Holy Cross Hospital President and CEO Patrick A. Taylor, M.D., announced that Paul Papagni, J.D., has joined the hospital as executive director of clinical research, a newly created role.

 

Prior to joining Holy Cross Hospital, Papagni served as vice president of research administration and compliance at the Statewide Clinical Trials Network of Texas. He has extensive Institutional Review Board (IRB) experience, having also served as the executive director of clinical research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, director of the IRB at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, administrative director of the IRB at Columbia University in New York City, and as the first executive director of the IRB at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. An active member of the Massachusetts Bar and admitted to practice in federal district court, Papagni received his juris doctor from the Suffolk University School of Law in Boston and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

 

Bethesda Health is pleased to announce Tara Chandler, BS, RRT, as the new Director of Bethesda’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Program.

 

Chandler has over 30 years of management experience in healthcare and education. Prior to joining Bethesda’s team, Chandler served as the Director of Pulmonary and Hyperbaric Services at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital. She also served previously as the Manager of Pulmonary and Hyperbaric Services and the Sleep Disorders Center for both St. Mary’s Medical Center and Good Samaritan Medical Center. Earlier in her career, Chandler served as the Program Director and Director of Clinical Education at the School for Respiratory Care at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Chandler earned her Bachelor’s degree from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee and her respiratory therapy degree from Baptist Memorial Hospital School for Respiratory Care.

With over 20 years of experience in human resources, Thomas J. Piszczatoski is St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital’s new Chief Human Resources Officer.

 

Prior to his appointment at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Piszczatoski served as the Director of Human Resources at North Central Baptist Hospital, located in San Antonio, TX. The hospital was part of the Vanguard Health System, a recent acquisition of Tenet. Before Piszczatoski’s role at North Central Baptist, he held HR roles in three different states, including Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.

 

Piszczatoski earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey and also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources - SPHR.

The Martin Health Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to the organization’s board of directors.

 

Theora “Bunny” Webb is a former communications and community relations consultant. Webb has served on the board of the PACE Center for Girls and currently serves on the Community Campaign Committee for Tradition Medical Center.

 

Richard Boyle is a former board officer with Chase Manhattan Corporation. Boyle has also served as board chairman of St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York and as a trustee of The New York Foundling, an organization that empowers children and families in need.

 

Michael Minton is past president of Dean Mead and chair of the firm’s agribusiness industry team. Minton is currently chair of the board of trustees for the University of Florida Law Center Association, Inc., and vice chair of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc.

 

George “Jack” Ratcliffe was employed with Hubbell, Inc. in Connecticut for 38 years, where he served as a director, chairman and president/chief executive officer. He has served on the boards of many public and private companies including Sunoco, Inc., Praxair, Inc., Olin Corporation and Aquarion Company.

Miami Jewish Health Systems recently appointed Elisa R. Hernandez to Vice President of Human Resources. Hernandez brings more than 20 years of experience in personnel development and strategic recruitment, in both mid-to- large-scale corporations.

 

Prior to joining Miami Jewish Health Systems, Elisa was Vice-President, Human Resources and Payroll at Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. Before that, Hernandez held the position of Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Development for Hospital Physician Partners.

 

Elisa received her Bachelor of Science in Professional Management from Nova Southeastern University and has been a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources since 2002.  

James Dunscomb has joined the Lower Keys Medical Center as their Director of Plant Operations. Dunscomb comes to Key West from Delray Beach where he was the Manager of Plant Operations and Security at Delray Medical Center.

 

Dunscomb has 13 years of healthcare and consulting experience including positions with Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Previously he served in the United States Navy as well as with the New York City Transit Police Department and the New York City Fire Department, Ladder 28.

Palmetto General Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Ana Mederos, has been appointed to Governor Rick Scott’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care.

 

Mederos fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning May 15, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015.

David J. O’Brien, MSN, MHA, RN, joins the staff at Coral Gables Hospital as the new Chief Nursing Officer. O’Brien has eight years of nursing experience.

 

Prior to his arrival at Coral Gables Hospital, O’Brien was the Director of Nursing at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York, NY. He received his Master’s Degree in Health Administration and Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ. In 2010, O’Brien was awarded the New York Presbyterian Patient Centered Care Leadership Award among other prestigious awards.

Jacqueline Torre, United HomeCare’s Director of Human Resources, is the new chairperson of the Professional and Workforce Development Committee for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), United HomeCare announced.

 

Torre has been a member of the GMCC Professional and Workforce Development Committee since 2010. In her role as chairperson, she will spearhead the Chamber’s goal of addressing the needs of the local business community to prepare its future workforce. To do so, the Committee will focus its attention on expanding its outreach within South Florida’s diverse industries through associations, nonprofit entities and higher education institutions. Torre will also lead the Committee’s hosting of the Chamber’s annual HR Insights Conference and Excellence HR Awards event. 

Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing recently announced the addition of four new members to its advisory board.

 

Jesse Flowers, II, vice president and commercial lender with 1st United Bank in Boca Raton, has more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry. He is actively involved in several community organizations, including as a board member of the Downtown Rotary Club.

 

Carrol B. Gubana has more than 40 years diversified experience in the banking, retail and travel industries. She is a past member representative of both the Boca Raton and Delray Beach chambers of commerce, as well as a member of Wells Fargo’s Reading to Children program.

 

Joseph Martin is vice president and owner of Allegiance Home Health and Rehab, Inc. Martin is actively involved in a number of community organizations, including serving as a trustee for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

 

Jay H. Van Vechten is a nationally recognized leader in the disability community. He is the executive director of the annual Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities, the largest free event in the United States for the special needs community. Van Vechten is immediate past chair of the City of Boca Raton Advisory Board for People with Disabilities.