Profiles of Top Physicians

Si Mai Pham, M.D., director of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, leads one of the finest heart, lung and heart-lung transplantation teams in the nation. Dr. Pham has made complex life-saving heart and lung transplant procedures available to South Florida residents while also advancing the frontiers of medicine.

At UM/JMMC, Dr. Pham has performed more than 150 heart transplants, more than 50 lung transplants and four highly complex heart-lung transplants. Dr. Pham is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and is board-certified in general surgery, thoracic surgery and surgical critical care. Dr. Pham is also director of the medical center’s Artificial Heart Program, where he is establishing innovative, unprecedented ways to provide cardiac support for patients awaiting heart transplants and for those who do not have transplantation as an option.

Louis James Quarterman, 61, is one of many patients who are living a full life because of Dr. Pham’s expertise. Quarterman was kept alive for 48 days without a heart as he awaited a transplant – the first case of this kind in Florida. Dr. Pham said completely removing Quarterman’s heart gave him a better chance of resisting infection and a better chance to heal. He then modified and implanted a bi-ventricular assist device and two months later, transplanted Quarterman’s new heart.

Since coming to UM/JMMC in 1998, Dr. Pham has rapidly expanded the heart and lung transplantation program. He has integrated the program with the medical center’s cardiology team and utilized the latest proven procedures as well as state-of-the-art technology like ventricular assist devices, which helped save Quarterman’s life. Dr. Pham has also added fellowship training and received research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

In 2000, Dr. Pham conducted the first successful heart-lung transplant in South Florida. This procedure offers a new life-saving option for patients with irreversible conditions commonly caused by high blood pressure in the vessels serving the lungs.

Another one of Dr. Pham’s ground-breaking cases was 12-year-old Mariana Gonzalez who received the first pediatric double lung transplant in South Florida in 2005 after three years on the lung transplant waiting list. Mariana’s transplant was needed after a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and chronic respiratory failure. Today, Jackson Memorial Hospital has the only Medicare-approved lung transplant program in South and Central Florida and is one of only 47 centers in the nation Medicare-approved for this type of transplant.

“This is good news for both pediatric and adult lung transplant candidates from South Florida who will no longer have to travel far from home for an extended period of time to receive care,” said Dr. Pham.

Dr. Pham is also active in the community, working closely with programs including the Transplant Foundation of South Florida. He played a leading role in the launch of the state’s “Organ Donation” license plate.

Everywhere he looked, Joe Schoppe, D.P.M., saw poverty unlike he had ever seen.

Dr. Schoppe, a podiatrist on staff at Martin Memorial, joined his brother and fellow podiatrist, Paul Schoppe, D.P.M., on a mission trip to the town of Comayagua, Honduras in August 2006.

Oxen pulled carts down dusty streets, and chickens roamed in and out of houses. At health clinics, patients were each charged 10 cents but many were unable to afford even that payment.

“It was an eye-opener to see how people live,” Dr. Joe Schoppe said. “You couldn’t imagine that kind of scenario.”

The Schoppes made the trek as part of a medical team sponsored by Light of the World Charities, a Palm City-based organization that has provided health care in impoverished countries since its inception in 1999.

Working with a group of Franciscan Friars dedicated to helping the poor, Light of the World Charities helped build a hospital in Comayagua. The hospital – a modern health facility that features patient rooms, spacious operating rooms and a pharmacy – provides about 1,000 people a month with free health care. Four times a year, Light of the World Charities sends a surgical team to the hospital.

The trip in August 2006 was the first with a team that specialized in podiatry and orthopedics. Despite a mishap at the beginning of the trip – their bag of surgical equipment was lost – they saw approximately 150 patients and performed about 25 surgeries using borrowed equipment. They primarily treated patients who had club foot, soft-tissue masses or needed removal of a sixth toe.

“The people were amazing,” Dr. Joe Schoppe said. “They gave us so much more than we could ever give them. People that have so little on the outside are at such peace inside.”

After their week-long visit – and after recovering their temporarily displaced equipment – the Schoppes returned to their practices in Stuart. For Dr. Joe Schoppe, the experience of helping people in one of the Western Hemisphere’s poorest countries is indelible.

“I just think people there don’t have a lot of expectations. It’s different than where we’re coming from,” he said. “They don’t have anything and they don’t expect much, so when you help them, they are so happy.”

