Valerie A. Jackson, CEO of Columbia Hospital, has been selected Chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee of the South Florida Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The mission of the committee is to offer educational presentations throughout the year to area hospitals educating the medical community about the Komen Foundation and the services it provides. The committee will also work closely with the Foundation’s Speakers Bureau for educational presentations to community organizations, clubs or women’s groups that may have an interest in learning about breast cancer and breast health.



North Shore Medical Center recently presented Wendy Doogue, R.N., with the 2006 Patricia “Trish” Barrett-Lewis Nurse of the Year Award.

Doogue began her career at North Shore Medical Center as a pediatric nurse in 1978, transferring to the C. Gordon Griffith Cancer Center at North Shore when it opened in 1983.

“Wendy has brightened the lives of patients and co-workers alike since joining the staff at North Shore more than 27 years ago,” says Sylvain Trepanier, chief nursing officer. “Her compassion, dedication and excellent clinical skills make her a deserving recipient of the Nurse of the Year award.”



Orthopedist James B. Dolan, M.D., has joined the medical staff at Mariners Hospital. Dr. Dolan, who was board-certified in orthopedic surgery in 1994, comes to the Keys from Ocala, FL. He has extensive experience in sports medicine, focusing extensively on shoulder and knee surgeries.

A graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Dolan completed his internship and residency at Shands Medical Center at the University of Florida. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery and a member of many other professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Orthopedic Society.



The Masters of Science Health Services Administration Program recently held its first alumni event on campus. The wine and cheese party was a complete success with more than 80 attending. Attendees included alumni from all areas of the healthcare industry, including representatives from South Miami Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Hospital. Alumni in attendance included former students dating back to the class of 1997.

(l-r) Dr Alan Whiteman, Associate Dean of Master in Health Services Administration Program; Maria Pacheco, alumna; Tom Sliney, Esq., R.A. Ritter Foundation; Carol and Charles Felix, South Florida Hospital News.

Tom Sliney, Esq., President, R.A. Ritter Foundation, Inc. was presented with a recognition plaque in honor of the foundation’s continued scholarship awards to health services administration graduate students. Modern Healthcare, in the November 14, 2005 edition, ranked Barry’s MS/HSA program as the 12th largest of the 25 largest in the nation, based on enrollment.

The Master of Science Health Services Administration is designed to meet the needs of busy healthcare professionals. Students in our program have varied backgrounds including physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers and a wide variety of other backgrounds. They have chosen healthcare because it provides challenges and rewards not available in other careers.

(l-r) Dr Evelio Velis; Dr Jeff Ritter; Sr John Karen Frei, Dean of the Health Services Administration Program; Dr Alan Whiteman and Adrianne Levin, sponsor from American Association of Dispensing Physicians.

The Master of Science Program Health Services Administration growth attests to the potential career opportunities existing in the marketplace. The program enrollment has tripled over the past 3 years and courses are offered in 6 locations, in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Graduates work in ambulatory care settings, hospitals, long-term care, home health, hospitals, managed care organizations and public and governmental agencies. In addition, a number of our graduates have used this degree as a stepping stone to further their education. Currently, alumni are enrolled in medical school, doctoral programs, and law school studying health law.

Sitting l-r: Julia Thompson, Health Services Administration staff; Maria Pacheco; Jared Peroune, Pianist; and Urmala Roopnarinesingh, alumna. Standing l-r: Alumni Dorothy Mills, Michael Durr, Carmen Rodriguez and Sandra Bolden

Remember, the need for health professionals is not regulated by the economy. People get sick and require care in well managed facilities providing state-of-the-art quality care.



Westside Regional Medical Center’s (WRMC) Chief Nursing Officer, Rosemarie Hayes, RN, MSN, has graduated from the Johnson & Johnson – Wharton Fellows Program in Management for Nurse Executives, an intensive three-week management education program held at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Hayes, WRMC CNO, was one of 39 senior nurse executives selected to participate in the program, which provides participants with critical business and management knowledge. This year’s participants are from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected for this program and am gracious for the support given to me by HCA,” Hayes said. “This program helped me to become well-versed in a wide variety of organizational, financial and marketplace issues. By strengthening my management and leadership capabilities, I can more readily assume the role of a full strategic partner with my hospital as well as other healthcare executives.”