Photo Caption: Jupiter Medical Center hosted a physician recognition event in observation of National Doctors’ Day in conjunction with the hospital’s 40th anniversary. Pictured above (left to right) Thomas Gocke, MD; Sheldon Taub, MD; Bruce Wiita, MD; Philip Scharfer, MD; Lynn Stockford, RN, director Physician Business Development & International Medicine; Craig Prokos, MD; Dean Mergenthaler, MD; Peter Lawler, MD; John Katona, MD; Monroe Benaim, MD.
Jupiter Medical Center observed National Doctors’ Day in conjunction with its 40th anniversary by hosting a physician recognition event at Frenchman’s Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens. Officially celebrated on March 30, National Doctors’ Day recognizes physicians for the work they do for their patients, the communities they work in and for society as a whole. As part of the festivities, Jupiter Medical Center—which opened its doors on February 14, 1979—also honored doctors who have been on its medical staff throughout the hospital’s 40-year history.
Speakers at the event, which took place on Friday, March 8, included Simie Platt, MD, chief of staff at Jupiter Medical Center, and Sheldon Taub, MD, who is among the physicians who have been on staff since the hospital’s inception. Dr. Taub recalled the early days of the hospital, when Jupiter was a sleepy community of 6,000 people.
“Back then, Alternate A1A was a two-lane highway and Indiantown Road was also two lanes with flashing lights, not with the traffic lights we see today,” Dr. Taub said. “I-95 ended at PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens and didn’t start again until Vero Beach.”
Today, the town’s population is approximately 62,000, Alternate A1A and Indiantown Road are busy four-lane thoroughfares, and I-95 extends through Jupiter and beyond. Likewise, Jupiter Medical Center has grown from a community hospital of 44 doctors and 135 beds to a regional 327-bed medical center with more than 600 doctors on its medical staff.
In addition, Jupiter Medical Center has earned the distinction of being one of the finest in the region, most recently becoming the first and only hospital in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties to receive a five-star ranking for quality care. The five-star ranking is the highest award offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Part of the U.S. federal government, CMS is the largest, most important health care organization in the country. Its five-star ranking places Jupiter Medical Center above the top 10 percent of hospitals nationally. The five-star rating was awarded shortly after Jupiter Medical Center earned an “A” from The Leapfrog Group. Well beyond that, Leapfrog awarded Jupiter Medical Center the Top Hospital designation. Only 118 facilities across the nation—just six percent of eligible hospitals in the U.S.—hold this elite designation. Jupiter Medical Center is the only Leapfrog Top Hospital in our region.
Reflecting on his place in the hospital’s history and its current standing as a health care leader, Dr. Taub summed up his feelings about the medical center—then and now.
“What attracted me to the hospital were the doctors and the commitment the staff had to excellence in patient care, and I’m still here after all these years,” Dr. Taub said. “I’ve always considered it an honor to be at Jupiter Medical Center, and I remain very proud to be part of its medical staff.”
In addition to Dr. Taub, the following physicians were recognized for being part of the medical staff since the hospital opened on February 14, 1979: Monroe Benaim, MD; Thomas Gocke, MD; John Katona, MD; Peter Lawler, MD; Dean Mergenthaler, MD; Craig Prokos, MD; Philip Scharfer, MD; Bruce Wiita, MD; Orlon Carr,III, MD; Edgar Covarrubias, MD; John Hildreth, MD; Roger Koerner, MD; Elizabeth Reich, MD; Philip Scharfer, MD; Sami Sehayik, MD; Henry Shapiro, MD; Andres Suarez, MD; and Gary Weiss, MD.
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Photo Caption – Physicians who have worked with Jupiter Medical Center since its inception received one of the beautiful awards pictured above in recognition of their years of service.
About Jupiter Medical Center
A not-for-profit 327-bed regional medical center consisting of 207 private acute-care hospital beds and 120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation and hospice beds, Jupiter Medical Center is reimagining how to restore the community’s health and wellness. Award-winning physicians, world-class partnerships and innovative techniques and technology enable Jupiter Medical Center to provide a broad range of services with specialty concentrations in cardiology, neurosciences & stroke, oncology, imaging, orthopedics & spine, digestive health, emergency and pediatric services, lung & thoracic, women’s health, weight management and men’s health. Founded in 1979, Jupiter Medical Center has approximately 1,680 team members, 650 physicians and 640 volunteers. Jupiter Medical Center continues to perform in the top 10 percent of hospitals for patient quality and satisfaction. For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit www.jupitermed.com.