Areas of specialization: Internal Medicine; Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Affiliations: Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Greatest medical advance in your area: Cure for diabetes. Improvement of quality of life for our diabetic patients.

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Started with the care of indigents in public hospitals to private practice and administrative roles; however, later when I came to United States, changed to basic and clinical research.

What inspires you to do what you do: The rewarding satisfaction of seeing improvement in patients under my care.

Community involvement: With a medical society of my own country raising funds to improve quality of life and access to health services for the under privileged people.

First job: Working in general medicine practice in an underserved area of the Amazon for one year.

Pet peeve: Lack of commitment with tasks and responsibilities and disrespect for the elderly.

Proudest accomplishment: My daughter.

Person who you most admire: Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Medicine is a rewarding career only for the person who cares about others and practices with passion and compassion.

Board certification: American Board of Internal Medicine – Endocrine, Diabetes and Metabolism

Affiliations:
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Director, Eleanor and Joseph Kosow Diabetes Treatment Center
Associate Director, Diabetes Research Institute
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Areas of specialization: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Islet transplantation reversing type 1 diabetes

How has practice of medicine changed in your career: It has gone from a patient-centric, academic pursuit of clinical answers to an environment that is hostile and unforgiving to all but the most astute patients

What inspires you to do what you do: Being able to make a difference in the life of an individual who is looking to their physician for clear answers and guidance

Community involvement: Children’s school, church, and socializing through outdoor sports

First job: Intern in medicine

Pet peeve: Lack of respect for others, regardless of rank, status or beliefs

Proudest accomplishment: My family

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Patience and empathy

Person you most admire: My wife

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: It is the greatest career in the world if what you are looking for is challenge, the constant pursuit of knowledge, incredible satisfaction and fulfillment, and the need to make a difference in this world.

Board certification: Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatrics

Affiliations:
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Jackson Memorial Hospital

Areas of specialization: Pediatric Endocrinology including diabetes

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Technology (pumps, sensors) to help diabetics

How has practice of medicine changed in your career: More involvement by insurance companies

What inspires you to do what you do: Seeing patients improve with our help

Community involvement: Schools, church

First job: Lifeguard

Pet peeve: Paperwork

Proudest accomplishment: Improving care for pediatric diabetic patients

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Listen to patients

Person you most admire: My mom

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Work hard in school

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery; Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Affiliations: American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Florida Orthopedic Society, Broward County Orthopedic Society

Areas of specialization: Adult Reconstruction, Total Hip and Knee Replacements

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Minimally invasive surgery

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Improved outcomes with less trauma

What inspires you to do what you do: Seeing people who were barely able to walk have the ability to walk again and regain their lives

First job: Paperboy

Proudest accomplishment: Opening a successful private practice

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: If you want something done right you should do it yourself.

Person you most admire: My father

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Very rewarding career but must make sure that you have the conviction to go through with a grueling academic and training program.

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Also Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery

Areas of specialization: Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, all wrist problems, all hand problems, adults and children

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, wrist arthroscopy for repair of wrist injuries

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: more automated, less physician autonomy

What inspires you to do what you do: I just love it!

Community involvement: Teaching, university affiliation at University Miami and Nova Southeastern

First job: Chief of Hand Surgery at University of Southern California

Pet peeve: none

Proudest accomplishment: my children, completing 2 textbooks – one on wrist fractures and one on acupuncture treatment of pain

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: be calm

Person you most admire: hard to say

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: be patient, listen to what your patients tell you – they usually give you the answers if you really listen to them

Board Certification: General Surgery

Affiliations: Chief of Staff, Coral Springs Medical Center; President South Florida Surgical Specialists, LLC; Medical Director of the Coral Springs Medical Center, Women’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Assistant Professor of Surgery Nova Southeastern University Department of Surgery

Areas of specialization: Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Disease, Laparoscopic treatment of heartburn, and diseases of the Colon, Surgical treatment of Thyroid and Parathyroid tumors.

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Laparoscopic surgery and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of breast disease.

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Surgical treatment used to be a primarily hospital based enterprise. Now, with the minimally invasive procedures and the economic pressures in combination with managed care, a great deal of care of the patient and the diagnosis and treatment of disease occurs in the outpatient setting. Therefore patients in the hospitals are increasingly sick and demand enormous resources and intensity of care. However, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals and a lack of will to provide the resources we need. Guiding the patient through the healthcare system has become as important as the surgery.

