July 28, 2026 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) announced today that its Baker Hospital Emergency Department and Bonita Emergency Department have each received the prestigious 2026 Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), recognizing exceptional performance and innovation in emergency nursing and patient care. NCH’s Emergency Departments are two of only 18 in the state to hold this designation.

The Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate outstanding achievement in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research. The national recognition also reflects an emergency department’s commitment to quality, safety, a healthy work environment and innovation in nursing practice and emergency care.

Both NCH emergency departments completed a rigorous application and review process demonstrating their performance across the award’s core areas. According to ENA, 126 emergency departments across the nation exceeded the criteria for Lantern Award designation in 2026.

“Receiving the Lantern Award at both our Baker and Bonita emergency departments is an extraordinary recognition of the nurses and team members who provide exceptional care to our patients every day,” said Caitlin George, RN, Administrative Director of Emergency Services at NCH. “Emergency care requires clinical excellence, teamwork and the ability to respond to our community at some of its most critical moments. This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire emergency services team and our continued commitment to delivering safe, innovative and compassionate care throughout Southwest Florida.”

The Lantern Award designation showcases emergency departments whose accomplishments serve as models for excellence in emergency care and recognizes the important role nurses play in advancing quality and patient outcomes.

“This national recognition reflects the extraordinary commitment our nurses bring to their profession and to every patient who comes through our doors,” said Gina Teegarden, RN, Chief Nursing Executive at NCH. “Earning the Lantern Award at two NCH emergency departments demonstrates the strength of our nursing culture and our teams’ relentless focus on quality, safety and clinical excellence. We are incredibly proud of our emergency nurses and the difference they make for patients and families.”

The Lantern Award adds to a growing list of national recognitions for NCH Emergency Services. In 2025, the NCH Baker Emergency Department earned Level II Silver Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians, making it one of only three emergency departments in Florida to hold the distinction, while Baker Hospital also earned Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology.

Most recently, the Pediatric Emergency Department at NCH North Hospital achieved a 99 out of 100 score on the 2026 National Pediatric Readiness Project assessment, significantly exceeding national benchmarks for pediatric emergency preparedness.

About NCH
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is an advanced community healthcare system serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. A locally governed nonprofit, NCH has been recognized among America’s Top 50 hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence. It was also named a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Modern Healthcare. The system includes NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital, with more than 700 beds and more than 750 physicians, along with medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida. NCH is the region’s only Joint Commission-accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center, and its cardiac care program ranks among the top three in the state. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Northwestern Medicine for oncology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available locally. With the largest provider network, urgent and immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH continues to advance the quality of care close to home. For more information, visit nchmd.org.



Expectant mom speaking with OBGYN at Bump, Baby & Beyond Fair

Free community fair connects parents with maternal health experts and educational resources

JULY 27, 2026 – Expectant parents and family members recently attended Broward Health Medical Center’s inaugural Bump, Baby & Beyond Moms-to-be Fair, a free community event designed to help growing families prepare for pregnancy, childbirth and life with a newborn.

Moms-to-be and their families met with Broward Health physicians and maternity specialists, attended educational presentations and connected with community organizations offering support before and after childbirth. They also toured Broward Health Medical Center’s newly renovated Labor and Delivery Suite, which recently underwent a $4.5 million renovation featuring upgraded patient rooms, advanced technology and enhanced spaces designed to improve comfort for mothers, babies and their families.

“Preparing for a new baby is an exciting time and having access to trusted medical experts and community resources can make all the difference,” said Katina Brown-Burgess, D.O., Broward Health Medical Center’s medical director of obstetrics and gynecology. “Our goal with Bump, Baby & Beyond was to provide expectant families with the education, support and confidence they need while also introducing them to the compassionate team and exceptional maternity care available at Broward Health.”

Educational presentations were led by Johny Tryzmel, M.D., medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Estrella Chavez Benzaquen, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist; and pediatrician Julie Castro Hurtado, M.D.

CLCIK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to connect with Broward Health obstetricians, pediatricians, certified nurse midwives, maternity specialists and fellow expecting moms to discuss pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and newborn care. Guests also enjoyed prenatal fitness activities, wellness experiences, giveaways and refreshments while connecting with community organizations, including Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center; Broward HealthPoint; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County; Broward Healthy Start Coalition; WIC; Amazing Births and Beyond; and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Broward Health Medical Center provides comprehensive maternal and newborn care, including a 24-hour Obstetric Emergency Department, around the clock obstetric hospitalists, certified nurse midwives, anesthesiologists and experienced labor and delivery nurses. Additionally, through its partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Broward Health also offers Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units at Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health Coral Springs, allowing mothers and babies to receive specialized care close to home when needed.

