIENTS (Makes 4 servings) : • 1 pound beets, stems/tails removed• 2 teaspoons olive oil• dash of red pepper flakes• Salt and pepper to taste (optional)• 2 cups watermelon puree (place in

watermelon in blender and liquify)• 1 tablespoon lemon juice• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar• 1 tablespoon cooking sherry• Salt (optional)• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil• 5 cups baby lettuce• 1/4 of a watermelon thinly sliced and

cut into triangles

• 1/4 cup low-fat crumbled blue cheese

INSTRUCTIONS: Heat oven to 400 degrees.

1. Peel beets if desired. Slice into 1/2 inch pieces and toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Place on a cookie sheet and roast until firm, but slightly tender when pierced with a fork; approximately 25 minutes. Remove from oven to cool.

2. While beets are roasting, place water-melon juice in a medium saucepan and simmer until reduced to 2/3 cup and mixture has a slight syrupy consistency. Add lemon juice, vinegar, sherry, and salt and return to a simmer for 3 min-utes. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and add olive oil. Adjust seasonings.

3. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of dressing over beets and toss. Place lettuce and 1 cup of watermelon in a large mixing bowl and toss with remaining dressing until thoroughly coated. Transfer greens and watermelon to 4 plates, top with beets and remaining watermelon chunks, then sprinkle blue cheese over the top.

Nutritional Analysis per serving: 224 Calories; 48 percent fat (12 grams); 2.6 grams saturated fat; 10 percent protein; 42 percent carbohydrate; 210 micrograms folate; 36 milligrams vitamin C; 104 milligrams calcium; 2.2 milligrams iron; 64 milligrams magnesium; 822 milligrams potassium; 198 milligrams sodium; 5.4 grams fiber

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CommunityCalendar

David Weiser, MD Board-Certified Ophthalmologist

Specialty: General Ophthalmology(Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma)

L. Neal Freeman, MD Board-Certified OphthalmologistSubspecialty: Ophthalmic Plastic

and Reconstructive Surgery,General Ophthalmology

Jason Ross, MD Board-Certified Ophthalmologist

Specialty: Orbit and Ocularplastic Surgery,Cosmetic Oculofacial Surgery

Payman Haft, MD Board-Certified OphthalmologistSubspecialty: Cornea Refractive,

General Ophthalmology(Cataract Surgery, LASIK)

Fred Lundquist, OD Board-Certified Optometrist

Specialty: Optometry

Vrinda Hershberger, MD Board-Certified Ophthalmologist Specialty: Medical and Surgical

Treatment of Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, Cataract Surgery

Most insurances accepted. C A T A R A C T A N D L A S I K C E N T E R

Full Service Eye Care • Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery • Treatments for the Retina, Cataracts and Glaucoma

www.FloridaEyeAssociates.comCALL 321.727.2020

MELBOURNE502 E. New Haven Ave.

VIERA5510 Murrell Rd.

COCOA BEACH2003 N Atlantic Ave.

PALM BAY161 Malabar Rd.

Weekly Events: Viera Community Center2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way; 433-4891

Tuesdays and Saturdays: Yogi & You Family Yoga 9:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, 9:15 a.m. Saturdays

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Zumba with Heidi, 8:50 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Tuesdays 10:15 to 11:10 a.m. Thursdays

May 2: 13th Annual Caring Hearts Benefit, 3 p.m. at the home of Ed and Jeanne Andre, 3800 N. Riverside Drive, Indialantic 775-9530

May 2: Tropical Realty’s 11th Annual Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Sturge-Weber Syndrome, 7:30 a.m. shotgun start Savannahs Golf Course, 3915 Savannahs Trail, Merritt Island 259-9115

May 11: Healthy Living Transformation, a free presentation on growing your own organic fruits and vegetables, 1 to 2 p.m. at One Senior Place, 8085 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera; 751-6771

June 13: Children’s Home Society of Brevard. Men’s & Women’s Doubles Tennis Tournament at Kiwi Tennis Club from 3 to 5 p.m; 773-7502

May 3 Eat My Crust 5K Run/Walk, 7 a.m., Viera Pizza;information at vierapizza.com/emc.htm

May 10 USA Beach Running Championship Half Marathon and 10K, Lori Wilson Park; half marathon at 6:30 a.m., 10K at 6:45 a.m. information at runonthebeach.com

May 16 The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia 3K, 8 a.m., The Avenue Viera; information at promisewalk.org/spacecoast

June 7 30th Annual Rotary Pineapple Man Triathlon 7 a.m., Ryckman Park; information at pineapple-man-tri.com

June 13 Health First For Your Heart 5K Run/Walk 7 a.m., Space Coast Stadium; information at [email protected]

June 21 Indialantic Boardwalk Triathlon, 7 a.m. Nance Park; information at boardwalktri.com

Submit upcoming calendar events to [email protected]

VIERA MD MAGAZINE | 9

Work has started on the newest phase of an all-in-one

medical complex in Suntree.

Officials broke ground in March on Viera Diagnostic Center at

Brevard Medical City, currently under construction on 24.5 acres

at Wickham Road and Pineda Court. It will be a second location

for Viera Diagnostic Center, which operates at 7000 Spyglass

Court at Murrell Road.

