Simply the best

Having been raised here, I remember a time when Lake County primarily was known for two things: citrus and bass fishing.

What it wasn’t known for back in the 1980s and ’90s was health care.

You needed open-heart surgery?

That meant traveling to Orlando. You needed back surgery? That meant traveling to Tampa. You needed world-class cancer care?

That meant traveling to Gainesville.

Oh, how times have changed.

In the past 20 years, the county has found itself on a highway to health. Not only does Lake boast four hospitals that have expanded the breadth of their services, the area also has attracted numerous physicians who offer everything from traditional to alternative medicine.

And that brings me to this month’s issue. I am excited to announce that Healthy Living is once again shining a spotlight on the area’s top 20 health and wellness professionals. Votes were cast by you, our faithful readers, and carefully tallied by our staff.

This year’s group of professionals stands out in the fields of health and wellness. Their dynamic approach to medicine and health care, the positive relationships they forge with patients, and their uncanny ability to achieve optimal outcomes all place them at the top of their respective fields.

In addition, this issue also shines a light on some of the trends occurring in the medical world. We delve into topics such as the popularity of multi-specialty groups, the benefits of becoming a nurse or physician assistant, and the shortage of doctors.

As always, we welcome your feedback and would love to know what kind of articles you would like to see in Healthy Living. Also, we would love for you to send us story ideas.

Here’s to a happy and healthy September.

Doug Akers / President doug@akersmediagroup.com

Kendra Akers / Publisher/Editor-In-Chief kendra@akersmediagroup.com

Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@akersmediagroup.com editorial, design & photography

Leigh Neely Managing Editor leigh@akersmediagroup.com

James Combs Staff Writer james@akersmediagroup.com

Theresa Campbell Staff Writer theresa@akersmediagroup.com

Chris Gerbasi Staff Writer chris@akersmediagroup.com

Anthony Rao Staff Photographer anthony@akersmediagroup.com

Jason Fugate Creative Director jason@akersmediagroup.com

Volkan Ulgen Art Director volkan@akersmediagroup.com

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Fhw Names New Cno

Adventist Health System Becoming Adventhealth

Effective Jan. 2, 2019, the Altamonte Springs-based Adventist Health System becomes AdventHealth. With nearly 50 hospital campuses and more than 80,000 employees, it’s one of the nation’s largest faith-based health care systems. In addition, it is moving to a consumer-centric, connected, and identifiable national system providing care for every stage of life.

FHW in Tavares will become AdventHealth Waterman with no change to the AHS organization ownership or business structure.

Shaan Sethi, a private equity investor, in hospitals. The unique styles made of moisture-wicking better, it works as hard as those

Michael Stimson is the new chief nursing officer at Florida Hospital Waterman. He will be responsible for the organization and administration of nursing care for the 269-bed hospital in Tavares, according to a press release.

“He is passionate about creating an exceptional patient experience for all those we care for,” Abel Biri, Florida Hospital Waterman chief executive officer, says in the release. “I’m confident with Mike’s leadership, Florida Hospital Waterman will continue to improve on all aspects of care and patient experience as we fulfill our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.”

“I feel blessed for this opportunity to continue serving in this amazing organization and to now join the Florida Hospital Waterman team,” Michael says.

Opioid Prescribing Law

In an effort to address the opioid crisis, Florida’s opioid prescribing law recently went into effect. It limits prescriptions to three days. The Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) wants to be sure everyone knows physical therapy can be an alternative to drugs for pain.

“While part of the solution to the opioid crisis certainly lies in limiting and monitoring prescriptions, we’ve got to be thinking about the 92 million Americans and thousands of Floridians who have been prescribed opioids because they are in horrible pain,” Jamie Dyson, FPTA president and trauma care physical therapist, says in a news release. “Physical therapy is a powerful, proven way to fight the cause of pain, restoring movement and mobility.”

The FPTA launched “PT for Pain,” at ptforpain.org, to provide education about the effectiveness of physical therapy, particularly for those who suffer chronic pain. There are also programs for fall prevention, rehabilitation, and more. The site also has a portal to “Find a PT,” where residents can find trustworthy, licensed physical therapists to help with their pain.

Safe Grilling

Preparing meat with intense heat, such as broiling or grilling, may lead to the formation of potential carcinogens, according to a news release from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).

The AICR offers these five steps for cancer-safe grilling:

• Marinate—Studies suggest marinating meat before grilling decreases the formation of heterocylic amines (HCA).

• Pre-cook—When grilling larger cuts of meat, reduce the time on the grill by partially cooking the meat in the

• Go lean—Cutting off fat means less chance of flare-ups and charring. Cook meat in the center of the grill and turn it frequently.

• Mix it up—Use smaller portions of meat cooked with vegetables to shorten cooking time.

• Go green—Grilling vegetables and fruits produces no HCAs, so enjoy the veggies.

WINNING THE GOLD!

Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute recently received the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation in recognition of its commitment to the health of employees, according to a news release.

“Our mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ as we care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—drives our passion of care for our employees, their families, and our community,” Anita Young, chief operating officer of Florida Hospital Waterman, says in the release. “We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to support the health and well-being of our employees.”

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs founded by former President George H.W. Bush, created the Gold Standard to recognize employers for caring enough to ensure the health and wellness of their employees.