For more information about maternal and newborn services at Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org/Maternity.

About Broward Health

Broward Health, founded in 1938 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks among the 10 largest public healthcare systems in the United States. Nationally recognized for its focus on high-quality care for the residents of Broward County and beyond, Broward Health boasts four hospitals, two trauma centers, was the county’s first statutory teaching hospital and has an ever-growing graduate medical education program. It includes more than 50 health centers and physician practices covering virtually every healthcare specialty.

 

Broward Health never stops working toward its mission of Exceptional Care, Extraordinary Compassion and Everyday Excellence. Driven by more than 11,000 talented employees and physicians who deliver care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, Broward Health is one of the largest employers in Broward County with an operating budget of over $2 billion and annually provides over $554 million in charity and uncompensated care.

 

For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.



July 22, 2026 – The South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners, the governing body of Memorial Healthcare System, unanimously re- elected its officers during its July 22 board meeting.

Elizabeth Justen was re-elected chair, Steven Harvey was re-elected vice chair and Douglas Harrison was re-elected secretary/treasurer.

Additional commissioners serving on the Board include Brad Friedman, Violet Lowrey, Laura Raybin Miller and Diana Taub.

“Our Board of Commissioners provides thoughtful leadership and strategic oversight that helps guide Memorial Healthcare System’s mission of delivering exceptional care to our community,” said Shane Strum, Interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “We congratulate Chair Justen, Vice Chair Harvey and Secretary/Treasurer Harrison on their continued leadership and thank every commissioner for their dedication to  strengthening Memorial and improving the health and well-being of the patients and communities we are privileged to serve.”

Elizabeth Justen

 Justen serves as Chair of the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners, which oversees Memorial Healthcare System, one of the largest public healthcare systems in Florida. Appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020 and reappointed in 2025, Justen has been elected Chair by her fellow commissioners each year since 2023. In this role, she works with fellow commissioners and system leadership to support the continued well-being of the communities Memorial Healthcare System serves while advancing high-quality, accessible healthcare.

Justen also serves as Executive Director of the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs that strengthen public safety, invest in youth and enhance the quality of life throughout Broward County.

A longtime resident of Hollywood, Florida, she brings decades of experience working with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, with expertise in strategic planning,

marketing, communications, organizational development and building strong business and community partnerships that foster collaboration, organizational growth and meaningful community impact.

Justen earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from St. Edward’s University and a master’s degree in complex health systems from Nova Southeastern University.

Steven Harvey

 Harvey continues his role as Vice Chair of the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners. He was appointed to the Board by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020.

Harvey serves as assistant dean of operations and administration at Nova Southeastern University, where he oversees program administration, operations and student affairs. A Davie resident, he has dedicated his career to higher education leadership and administration.

He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Douglas Harrison

 Harrison returns as Secretary/Treasurer of the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners and has previously held the role of Chair. He was appointed to the Board by then-Governor Rick Scott in 2013.

Douglas Harrison is an attorney with over 30 years of experience. He is general counsel of Blue Mountain Analytics, a data analytics company. A Pembroke Pines resident, his previous experience includes serving as an assistant state attorney with the Miami- Dade State Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted cases in the Career Criminal/Robbery Unit and Environmental Crimes Unit. Douglas Harrison also served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Hollywood and as a senior assistant city attorney for the City of Miami. He also served as an adjunct professor at Broward College.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida.

Brad Friedman

 Friedman was appointed to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020.

He is president and owner of Artisan Foods Catering, Inc., a catering and event  planning company that has managed more than 10,000 events since 1975. A Hollywood resident, he has long been active in the South Florida business community.

Laura Raybin Miller

 Laura Raybin Miller is a private advisor and senior vice president with Suskind Ripple Halliwell Wealth Partners at Rockefeller Global Family Office in Fort Lauderdale. A longtime advocate for breast cancer awareness, she played a key role in establishing Memorial Healthcare System’s comprehensive Breast Cancer Center.

Raybin Miller was appointed to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners by then-Governor Jeb Bush in 2000.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from Florida International University and holds a fellowship certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

Violet Lowrey

 A recent addition to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners, Lowrey was appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025.

