Rosa Rodriguez, breast cancer survivor since February 2008, is thankful for the assistance the American Cancer Society has provided her through their new Patient Navigator Program.

The American Cancer Society, along with AstraZeneca and Jackson Memorial Hospital, has recently launched the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program at Jackson Memorial Hospital. This comprehensive initiative is designed to assist individual cancer patients in navigating the healthcare system. The program provides free on-site guidance for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers to help them navigate the cancer experience. This initiative links those affected by cancer to local education and support specialists known as “navigators” who serve as personal guides for patients as they face the psychological, emotional and financial challenges along their cancer journey. The Program works to bridge the gap between initial cancer diagnosis, treatment, and successful survivorship, with a focus on the medically underserved.

Patient Navigators (l-r) Mara Chavannes, Chalette Gibbs and Leonor Padro.

Rosa’s Patient Navigator, Leonor Padro, provided her with in-depth guidance and support, and also assisted her in obtaining transportation services so she was able to attend her treatments. Furthermore, Rosa only speaks Spanish so Leonor was able to assist with language barriers throughout her continuum of care, and even helped obtain signed authorizations from physicians so she was able to obtain her medications seamlessly. She provided Rosa with educational materials on breast cancer and helped generate potential questions she could ask her physician about her diagnosis and treatment. Leonor has been Rosa’s navigator for more than seven months, helping her continuously and effortlessly.

Leonor Padro, along with two other ACS Patient Navigators Chalette Gibbs and Mora Chavanng, are local education and support specialists who work on-site at local healthcare facilities, connect patients and caregivers with programs and services, as well as community resources. As no cancer experience is the same, they are also equipped to provide patients with customized, high-quality, current, easy-to-understand cancer-related information. They seek to improve quality of life for cancer patients, family members, and caregivers throughout the disease continuum – from time of diagnosis, through treatment, into survivorship. Furthermore, Navigators are able to increase treatment compliance and follow-up care through a greater understanding of issues.

“I don’t know what I would have done without the help of Leonor”, said Rosa. “I feel she was placed in my life by an angel to help me through the process, and I wish all cancer patients could have the assistance of a Patient Navigator. I have all the help I need from my ACS Navigator at Jackson.”

Jackson Memorial Hospital is the first site in Florida to host the program, and is sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of a strategic effort to significantly extend the reach of the American Cancer Society’s innovative Patient Navigation Program.



The Miami-Dade County Health Department Refugee Health Assessment Program received the “2008 Refugee Health Program of the Year” Award during the Statewide Tuberculosis and Refugee Health Conference held in Orlando, Florida. They were also awarded second place in the poster board presentation. The Refugee Health Assessment Program (RHAP) in Miami-Dade County is the largest of its kind in both the State of Florida and the United States. In 2006-2007, the Miami-Dade County Health Department’s Refugee Program provided screenings to 17,651 new refugees.



Florida Medical Center recently unveiled the brand new Surgical Weight Loss Institute at Florida Medical Center.

The new facilities include recovery rooms, examination rooms and classroom-like educational centers, where surgeons and nutritionists will hold informational sessions with current and potential patients. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are (l-r): Dr Paul Esposito, Dr. Carlos Carrasquilla, Bob Haley, CEO, Dr. Fernando Bayron and Ben A. Rodriguez, COO.



Philip Wolman, founder and chairman of For Eyes Optical, has been appointed treasurer of the Board of Directors of Baptist Health South Florida Foundation. Wolman has been a Foundation member since 1996, and has previously served as chairman of the Board of Baptist Hospital Foundation and past secretary of Baptist Health Foundation.

In addition to For Eyes Optical, Wolman is also the owner of WSG, a national real estate development company based in Miami Beach.



Broward Health has received a gift of more than $4.5 million for the construction of the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Women’s Health Pavilion at Broward General Medical Center. The Women’s Health Pavilion will be approximately 7,500 square feet and will offer the most advanced technology for gynecology services, breast MRI, digital mammograms, bone density screenings and more. Women will be able to schedule various exams back-to-back and receive results within a few hours.

Construction of the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Women’s Health Pavilion is expected to begin mid-2009 and should be completed within 18 months.

(l-r) Jamey Thaw, CEO, Broward General Medical Center and Chris Evert Children’s Hospital; Dr. Nicholas Tranakas, Medical Director of Cancer Services for Broward Health and the Comprehensive Breast Center at BGMC; Barbara S. Wells, Board of Directors Member, Lillian S. Wells Foundation; Judith Bowen, Board of Directors Member, Lillian S. Wells Foundation; Patricia Mulvaney, Executive Director, Lillian S. Wells Foundation; and Michael S. Long, Vice President, Broward Health Foundation.