Construction of 22 professional condominiums at the site is

scheduled to start in April, ME Site Works project developer Eric

Hardoon said. Work on a 90-bed, HUD-financed assisted-living

facility should begin in August or September, Hardoon added.

“That’s going to make things very busy,” he said.

The 15,000-square-foot diagnostic center should be finished by

year’s end, “and we’ll be actively in construction of the assisted

living facility” at that time, Hardoon said.

The groundbreaking ceremony and condo construction precede

a scheduled May grand opening of Suntree Internal Medicine’s

new home, a two-story, 31,000-square-foot facility. Hardoon’s

father, Dr. Abe Hardoon, purchased the Wickham Road property

with a plan of eventually moving Suntree Internal Medicine from

its current location at 903 Jordan Blass Drive and surrounding it

with other medical facilities. Eric Hardoon’s brother, Scott, a

doctor, also works at the practice.

When completed, Brevard Medical City will be an upscale,

one-stop shop for residents’ medical needs, Eric Hardoon said.

Aesthetically pleasing amenities will include a pavered entrance,

a 6½-acre lake, fountains, and a lighted, public jogging trail. A

large sign illuminated by LED lighting already has been installed

at the complex’s Wickham Road entrance, and another sign has

been erected at the Pineda Court entrance. A third LED sign

eventually will be added, Hardoon said.

The complex is investing heavily in landscaping to enhance its

appearance and to attract buyers for offices planned at the site,

Hardoon said. So far, the strategy of planting landscaping early

is paying off, he said, as three of the 2,000-square-foot units

already have been sold.

“You can see there’s money put into the landscaping,” said

Hardoon, who had a generator installed to suck up water from

the facility’s man-made lake to irrigate newly planted trees and

shrubs. “We’ve got 59 royal palms here. And you don’t see it

from the road but around the lake we’ve got 105 foxtail palms

lined up every 20 feet. It’s going to look really nice.”

To accommodate traffic, a new turn lane is planned along

Wickham Road from Jordan Blass Drive north to Pineda Court, Eric

Hardoon said. The Wickham Road-Jordan Blass Drive intersection

is the site of Pineda Landings, a new shopping center under

construction just south of Brevard Medical City. Both projects are

being built by Melbourne-based Certified General Contractors.

Brevard Medical City is expected to employ about 100 people,

mostly medical professionals, Hardoon said.

“It’s truly going to be a one-stop shop,” he said. “And if you’re in

the assisted living facility, you can live there, too.”

For information on obtaining medical office or retail space, email

[email protected] or call 407-505-9884. n

CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON NEXT PHASE of Brevard Medical City in Suntree

BY MIKE GAFFEY

Viera MD Cory Davis

A grand opening is planned in May for Suntree Internal Medicine’s new home, a two-story, 31,000-square-foot office that’s part of Brevard Medical City on Wickham Road.

Photos courtesy of Eric Hardoon

An aerial view shows construction underway at Brevard Medical City in Suntree.

By Melinda Millsap

A passionto serve


Tennis has influenced Dr. Juan Lebron throughout his

life. Even now, as the medical director for HealthSouth

Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital, he recalls how his interest in

tennis brought him to where he is today.

In addition to managing the rehabilitation hospital, Lebron is a

physiatrist, also known as a physical medicine and rehabilitation

(PMR) doctor. Physiatrists treat disabilities resulting from injuries

or disease.

Lebron began playing tennis as a child and competed in college.

This interest in sports led him to choose the medical field of

physiatry where he could treat muscles and joints. “My love of

sports is the reason I got into physiatry,” he explained.

Both of his parents were in the medical field, so this choice

came naturally for him. His mother was a nurse and his father

a dentist. He credits both his parents for who he is today as a

doctor. “My father gave me clinical insight and the inclination

to investigate,” Lebron said. “My mother gave me the ability of

caring and communicating with my patients.”

Lebron said the best communication trait a doctor can have is

the ability to listen because “75 percent of the information we

get is from listening.” He emphasized that treating the patient

also includes working with and talking to the family to help them

cope with their loved one’s condition.

Most of what he does as a PMR doctor is helping people avoid

surgery. According to the American Academy of Physical

Medicine and Rehabilitation, physiatrists

• Diagnoseandtreatpain

• Restoremaximumfunctionlostthroughinjury,illnessor

disablingconditions

• Treatthewholeperson,notjusttheproblemarea

• Leadateamofmedicalprofessionals

• Providenon-surgicaltreatments

• Explainthepatient’smedicalproblemsandtreatment/

preventionplan

Some of the injuries Lebron and his team treat include stroke,

brain injury, amputation, multiple-trauma, neurological disorders

like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, hip fractures, and

>

My love of sports is the reason I got into physiatry

Continuedonnextpage


Sea Pines is the only acute rehabilitation hospital in Brevard

County. Acute rehabilitation settings like HealthSouth Sea Pines

offer a shorter length-of-stay and higher discharge to home

rates than skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers.

As a hospital, Sea Pines offers on-site pharmacy, radiology and

respiratory therapy. Sea Pines also offers outpatient and home

healthcare services for an extended continuum of care upon a

patient’s discharge to home.

