Dottie Mancini, MBA, RN, CNA and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Point Medical Center (IPMC) recently received the “Health and Wellness Award” presented by the Women’s Council of Commerce of Broward County, a council of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber. Mancini received the “Health and Wellness Award” for her impressive contributions to her organization and to the community.

With more than 40 years of healthcare experience, Dottie Mancini knows what it takes to run a hospital but also understands that good customer service and quality patient care is what keeps you in business. Mancini also was named Pompano Chamber’s 2004 “Business Woman of the Year” and one of south Florida’s top business women by the City of Hope, a national cancer institute.

Along with Mancini’s dedication to her organization, she is committed to improving the lives of those in her community. In 2003, she was the Chairperson for the United Way North/Northwest Regional Advisory Council which uncovered needs of the community and helped secure resources to address those needs. She is frequently invited to speak to MBA students at Barry University on her journey from RN to CEO. She has also provided inspirational talks to women on welfare who are returning to the workforce.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Women’s Council of Commerce,” states Mancini. “I was fortunate to have a CEO, Wil Trower, who believed in me enough to offer me this position eight years ago, in a time when women, especially nurses, were not usually given such opportunities. It is my pleasure and passion to serve our patients and the community.”



Bert Tracey, CPA, has been promoted to Vice President of Finance for VITAS Healthcare Corporation, announced VITAS President David Wester.

Tracey joined VITAS in 2004 as Senior Director of Financial Operations. He came to VITAS from MetroWest Health Plan, a subsidiary of JPS Healthnet in Fort Worth, TX, where he served as Chief Financial Officer. A seasoned accounting and operations professional with more than 20 years in the healthcare field as well as in the accounting and banking industries, Tracey holds a master’s degree in accounting from St. Thomas University in Miami and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of West Indies, Barbados.



Ed Banos, Chief Executive Officer at North Shore Medical Center recently announced the appointment of Joan Hinkson as Director of Case Management.

Joan attended Miami-Dade Community College and graduated in 1982 with an Associates Degree and is a certified professional in utilization review.

Joan joined North Shore Medical in 1984 as a DRG Coordinator. She also served as a unit based case manager.

Joan was honored in 2002 and received the HealthCare Hero Award for 2002. She is very active in her community and plays an active role in volunteering. She is the current president of the St. Lucia Association, an organization that assists St. Lucian born nationals living in South Florida with health care, educational and housing needs. She also serves as a trustee for Miami Carnival, which is a Caribbean based cultural organization that hosts the annual Caribbean Carnival Mardi Gras in Miami.



Nova Southeastern University recently announced that Health Professions Division Chancellor, Fred Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D. was appointed to the executive committee of the Florida Research Consortium (FRC). The FRC is a strategic partnership between Florida’s universities, business community and state government focused on enhancing cutting-edge research programs at Florida’s public and private universities, and adding to the diversity and strength of Florida’s technology economy through the commercialization of that research.

From 1978 to 1998, Dr. Lippman served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. During his tenure with the legislature he was a steadfast advocate for children and senior citizens, and for improvements to Florida’s health care system. One of his many legislative accomplishments was the introduction of the country’s first law mandating the use of child safety seats in vehicles.

He is also widely known as the “father” of Florida’s Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program, a federally-funded program that works to improve the supply and distribution of primary care in medically underserved areas by creating partnerships with academic health centers.

A community pharmacist early in his career, Dr. Lippman is widely recognized by many organizations for his commitment to the health and well-being of people in his community. He served as president of the Broward County Pharmacists Association and was a former Speaker of the House of Delegates for the Florida Pharmacy Association. He also received the prestigious American Pharmaceutical Association’s Hubert M. Humphrey Award for Excellence in Pharmacy in 1986.



The Palm Beach County Medical Society and The Health Care District of Palm Beach County announced that Boca Raton-based medical and home health care call center, Call 4 Health, will handle all emergency communication initiatives between volunteer doctors and those in need for Palm Beach County during any state of emergency and/or disaster situation. This timely news is posted just weeks into Florida’s hurricane season.

During the 2004 Hurricane Season, South Florida experienced and recognized challenges among many lines of communication. To combat this event from taking place again, Palm Beach County officials have hired Call 4 Health to serve as the “lifeline” between the volunteer physicians and the medical community both prior to and following a storm.

City of Boca Raton Mayor, Steven L. Abrams, said “I am very pleased that a Boca Raton company has been chosen to handle the critical function of coordinating our volunteer physicians during local emergencies.” He continued, “I know first-hand how important it is to mobilize responders during a crisis and am glad that Call 4 Health will be focused on this vital effort.”

Through Call 4 Health’s access to the health care industry’s most sophisticated equipment matched with its own highly-qualified patient care representatives, the company will ensure that Palm Beach County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is able to maintain constant, reliable contact with its Emergency Response Teams during all hurricane and disaster situations which may occur. It is because of Call 4 Health’s use of state-of-the-art equipment, precise employee training, experience and expertise in emergency responses, and multiple back-up generators, that the EOC is confident that all lines of communication will remain available throughout any type of weather conditions or disasters the state faces.

“We are excited to be able to provide this type of critical service which is imperative for South Florida,” says Call 4 Health CEO, Joseph Pores. “Call 4 Health is dedicated to our community’s safety and will ensure its residents, government officials, and volunteer staff that all emergency messages will be accurately delivered so the appropriate action may take place in a timely manner upon each urgent request.”

Both pre-storm and post-storm (or disaster), Call 4 Health will facilitate the availability of updated information on the 220 volunteer physicians working within the county during any given disaster or emergency situation. Call 4 Health will operate the necessary phone calls to determine the needs of the public, physicians, special care unit posts, and designated shelters in order to better facilitate the needs of each district in the county.