Dr. Evan Zahn, Chief of Cardiology at Miami Children’s Hospital’s (MCH) Congenital Heart Institute, recently performed the world’s first non-surgical tricuspid valve replacement via catheter on 9-year-old Charles Anderson from Gainesville. The procedure took just over four hours to complete. Charles is recovering in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in excellent condition.

Charles was born with Epstein’s Anomaly, a rare congenital heart defect where the tricuspid valve, which lies between the right atrium and right ventricle, is displaced and severely deformed. Throughout his short life, Charles has undergone five open-heart surgeries to replace the tricuspid valve, including one when he was only days old. All of Charles’ surgeries were performed in northern Florida.

As time went by Charles suffered a stroke and his health started to worsen. It was time for the young boy to undergo another risky valve replacement. The Anderson family sought help from heart surgeons across the country, but to no avail. At that time the Andersons turned to Miami Children’s Hospital and met with Dr. Zahn. Dr. Zahn told them of the possibility of replacing the valve not by surgery but by a catheter through the neck, a minimally-invasive procedure that has never been done before. The family agreed. Dr. Zahn then obtained permission from Medtronic for the compassionate use of its Melody™ Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve and Ensemble™ Transcatheter Delivery System to save Charles’ life.

“Charles had few options left,” said Dr. Zahn. “Traditional open heart surgery would have been too risky and our group saw this innovative procedure as a potential life-saving measure for this little boy. It’s exciting and nerve wracking when you line yourself up to do something that has never been done before, but obviously we are all thrilled with the way things worked out.”

This valve replacement procedure marks the culmination of a decade of medical advances in catheter valve implantation. Of the four heart valves – the pulmonary valve, aortic valve, and mitral valve – the tricuspid valve has always been the most complicated to treat. This procedure marks a major breakthrough in the treatment of tricuspid valve disease.

“Along with our cardiac surgical colleagues our philosophy has always been to minimize the cumulative trauma that our young patients must endure over the course of their lifetime. This new, non-surgical method of valve replacement is a quantum leap forward towards achieving this goal,” said Dr. Zahn.



Jupiter Medical Center’s patient care staff named Baqir Syed, M.D., Internal Medicine, “Physician of the Year” for 2007. Dr. Syed was among 22 physicians nominated by over 150 nurses and clinical staff members at the Medical Center. The nominations were based on criteria that exemplify the values of Jupiter Medical Center including respect, integrity, excellence, stewardship, teamwork, and lifelong learning.

Dr. Syed, who has been on the Medical Staff at Jupiter Medical Center for nine years, was specifically recognized for incorporating input from nurses and other physicians into the care of his patients, striving for improvement, being generous and caring to patients and staff, as well as being professional and courteous and treating everyone including patients, colleagues and Jupiter Medical Center staff with respect.

“I am very honored to be receiving this award, which I sincerely feel I owe to all the members of Jupiter Medical Center’s medical staff for supporting me.” said Dr. Syed. “It means so much to me to be so well thought of by the nurses and everyone.”



Hospice of Palm Beach County’s 30 year tradition of caring is based on establishing and nurturing relationships, and paramount to this tradition is the relationship of volunteers with patients and families. More than 800 volunteers participate in Hospice of Palm Beach County’s comprehensive range of programs and services including visits to patients and families, serving on the Board of Directors, providing administrative support, cooking in the kitchen, working in the organization’s Resale Shops, and assisting at the John J. Brogan Horizons Bereavement Center.

(l-r) Dee Johnson, Volunteer Manager, Hospice of Palm Beach County; Dorothea Stein, Susan Fagan, Frank Bretz, Phyllis Grunow, George Trainor, and Dave Fielding, President and CEO, Hospice of Palm Beach County.

On average, Hospice of Palm Beach County volunteers make 230 visits to patients and families each month. They also make more than 1,000 phone calls to check on patients or thank donors.

Outstanding Volunteer Awards were recently presented by Volunteer Manager Dee Johnson and President and CEO Dave Fielding to: George Trainor for spending a great deal of time visiting patients in their homes; Frank Bretz for attending all of the volunteer trainings, participating in the Speaker’s Bureau and volunteering at the Bereavement Center; Susan Fagan visits patients in their homes or inpatient units almost every day of the week; Phyllis Grunow volunteers in administration at the Gerstenberg Center a few days every week of the year; Howard Ackley regularly visits patients at home, in facilities and attends volunteer team meetings; and Dorothea Stein arrives at the Gerstenberg center every morning at 5:30am to volunteer in the cafeteria.