What inspires you to do what you do: The satisfaction of bringing a patient back to health with my own hands. The follow up visit of the now healthy and grateful patient is who had recently been ill and fearful.

Community involvement: As the chief of staff of Coral Springs Medical Center, I have been involved with a number of advisory committees which help the hospital serve the community better. I lecture frequently to the public on issues including the treatment of diagnosis of breast cancer and disseminating the benefits and availability of new surgical procedures. I have participated yearly in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. My favorite part of that activity involves honoring the cancer survivors, many who are my patients. I am also involved with the local running clubs and an inline skating club. I am a founding member and a board member of the West Side Road Runners Club. With David Silver, MD, I have helped establish and manage the Run for Women’s Wellness. Our second annual event which is a 5 K (3.1) mile walk/run through Coral Springs is scheduled for Saturday March 3 at 7:00 AM. We have raised significant funds to benefit the Coral Springs Medical Center Women’s Diagnostic and Wellness Center, with the funds earmarked to assist underinsured Women who need mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies.

First job: My first job was working at the Athletes Foot in Ithaca New York. Here I became an expert in running shoes and sport accessories, which is amusing to me in light of my current involvement in running activities.. My first work related job was at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research where I was involved in research relating to infectious diseases.

Pet peeve: People who complain without making an effort to effect change.

Proudest accomplishment: My 25 year marriage to my best friend, Robin, and my two sons. Jason is in the honors and community affairs program at FSU and is interested in politics and improving the educational system in the United States. Matthew is also a runner and is a Junior at the Pinecrest School.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: The importance of maintaining a balance between the demands of my career, and participating fully in my family. I learned that it was as important to schedule and plan family time, as it was to schedule OR or office time.

Person you most admire: My colleagues, who despite the unfair tort system, and lack of societal support, continue to give of themselves and provide the finest medical care available anywhere.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Consider medicine only if you love helping and healing the sick. You must be willing to give of yourself and give up significant personal time and freedom. It can be a horrible career if it is meant to be only a “job” rather than a calling.

Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Areas of specialization: Urogynecology, reconstructive pelvic surgery, genital prolapse, urinary incontinence,

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: The greatest advance has been the development of minimally invasive, safe and standardized surgical techniques for the treatment of genital prolapse and urinary incontinence.

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Surgery has been evolving from an art into a science.

What inspires you to do what you do: I’m inspired by being able to positively impact someone’s quality of life in ways others can’t and by the ability to teach gynecologists how to perform pelvic surgeries more efficiently and with better results.

Community involvement: Locally I participate in many educational programs for physicians and the public. Nationally, I am a director of the National Association for Continence, a resource center for the public.

First job: I was a warehouse worker in a toy store during high school.

Pet peeve: I’m annoyed by people who don’t do what they say they will.

Proudest accomplishment: I’m most proud of being able to successfully balance my professional and academic growth with being a good father – with a bit of help from international cell phone service and my wife.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Pick your battles.

Person you most admire: I most admire my 6th grade science teacher, Sister Rosalma, who taught me to enjoy innovation and research.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Medicine is still the best career to have, despite all the changes it is undergoing. There is plenty of room for optimism.

Board Certification: American Board of Surgery; German Board of Surgery, Argentinean Board of Surgery

Areas of specialization: Gastrointestinal and endocrine laparoscopic surgery; surgery for morbid obesity; gastroparesis.

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: The introduction of laparoscopic surgery has been the greatest advance, allowing us to do big operations with small incisions thus decreasing the amount of pain patients experience and the rate of complications.

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Medicine has changed dramatically since I started in 1982. Survival rates have improved due to precise diagnostic methods as well as the introduction of parenteral nutrition, anesthesia, critical care and safety protocols. The emphasis on pain management after surgical interventions has made great strides.

What inspires you to do what you do: Bariatric surgery changes patients’ lives. I am able to prevent death and cancer and cure diabetes, hypertension and many other lethal disease processes.

