July 20, 2026 – LeadingAge Southeast recognized exceptional senior living providers and team members from across the Southeast during its 63rd Annual Convention & Exposition in Orlando, presenting its 2026 awards to those whose leadership, innovation, compassion, and service are making a lasting difference in the lives of older adults.

“These honorees represent the very best of our profession,” said Steve Bahmer, President & CEO of LeadingAge Southeast. “Through their leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence, they are transforming aging services and enriching the lives of older adults every day. We are proud to recognize their extraordinary contributions and celebrate the impact they have within their communities.”

This year’s award recipients include:

Caregiver of the Year: Joan Brown, Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay (Sarasota, Fla.) – Recognized for more than 36 years of compassionate caregiving and a lifelong commitment to serving residents with integrity, kindness, and unwavering dedication. Throughout her career, she has cared for generations of residents with exceptional skill, compassion, and grace.

Emerging Leader Award: Sandi Hall, Kirkwood by the River (Birmingham, Ala.) – Honored for her visionary leadership in guiding a $34 million campus expansion, successfully launching new neighborhoods and services while maintaining outstanding occupancy and positioning the community for continued growth and long-term success.

Employee of the Year: Jeff Weaver, Air Force Enlisted Village (Shalimar, Fla.) – Celebrated for going far beyond the responsibilities of his role as Transportation Specialist. Whether volunteering his musical talents at resident events, delivering groceries to families in need, assisting with hurricane evacuations, or simply being a trusted friend to residents, Jeff consistently demonstrates selfless service and compassion.

Executive of the Year: Dan Lavender, Moorings Park (Naples, Fla.) – Recognized for a transformative career of leadership, from pioneering AI-enabled assisted living to launching the groundbreaking TrueSpan initiative that reimagines wellness, purpose, and connection. His vision has positioned Moorings Park as a national leader in the future of aging services.

Innovation Award: Erica Arnold, Poydras Home (New Orleans, La.) – Honored for creating innovative programs that foster meaningful connections between residents and their community through partnerships with artists, museums, schools, universities, and animal rescue organizations, empowering older adults to continue learning, creating, teaching, and contributing.

Service Coordinator of the Year: Beatriz Garcia-Nieto, Archbishop Carroll Manor (Miami, Fla.) – Recognized for more than 12 years of dedicated service as a tireless advocate for residents. Through strategic community partnerships, she has expanded access to education, wellness programs, and essential services that help older adults remain independent, while serving as a trusted leader during both everyday challenges and emergencies.

Volunteer of the Year: The Sparklers, Westminster Oaks (Tallahassee, Fla.) – Honored for their extraordinary commitment to residents living with dementia. Through specialized training, weekly visits, and genuine friendships, these volunteers, who are also Westminster Oaks residents, provide comfort, companionship, dignity, and joy to some of their community’s most vulnerable residents.

Together, this year’s honorees exemplify the compassion, excellence, and commitment that define the profession and inspire others to raise the standard of care for older adults.

About LeadingAge Southeast

Established in 1963, LeadingAge Southeast is the premier association serving high-quality senior living providers across the continuum of care in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The Association provides up-to-date regulatory information, a wide variety of educational opportunities, representation before the Legislature and government agencies, group purchasing services, and opportunities for networking with peers to help member communities best serve the needs of older adults.



Trio of physicians join practice to diagnose, treat issues involving the endocrine system

July 20, 2026 – Three experienced endocrinologists have joined Precision Healthcare Specialists as the multidisciplinary practice expands its offerings to include additional clinical specialties.

Drs. Athan Drimoussis, Shayhira Suazo Herrera and Arelis Madera provide a range of endocrinology services to patients from medical offices in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte. Endocrinology focuses on the endocrine system, which controls hormones in the body. Endocrinologists diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, hormone deficiencies or imbalances, thyroid disease, adrenal and pituitary gland disorders, certain reproductive disorders, endocrine cancers and more.

 

In addition to endocrinology, Precision Healthcare Specialists’ range of medical services includes audiology, breast surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, dermatology, general surgery, head and neck surgery, otolaryngology, orthopaedic surgery, pulmonology and urology. The practice now has 46 lead physicians across specialties who are supported by teams of accomplished physician assistants, nurse practitioners and additional medical professionals committed to providing exceptional, individualized care to patients in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee counties.

