On May 11, the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Lauderdale celebrated its one year anniversary celebration titled “One Year of Caring”. The celebration honored more than 40 volunteers that have come and continue to make this “home-away-from-home” a better place for the families that come and stay at the facility.

Ronald McDonald along with volunteers and Board members celebrate “One Year of Caring” at the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Lauderdale.

With a beautiful sunny day, the air filled with music and fresh aroma of food, over 100 friends, volunteers, members of the Board of Directors and well wishes of “The House that Love Built” gathered at the House to celebrate this milestone. With scrumptious lunch by Express Catering and sponsored by Banco Popular; Jeopardy Comedy Show by Super Star Productions and Ronald McDonald serving as the Master of Ceremonies, the afternoon was a tremendous success! Not only did attending guests reflected upon the last year of service, but the House also received birthday presents donations from friends such as FedEx ($2,500) and the Fort Lauderdale Auto Truck Dealers Association ($10,000).

Special thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to make the 1st Year Anniversary such remarkable and enjoyable one including all our “One Year of Caring” sponsors: McDonald Corporation, Ronald McDonald House Charities®, Banco Popular, Broward General Medical Center, Super Tents & Party Rental Company, Express Catering, Coca Cola Corporation, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Artemis Design Group, and Nupress of Miami.



Jim Vannelle has been named vice president of market development and admissions for VITAS Healthcare Corporation.

An 18-year veteran of healthcare sales and sales management, Vannelle has earned frequent promotions during his seven-year career at VITAS. He began as director of admissions for VITAS’ Cincinnati program before being named national director of admissions. Vannelle also served as VITAS’ Cincinnati program interim general manager in 2003.

A member of the American Society for Training and Development, Vannelle received his bachelor’s degree in business from Ohio University in Athens, OH.



Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has appointed Heather J. Rohan as the hospital’s new Chief Executive Officer. Rohan served most recently as Chief Executive Officer at fellow HCA-affiliated facility, Palms West Hospital. Rohan previously acted as Chief Operating Officer at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center from January 1998 to October 1999.

Rohan has more than 27 years of healthcare experience and has held leadership roles for 22 of those years. Ms. Rohan’s experience includes both administrative and clinical, having trained as a nurse and earned an MBA. Rohan has been with the HCA hospital system for 20 years, working in several South Florida facilities, including Cedars Medical Center, University Hospital and Medical Center, and Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Rohan has earned the distinction of CEO of the Year from The South Florida Business Journal and was voted by The March of Dimes as a “Woman of Distinction”.



Clarinda Shabazz, LCSW, CTS, has been promoted to the position of Bereavement Supervisor of the Horizons Bereavement Center, a program of Hospice of Palm Beach County (HPBC). Shabazz joined HPBC in 1987 as a patient care social worker and most recently has been a bereavement counselor. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Social Work and holds a Master of Social Work from Barry University. She also is a certified trauma specialist and has been a national and local speaker for HPBC and the National Association of Social Workers.

Vicki Jones, BSN, CHPN, has been promoted to director of education for HPBC. Jones graduated from Barry University with a BSN and is currently working on a master’s degree in nursing education. She is also a certified hospice and palliative nurse. She joined HPBC in 1996.

Jennifer Kast, RN, BSN, has been promoted to director of admissions. Previously, Kast served as a sales manager for LATIS, the web based software system created by HPBC. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor of science in nursing and is chairman of the National Hospice Workgroup Business Development Forum. She has been a national speaker at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Management and Leadership Conference and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She joined HPBC in 2000.


Nilda P. Peragallo, DrPH, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies, has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the National Advisory Council to the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD). In this distinguished position, Peragallo will consult and provide advice to the NIH director, with a major responsibility to review and make recommendations regarding grants for biomedical research and research training activities to improve minority health. The term is for five years.

An internationally renowned researcher on HIV/AIDS prevention in Latino women, Dean Peragallo is widely recognized for her leadership on minority health issues. Among her numerous professional distinctions, she is an officer of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, immediate past president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and founder and co-editor of the journal Hispanic Health Care International. Last July, she was an invited presenter at the 15th annual International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nilda P. Peragallo, DrPH, RN, FAAN, has also been re-elected to the Board of Trustees of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) for a second term. Dr. Peragallo will serve a three-year term as a Registered Nurse Trustee and also has been newly elected as Chair of the Nominations Committee for a one-year term.