Community involvement: I am an active member of Hands on Miami, a great organization. I am privileged to participate in community service activities with my wife and children such as Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens and organizations that support troubled teens. I was also a volunteer with a medical support mission in Sleidel, New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

First job: My first job was in Argentina at Provincial Hospital in Rosario

Pet peeve: I despise racism and discrimination based on skin color, sexual orientation, nationality, language or religion.

Proudest accomplishment: My family is my proudest accomplishment.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Life is a school of sacrifice. Success is the result of hard working. Also, everything changes over time, so we need to learn to adapt to changes and stressful situations and respect others while doing so.

Person you most admire: I most admire my wife Sima for supporting our family in all that she does.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: First and foremost you should choose to do what you like the most. Second, you should try to get the best education. These two principles are the key to professional success.

Board certification: American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialties in pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine; American Board of Sleep Medicine

Areas of specialization: lung cancers; asthma; breathlessness; sleep disorders such as snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization:
1. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure for the treatment of sleep apnea which is 100% effective and 99 % safe. This has replaced tracheostomy for severe cases.
2. CT x-ray scanning

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Today there is greater emphasis on scientifically based evidence for best practices.

What inspires you to do what you do: I’m inspired by the satisfaction of seeing patients get better with relief of their symptoms or improvement of their problems.

Community involvement: I am active in lecturing to the general public on the impact of sleep disorders on health, public safety and the economy.

First job: I was assistant professor at the University of Miami in the Pulmonary Department.

Pet peeve: I do not agree with insurance companies dictating care without enough attention to best practice principles.

Proudest accomplishment: I’m most proud of my 25-year marriage and having 5 terrific children despite getting two books published for lay readers on snoring and breathing problems and practicing medicine 60 plus hours per week.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Be aware of your own feelings and listen to others carefully.

Person you most admire: I most admire Sir William Osler, M.D., the greatest internist of all time. What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Make sure you really want to do all the preparatory work and constant ongoing study and that you are sure you want to work one on one with patients.

Board Certification: American Board of General Surgery; American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Affiliations: Westside Regional Medical Center, University Hospital, Florida Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center, Northwest Regional Medical Center

Areas of specialization: Colon and Rectal Surgery with special emphasis on colon and rectal cancer, genetic testing, diverticular disease, and benign anorectal disease.

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Laparoscopic colon surgery and treatment of rectal cancer. Also, ability to remove the entire colon and rectum and construct a new rectum from the small intestine, thereby avoiding permanent colostomy bags in people both young and old.

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Practice of medicine has changed in my career mostly by the influence of laparoscopic and of sphincter preservation. We are able to cure people of their diseases and not subjecting to permanent colostomy bags. The other thing that has changed during my career is having to over order tests because of the litigious nature of the legal profession and there is very often unfair scrutiny in their quest for large settlements.

What inspires you to do what you do: The ability to cure people of diseases that seem insurmountable and taking them through it from a preoperative standpoint to an operation to the immediate postoperative area where they are very vulnerable and having pain to full recovery. It motivates me and is tremendously satisfying. The thing that inspires me to do what I do is the ability to cure and do that very often in a surgical contact. In other words, we are able to actually cut, remove pieces, reconstruct pieces, and reroute pieces of intestine, etc., and do so in a manner that preserves people’s lifestyles and offers them cures of serious diseases.

Community involvement: I have been a member of the American Cancer Society and have partaken in the Relay For Life, which is a large fundraiser and also have given to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for a large fundraiser for children who are affected with Crohn’s disease. I also put on a conference annually that focuses on colon and rectal topics, which tracks speakers from all over the state both from the international and national arena. The 3rd Annual conference is taking place in March this year.

First job: Janitor in a doughnut truck stop when I was 14 years old. I actually lied about my age so that I could get the job, for one had to be 15 to work. I made minimum wage, which if my memory serves me correctly, was $2.15 an hour. A good thing about the job was that when I finished cleaning the bathrooms and floors, I used to get a free doughnut and a glass of chocolate milk.

Pet peeve: Somebody who is unappreciative of your hard work, sweat, and tears.

Proudest accomplishment: Graduating from one of the finest medical schools in the country in New York City and having my father in the audience at Lincoln Center when I received my diploma.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Do hard work in perseverance, even the most difficult challenges can often be successfully battled in one.

