September 30 2021 – St. Lucie Medical Center is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous four year review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that St. Lucie is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. St. Lucie is the first hospital on the Treasure Coast to earn the distinction and joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world and one of 27 hospitals in the state of Florida. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

“St. Lucie has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Jay Finnegan, St. Lucie Medical Center CEO. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”

St. Lucie was also named in Newsweek’s 2021 annual list of best maternity hospitals in the U.S for demonstrating excellence in maternity care.

St. Lucie Medical Center is a facility of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of HCA Healthcare (HCA). HCA East Florida has 14 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, physician practices, imaging centers and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has more than 6,600 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.

HCA EAST FLORIDA

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center + Highlands Regional Medical Center + JFK Medical Center + JFK Medical Center North Campus + Kendall Regional Medical Center + Lawnwood Regional Medical Center + Mercy Hospital + Northwest Medical Center + Palms West Hospital + Plantation General Hospital + Raulerson Hospital + St. Lucie Medical Center + University Hospital & Medical Center + Westside Regional Medical Center

About Baby-Friendly USA

As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.



September 30, 2021 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Benjamín León School of Nursing Lecture Series will present a collaborative discussion addressing Best Practices to Educate Novice Nurses Transitioning into the Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. This event is free and open to the public.  

Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged nursing students’ access to clinical settings, thus delaying novice nurses’ entry into the workforce. Meanwhile, the demand for more nurses continues to rise. Educational programs and health care systems are creating innovative approaches to achieve clinical competencies, enhance the learning experience while providing work opportunities.

This forum provides an engaging and spirited discussion of healthcare professionals, educators, and students to problem-solve this clinical conundrum led by keynote speaker Dr. Valerie Grumme, RN, CCRN-K, director of The RN Fellowship Program at Memorial Health Care System. Dr. Grumme has a doctorate and Master of Science in Nursing Education from Florida Atlantic University, a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Peter’s University, an associate degree nursing from Cypress College, and is a certified critical care nurse-CCRN-K. Her extensive experience in both academia and clinical practice has provided her with opportunities to increase nursing knowledge and professional practice to enhance patient care.

The panel will also include Elizabeth L. Vieito-Smith, DNP RN, Chief Nursing Officer, University of Miami Hospital & Clinics; Maria A. Suarez, DNP, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, Assistant Vice President of Nursing, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health Systems; Christina Mellon MSN, RN, Director of Horizon Nurse Residency Program Nicklaus Children’s; and Jacqulyn Williams, MSN-Ed, RN, RM, ENC, OB, nursing faculty at MDC’s Benjamin Leon School of Nursing.

WHAT:            Exploring Best Practices to Educate Novice Nurses Entering the Workforce during the  

                        COVID-19 Pandemic

WHEN:            Wednesday, Oct. 27, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

WHERE:         Join Zoom meeting https://mdc-edu.zoom.us/j/88034324089

                        Meeting ID: 880 3432 4089 Passcode: 068927

MDC Media Contacts: Juan C. Mendieta, MDC director of communications, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu; Sue Arrowsmith, director of media relations, 305-237-3710, sarrowsm@mdc.edu; Allison Horton, 305-237-3359, ahorton2@mdc.edu; or Norma Ardila, 305-237-3607, nardila@mdc.edu.    

This and other MDC releases are available at www.mdc.edu.



September 30, 2021 – The Florida International University (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) will launch a primary care internal medicine training program at the Miami VA Healthcare System.

This will be the only medical residency program in Florida to benefit veterans by utilizing a Veterans Affairs healthcare facility as its primary training site. Residents also will train at Jackson Memorial Hospital and other sites under development. The program, set to start on July 1, 2022, recently received approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for FIU to serve those who have served us,” said FIU Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton. “Graduates of this program will be uniquely prepared to manage the complex medical problems that veterans confront after returning to civilian life, including post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and chronic pain.”

In addition to newly minted doctors who graduate from HWCOM, the program also is expected to draw skilled physicians from across the country. The new FIU/Miami VA residency program has been approved to participate in the National Resident Matching Program, which culminates on Match Day (March 18, 2022) when graduating medical students are “matched” with residency programs nationwide. Residencies offer medical school graduates in-depth training within a specific specialty at a hospital or clinic.

This residency training program also is expected to benefit the South Florida community by attracting more doctors to the area amidst a growing national physician shortage, especially in primary care.

“Studies show the majority of young doctors decide to practice close to where they perform their residency training,” said Dr. Juan Cendan, interim dean at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. “We expect that many of the doctors we train will remain in South Florida.”

The three-year graduate medical education program has already started recruiting its first class of six residents.

About FIU:
Florida International University is a Top 50 public university that drives real talent and innovation in Miami and globally. High research (R1) activity and high social mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate learner success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, innovation, and justice. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers. FIU serves a diverse student body of more than 58,000 and 270,000 Panther alumni. U.S. News and World Report places dozens of FIU programs among the best in the nation, including international business at No. 2. Washington Monthly Magazine ranks FIU among the top 20 public universities contributing to the public good.



September 30, 2021 – Receiving a cancer diagnosis is all too common in the U.S., with one in three Americans developing cancer in their lifetime. In fact, nearly all of us have been touched by cancer whether it’s a loved one, a friend or even ourselves. That’s why, in 2013, AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, made the decision to direct all its charitable initiatives towards fighting cancer. Two years later, it launched its Drive Pink initiative and to date has raised and donated more than $28 million to create awareness and support critical research and treatment through partnerships with cancer charities from coast to coast.

“We take tremendous pride in the many partnerships we’ve forged through our fundraising efforts not only during Breast Cancer Awareness Month but all year long,” said Marc Cannon, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer. “It’s thanks to the generosity and commitment of our partners and Associates that we’re able to provide this substantial support.”

On Tuesday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 20, 2021, AutoNation will host two events at DRV PNK Stadium, home to Inter Miami CF, to continue raising awareness and funds to drive out cancer:

Drive Pink Week

On October 12, in celebration of the 6th Annual DRVPNK Across America Day, Inter Miami CF players join AutoNation Associates to fill comfort bags for cancer patients at AutoNation-sponsored, DRV PNK Stadium. Every October, Associates from more than 300 AutoNation locations coast to coast unite to honor those touched by cancer. This year, Associates from more than 300 locations will write thousands of messages of hope to those who are battling the disease.     

Drive Pink Night

On October 20, fans are encouraged to support the DRVPNK cause at the Inter Miami CF vs. Toronto FC match with opportunities to honor loved ones touched by cancer by wearing pink that evening. The first 10,000 fans who enter the stadium will receive FREE pink rally towels.  Inter Miami will also join AutoNation to recognize 4-time INDY 500® Champion Hélio Castroneves at the pre-game ceremony.  Last May, Castroneves won his epic fourth INDY 500 as a proud member of the DRVPNK AutoNation Racing Team.

AutoNation is the official and exclusive automotive dealership partner of Inter Miami CF.

About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of June 30, 2021, AutoNation owned and operated over 300 locations from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold over 13 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through Customer-focused sales and service processes. Since 2013, AutoNation has raised over $28 million to drive out cancer, create awareness, and support critical research through its DRIVE PINK initiative, which was officially branded in 2015.

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson, and www.twitter.com/AutoNation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com, AutoNation’s automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.



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