The Children’s Heart Center at Holtz Children’s Hospital in affiliation with the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). The echocardiography laboratory at the Children’s Heart Center is one of the few echocardiography laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be recognized for its commitment to high-quality patient care and quality diagnostic testing.



Community members, dignitaries, physicians and hospital officials alike all toasted to a successful grand opening for Coral Springs Medical Center’s new Sleep Disorders Center and Women’s Diagnostic and Wellness Center at its recent open house cocktail reception.

At the open house of the Women’s Diagnostic & Wellness Center and Sleep Disorders Center were (l-r) Dr. Mark Shachner, Medical Director of Women’s Diagnostic & Wellness Center; Ronnie Owens, Regional Manager of Radiology; Melissa Bynes, Senior Polysomnography Tech for the Sleep Disorders Center; Carol Kohn, Registered Nurse; Pat Allen, Lead Mammography Tech; Dr. Deborah Guilbaud, Radiologist; and Dr. Carl Raboi, Radiologist.

Open house attendees were given a personal tour of each department including viewing the four beautifully decorated bedrooms (including a devoted pediatric bedroom) at the Sleep Disorders Center while getting a front seat view on how sleep studies are monitored from the control room. Simultaneously at the Women’s Diagnostic & Wellness Center, attendees were able to learn about the latest in breast care including digital mammography and breast MRI.



Mount Sinai Medical Center welcomes back Gervasio A. Lamas, M.D. to lead its new Columbia University Division of Cardiology as chief. He joins Mount Sinai from the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, where he was director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program, interim vice chief of clinical affairs/clinical services for the cardiovascular division, and medical director of the CCU at the University of Miami Hospital.

Mount Sinai Medical Center also welcomes Joseph Lamelas, M.D., as the hospital’s new chief of cardiac surgery. He completed his training in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the State University of New York, Health Science Center in New York in 1990. He is a council member of The Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgery, and American College of Surgeons. Dr. Lamelas has been practicing at Baptist Hospital, Kendall Medical Center, Cedars Medical Center, South Miami Hospital and Mercy Hospital.



On February 25, special occasion retailer Susan Rose was host to “Suit Yourself! Suit A Friend!” to benefit the “You’re Hired” program for Women in Distress of Broward County. “You’re Hired” offers assistance to domestic violence survivors entering the workforce. In attendance were Women in Distress CEO and president Mary Riedel and development director Jennifer Stewart.

(l-r) Diana Duque, Tiffany Panciera, Rae Ann Panciera, Patricia Palamara, Alicon De Young, and Marcia Davis

In exchange for admission, guests were requested to donate new or lightly used business attire to “suit a friend” for Women in Distress. Nearly 150 suits were collected as a result of the event. More than half of those donations came from The Faith Center in Sunrise, FL.

“This was a very special girls’ night out,” said Susan Rose owner Rae Ann Panciera. “Women in Distress is an invaluable resource for the women and children in Broward County, and I deeply admire all of the support and education they provide to our community. I’m proud to have hosted an event that could support their efforts and collect an overwhelming number of generous donations.”



James W. Harris has been appointed vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Baptist Health South Florida Foundation. Harris has been a member of the South Miami Hospital Foundation Board since 2003, serving as chairman for five years. He is also a member of the South Miami Hospital Foundation’s Addiction Treatment and Prevention Committee, a member of the South Miami Hospital Board of Directors, and a member of the Baptist Health South Florida Facilities, Finance and Real Estate Advisory Committees. Harris is the founder of J.W. Harris & Company.