Person you most admire: Sister Teresa. She was so selfless and always willing to help others. When she was offered a limousine by the Pope, she accepted it and turned around and sold it and gave the money to the poor. She preferred to walk with not the most comfortable of shoes.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: I would tell them to make sure they love it and adore it. The reason I say that is because they will have a long fruitful career with some ups and downs but mainly ups. If they do not love it, steer clear. It can be challenging and often a trying lifestyle.

Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases

Affiliations: FACC, FACCP, American Society of Echocardiography, BCMA, FMA, AMA

Areas of specialization: Cardiology, non-invasive with special interest in TEE, CHF, CAD

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (previously called the Angioplasty)

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: There is an increased focus on office based and preventive medicine as compared to acute care settings and treatment of already decompensated patients.

What inspires you to do what you do: To know that I have the ability to “fix” things and make people feel better and make a difference in their lives

Community involvement: Chairman of Plantation General’s Board of Trustees, involvement and sponsor Homes for Humanity, Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida, and Disabled Israeli War Veterans. Member of numerous organizations devoted to preserving historical items.

First job: Truck driver for commercial steam laundry (in college).

Pet peeve: E-mail replacing real communication

Proudest accomplishment: Successfully treating a critically ill patient through ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm which is almost universally fatal – my father was the patient. The second proudest accomplishment is creating “OurBackyardMuseum.com” which focuses on preserving historical items.

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: There are NO shortcuts

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Working in medicine is still the best job – don’t listen to everything you hear.

When asked to describe his most memorable patient, cardiologist Matthew L. Carr, M.D., shies away from naming a particular person or procedure. That is not because he has trouble recalling his patients’ names or stories, but rather because he believes every patient is special and each procedure is unique.

Dr. Carr recently completed his second term as director of the cardiac catheterization lab and electrophysiology program at Florida Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale, a position he held for more than 10 years. Since beginning his career in the mid-1970s, Dr. Carr has noted several major changes in the practice of cardiology and of medicine in general.

“The Internet and computers provide a tremendous technological advantage to both patients and doctors,” he observes. “It’s not only ease of access but also instant access to information and communication.”

In addition to more and improved resources, Dr. Carr has seen how technology can directly impact patient care and save lives. He credits the angioplasty as the most important advance in his field since he began practicing.

“I am honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to use this procedure to improve the quality of life for thousands of people,” he says.

Dr. Carr and his associates, Arnold Ghitis, M.D., and Henry Cusnir, M.D., perform thousands of cardiac interventions at Florida Medical Center every year.

Originally from Westchester County, N.Y., Dr. Carr knew from childhood that he wanted to practice medicine. A graduate of the Honors Program at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., he returned to New York for medical school at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

After completing several residencies and a fellowship in cardiology, Dr. Carr returned to Florida with his wife Paula in 1974 and joined the staff at Florida Medical Center in 1977. The couple lives in Plantation and has three grown children, Garrett, Johanna and Jaquelyn. Jaquelyn plans to enter medical school next year.

Dr. Carr is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. He enjoys photography and working with computers.

Board Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery

Areas of specialization: Arthroscopic surgery, Joint replacement surgery

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Advancements in percutaneous techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: There are more outpatient treatment and surgeries and shorter hospital stays

What inspires you to do what you do: The welfare of my patients. There is no better feeling than relieving someone’s pain and restoring them to normal function.

Community involvement: I serve as the doctor for the St. Thomas Aquinas High School basketball team.

First job: Pumping gas

Pet peeve: The fact that patients have to deal with so much paperwork

Proudest accomplishment: Raising three wonderful children

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Listen to your patients! They will usually tell you the diagnosis while giving you the history.

Person you most admire: No one, but I’d like to have Tigers golf swing.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: It can be extremely satisfying and fulfilling. If you want it, GO FOR IT!

