Shana Deniro-Pipher, RN, ADN, BS

Shana Deniro-Pipher is a labor and delivery nurse at West Boca Medical Center. For the past eight years, she has been helping bring new life into the world for expectant parents. Shana was originally going to become a doctor and apply to medical school, but when she signed up for a class allowing her to shadow physicians, she fell in love with the nursing side of medicine and decided to change her career path. Shana says the most rewarding part of being a nurse in the L&D unit, is experiencing a miracle every time she goes to work. She thinks of herself as a patient advocate, educator, coach and a friend. Shana, enjoys being able to help a patient delivery their baby for the first time, or a mother who is delivering again, after such a wonderful first experience. Shana wants to put a smile on every patients face, and make sure they feel safe. Shana earned her associates degree in nursing from Palm Beach State College, and her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Atlantic University. When Shana is not working she enjoys being with her family and friends and loves to travel with her husband.
 
Hal Oster, RN, AND
 
Hal Oster has been dedicated to serving patients in the community for over 40 years. He says what is most rewarding about being a nurse is the positive effect you have on the lives of people and their families every single day. Hal works in the ambulatory care unit, which is a part of the perioperative department at West Boca Medical Center. He originally planned on becoming a police officer, fate took him in another direction and nursing became his calling, and he never looked back. Hal’s most memorable moment is when he saw a patient he treated in the ER, and he had not left the hospital, because he did not have a ride home. Oster drove him to the train station, but after they missed the train, Hal then drove him an hour South back to his house. When he is not caring for patients, Hal is with his family and friends. He says he is looking forward to retirement when he can travel as much as possible. 


Founded in 2016, DocMJ has more than 45 doctors in 29 locations throughout Florida. DocMJ is Florida’s largest and most experienced medical cannabis physician’s practice.
“We have proudly performed well over 175,000 patient visits,” says Jackie Rothman, Chief Operating Officer for the Florida-based practice. “At DocMJ, we strive to provide patients with compassionate care, direct access to medical cannabis recommendations and an all around complete health and wellness experience.”
 
DocMJ started as a small group of physicians who saw the need for patients to have compassionate, affordable, direct patient access to medical cannabis.
 
While there are other similar practices that offer patient evaluations for medical marijuana, DocMJ distinguishes itself by being the largest group of cannabis doctors, with a diverse variety of specialties. This allows them to address each individual patient’s conditions and needs.
 
“At DocMJ, we are proud to offer patients world-class care at an affordable price,” says Rothman. “We allow our patients to select from one of two payments options: paid in full or in easy monthly payments.”
 
Both payment plans include renewals every 70 days, up to the State maximum of 7 months, and are all-inclusive and have no hidden fees.
 
“We offer a money-back guarantee if the patient does not receive a recommendation, as well as discounts for veterans, first responders, industry workers and pediatric patients,” she says. “In addition, we have more locations and more doctors than any practice in the state, so we are able to offer convenient appointments, including same day, early morning, late night and weekend appointments at many locations. Our physicians are backed by a large and knowledgeable staff, available 6 days a week, to answer questions and provide support as our patients seek the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis.”
 
“Medical cannabis can help many patients with a variety of health conditions and associated symptoms,” says Rothman. “Pain, anxiety and difficulty sleeping are common conditions helped by MMJ. We believe there is an endless number of ways people can benefit from medical cannabis. And that this, is just the beginning of their health and wellness journey.”
 
“One of the biggest misconceptions about cannabis is that the sole purpose of using it is to get “high,” notes Rothman. “While THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis does produce psychoactive effects, many patients aren’t using it to get “high”—they’re using it to get healthy and improve their overall quality of life,” she explains. 
 
The company’s short term goal is to continue to expand its practice by providing compassionate, convenient, and affordable medical care to patients who seek the benefits of medical cannabis.
 
“Our long term goals are to continue to expand the services we offer to meet our patients individualized health care needs and contribute to their complete and total wellness,” says Rothman.
 
Most recently, to meet its patients needs, DocMJ has started offering online mental health counseling through “DocMJ-Cares.”
 
“We have expanded our services by adding convenient and affordable online mental health counseling,” adds Rothman. “Many of our patients suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related mental health conditions. DocMJ-Cares is a part of our growing effort to provide for our patient’s complete wellness.”

 

 


Inona Pierre, RN, LPN, ASN

Inona Pierre is a nurse on the orthopedic, VIP and detox department floor at Good Samaritan Medical Center. Inona became a nurse after seeing her grandmother very sick and feeling helpless because she could not do anything to help her. Inona promised herself she would become a nurse so she could help care for those who could not care for themselves. Inona says the most rewarding part of being a nurse, is making a difference in people’s lives, and having the opportunity to provide comfort and compassion at a time when patients need it most. Inona earned her associates degree from Palm Beach State College. When she is not caring for patients, Inona enjoys cooking, cleaning and gardening.
 
Lauren Musco, RN, AD, BSN
 
Lauren Musco is a nurse in the surgical/telemetry unit at Good Samaritan Medical Center. As far back as she can remember, Lauren has always wanted to be a nurse. Prior to going into nursing, Lauren spent 10 years in the business world working for a large medical company. She decided to leave and go back to school so she could pursue her ultimate dream of becoming a nurse. Nursing is not only her job, but also her passion. She loves helping people, offering unbiased care, and helping people get healthy again. Lauren considers Good Sam her home hospital because not only is she a nurse at the hospital, but it was also where she was also born. Her most positive memory was from this past year while she was caring for a COVID patient who was sick and in the hospital for over 100 days. However, the patient was able to recover, walked right out of the hospital. When Lauren is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, and enjoying everything the state of Florida has to offer. 


 



Kaitlyn Tama, RN, ADN, BSN

Kaitlyn Tama has been working in the cardiac stepdown unit at Delray Medical Center since 2019. Kaitlyn became a nurse because of her mother who also is a nurse. She says she loves helping people, and that inspired her into nursing too. One memory that stands out to Kaitlyn, is the time when she cared for a patient who was sick with COVID for months. However, because of the amazing medical attention she received the patient recovered and eventually went home. What is most rewarding about being a nurse to Kaitlyn is helping patients recover following a major surgery or life-changing event, then seeing them walk out of the hospital following their recovery. She earned her associates degree from Palm Beach State and then graduated from Florida Atlantic University with her bachelor’s degree. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her dog, Luna, laying by the pool and hang out with her friends. 
 
Nicole Burney, BSN, RN, SCRN
 
Nicole Burney has worked at Delray Medical Center in the neurosciences department for nearly 10 years. Nicole says she always knew she wanted to be a nurse. She remembers at the age of 13 having to take care of her mother who had abdominal surgery and helping in her recovery. Being a nurse is the perfect job for her because she considers herself a nurturing person and a science nerd. One of Nicole’s most memorable moments was when a couple came into the hospital, both with being diagnosed with COVID. The pair went to two different areas of the hospital, and were unable to see each other. Nicole, and her fellow nurses were able to dress up the wife, put makeup on her, and wheel her into her husband’s room so they could hold hands and have a “date night” in the hospital. When Nicole isn’t working, she enjoys powerlifting, traveling and spending time with her children and family.