Hanley Center in West Palm Beach is pleased to announce that Dr. Barbara A. Krantz, chief medical officer for Hanley Center, has been appointed to The Palm Beach County Medical Society’s (PBCMS) newly formed Physician Wellness Committee. In addition, Terry Allen, chief executive officer for Hanley Center, was appointed to the Heroes in Medicine Award Selection Committee for the PBCMS.

Dr. Krantz was chosen for the Physician Wellness Committee for her more than 27 years of medical practice in South Florida. She maintained a private practice that included pediatrics and geriatrics as well as acting as the medical director of a substance abuse treatment program at Wellington Regional Medical Center. She is the founder and board president of His Great Commission, Inc., an organization that provides free medical screening, outreach and referral, and basic medical care primarily to Caribbean American and Hispanic residents of Palm Beach County. She also developed the Inner city Outreach Program and Medical Mobile Unit of West Palm Beach, the first such project in Palm Beach County.

Terry Allen was chosen for the Heroes in Medicine Award Selection Committee for his decades of experience and leadership in the substance abuse and addiction fields. His guidance has positioned Hanley Center as one of the country’s leading non-profit substance abuse treatment facilities and established its national reputation for pioneering gender-specific and older adult addiction treatment programs. Allen has assumed leadership roles with the Florida Council on Community Mental Health in which he served as its representative for Governor Jeb Bush’s Alcohol, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force.



Through out the year, Coral Springs Medical Center’s (CSMC) Auxiliary members make numerous contributions that assist medical center staff in delivering high quality patient care. The nonprofit Auxiliary consists of volunteers whose mission it is to serve the public by donating their time and fund-raising.

Coral Springs Medical Center Auxiliary members: Standing (l-r): Ed McConnell; Sheila Steinber; Janet DiStanisla; Marilyn Fessler. Sitting (l-r): Joyce Freeman; Vincent Ciardullo, co-president;, Barbara DeFazio, co-president; and Rita Duffy.

This past year, the Auxiliary raised more than $228,000 through gift shop proceeds, used book and baby bracelet sales, and fund-raising efforts. These funds enabled the Auxiliary to make several equipment donations, including 63 recliners and 27 chair beds for patient rooms, two bedside heart monitors for the recovery room, a birthing tub for labor and delivery, and a procedural stretcher for the mother-baby unit.

Additionally, the funds go toward making the hospital atmosphere more appealing and comfortable. The Auxiliary enhanced the look of the front lobby by purchasing and installing curtains, and volunteer knitters created more than 300 hats for newborns and seamstresses sewed more than 1,900 cough pillows for surgical patients. Reaching beyond the walls of CSMC, the Auxiliary’s scholarship committee awarded eight $1,500 college scholarships to students interested in pursuing a medical career.

This year, more than 300 adult and teen-age volunteers donated 45,000 hours of service. Over the past two years Auxiliary co-president Vincent Ciardullo and Auxiliary member Marie Long, were even inducted into the Broward Senior Hall of Fame for their work at CSMC and in the community.

The Auxiliary members operate under the leadership of eight officers who were just selected during the Auxiliary’s 2006 Installation Luncheon. The officers are Barbara DeFazio, co-president; Vincent Ciardullo, co-president & parliamentarian; Rita Duffy, first vice president; Claire Bojanoski, second vice president; Marilyn Caggino, third vice president; Marilyn Fessler, recording secretary; Risha Miziol, treasurer; Deon Singleton, assistant treasurer.



Aventura Hospital and Medical Center’s CEO Heather J. Rohan recently announced the appointment of Antonio Gandia, M.D., to Medical Director of Emergency Services.

Dr. Gandia served as Assistant Medical Director with University Hospital and Medical Center in Tamarac and Attending Physician in Emergency Services with Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. Additionally, his past experience includes serving as Attending Physician at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

Dr. Gandia is board certified in Emergency Medicine. He was trained in General Surgery at a New York Medical College affiliate hospital including Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and Medical Center. Thereafter, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center; Hahnemann University Long Branch in New Jersey and was Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Additionally, he is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor. Dr. Gandia’s professional memberships include American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Associations, Broward County Medical Association, and the Florida Geriatric Society.

Dr. Gandia has held various teaching positions as Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine at Miami University School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, Clinical Associate Professor and American Heart Association Professor at Nova University School of Medicine in Davie, Florida. He also serves on various committees such as President of Florida Association of EMS Medical Directors, Inc., Broward County Chiefs Association, and Emergency Medical Services Subcommittee and is on the Board of Director of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians.



The Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County, Inc. (CAP) has appointed Marcia Howard as Chief Financial Officer and The Foundation for Comprehensive Community Care (FoundCare) has appointed Blanchi B. Dugatkin as Development Assistant.

Prior to joining CAP, Howard spent four years as the Chief Financial Officer for the Lighthouse for the Blind, West Palm Beach. Previous to that position she was Director of Finance and Administration for seven years for The Interfaith Nutrition Network, Inc. in Hempstead, NY.

Howard has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics & Accounting from the University of the West Indies and holds a New York State Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Blanchi B. Dugatkin serves as the Development Assistant for FoundCare. Dugatkin has worked in the areas of international debt recovery, special events, medical office management, heading the human resources department of a major retailer and owned her own business. In addition to this vast experience Dugatkin is planning on completing her law degree.



Esteban Bovo has joined Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) as Director of Public Policy and External Affairs. Bovo graduated from Miami Dade College and received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University. Prior to joining Miami Children’s, he served as Junior Asset Manager for the Brunetti Organization. Bovo is also active with the Hialeah City Council where he has held a post since 1998.