Board Certification: Gynecology Oncology; Obstetrics and Gynecology

Affiliations: Northwest Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center

Area of specialization: Gynecological Cancers and Advanced Pelvic Surgery

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Application of molecular biology in treatment of cancers

What inspires you to do what you do: The chance of improving a patient outcome

First job: University of Florida College of Medicine, in Jacksonville

Proudest accomplishment: Opportunity to teach other doctors

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Individualize care

Person you admire most: Doctors who derive joy in making a difference in a patient’s life

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Emphasize knowledge acquisition and compassion

Board Certification: Diplomat, American Board of Podiatric Surgery Diplomat, American Academy of Wound Management (C.W.S.) Certified Wound Specialist

Affiliations:
Board of Directors of AAWM (American Academy of Wound Management)
Board of Directors of AAWC (Association for the Advancement of Wound Care)
Fellow of ACFAS (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
Medical Director, Wound Healing Center at Northwest Medical Center
Medical Director, Wound Healing Center at University Hospital

Area of specialization: Wound Healing and Limb Salvage

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Biologic Skin Substitutes

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Many advances in the science and understanding of wound care has fostered new therapies to dramatically aid in the healing process and salvage of limbs

What inspires you to do what you do: Gratitude from patients for restoring their ability to live and function normally without pain

Community involvement: Past President- Temple Beth Orr

First job: Clerk in Pharmacy

Pet peeve: Professionals who are unprepared

Proudest accomplishment: Personally, my two children; Professionally, receiving the Duoderm Research scholarship at Oxford University

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Keep Learning!!!

Person you admire most: Louis Pasteur, whose work changed the way medicine is understood and practiced

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: It takes dedication and focus to stay abreast of current research, literature and critical thinking as it relates to the still emerging field of wound management. Be passionate about what you do!

Dr. Paul Kurlansky, Director of Research at the Florida Heart Research Institute, is a board certified cardiovascular surgeon. Dr. Kurlansky received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, his medical degree from Tufts University Medical School and completed his training in surgery and thoracic surgery, as well as a transplantation fellowship at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. There, he became known for his techniques in bilateral internal mammary artery grafting, myocardial preservation and ventricular assist devices.

Dr. Kurlansky has made significant contributions to the field of cardiac research. He has presented his work at international scientific conferences as well as published a vast array of articles in scientific peer reviewed journals. More recently he has focused on reversing coronary artery heart disease, the role of surgery in improving the treatment of women and heart disease and the impact of surgery on the quality of life of the elderly.

Dr. Kurlansky coordinates research projects at Florida Heart Research Institute as well as those conducted in partnerships with other premier institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, University of Miami, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Kurlansky has received multiple professional and community honors for his work and we feel fortunate to have him as a member of our Florida Heart Research Institute Team.

Dr. Maria Canossa-Terris, Medical Director, Florida Heart Research Institute, is a graduate of the University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the early 1980’s she directed clinical trial studies for the Miami Heart Research Institute and became the Medical Director at Florida Heart Research Institute in 1996.

Dr. Canossa-Terris has participated in many research projects that study the effects of medications on the heart and heart disease among Hispanics most notably within the South Florida Cuban Community. She has been instrumental in starting the Research Institute’s screening program that identifies those at risk for heart disease and educates them about lifestyle modifications to reduce their risk. In addition, Dr. Canossa-Terris has published numerous articles related to heart disease in national and international medical journals and has received several awards for her research efforts. The Florida Heart Research Institute and our community is proud of her dedication and work to help stop heart disease.

Dr. Richard Elias has been working with the Florida Heart Research Institute since 1962.

Most recently, Dr. Elias serves as chairman of the board and is an active member of the Florida Heart Research Institute’s Scientific Advisory Panel. In addition, he was named the new chairman of Columbia Presbyterian Health Sciences Advisory Council, he is a full professor of medicine at the University of Miami and a Board member of their Heart Teaching Center.

Dr. Elias has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in the area of cardiovascular disease, one of which is a teaching auditorium named for him at Columbia Medical College in New York.

Whether it be the development of better technology in the operating room, or preventing heart disease through research, education & prevention, the Florida Heart Research Institute appreciates Dr. Elias and the time he devotes to helping the organization.

Mariaelena P. Caraballo D.O., is a physician who is making a difference in the lives of her patients and their families. During her family practice residency at Columbia Hospital, Dr. Caraballo became interested in working with patients with advanced medical illness who were nearing the end of life. In 2002, she began part time work as a team physician with Hospice of Palm Beach County. Two years later, she committed herself full-time to the practice of hospice and palliative medicine, caring for patients and families in Boynton Beach, Delray, and Boca Raton.

Dr. Caraballo strongly supports access to end of life care for everyone who wants and needs it. She is an Associate Medical Director for Hospice of Palm Beach County and Director of Medical Education for medical students from Nova Southeastern University.