She most recently served as director of student and career services at Keiser University following a distinguished career in higher education. She remains active in the community through leadership and volunteer roles with a number of organizations, including the American Lung Association of South Florida.

Lowrey earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Diana Taub

 Also new to the Board, Taub was appointed to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025.

Taub is an education consultant and holds a Florida Professional Educator’s License and a Florida insurance license in life, health and annuities. She retired following a distinguished career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she served as a

teacher, school administrator and district director, leading initiatives in school operations, budgeting, curriculum planning, school improvement, grant writing and the planning   and opening of new schools. A recipient of numerous professional honors, her awards include the Frank Brogan Outstanding Administrator Award for Region 5 and the Florida Association of School Administrators Assistant Principal Award for the State of     Florida. She has also been published in educational journals and presented statewide on school improvement.

Active in her community, Taub serves as chair of the Florida State Retirement Commission after being appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a second term. She previously served for many years as a board member of the Florida Association of School Administrators and as president of the Florida Association of School Administrators Assistant Principals Association (FAPA). She also served on the Citizens Advisory Committee and other community improvement committees in Pembroke Pines.

Taub earned a bachelor’s degree from Pratt Institute and a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed doctoral studies at the University of Miami and Barry University.

About Memorial Healthcare System

 South Florida-based Memorial Healthcare System is a national leader in quality care and patient, physician and employee satisfaction. Its commitment to deeper caring, smarter health and community outreach prioritizes a person-centered approach that has delivered safe, positive outcomes for more than 70 years.

Memorial is committed to healing the body, mind and spirit of those in its care. For more information, visit mhs.net and connect on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and  LinkedIn.



JULY 27, 2026 – Dr. Thomas J. Utset-Ward, pediatric orthopedic oncologist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute is named in South Florida Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. The honor recognizes his exceptional leadership, innovation within the pediatric orthopedic oncology field and the life-saving impact on his patients.

As one of only 10 specialists in the United States, Dr. Utset-Ward is a leader in limb-salvage surgery that preserves mobility and function while reducing the need for amputations whenever possible. His innovative approach helps children maintain a higher quality of life during and after cancer treatment, offering hope to patients and families facing complex orthopedic cancers.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by South Florida Business Journal,” says Dr. Utset-Ward. “From the beginning of my career, I’ve been committed to innovating and advancing surgical techniques used to repair bone and soft tissue tumors and deformities in order to make a difference in the lives of my patients and their families.”

The South Florida Business Journal’s annual 40 Under 40 Awards honor outstanding young professionals who have demonstrated excellence in their careers while making meaningful contributions to the South Florida region.

The complete list of 2026 South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honorees is available at: https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/event/172287/2026/2026-40-under-40-awards.

About Nicklaus Children’s Health System – Where Your Child Matters Most ™

For more than 75 years, Nicklaus Children’s Health System has stood as a beacon of hope for children and families across the state of Florida and beyond. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. Nicklaus Children’s provides pediatric care across a growing network of hospital and community-based partnerships, including within NCH North Hospital in Naples, Jupiter Medical Center, select Baptist Health Hospital pediatric emergency units, as well as at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Fort Lauderdale and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Coral Springs, each located on the campuses of Broward Health. The hospitals and their network of more than 35 outpatient locations offer lifesaving care in Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin and Palm Beach counties. Outpatient locations include an array of urgent, pediatric primary and specialty care centers and are either hospital-based or outpatient locations under Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists, LLC (NCPS). Providing a pipeline of future physicians and groundbreaking research, Nicklaus Children’s is an academic and clinical affiliate of the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and home to centers of excellence including the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, the Neuroscience Institute and the Heart Institute. The 474-bed system is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many programs routinely ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children’s also includes a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary with more than 40 pediatric specialties and an ambulatory surgery center. For more information, visit nicklauschildrens.org.



Lunch & Learn:
Taming the Mind to Better Handle Stress – Thoughts Create Our Reality

Join us for an experiential workshop and explore the foundation of mindfulness, and benefits of practicing mindfulness. Together we will discover how thoughts are creating our reality and learn tools you can use to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine and improve your quality of life. Please wear comfortable clothing that will allow for gentle movement and brief meditation practices. A light lunch will be served.

Friday, August 7 • 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Jupiter Medical Center, Raso Education Center
1226 S. Old Dixie Hwy., Jupiter

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER