Florida Atlantic University Professor, Dr. Heinz-Otto Peitgen, a faculty member who works in the departments of mathematics and biomedical science, was awarded the German Founder’s Award 2006 in the category of “Visionary.”

Peitgen is the first mathematician to ever receive this award, which is for his Center for Medical Diagnostic Systems and Visualization, known as MeVis group. He also is a professor of mathematics and biomedical science at the University of Bremen, in the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany.

Peitgen has contributed greatly to the field of breast cancer research. Working with Dr. Kathy Schilling, medical director of breast imaging and intervention at the Center for Breast Care at Boca Raton Community Hospital, they have developed and piloted a unique software platform utilizing computational clinical imaging techniques for the analysis and display of serial-time MRI, which is showing great promise in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Peitgen used the mathematical concept of fractals to develop this software. Using this method, a recent study has shown that in over 30 percent of patients there were additional tumors in the same breast, and in almost 10 percent of the patients there were tumors in the opposite breast. These tumors were not previously found using mammography or ultrasound.



Health Foundation of South Florida was awarded close to $500,000 in two health information technology grants to establish the South Florida Health Information Initiative (SFHII). The initiative is an emerging Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO), a multi-stakeholder organization that enables the exchange and use of secure electronic health information for the purpose of improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare.

The grant funding will enable the initiative to create the infrastructure for a community health information exchange. The exchange is a secure Web based application that will provide access to electronic health records to authorized users. This will improve efficiency in the health care system and enhance clinicians’ ability to access critical health information from laboratory results, diagnostic imaging, prescription history and progress notes.

According to Health Foundation of South Florida President/CEO Steven E. Marcus, Ed.D., “The SFHII was formed to help local physicians adopt and utilize electronic medical records and to create an information highway to allow them to exchange medical records.” The goal of the initiative is to use technology to share critical health information as a means of improving patient safety, reducing health care cost, and improving health care quality.

University of Miami Department of Family Medicine Chair Robert Schwartz, M.D. states, “The duplication of costly healthcare services is putting a drain on the healthcare system. The initiative will help hospitals, physicians, and community health organizations to provide a higher quality of service with fewer redundancies and inefficiencies. ”

According to Lisa Rawlins, Bureau Chief of the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis, “Carladenise Edwards, Ph.D., The President/CEO of The BAE Company is serving as the Executive Director of the Initiative. She has been a driving force in Florida’s health information technology movement and the Agency is excited about the role South Florida will play in the development of the state level health information network.”



Northwest Medical Center has appointed Richard (Rick) S. Kennedy, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Before joining the Administrative team at Northwest Medical Center, Rick served for the past three years as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Aventura Medical Center.

Rick has over thirteen years experience as a senior operating executive in the healthcare industry, both in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. He possesses extensive experience in hospital operations, physician relations, nursing relations, community outreach and business development.

Rick received his Bachelor of Science, and his Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior and Labor Relations from The University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, AL.



The Beta Tau Chapter at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida has received two Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International awards for Chapter Excellence and for Chapter Accomplishments.

The Beta Tau Chapter was selected as the award winner in recognition of charitable fundraising, relief efforts to its sister organization Xi Psi for damage done by Hurricane Katrina, promotion of research and scholarship, educational events, and membership involvement, including events with other local Sigma Theta Tau Chapters. The awards were two of only a few given by the honor society this year to recognize outstanding programs organized by local chapters.



Hospice of Palm Beach County recently opened the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Pinecrest Delray. “Our mission is to provide end-of-life care to everybody in Palm Beach County who needs and wants it,” said Hospice of Palm Beach County’s Clinical Medical Director Richard S. Levene, DO, FAAHPM. In response to an increased need for hospice services in the southern part of the county, Hospice of Palm Beach County will now provide short term acute care for its patients and families in their 14 bed unit, operated by their full time hospice and palliative care team. The 9000 square foot facility features 12 private rooms and one semi-private room, a family room, kitchen and counseling rooms, all in homelike surroundings. “Having a hospice unit in a medical facility gives us access to the high-tech and sophisticated medical diagnostic testing and treatment modalities that are available in an acute care hospital,” Levene said.

The six inpatient units, along with contract beds in other area facilities, supplement services they provide in homes, nursing facilities or assisted living facilities, allowing patients to remain close to family and friends.

“We’re there to serve every community and every family,” said Dave Fielding, President and CEO of Hospice of Palm Beach County. “I am pleased that our southernmost interdisciplinary team, located in Boca Raton, now has access to our inpatient unit in Delray Beach, for their patients and families. It also expands hospice and palliative care services as an addition to the services provided for patients in Delray Medical Center or Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital.”