Hundreds of life science industry leaders recently convened virtually to participate in BioFlorida’s annual conference, which addressed trending topics for Florida’s life science industry including rare diseases and medical technology with a special focus on COVID-19.

Among this year’s conference award recipients was Herbert Weissbach, Ph.D., professor emeritus in Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CMBB), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. Weissbach received BioFlorida’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” reserved to recognize outstanding leadership in the industry throughout an individual’s career and for significant contributions to industry growth.
 
Weissbach joined FAU in 1997 as distinguished research professor, where he founded and served as director of the CMBB for 20 years. The CMBB continues to grow with Weissbach’s vision to produce a talented workforce to build Florida’s biotech industry. In 2017, he was appointed as distinguished research professor emeritus.


Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center recently honored its employees at its quarterly awards ceremony. Chief of Anesthesiology, Dr. Chin Chen, received the Physician of the Quarter award for his outstanding work for 25 years at the hospital. Outpatient Rehab Office Manager, Tatiana Uriarte, was recognized with the Employee of the Quarter award for always having a caring attitude and creating a positive environment for her co-workers. Nick Gray, RN, was named as the DAISY Award winner for his wonderful care he delivers to patients who are being treated at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.



Lee Health’s HealthPark Medical Center is among the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals again, joining some of the most elite hospitals in the country for top heart care. The honor marks the fourth consecutive year the hospital has earned a top spot on the list.

IBM Watson Health’s 50 top-performing cardiovascular hospitals represent the very best heart care in the United States. HealthPark Medical Center is one of only six hospitals in Florida to earn the designation and the only one south of Daytona Beach.


Lee Health and Cleveland Clinic announced they will enter into an agreement to share best practices that will optimize patient-centered care for residents of Southwest Florida.

Cleveland Clinic and Lee Health have established a strategic alliance to enhance and improve care in Southwest Florida. Collectively, the two organizations will explore opportunities for service line affiliations and strategic initiatives that can improve quality and efficiency of care through clinical and operational enhancements.
 
This strategic alliance establishes a framework for how the two health systems will work together as they assess opportunities to share best practices and enhance existing clinical or operational projects or establish new ones. As the two organizations move forward, they will lay groundwork for potential further areas of collaboration in the future.
 
“The alliance with Cleveland Clinic opens up many possibilities for future collaboration, programs and activities that will enhance the excellent care we are already providing to our patients,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, President and CEO of Lee Health. “Together with the physician community we will establish new ways to elevate the medical care available throughout Southwest Florida.”


Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center receives the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke/brain attack patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.