“The dedication and care for patients exemplified by our volunteers through more than 55,000 hours of service truly illustrates our mission to provide a great healthcare experience to patients and families,” said Dee Johnson, Manager, Volunteer Services.

Do you enjoy helping others? Do you have a few extra hours that you would like to spend doing something worthwhile and valuable? Are you compassionate, reliable and nonjudgmental? If so, your contribution of time and talent can make a positive difference in the lives of patients, families and the community. Those wishing to assist Hospice of Palm Beach County may do so through the volunteer program. All hospice volunteers complete an intensive training program to prepare them for patient and family care services. Volunteers also may assist through clerical support, fundraisers or community outreach activities.



The newly expanded and renovated pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Holtz Children’s Hospital — called the Carnival Cares for Kids Center — provides a family-centered environment and improves the pace at which care is delivered.

Zoila Sanchez, pictured here with her son, Stefano, is very grateful for the accommodations she received while her son was being treated at Holtz Children Hospital’s recently renovated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The new, larger unit features state-of-the-art, life-saving technology in all of its 30 private rooms. A Pediatric Medical Unit on the same floor will be named the “Miami HEAT Home Court for Kids.” A joint donation of $2.5 million by Carnival Cruise Lines and the Miami HEAT made these renovations possible.

The redesigned facility helps parents play a more active role in their child’s treatment and recovery. The oversized rooms allow families to comfortably stay overnight with their ill child and also give patients and families more privacy. In addition, the unit will have two operating rooms and a cardiac catheterization lab specifically designed for pediatric patients.

“We are extremely excited to not only be able to provide the best medical care for these children, but to also provide them and their families with private, comfortable rooms and other support resources during such a difficult and stressful time,” said Patricia Cantwell, M.D., medical director of the PICU. “We would like to thank Carnival Cruise Lines and the Miami HEAT for making this newly expanded center a reality.”

Families will also find some of the comforts of home, such as an area for parents to eat and shower; a computer lab where parents can access the Internet to research their child’s condition, pay bills or keep in touch with family; video game access in each room; a play area for the patient’s siblings; and a quiet room for parents to talk or discuss treatment options with physicians.

“We not only want to be able to provide the best medical care for our patients, but also try to accommodate all the needs of their families and loved ones who are caring for them,” said Carrie Feinroth, R.N., M.S.N., nurse manager of the PICU.

The new PICU has already received high marks from families, including that of four-month-old Stefano Sanchez. His mother, Zoila Sanchez, is very grateful and was amazed by the technology in the unit and its supportive atmosphere.

“The unit is beyond my expectations,” said Sanchez. “It was shocking for us to have a private room, a couch and a TV … a place where we can have our privacy.”



Mary Lynn Swartz, RN, MS, FACHE, is the Chief Executive Officer of Westside Regional Medical Center, a 224-bed acute care facility that specializes in cardiovascular services located in Plantation, Florida. She has been affiliated with the American Heart Association for four years and has dedicated her time to help those understand and learn how to live a heart healthy lifestyle. Her hard work and volunteer effort has earned her the privilege to serve on the American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate board of directors.

Her first endeavor as a board member has given her the privilege to be the Broward County Chair of the annual 2008 “Go Red for Women” Celebration that will be held on September 26, 2008. The Signature Sponsor of the Celebration this year is Westside Regional Medical Center. This will be Mary Lynn’s second year presenting at the “Go Red for Women” Celebration.

During the upcoming year, Mary Lynn’s leadership will help the organization focus on the impact of heart disease and stroke. The Greater Southeast Affiliate services Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. Mary Lynn’s role as a board member will help educate women about heart disease – their No. 1 killer; preventing and combating childhood obesity; promoting physical activity, empowering African Americans and Hispanics to reduce their increased incidence of stroke and risk; raising funds for research and education efforts and advocating for legislation to increase physical activity, reducing smoking and improve cardiovascular care.

“I am honored to serve as a board member and look forward in helping the American Heart Association lead the fight to save lives from heart disease and stroke,” said Swartz.

Mary Lynn’s background is in the area of emergency and trauma nursing before going into various administrative roles in the hospital setting. Mary Lynn earned her nursing degree from The Christ School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio, her Bachelor of Arts, Management of Health Services from Ottawa University, Kansas City, Kansas and her Master of Science, Executive Medical Management from Nova Southeastern University. As a nurse, wife, mother of three daughters, and a busy executive, Mary Lynn’s commitment to health care and the cure for heart disease never waivers.