HealthSouth is the nation’s largest provider of inpatient reha-

bilitative healthcare services. Operating in 26 states across the

country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through

its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute

care hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellite clinics and home

health agencies. HealthSouth’s hospitals provide a higher level

of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from conditions

such as stroke and other neurological disorders, orthopedic,

cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injury,

and amputations. The HealthSouth corporate office is in

Birmingham, Ala.

Sea Pines is a 90-bed medical rehabilitation hospital that offers

comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and home

care services. Serving patients throughout Brevard County,

the hospital is at 101 E. Florida Ave. in Melbourne. For more

information call 724-5089 or go to healthsouthseapines.com. n

spinal cord injury. HealthSouth Sea Pines holds accreditation

from The Joint Commission in Disease Specific Care for Stroke,

Brain Injury and Hip Fracture.

An interdisciplinary team oversees the care of each patient.

Doctors, therapists, nurses, case managers and dieticians work

together and meet regularly to discuss progress, goals and care

plans. The team includes several certified rehabilitation regis-

tered nurses.

Patients in the acute rehabilitation setting at Sea Pines receive

three hours of therapy a day, five days a week. These include

physical, occupational and speech therapies. Patients are also

seen daily by a consulting Internal Medicine physician and one

of three PMR physicians. Dr. Mahathy Katukuri, PMR, and

Dr. Dionne Casthely, PMR, are working with Lebron to

rehabilitate patients. Casthely is the stroke program director at

HealthSouth Sea Pines.

Lebron is currently seeing patients in the inpatient setting at Sea

Pines, and can be consulted for any PMR needs at Health First

Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health First Viera Hospital and

Kindred Long-Term Acute Care Hospital.

Lebron presents lectures in the community to help people better

understand PMR treatment and how this approach is beneficial.

He lectures on conditions involving stroke, amputees,

Parkinson’s disease, and MS.

Keith Betterly Photography

Acute rehabilitation setting like HealthSouth Sea Pines offer shorter stays and higher discharge rates


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SMARTPHONE APP STUDIES HEART HEALTHSPECIAL TO VIERA MD

Scientists at Stanford University have created a free research

app designed to study activity and heart health through users’

iPhones.

Stanford scientists, in collaboration with the American Heart

Association, plan to use data gathered from the app, MyHeart

Counts, to improve methods of preventing and treating heart

disease. The effort will be one of the largest cardiovascular

research trials ever conducted.

App users will be asked several survey questions and must

use their iPhone or wearable device to collect activity data for

seven days. They’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire to see

whether they should consult with their doctor about their ability

to increase activity or assess fitness.

Participants also will be asked to do a six-minute walk test, then

enter information about risk factors and blood tests to determine

their risk score. The app will check back every three months to

have users update their data. Participants will also enter data

about their risk factors for heart disease and their readings from

basic lab tests to get feedback on their chances of developing

heart disease and to determine their “heart age.”

“We are looking for everyone who is curious as to how healthy

their heart is to download this app,” said Dr. Alan Yeung, the

Li Ka Shing professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford.

“Users will be able to see their activity and fitness levels, and

their ‘heart age.’ We’ll also be able to study what motivates

people to improve their heart health.”

Data from the MyHeart Counts study are for research only and

will not be used for any for-profit venture. The app is not for

clinical care and does not provide personal access to a Stanford

doctor. The study is open to all adults over 18.

The MyHeart Counts app is available for iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and

iPhone 6 Plus. Stanford expects to introduce similar studies on

other smartphone platforms in the future.

MyHeart Counts is available from the App Store. For more

information, go to myheartcounts.stanford.edu. n

Suntree YMCA offers free 5-day swim program for kidsSuntree YMCA Family Center presents Splash Week, a free,

five-day swim program April 20 through 24 for children

ages 4 to12.

Participating children will enjoy swim instruction, character

development lessons and water safety education. Instruc-

tors from YMCA of Central Florida Swim Academy will teach

basic stroke development as well as personal safety

lessons to help children and parents learn respect for

the water.

The program is open to the public and will be offered at

20 Central Florida locations.

To register or for more information, call Suntree YMCA

at 259-2929. n

SPECIAL TO VIERA MD

Suntree YMCA is among the YMCA family centers that could

be a host site for a yearlong program to prevent or delay

new cases of type 2 diabetes.

A collaboration between YMCA of Central Florida and Florida

Blue, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Association, will provide free preventative diabetes care to

policyholders who have pre-diabetes or are at risk of developing

type 2 diabetes. Coverage will be provided through enrollment

in the 12-month YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program.

“To have a partner like Florida Blue makes such a bold statement

and is an unbelievable story of their commitment to making

Central Florida a healthier community,” said John Cardone, vice

president of health strategies for YMCA of Central Florida.

Regular classes will be led by lifestyle coaches at YMCA family

centers and in workplaces throughout Brevard, Orange, Osceola,

Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. The program includes 16

weekly sessions that help people make simple lifestyle changes

– like eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing

modest amounts of weight. Weekly sessions are followed by

eight months of personalized, one-on-one support with provid-

ers to help participants reach their long-term health and well-

ness goals.