Drimoussis earned his medical degree from the University of Athens. He completed an internship at North Shore University Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, affiliates of Cornell University Medical College. Drimoussis then completed a residency in internal medicine at New Rochelle Hospital Medical Center, an affiliate of New York Medical College, before pursuing a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Nassau County Medical Center, affiliated with The State University of New York.

Suazo Herrera, FACE, is certified by The American Board of Internal Medicine with a specialty in internal medicine and subspecialties in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. She earned a medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo and completed advanced training in internal medicine in both the Dominican Republic and New York. Suazo Herrera then pursued a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Nassau University Medical Center. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

Madera, FACE, FACP, is certified by The American Board of Internal Medicine with a specialty in internal medicine and subspecialties in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. She earned a medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic and completed a residency in internal medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York. Madera later held a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Precision Healthcare Specialists’ endocrinology offices are located in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte:

Lee County Endocrinology Office

  • Address: 8380 Riverwalk Park Blvd., Suite 200, Fort Myers
  • Telephone: 239-600-7808 (Dr. Drimoussis) and 239-938-1750 (Dr. Suazo Herrera)
  • Physicians: Dr. Athan Drimoussis and Dr. Shayhira Suazo Herrera

Charlotte County Endocrinology Office

  • Address: 3611 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte
  • Telephone: 941-235-0542
  • Physician: Dr. Arelis Madera

About Precision Healthcare Specialists

Precision Healthcare Specialists is a dynamic medical practice offering specialized care tailored to the unique medical needs of each patient. Its team of board-certified physicians and experienced medical professionals offer a range of specialty health care services, including audiology, breast surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, dermatology, endocrinology, general surgery, head and neck surgery, otolaryngology, orthopaedic surgery, pulmonology and urology. The Southwest Florida-based multidisciplinary practice continues to grow and currently has medical offices in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee counties. For more information or to find a doctor, please visit PHSpecialists.com or email Admin@PHSpecialists.com.



Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare employees deliver emergency supplies for Venezuela Earthquake Relief

Broward County’s two public healthcare systems unite to support disaster recovery

July 20, 2026 – Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System have united to collect five tons of essential supplies to support families affected by recent earthquakes in Venezuela.

“The generosity of our employees reflects the extraordinary compassion that defines Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System,” said Shane Strum, president and CEO of Broward Health and interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “When our two organizations come together, we strengthen our ability to support our community and those affected by the devastating earthquake in Venezuela.”

Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare employees collected nonperishable food, baby formula, medical supplies, hygiene products, diapers, blankets and other critical necessities. The supplies have been delivered to a local organization, which is coordinating their shipment to Venezuela to assist ongoing recovery efforts.

“This response continues a longstanding tradition of Broward Health and Memorial coming together to help those affected by natural disasters and other emergencies,” said Tim Curtin, vice president of Community Services at Memorial Healthcare System. “Our employees continually amaze me with their ongoing generosity. They are the most benevolent employees of any organization in South Florida.”

“Collecting these donations from our numerous locations demonstrates that caring goes beyond the hospital walls,” added Jamie Vargas, employee experience manager at Broward Health. “This effort between Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare reflects the compassion of our employees and our shared commitment to helping families recover and rebuild during times of crisis.”

Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System are the two public healthcare systems in Broward County, Florida, operating a combined total of 11 hospitals.

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 $523 million in charity and uncompensated care.

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

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.

Featuring multi-disciplinary collaboration, research, innovation, and transparency, Memorial is focused on removing barriers, increasing access and providing equitable care. It employs a staff of over 17,500 and operates six hospitals, numerous primary, urgent, and 24/7 care facilities, a health specialty center, and nursing home.

To learn more, visit mhs.net and connect on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.



July 20, 2026 – NCH is pleased to announce that Rafael Garcia-Cortes, MD, MPHS, a nationally recognized advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, will join the NCH Rooney Heart Institute in mid-July as Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program, marking another major milestone in NCH’s vision to bring world-class cardiovascular care to Southwest Florida.

Dr. Garcia-Cortes will join a well-established Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Program, where he will become an integral member of a highly experienced multidisciplinary heart failure team under the direction of Dr. Viviana Navas, Section Head of Heart Failure. More importantly, he will play a pivotal role in the development of NCH’s comprehensive heart transplant program, expected to launch following the grand opening of the new R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center.