She is also active in long term care facilities, where she is an advocate for the right of all patients to receive the highest quality palliative care at the end of life. As a clinician, she is known for her compassion and caring. She is always available to the hospice team, putting in long hours at the bedside of her patients in order to ensure that their needs are met. An important means of advocating for changes in health care is through educating health care students and clinicians. She precepts second, third and fourth year med students at, at times, residents for a hospice elective. She speaks often at nursing and physician education programs at Palm Beach County hospitals and nursing facilities.

Medicine is a second career for Dr. Caraballo. For more than eight years, she worked for IBM in communication, development and product planning. In 1994, she fulfilled a long time dream and began medical school at Nova Southeastern School of Osteopathic Medicine. It was no small feat to balance the demands of her family, including three small children, while attending medical school and completing a family practice residency, but Dr. Caraballo managed it with grace and style. Her two oldest sons are now at the University of Miami where they study biomedical engineering and premed. Her daughter is a high school junior. She is also active at her church, St. Jude’s, in Boca Raton.

Dr. Caraballo is board certified in Family Practice and in Hospice and Palliative Medicine by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Board Certification: Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry

Affiliations:
Miami Jewish Home & Hospital at Douglas Gardens
Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami
Alexander Nininger State Veterans Nursing Home

Areas of specialization: Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry, Memory Disorders

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Neuroimaging for Alzheimer’s disease

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: Managed care has completely taken over all of medical practice

What inspires you to do what you do: The core values of medicine that focus on the person as a whole, rather than just the disease. Also, the memory of my grandfather who worked as a general practitioner in a small Wisconsin town for over 50 years.

Community involvement: Active member of the Weston Chabad Lubavitch Congregation

First job: Psychiatric consultant at a community mental health center in Everett, Massachusetts

Pet peeve: Restrictive medicine formularies

Proudest accomplishment: Raising three young boys – Jacob, Max, and Sam

Most valuable lesson you have learned in your career: Always listen to the patient and their family first before applying diagnostic labels

Person you most admire: My grandfather, Dr. Simon Cherkasky

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: It is a noble pursuit and is certainly worth the effort; do not get discouraged by the business of medicine that often runs counter to good medical practice; strive to rise above those barriers with your patients.

Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery

Affiliations:
Medical Director, Rosomoff Comprehensive Pain Center, Miami
Miami Jewish Home and Hospital at Douglas Gardens
Professor and Chairman Emeritus, the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Neurological Surgery

Areas of specialization: Pain Medicine/Neurological Surgery

Greatest medical advance in your area of specialization: Pain Medicine: The understanding of the mechanisms for development and treatment of pain. Neurosurgery: The development of multiple imaging techniques for the detection of disease processes of the nervous system

How has the practice of medicine changed in your career: I have transitioned from Neurosurgery for the first 35 years of my career into Pain Medicine for the last 30 years. Unfortunately, the practice of good medicine has been tainted by the increasing costs as well as changing access to healthcare, making it so difficult to treat the suffering and needy in the best medical, ethical and moral manner

What inspires you to do what you do: The joy and satisfaction of helping the suffering and the needy; patients credit us with “giving them back their lives”

Community involvement: Not only have we served the geographical area of South Florida for 35 years, but our Pain Center receives patients from all over the United States and from abroad which makes us a provider for the world!

First job: Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pet peeve: Frustration with the current healthcare delivery system that prevents the practice of best medicine and the inability to fully provide services to the suffering and the needy

Proudest accomplishment: Among several are being elected to the Presidency, first of the American Pain Society and then the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the two major Pain Societies in the United States, as well as being invited to present my research in hypothermia at the First International Congress of Neurological Surgeons in Brussels in 1956 at the tender age of 29. Hypothermia (lowering of body temperature) has become an important adjunct to neurosurgery, treatment of brain/spinal cord injuries, brain hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, attacks (infarction) and surgery.

Most valuable lesson you learned in your career: To listen to patients carefully and intensively for however long it may take to understand their problems.

Person you most admire: Aside from my wife, Renee, Dr. Duncan Holaday with whom and from whom I learned the elements of conducting research.

What advice would you offer others considering a career in medicine: Before committing, be willing to understand the vicissitudes of practicing medicine and the energy and time commitment it may take, sometimes to the detriment of your family and personal being.