Jill Bond, wellness director at Cocoa YMCA and one of two

lifestyle coaches for Brevard, said classes could be offered at

Suntree YMCA if enough people sign up.

“We can go to Suntree if there’s a need,” said Bond, who taught

the class to county employees last year at the Moore Justice

Center in Viera. “We can go wherever we can get that group of

people together who need this program. Suntree, with the

population there, we know we could do a program. It’s a

numbers game. We just need to have so many in the class.”

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program resulted from a National

Institutes of Health study which showed how healthier eating,

increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight

could lead to better health in participants and an overall reduction

of new type 2 diabetes cases. Such programs have been shown

to prevent or delay new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent

and as much as 71 percent in adults over age 60.

“We know that preventing diabetes is critical for the health of the

community and for the health of each individual member,” said

Tony Jenkins, Central Region president of Florida Blue. “By

taking away the barrier of cost for this evidence-based, Centers

for Disease Control-approved program, we believe we can curb

the rate at which type 2 diabetes is impacting this community.”

For more information on the YMCA Diabetes Prevention

Program, call YMCA of Central Florida at 407-644-3606,

ext. 255, or email [email protected]. n

YMCA, Florida Blue team up to combat diabetes

Suntree YMCA6300 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 114, Melbourne

259-2929Open 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday,

5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday

Photo courtesy of Suntree YMCA

Joe Rowlette, operations director for Suntree YMCA Family Center, and Brevard County Manager Stockton Whitten help cut the ribbon during the Y’s open house March 6 at 6300 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 114. More than 100 people attended the event, which featured tours of the renovated facility, raffle prizes, food and drink.


Viera MD Linda Wiggins

Dr. Mark Pinsky, left, goes over post-injury strengthening tips with Viera Hawks coach Kevin Mays and football standout Trés Nixon.

Dr. Mark Pinsky, DO, wanted to be a doctor since he was 5

years old. As a teenager, he began to investigate how he

could incorporate his huge passion for sports into his professional

life, before sports medicine was a real thing.

“I loved sports, and I loved the study of the musculoskeletal

system and how the proper mechanics can allow top

performance and reduce the risk of injury for everyone from

athletes to seniors,” said Pinsky of MDVIP medical practice on

the Medical Mile in Viera. The practice is open to patients who

pay an annual membership for enhanced care.

In college, he began to connect with leaders in the emerging field

of sports medicine. During his med school clinicals, he began to

spend time with them doing rotations in their offices and on the

fields treating injured athletes and assisting with their physicals.

During his residency, he spent time at Chapel Hill at the University

of North Carolina, Western Kentucky University and the University

of Louisville trying to figure out how to incorporate sports

medicine into private family practice.

It’s not who you know, but who you’ve helped

With these connections in place, he was able to win one of only

75 slots in the country for a fellowship in sports medicine.

“Sports medicine is a very tight-knit circle,” Pinsky said.

He was recruited during his fellowship to come to Brevard County

in August of 1996 and he never left. During his former Saturday

morning sports medicine talk show on WMEL, he was recruited

on air by Melbourne Central Catholic coach and athletic director

Mike Riazzi. He later added Palm Bay High School to his winning

roster just down the street, helping to build a powerhouse football

team. He cared for athletes during their home games, “at the half.”

Another invitation ensued,

this time close to his heart

logistically and relationally.

“It was hard to leave Palm

Bay because the program

and the coach were really

good to me, but at the

same time I knew I would

have a child who went to

Viera High School – my

son’s a sophomore there

now – and I wanted to

be a part of developing a

special type of program.”

Building a machine, again

The result has been an

undefeated season for

the Hawks and a first

trip to the state football

playoffs. Pinsky has been

a huge part of the machine that got them there, according to the

football coach.

“He’s a big piece of our winning season. There are a bunch of

moving parts and he’s a big part of it,” coach Kevin Mays said.

“As a coach in a high-impact sport, it’s comforting to me to have a

doctor on call to help out with any sideline issues to get our guys

back to peak performance. It makes my job easier and for our

trainers, too, because he is able to help with instruction of the

proper mechanics during skill development as well as post-injury

recovery. I’m really appreciative of him for what he does.”

The feeling is mutual for Pinsky, who worked with Mays when he

was an assistant coach at Palm Bay.

“He and (defensive coach and linebacker coordinator) Derek Smith

have done amazing work to build a powerhouse team for us in

Viera,” Pinsky said. “The team will travel to Dallas this year to face

a highly ranked national team, and a number of the players are

being heavily recruited for Division I. Mays turned the tide after a

rough start for the school, which went through four coaches in its

first five years.”

Pinsky is also involved with the baseball and track and field teams,

and is available for any sport that requests his input. The school

is in talks to develop a sports medicine academy under Pinsky’s

guidance.

Giving back

He does the physicals for team members and any monies he

earns are donated back to the sports program.

“That’s been huge considering the budget constraints have been

enormous in the past years, and the school sports programs

are especially in need of funds,” Pinsky said. He summed up the

difference the change in his practice has made to his dual love of

sports and medicine. With the new premium membership format

he was able to reduce his patient load from 4,000 to 400 and not

only give his VIP patients more TLC, but have more time for family

and community.

“Combining my passion for sports medicine with my love of family

practice, and now having the time to be all I can be for both, has

been the perfect solution for me and for my patients.”

For more information on MDVIP, located at 8045 Spyglass Hill

Road, go to mdvip.com/MarkPinskyDO or call 255-2289. n

SPORTS JUNKIE MD: From No. 1 love to a No. 1 teamBY LINDA WIGGINS


Wellness visits take 90 minutes, and regular office visits are typically 30 minutes, giving Dr. Mark Pinsky plenty of time to get to the root of health issues. Pictured with Katie Winans.


BY MIKE GAFFEY

Florida Dermatology Associates has opened a new branch

office at 7640 N. Wickham Road, Suite 118 in Park Place at

Suntree plaza.

Florida Dermatology Associates also has offices at 5070 Minton

Road, Suite 5 in Palm Bay, 80 Woodland Ave. in Cocoa Beach

and 4260 N. U.S. 1 in Port St. John. FDA recently opened another

location at 500 N. Washington Ave., Suite 109 in Titusville.

Services include mole and growth removal, Mohs Micrographic

Surgery for removing skin tumors, and treatment for acne, warts

and skin disorders such as psoriasis and rashes. A licensed

aesthetician and skin care specialist provides cosmetic skin

treatments such as facials and skin massage therapy.

“We do have a lot of existing patients who are closer to that

office and they are pleased that they don’t have to drive as

far,” Laurie Betterman of FDA said of the Suntree location. “And

we’re trying to get new patient clients also instead of just pulling

patients out of our existing offices.”

Three physicians are on staff. Dr. Ruben Moreno was an assistant

professor at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, where he taught

general and surgical dermatology. He began his practice in

Florida in 1988.

Dr. Frank Lee has been practicing dermatology in Florida since

1985. He joined FDA in 2010.

Dr. Kathleen Elmer practiced dermatology, cosmetic

dermatology and general surgery for the U.S. military until 2010.

She joined FDA in 2013.

Florida Dermatology Associates accepts Blue Cross, Blue Shield

Medicare, Health First, Cigna, Aetna, United Health Care,

Champus and other forms of insurance coverage.

For more information or to schedule an appointment,

call 768-1600 or go to fldermatology.com. n

Viera MD Mike Gaffey

Florida Dermatology Associates has opened a new branch office at 7640 N. Wickham Road, Suite 118 in Park Place at Suntree plaza.

Florida Dermatology Associates opens Suntree office

BY GEORGE WHITE

Dermatologist Ruben Moreno of Florida Dermatology Associates

averages 1,200 procedures annually of a specialized type of skin

cancer surgery credited with high success rates and minimum

impact to tissues surrounding the cancer.

Mohs surgery, named after its inventor Frederick Mohs, involves

a procedure where the doctor removes a skin cancer and, after

processing of the sample, personally checks under a microscope

to make sure all the lateral and deep margins are free of

cancer cells.

A map is made of the shape and size of the tissue removed,

where residual cancer is found so that the surgeon can go back

and remove tissue only from that spot. This allows for maximum

tissue preservation, and the highest cure rates, Moreno said.

The procedure can be done on any type of non-melanoma skin

cancer on any part of the body. It is most commonly used to treat

skin cancers on areas where preserving skin is important, such as

the face, ears, and hands, he said.

Although the procedure can be time consuming with the

surgeon often removing multiple layers, the results are worth it,

Moreno said.

“The time is variable. If we get clear margins after the first layer

is removed, we can close the wound and that patient may spend

45-60 minutes in the office. For every layer after the first, you can

add about 30 minutes more to the visit. Most cases I do, generally

are clear in one to three layers.

“Nothing is perfect, but Mohs cure rates are the highest a patient

can achieve. Published reports are cure rates of 98 percent,”

he said.

Insurance coverage for Mohs procedures is variable, but it is

usually covered for the face and ears and in cases where the

cancer has been treated before and the cancer has come back,

he said.

It is used most often on

basal and squamous cell

cancers since they are the

most common type of skin

cancer. It can be used on

many other types of skin

cancer such as sebaceous

carcinoma, and merkel cell

carcinoma, he said.

The Mohs procedure by

definition has to be done

by the same doctor. It is not

Mohs surgery if one doctor

cuts the tissue out, and

another looks at it under the

microscope.

“The challenge is being both a

surgeon and a pathologist at

the same time,” he said. n

Mohs surgery saves skin in critical areas

Dr. Ruben Moreno


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MILLENIUM MEDICAL WELCOMES HARIDOPOLOS

Dr. Stephanie

Haridopolos has

joined a Viera medical

center to launch Viera

Health & Wellness primary

care services. The high-

profile community leader

and medical spokesperson

will serve alongside

Deuk Spine Institute and

Viera Orthopedics, all

under Millennium Medical

Management, led by Dr.

Ara Deukmedjian.

Haridopolos and her

husband, former Florida

Senate President Mike

Haridopolos, were longtime Suntree residents during his time

in the Florida House of Representatives representing the Viera/

Suntree area. They have three children.

