UHealth boasts three nationally ranked hospital programs and makes gains locally

July 27, 2021 – Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Health System has been ranked again as the nation’s best in ophthalmology by U.S News & World Report.

This year marks the 20th time, and the 18th consecutive year, that Bascom Palmer has received the No. 1 ranking since the publication began surveying U.S. physicians for its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings 32 years ago.

“Our ranking remains consistent because our dedication to our patients is unwavering and we’re humbled by the recognition from our colleagues,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., director of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. “Our world-class team continues to innovate clinical care, even during a pandemic, and our research and education programs are recognized globally as the best.”

New this year, neurology/neurosurgery programs rose to No. 35 in the nation, joining the Otolaryngology (ENT) program, ranked No. 44 by U.S. News in that specialty. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center again received “high performing” recognition.

These advances in the U.S. News rankings are also evident closer to home. In Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics tied for the No. 2 spot – up one position from last year – and is regionally recognized in South Florida.

“Bascom Palmer has been a proven leader for two decades, and its overall excellence is recognized throughout the field of ophthalmology,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief operating officer of UHealth. “What our ranked and recognized departments and centers all have in common is a reputation for world-class excellence in cutting-edge therapies for some of the most complex patient care. Adding another program to the national rankings and rising locally demonstrates our commitment to excellence.”

Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School of Medicine, noted that, “Our multidisciplinary collaboration to treat complex diseases benefits our patients. It’s gratifying to see that in our clinics, but also to know that it’s recognized by our peers in the field.”

Neurology/neurosurgery’s rise was due, in part, to its work as a 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which lives in the Miller School Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging. The NIH-funded program focuses on prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The Department of Otolaryngology continues to revolutionize treatments for hearing difficulties with collaborations with bioengineering, as well as head and neck cancers. Sylvester continues to be recognized for advancing treatments for all cancers at an impressive rate.

The rise in rankings in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale for the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics-UHealth Tower is especially noteworthy. Just five years ago, it was unranked in the local area and is now tied for the No. 2 spot.

Chief executive officer for UHealth Tower, Kymberlee Manni, Ph.D., credits the dramatic rise in the rankings to a team approach. “We are solely focused on improving care for our patients and that translates to improved outcomes and excellence in all aspects. We consider ourselves a health care resource for our community and a destination hospital for our luminary programs.”

The U.S News & World Report rankings are based on data from nearly 5,000 medical centers and survey responses from more than 30,000 physicians. The 2021-2022 Best Hospital rankings are available online (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings) and in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals” 2021 guidebook



July 27 2021 – With an increase in COVID-19 cases locally and nationally, people are continuing to delay routine health checkups. Elizabeth Bello, 21, recently had a big health scare. After experiencing sudden vision issues, she immediately knew something was wrong and did not ignore it.

Elizabeth Bello

Bello had developed an acute third nerve palsy. When she visited an eye doctor to get checked out, she was advised to immediately go to an ER, where she was then diagnosed with a brain aneurysm that was about to rupture.

Shaye Moskowitz, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Broward Health’s neurosciences program, performed an endovascular, flow-diverting, embolizationprocedure, utilizing a catheter to access the aneurysm and implanted a stent. The procedure repaired the artery while protecting the aneurysm from rupturing.

Shaye Moskowitz, M.D., Ph.D.

“What is most unusual about Ms. Bello’s case is how young she is,” said Dr. Moskowitz. “This can rarely happen at that age but is much more typical when older. Ms. Bello also had no risk factors for it – she does not smoke and has no family history to have would have given her any reason to have an unexpected brain aneurysm.”

Thanks to Bello’s quick actions, her diagnosis and the provided treatment saved her life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aortic aneurysms contribute to over 25,000 deaths in the United States each year and can be effectively treated if caught early.

Strokes and aneurysms share many of the same risk factors:

Stroke symptoms

  • sudden, intense headache
  • numbness or tingling on one side of the face or body
  • weakness in arms or legs
  • trouble with balance or coordination   
  • vision problems
  • confusion

Aneurysm symptoms

  • headache
  • numbness in one or both limbs
  • weakness in one or both limbs
  • memory issues
  • vision problems
  • upset stomach
  • dizziness

If you experience an onset of blurred vision, headaches or dizziness, or other symptoms call 911 immediately. To take a free stroke risk assessment, visit BrowardHealth.org/StrokeCare or speak to a Registered Nurse directly by calling 954.320.5730.



Populations at Highest Risk of Overdose to Receive Opioid Reversal Medication Naloxone

July 27 2021 – Thanks to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Hanley Foundation’s Hendry, Okeechobee and Glades Opioid Consortium (HOGOC), more than 3,000 overdose rescue kits have been assembled to be made available to every incarcerated person in Hendry, Okeechobee and Glades counties for the next three years.

Each overdose kit contains two opioid reversal Naloxone autoinjectors, voice instructions given via the Evzio autoinjector, one Naloxone autoinjector trainer, one emergency card in Spanish and Haitian Creole and an educational brochure.

  • LaQueda Lewis, Maddox Max, Emma Bycraft, Martha Parker, Liam Lipham, Kathy Grace, Johnkeria Kinglocke, Michelle Duret, Angelica Paz

“Our Foundation serves more than 25 counties across Florida and is the largest provider of prevention services in the state,” said Ryan Wertepny, Chief Program Officer for Hanley Foundation. “These overdose rescue kits will reach one of the populations at highest risk of an overdose in Hendry, Okeechobee and Glades counties. With the help of the $1 million grant we received from HRSA last fall, we will continue to use the funds over the next three years to focus on providing overdose prevention and education, developing a resource directory for services, utilizing peer support specialists in safety and prevention training, increasing naloxone distribution, expanding service access via telehealth and establishing recovery clubhouses for support.”