Patients with end-stage heart failure often must travel hundreds of miles for evaluation, advanced therapies and heart transplantation. NCH’s expanding advanced heart failure program is designed to change that by creating a comprehensive program where patients can receive highly specialized care without leaving the region while allowing them to remain connected to families and support systems.

“The addition of Dr. Garcia-Cortes to NCH underscores our commitment to build one of the nation’s premier cardiovascular programs,” said Robert Cubeddu, MD, Brynne & Bob Coletti Endowed Chair and President of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “His experience in advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation, combined with his passion for research, education and innovation, makes him uniquely qualified to lead this important program. Under his leadership, we will continue expanding access to lifesaving therapies that previously required patients to leave the region.”

Dr. Garcia-Cortes joins NCH from Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis, where he served as an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist, Director of Cardio-Oncology and Director of Sports Cardiology. He also served as the team cardiologist for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Advanced Heart Failure, Transplant Cardiology, and Echocardiography, Dr. Garcia-Cortes has specialized in caring for patients with the most advanced forms of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure requiring ventricular assist devices (LVADs), heart transplantation, cardiac amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardio-oncology. His expertise spans the full continuum of advanced heart failure care, from diagnosis and medical management to mechanical circulatory support and transplantation.

“NCH has assembled an extraordinary vision for cardiovascular care,” said Dr. Garcia-Cortes. “The opportunity to build a comprehensive heart transplant program alongside an exceptional team of physicians, nurses and caregivers is incredibly exciting. Our goal is to provide patients with access to the most advanced therapies available while delivering compassionate, personalized care that allows them to remain close to home throughout their treatment journey.”

Dr. Garcia-Cortes completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he also earned a Master of Population Health Sciences. He served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine before completing his fellowship training. He has also authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and national scientific presentations, and his research has been presented at leading national meetings, including the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

“Recruiting physicians of Dr. Garcia-Cortes’ caliber reflects the continued momentum of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “As we prepare to launch a comprehensive heart transplant program, we’re investing not only in facilities and technology, but also in nationally recognized physician leaders who share our vision of delivering world-class care here in Southwest Florida. Patients should not have to leave our community to receive the most advanced cardiovascular treatments, and Dr. Garcia-Cortes will play an integral role in making that vision a reality.”

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.



July 17, 2026 – During a prenatal visit, Lisa, Samuel’s mom, was receiving a routine 20-week anatomy scan (ultrasound). She noticed the tech was taking a bit longer than usual and wouldn’t answer her questions directly. Instantly, she knew something was wrong with her baby.

The doctor came in and told her, “it appears that his upper lip is not completely formed, and we don’t see the connection of the lip. This indicates that the baby may be born with a cleft lip.” With so many questions and concerns, Lisa processed the information and knew she had to get answers to best prepare herself for Samuel’s arrival. As a dentist herself, she was familiar with these cases, but even then, she couldn’t believe it was happening to her baby.

Lisa and her husband began to research many different hospitals that would be able to provide Samuel the care he needed. It was important for Lisa and her husband to find a doctor that would meet with her to better understand the process and what to expect. She turned to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

“Everyone at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was amazing, from the moment I called to make the appointment to the day I was able to meet with Dr. Steinberg,” Lisa recalled. Dr. Jordan Steinberg is the surgical director of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Program.
Lisa added, “They reassured me that this is something they do often, and I felt I was provided the best care I could have ever found. The team works so closely together and guided me every step of the way.”

Living in Miramar, Lisa had to travel to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, but it’s something she says she would do over again

Samuel was born and cared for at the birthing hospital. The family then coordinated for his first procedure at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and it was a success. He is now three and talking, eating, meeting milestones and doing all the fun things every three-year-old enjoys doing.

Samuel has undergone two surgeries now, one for repair of his cleft lip, and one for repair of his cleft palate.

“Every patient we treat receives a unique and tailored approach to their care,” said, Dr. Steinberg. “Samuel’s mom was a true advocate for her child and taking that initial step to meet with us. Those are the opportunities we are able to offer families to give them the confidence in any aspect of their care here at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.”

For children with a cleft lip and palate diagnosis, many will require multiple surgeries as they grow. Their Nicklaus Children’s Hospital multidisciplinary care team is there for them every step of the way.

July is National Cleft Lip and Palate Awareness Month. For more information on the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Craniofacial team and services, visit https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/craniofacial.