“I have been very good friends with Dr. Deukmedjian for many

years and we had thought that it would be a great idea to

bring family practice to Millennium Medical Management,”

Haridopolos said. “It’s a beautiful building in a great location

and I was excited to be a part of it.”

The recently built complex at 7955 Spyglass Hill Road and

Baytree Drive includes the shared Surgery Center of Viera

and a state-of-the-art video conference center. An additional

24,000-square-foot building is planned.

Haridopolos, formerly with Omni Healthcare, is a board-certified

family practice physician who completed her residency at

Albany Medical Center in 2002. She has practiced family

medicine in Melbourne since 2002, and will focus primarily on

patients ages 17 and up for Millennium Medical Management.

“I will be supplying all preventative medicine, health measures

for men and women, pap smears, immunizations and of course

sick visits and being the ‘quarterback’ of the patient’s health

care,” she said.

In time, Haridopolos hopes to offer rejuvenation and cosmetics

services, weight loss programs and to give seminars on how to

live a healthier lifestyle.

Haridopolos currently is accepting new patients. For more

information or to schedule an appointment, call 751-3389

or go to vierahealthandwellness.com. n

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Viera MD won top awards for best

magazine cover and publication

design from the American Advertising

Federation (AAF) Space Coast chapter

on Feb. 21. The Gold ADDY and Silver

ADDY were awarded at the annual Great

Adsby Gala.

Viera MD is a product of Bluewater

Creative Group, which also publishes

Viera Voice, Senior Life, Boomer Guide

and the Charlie Corbeil Birding Guide.

The company also hosts expos and events in

tandem with the print and online products.

ADDY Awards honor excellence in

advertising and cultivate the highest

creative standards in the industry. Viera MD will

move on to regional AAF awards in May and, if successful, to national awards in June.

“The ADDY Awards recognize excellence in creativity in advertising and we are always

excited to see the work being created here on the Space Coast,” said Amelia

Woodbridge, local ADDY Awards chairperson and CEO of Amelia Woodbridge

Consulting, a marketing and advertising firm.

Viera MD’s spring 2014 Gold ADDY-winning cover was photographed by Cathy Heinz

of Cathy Heinz Photography. It featured colorectal cancer gastroenterologist Dr. Marina

Kaufman discussing the challenges of her profession and the underwater pastime that

helps keep her centered. Sitting on her desk wearing pink swim flippers, the cover

headline was “Cancer Fighter, Scuba Diver.”

The Silver ADDY was for the fall 2014 pink “Movember” issue highlighting October

women’s and November men’s cancer awareness months. Both award-winning

issues were designed by Mike Oliver of Zephyr Studio.

Bluewater Creative Group CEO Jill Blue-Gaines credited readers and advertisers

for the awards.

“We provide consumer-driven information made possible by advertising,” Blue-Gaines

said, “in publications specifically designed to get consumers to take action, to pick up

and peruse a publication, to ultimately consider the purchase of a product or

service, to generate a certain positive feeling by association.” n

For more information, call 242-1235.

Viera MD nabs gold and silver at ADDY Awards


BY LINDA WIGGINS

It started a few years ago with a gorgeous building here. A

cool looking structure there. Then a pattern began to emerge.

Businesses along Spyglass Hill Road in Viera from Murrell Road

to Baytree Drive all followed a health and medical theme or

were placed there because it was a thriving, growing medical

community.

It did not arise out of coincidence, but according to a master

plan for the town.

“There is an amazing variety of medical services here” said Dr.

Ara Deukmedjian, who recently capped the south end of the

street at Baytree Drive with the Millennium Medical building,

home to Deuk Spine Institute on one side of the 20,000-square

foot building and Surgery Center of Viera on the other.

Deukmedjian first occupied 3,000 square feet of a building

down the Medical Mile to the west, then took over the entire

5,000 square feet before relocating to accommodate practice

growth. Now, rather than sell the old building as originally

planned, he is considering moving his administrative offices

there to make more room for bustling medical services.

“We saw the growth that was taking place in Viera, a shift in growth

from the south part of Brevard County to north Melbourne,”

Deukmedjian said. “We decided this was the place to build

an international medical practice where people would want to

come for state-of-the-art surgery that we feel is the best in the

world. It’s close to the new Viera Hospital should any situation

arise during surgery requiring emergency care, and every type

of specialist that our osteopathic patients might need is right

here on the Medi-

cal Mile, including

primary physi-

cians who refer

patients to us.”

Within the next

three years, he

will break ground

on a 24,000-square-foot building adjacent to the new one to

create a comprehensive diagnostics, rehabilitative therapy,

patient education and conference center.

On the opposite end on the north side of Medical Mile at

Murrell Road is one of the original buildings, Spyglass

Medical Building at 7000 Spyglass Ct. The relatively large

building at 30,000 square feet and three stories is made of

red brick and reflective glass surrounded by a fountain-

centered pond that like all of Viera remains a haven for wildlife.

“I love having my practice here because I can go sit by the

fountain and decompress from my busy day. My patients get

very excited to see ‘the duckies.’ It’s just beautiful here,” said

pediatrician Dr. Ellen Altenburg, whose offices are on the first

floor overlooking the water. “Whatever my patients need, there

is every type of specialty along the Medical Mile, from dentists

to diagnostics, that specialize in children.”