The HOGOC is comprised of community leaders from law enforcement, county governments, education, healthcare, faith-based organizations and other providers. Participation is free and open to all who reside in or work with the residents of Hendry, Okeechobee and Glades counties. According to the grant guidelines, HRSA has charged the group with developing and implementing solutions grounded in evidence-based or promising practice models which can be tailored to each community’s unique needs.

To date, HOGOC partners include Beyond Barriers, Inc.; City of Okeechobee; Drug Free Hendry, Everglades AHEC, Inc.; Florida Department of Health Hendry and Glades, Florida Department of Health Okeechobee, Hanley Foundation, Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida; Hendry County Board of Commissioners; Hendry County School District; Hendry County Sheriff’s Office; Hibiscus Children’s Center; Lake Okeechobee Rural Health Network; Narcotics Anonymous of Okeechobee; New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee; 19th Circuit Court; Okechobee County School District; Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office; Our Village of Okeechobee; SEDNET; Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network; Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council; Tobacco Free Hendry; 20th Circuit Court; United Way Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee; U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration and WellFlorida Council, Inc.

Hanley Foundation envisions a world free of addiction, leading the way as the largest provider of educational programs that prevent underage drinking in the State of Florida. In addition to offering treatment scholarships to those in need and facilitating trainings to identify the signs of substance misuse, the Foundation works to reduce stigma and change policy through its advocacy efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to eliminate addiction through prevention, advocacy, and recovery support.

For more information, please reach Ryan Wertepny at 561.268.2351 or Ryan@HanleyFoundation.org. For general inquiries about Hanley Foundation, visit www.HanleyFoundation.org.



Dr. Mikhailia Lake to also lead new women’s heart program

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (July 27, 2021) – Holy Cross Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician employed group of more than 160 physicians providing services throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties, announces the addition of Mikhailia Lake, MD, FACC, who will also lead the hospital’s new women’s heart program.

Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases, Dr. Lake joins Holy Cross Health with a focus on non-invasive cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, valvular disease and coronary artery disease. She is passionate about preventing heart disease and integrates plant-based diets and exercise with traditional medicine and is keen on reducing gender disparities in cardiovascular care.

Prior to joining Holy Cross, Dr. Lake was a non-invasive cardiologist with Lee Health in Fort Myers, Florida where she served as Director of Noninvasive Cardiology for the Hospital System and was lead physician for the Sanctuary Cardiology Group. A member of the American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association and American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Dr. Lake has made several presentations nationally and has been published in several medical journals. 

Dr. Lake graduated magna cum laude with a degree in chemistry from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami and earned her Doctor of Medicine from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she was a multi-scholarship recipient. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Lake has several years of research experience throughout her training at Emory University, Johns Hopkins Hospital and La Plata School of Medicine/Johns Hopkins Hospital in La Plata, Argentina. 

Dr. Lake’s office is at Holy Cross Medical Group, Cardiology Associates, 4725 N. Federal Highway, Suite 401 in Fort Lauderdale. To make an appointment, call 954-772-2136. For more information, visit Holy-Cross.com. 

About Holy Cross Health:

A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 30 in the state in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also encompasses Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 50 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl. 



July 27, 2021 – Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Weston Hospital has once again earned the top spot as the No. 1 hospital in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area for 2021-2022, according to the newly released annual ranking of Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It is the fourth consecutive year Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital has earned the top ranking, the only hospital to be ranked #1 for four straight years in South Florida.

The annual survey ranks 67 hospitals in the local metropolitan area of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties as well as throughout the state of Florida. Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital ranked 5th of approximately 180 evaluated facilities across the state, while Cleveland Clinic Martin Health tied for 25th and Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital tied for 31st. A complete list of newly ranked hospitals is available online at www.usnews.com/hospitals.

“It is an honor for our Florida hospitals to be recognized by our peers for our focus on quality and patient safety,” said Conor Delaney, MD, PhD, CEO and President of the Cleveland Clinic Florida region. “These accolades belong to our dedicated team of caregivers who are truly committed to providing exceptional service and putting patients first.”

Cleveland Clinic Weston, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital were all recognized for providing high quality specialty care.

The Weston Hospital’s Gastroenterology and GI Surgery Program received national recognition and ranked 33rd in the United States. In addition, four specialties in Weston were ranked “high performing” including Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Urology. Weston also earned recognition for 13 common procedures and conditions and was rated “high performing” in:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
  • Aortic Valve Surgery
  • Back Surgery (spinal fusion)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Colon Cancer Surgery
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Bypass Surgery
  • Heart Failure
  • Hip Replacement
  • Kidney Failure
  • Knee Replacement
  • Pneumonia
  • Stroke

On the Treasure Coast, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health ranked high performing in eight procedures and conditions including:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Colon Cancer Surgery
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Failure
  • Kidney Failure
  • Lung Cancer Surgery
  • Stroke

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital was recognized as high performing in six procedures and conditions, including:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Colon Cancer Surgery
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Failure
  • Hip Replacement
  • Stroke

U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age. Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse staffing levels and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.

About the Cleveland Clinic Florida Region 

The Cleveland Clinic Florida region is a nonprofit, multi-specialty healthcare provider that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. The Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, and Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, with five hospitals and numerous outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit www.clevelandclinicflorida.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.