The classroom at a Boca Raton middle school was in an uproar. The students were consumed by a rollicking skit about a teenage boy trying to talk his girlfriend into taking some prescription medication he stole from his mother. Some of the kids were up in arms. They were shouting at each other, “Why isnt it OK to take someone elses Percocet? A doctor prescribed it!”
Then, “Why is your boyfriend pressuring you to do something thats wrong? Why is he trying to talk you into getting high? Dump him!”
Once the skit ended, an eighth grade girl approached the actor, Mark Cherny, a licensed clinical social worker at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, who for 10 years, talks to 7,500 students annually, via 300 performances, about addictions, substance abuse and other important issues.
“You were the best!” she said. “This was just like watching The Jerry Springer Show!”
Mark Cherny and Marcy Bezark
“Well, were a bit more civil than that, ” Cherny thought, but he appreciated the compliment. Chernys interactive skits have attracted dozens of hand made thank you cards from children and letters of gratitude from teachers and principals. Chernys success at reaching out to young people earned him “Employee of the Year” at RRJFS in 2007 and the father of three girls was featured in a Target ad, which ran throughout south Florida in 2006. He also runs a free, national website, www.teentalk4u.org, in which he counsels any teen via e-mail. (The free service is for troubled teens, not those who are suicidal or in imminent crisis.)
One teacher recently wrote, “Marks presentation was phenomenalit came at a perfect time because these issues are occurring in my class we speak! Thank you! Thank you!”
“I am a grandmother volunteer and I was mesmerized by the presentation,” another woman wrote.
Cherny said he performs many skits on drug and alcohol abuse and is creates new ones.
“Kids dont necessarily know that a doctor may prescribe something for one person, that could be harmful to another. They often tell me if its a prescribed medication that cant get addicted.”
He added, “What I rely on with these skits is that a percentage of people who will know the answers and will inform the other kids, rather than me lecturing them. And then I will say, Oh really? Oh yeah, thats the way it is. Its best when the answers come from the kids themselves. Thats the whole idea of the skits, to pull info out of the people in the audience and get them to discuss the issues amongst themselves.”
Mark and fellow thespian, Marcy Bezark, who directs volunteer services at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, have performed other substance abuse skits, such as the one about a wife who is leaving her husband because he drinks too much and a 16-year-old girl who tries to talk her father into buying beer for her party; an increasingly common occurrence, Cherny says.
Another popular skit is when a daughter comes home to find her Dad passed out drunk on the couch. In his hand is an FPL cut off notice. She tries to take his car keys and he gets belligerent.
The kids yell at the Dad for being irresponsible and wrecking his family and suggest rehab.
“Unfortunately,” Cherny said, “We do this skit because certain percentage of kids live in a situation like that.”
No matter the topic, at the end of every skit, Cherny reinforces all the facts. He says, “Hey, you guys were right!” and then summarizes the salient points.
“Thats when I step out of character, and then speak as a professional. If they miss something, I add it. But they usually dont miss anything.”
“In terms of drinking, I try to get younger audiences to see what life can be like 20 years from now if they start doing this now. Usually the way I play the character, I started drinking when I was 14 and in middle school. The kids make the connections. This is their glimpse into the future.”
“Because this is not a lecture, kids will quickly become engrossed and talk about personal, emotional and social issues,” Cherny said. “They participate and because they are not asked to talk about themselves they reveal what is really bothering them. While we are not as inflamed as Jerry Spring, this gets a lot more visceral reactions and the lessons are internalized better.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, perhaps best known to the public for his frequent and informative appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show, is Professor of Surgery and Director of the Cardiovascular Institute of Columbia University. He not only has a wealth of clinical and scientific experience with innovative surgical procedures transplantation, ventricular assist, minimally invasive, percutaneous valve repair, etc. but has bridged the great divide between holistic and allopathic healing with research and practice in alternative medical approaches. 
Dr. Robert Myerburg, former Chief of Cardiology at the University of Miami is probably best known for translating his extensive knowledge of electrophysiology into public policy with efforts to reduce the 911 response time in cases of sudden cardiac death. He bridges the worlds of clinical and academic cardiology, research and practice, knowledge and public policy, for which he has received countless professional and community awards. 
Dr. John Burnett is Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. As their Director of Research he was responsible for directing and administering one of the largest research endeavors in the world. He is an insightful investigator who has helped to develop scores of young and bright researchers, and can bring a virtually limitless pool of intellectual resources to bear on any research issue or discussion. His assistance in selecting and directing research projects is therefore invaluable. 
Dr. Eugene Blackstone, through his close association with one of the true “fathers” of cardiac surgery, Dr. John Kirklin, developed a virtually remarkably inquisitive and orderly approach to clinical problems. Currently one of the leaders of the clinical research division of the Cleveland Clinic, Gene is world-renown for his innovative, if complex, statistical approaches to data analysis. Single handedly, he has literally changed the way in which cardiac surgeons view their results and their profession, and his keen insights into the structure of research proposals is critical in assessing their viability. 
Dr. Richard Elias, Clinical Professor of Medicine of the University of Miami as well as Co-Chair of the Clinical Research Committee of Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York is well known for his dynamic role in the growth and development of the Miami Heart Institute. What is perhaps less widely recognized is how truly visionary a clinician Richard has been throughout his career he was one of the earliest to introduce anticoagulation into clinical practice, he was one of the first to recognize the need for specialized coronary care units, and he believed and practiced cardiac prevention and the ability to reverse coronary artery disease many decades before the remainder of the profession believed it was even possible. His keen innovative clinical insight and experience is key in evaluating new research programs and approaches. 
Dr. Arthur Agatston, probably best known now for his famous South Beach Diet, has been a leader in preventive cardiology throughout his career. The score for assessing coronary calcium a known predictor of future coronary risk bears his name in recognition for his work in developing the score and bringing it into clinical practice. Arthurs vision of transforming cardiology practice from one of intervention to one of prevention is innovative, humane and prophetic. His insight into research efforts therefore extremely welcome. 
Francisca Rosa
Special thanks go to Francisca Rosa who has been part of the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of Fort Lauderdale family since 2005. She considers herself a humanitarian who enjoys helping people. She believes her passion and desire to volunteer grew from her childhood in Dominican Republic where people constantly help and depend on each other to survive.
She stated that out of all of the organizations that came to Vista Health Plan where she works to recruit volunteers only three organizations got her attention. The RMH of Fort Lauderdale was her choice because of the service and dedication it provides to those in such special needs. Francisca feels like anyone who has some free time should come to Ronald McDonald House of Fort Lauderdale and help out, every minute, hour, day you give is worthwhile and much appreciated.
Francisca has been volunteering for churches, community centers, hospitals, schools and other organizations for over twenty years. She feels that the most rewarding experience has been the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Lauderdale because of what it stands for.
Francisca Rosa has being a dedicated, supportive volunteer with RMHC, she has participated in most of our special events mostly our garage sale and our annual Home for the Holidays Events where she comes in the morning and helps to clean, decorate and set up and then stays through the event until the evening. Shes always there when her help is needed at the RMHC of Fort Lauderdale. It is these kinds of people that make this a “Home Away From Home” for the families.
Ronald McDonald House of Fort Lauderdale staff and families would like to thank Francisca Rosa for her caring, sharing, dedication and support.
The market for medical office and healthcare facilities in South Florida should continue to be strong in 2008. The market is benefiting from its proven stability in relationship to other types of real estate more sensitive to changes in the economy. Compared with standard office space, medical office vacancy and rental rates do not exhibit the highs and lows that conform to the economic cycles.