Patients say they are thrilled with the convenience, no longer

having to travel 30 minutes to medical office complexes

surrounding Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, and

there is one other factor that is less tangible but nonetheless vital.

“It’s convenient, but also everything is updated, clean and very

welcoming. Everybody’s very friendly, smiling, happy to see

you. That is a very big thing for me and something I have not

experienced anywhere but this area,” said Kristin Cook, whose

son Ethan is Altenburg’s patient. The family also patronizes

other professional services on the Medical Mile.

That factor did not go unrecognized by Chuck Nell, who

traveled from Columbus, Ohio for his surgery by “Dr. Deuk”

and collaborating providers on the Medical Mile.

“I went to so many places and never got relief, never even got

doctors to answer my questions. It was very frustrating,” Nell

said. “So I researched the web and found Dr. Deuk, and from

the start the staff was so welcoming. They put us up at the

Holiday Inn. Staff sat with my wife while I was in surgery, which

was very successful. Where else do you find that? It’s definitely

worth the trip.” n

Health services with a smile, it’s all here on Viera Medical Mile


Dr. Ellen Altenburg, fresh from a St. Baldrick’s buzz cut to battle childhood cancer, loves the relaxing wildlife-attracting design of the Spyglass Medical Center at the start of the Medical Mile almost as much as do her diminutive duckie-loving patients.


Beautifully designed, upscale and state-of-the-art buildings are the norm along Viera Medical Mile, up and down Spyglass Hill Road from Murrell Road to Baytree Drive.


BY KATIE PARSONS

Sometimes waiting even a

few minutes is too long

when it comes to medical help.

The basics of CPR are not only

valuable skills to learn – they

could save a life.

Each year, Health First hosts a

free CPR training event for the

community to equip as many

residents as possible with this

life-saving proficiency. This

year’s event will be from 7 to

10:30 a.m. Saturday,

June 13 at Space

Coast Stadium.

The “Be a Superhero

- Learn to Save a Life”

event will kick off with a free 5K run at 7 a.m., followed

by the official CPR training session that starts at 8:30

a.m. Last year 5,000 people took advantage of the

training session and CPR certification process. Reg-

istration is required for both the race and the training.

At the end of the training session, participants will

receive a CPR certificate that applies to friends and

family. It is not, for example, the standard certificate

that employers would accept. This will be the seventh

year Health First has hosted the free community event.

“This year we’re adding more activities for the family

as we focus on keeping our community healthy,” said

Erika Hodges of Marketing and Communications at

Health First.

In addition to the 5K run and CPR training, Health First will

award prizes to all kids who come dressed as superheroes,

and will provide other free kids’ activities. A heart-healthy

cooking demonstration, physician information and a demon-

stration of a Health First helicopter landing will all be part of

the morning’s activities.

“Our goal is to help make our community a safer place to live,

work and play by training as many of our citizens as possible to

recognize sudden cardiac arrest and deliver hands-only CPR.

Each year this free event trains thousands of Brevard County

residents of all ages in life-saving skills that can more than

double the chances of survival for a victim,” said Bill Calhoun,

president of Community Hospital at Health First.

“You never know when or where tragedy may

strike, but by being trained in CPR and ready to

respond, you could wind up being someone’s

hero.”

There are no prerequisites for CPR certification,

but those who want to participate must register

first atHFcpr.org n

Health First to host free CPR training, 5K Race

Health First’s CPR training event in 2014 drew 5,000 visitors. Health First photo

Health First’s 7th Annual CPR Training Event

Saturday, June 135K race kicks off at 7 a.m.,

CPR Training starts at 8:30 a.m.

Space Coast Stadium

To register for free race and training,

go to HFcpr.org

Photo courtesy of Health First


By MARY BROTHERTON

When Melbourne resident Lynn Heine felt the first twinge

of pain radiating from her knee to her hip, she recalled

friends who had undergone hip surgery.

“They had so much pain afterwards,” Heine said, “so I put mine

off as long as I could. It wasn’t from a fall, so I could wait.”

Eventually the pain was too much to bear so she visited Health

First orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Perry.

“I was Dr. Perry’s guinea pig. He asked if I would be willing to be

his first patient in Central Florida to have the robot surgery. I had

complete confidence in him so I told him to go for it,” Heine said.

MAKOplasty® technology enabled Perry to complete Heine’s

hip replacement in about an hour, making this the first robot-

assisted, direct anterior hip replacement in Central Florida.

Perry is one of three surgeons credentialed in MAKOplasty®

for total hip replacement and partial knee resurfacing with

privileges at Health First Holmes Regional Hospital.

“We hope to improve placement, reduce human error,” Perry

said. “When you are recreating bony anatomy, this technology

helps improve accuracy.”

The Hip® and RIO® system enables the accurate alignment

and positioning of implants with the assistance of a highly

advanced, surgeon-controlled robotic arm and 3-D imaging.

“This is the next step in guidance,” Perry said. “I was able to use a

3-D image of her hip based on a pre-operative CT scan. This meant

I could place everything in the proper position. Proper position

means better success. It was a much less-invasive approach.”

Heine’s surgery was on March 2. The day after surgery, she was

walking with a walker. Within two weeks, she was alternating

use of the walker with a cane.

“It’s remarkable,” she said. “I never needed to wear those surgical

stockings, and every day I do a little more. It’s amazing.”

For more information, call 434-4300 or go to health-first.org. n

Central Florida’s first robot-assisted, direct anterior hip replacement

Photo courtesy of Health First

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Perry, center, and his surgical team used the new robotic MAKOplasty® hip replacement system for the first time in early March.


25 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES.25 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES.

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Removing Isaiah’s brain tumor could’ve damaged the nerves that controlled his facial expressions. But you wouldn’t know that from his smile.When it was discovered that a brain tumor had wrapped itself around Isaiah’s brainstem, everyone was concerned. One mistake during a very long and very delicate operation would be disastrous. However, a� er twelve painstaking hours of surgery, every piece of the tumor was removed. His mom thought it would take a miracle for him to come out unscathed. But he did. Thanks to the expert care he received at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Now Isaiah feels a whole lot be er, and the look on his face can tell you that.

Isaiah is just one of the thousands of kids Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has helped over the past 25 years. To see his full story and many others, visit 25yearsofcaring.com/Isaiah

25 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES.25 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES.

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Suntree family credited for new fetal surgery advancesThe Brianna Marie Founda-tion 5K run raised more than $30,000 for research on new fetal surgery devices and techniques March 14 at Wickham Park.

“We couldn’t have been happier with the turnout at the event,” said Aran His-sam of Suntree, who with husband Patrick started the foundation in 2012 af-ter losing their only daugh-ter less than a day after she was born. “We had 429 registered runners/walkers, 60-plus volunteers, and lots of great supporters that came out with their families and friends.”

Fetal surgeon Dr. Ruben Quintero of the Jackson Fetal Therapy Institute in Miami, which serves families in Brevard, used new techniques that allowed the baby to develop full term and be born, against all odds. Appearing at the Melbourne event with surgical partner Dr. Eftichia Kontopoulos, Quintero said major advancements will be put in play soon.

The Hissams were tapped to serve as the Brevard County March of Dimes Ambassador Family for the March for Babies walk at Space Coast Stadium April 25.

For more information go to briannamariefoundation.com. n

Viera MD Photo

Aran Hissam, left, was credited by surgeons Dr. Eftichia Kontopoulos and Dr. Ruben Quintero, along with Lonnie Somers of the Fetal Health Foundation, for advancements in fetal surgery that have resulted from fundraising efforts with husband Patrick.

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Florida Health Care Association sets 2015 legislative prioritiesGOAL IS TO SUPPORT LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS AND RESIDENTS UNDER THEIR CARE

With more than 60 percent of residents in Florida’s skilled

nursing centers relying on Medicaid, the Florida Health Care

Association (FHCA) has set legislative priorities that focus on

restoring Medicaid funding, making improvements to Medicaid

managed long term care and protecting seniors from

unexpected medical bills.

More than three in five residents of skilled nursing centers

depend on Medicaid to cover the cost of their long

term health care needs, and another 20 percent

rely on Medicare funding. Funding cuts in

recent years have significantly affected

resources to care for this population,

and restoring previous cuts will allow

for upgrades to physical plants and

equipment, according to FHCA

executive director Emmett Reed.

“As Florida’s skilled nursing centers

prepare to meet the needs of

aging baby boomers, it’s important

we modernize our aging buildings,

enhance our technologies and con-

tinue placing focus on a more person-

centered environment,” Reed said.

“Adequate funding opens the door to so

many necessary options and will

enable our centers to continue making strides

in quality care.”

Florida’s skilled nursing centers have experienced more than

$700 million in Medicaid reductions since 2008. Despite some

funding recoupments during the past few years, Medicaid still

currently underfunds skilled nursing care by $15.46 per person

per day. Florida has more than 73,000 residents in skilled

nursing centers, and those centers lose an average of about

$377,000 per year due to this Medicaid shortfall.

FHCA will ask the Legislature to restore Medicaid funding

for nursing center care as a top priority this session.

FHCA is calling for the Legislature to review Florida’s Medicaid

Managed Care System. Florida’s nursing center residents are

experiencing a lack of coordination of care as a result of having

two separate plans – one for long term care and

another for their traditional health care needs.

“Our hope is that the Legislature will review

the system to ensure residents who rely

on Medicaid are receiving the appropri-

ate access to care,” Reed said.

FHCA is also supporting SB 768

and HB 309, which aim to educate

consumers regarding their hospital

admission status. Seniors are often

unaware that Medicare will not cover

the cost of follow-up rehabilitative

care in a skilled nursing center if the

hospital classifies them under “ob-

servation status” rather than admitting

them as in-patient during their stay.

“Many of the residents cared for in skilled

nursing centers come from the hospital, often

needing rehabilitative or restorative care before

they are ready to return home,” said Reed. “This legis-

lation will ensure that they are properly informed about their

hospital admission status and help protect them from serious

financial burdens.”

For more information about the Florida Health Care Association and its legislative priorities, call 850-224-3907 or go to fhca.org.

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