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Contents january 2022
foraging resilience
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Good food heals all—a thriving community of supporters and fundraisers experienced a taste of real Florida at Resilient Retreat’s Farm To Table Feast, benefiting individual’s of mental, emotional or physical trauma. Written by Brittany Mattie | Photography by Wyatt Kostygan
neuro nurturing
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Staying healthy goes far beyond opting to take the stairs or walking down that extra block with the dog. Aside from getting exercise, which is certainly important medicine for the brain, SRQ teams up with the brains behind The Brain Health Initiative (BHI) to explore fundamental areas of focus to boost the mental state of our central organ, this New Year and beyond. Compiled by Brittany Mattie in collaboration with the Brain Health Initiative.
This page:
A chef from GROVE and Pier 22 Patio and Catering seasons Chef Darwin Santa Maria’s octopus dish at the Resilient Retreat’s Farm To Table benefit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
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contents
january 2022
MARKETING FEATURES 23 91
ELITE TOP REALTORS SARASOTA GULF COAST HOMES ANDREW AND NATALIE TANNER JUDI TAULBEE WARREN GROUP SARASOTA IN CONVERSATION PERSPECTIVES IN MEDICINE: RAMOS CENTER FOR INTERVENTIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE, RENAL HYPERTENSION CENTER AND FLORIDA DIGESTIVE DISEASE SPECIALISTS.
42 ASK THE EXPERT GULFSIDE WEALTH’S JARED R. MOTZENBECKER, SENIOR WEALTH ADVISOR
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SUP Yoga SRQ’s Stephanie Ouellette teaches yogis the benefits of anchoring on the water. Jaymie Klauber of Epic Equine Experiences lends a helping hoof for those who need a horseback pick-me-up. Sarasota Memorial Hospital transcends into 3D-printed equipment to improve the work lives of its staff and the safety of patients. TerraNova Equestrian Center showcases Olympic Eventing in Southwest Florida.
culture city
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A collaboration of music and dance creates Bach Immersion. A Ringling College VR student helps Moffitt Cancer Center gamify the system for patient care. Executive Director Virginia Shearer brings vision and a sense of play to the Sarasota Art Museum.
cargo
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Stay a step ahead, keep the lower extremities moving with
TOP DOCTORS 77 SPECIAL SECTION SECOND PRINTING OF TOP DOCTORS 2021 Explore the 2021 Top Doctors Peer-Review Program Honorees in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. In this edition’s In Conversation, we hear from Dr. Danielle Babb of the Ramos Center for Interventional and Functional Pain Medicine, Dr. Jehanzeb “JB” Bilal and Dr. Avantika Mishra of the Florida Digestive Disease Specialists on their insights in health and wellness.
performance footwear and foot recovery gear. Joie Inn makes its colorful debut on Anna Maria Island, with four color-themed guest suites.
forage
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Opus Restaurant brings new Mediterranean compositions to Gulf Gate. No dream, or bowl, is too big for Dream Earth Bowls at the Sarasota Farmers Market. Cover: Dream Earth Bowls’ Ocean Bowl, photography by Wyatt Kostygan. This page: Dream Earth Bowls’ Ashley Yamamoto and Joseph Malu and seared with the skin for a crackly bite, the salsa verde takes the Gulf snapper to unfathomable heights at Opus, photos by Wyatt Kostygan. Color-happy murals make you never want to check-out of Joie Inn, photo by Arielle Vey.
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JANUARY 2022 CEO / PRESIDENT / EDITOR IN CHIEF
LISL LIANG VP OF PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO
Wyatt Kostygan SENIOR EDITOR
Brittany Mattie
SRQ MEDIA ADVERTISING GROWMYBUSINESS@SRQME.COM 941-365-7702 x1 SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIBE@SRQME.COM 941-365-7702 x2
MANAGING + BRANDED CONTENT EDITOR
Barbie Heit EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE
Chloe Cuyler CONTRIBUTING SENIOR EDITORS
Andrew Fabian, Phil Lederer, Jacob Ogles CONTRIBUTING EDITORS AND ARTISTS
Chris Leverett, Abby Weingarten, Woody Woodman DESIGN CONTRIBUTOR Winona Nasser EDITORIAL + DESIGN INTERNS Grace Castilow, Nilyana Rodriguez, Emma Tufano EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
WES ROBERTS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT
Ashley Grant ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Ashley Ryan Cannon DIGITAL MARKETING + ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Hannah Peterson SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES
Suzanne Munroe Julie Mayer Magnifico Rob Wardlaw CLIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE
Gabriella Alfonso VIDEO + MARKETING INTERN
GET SRQ DAILY The magazine in your hands offers enormous insight into our community, but the most informed in our community follow our constant coverage of Sarasota and the Bradenton Area in SRQ Daily. The electronic newsletter is a must-read in thousands of inboxes. Check our special editions: the Monday Business Edition, the Wednesday Philanthropy Edition, the Friday Weekend Edition and the much-discussed Saturday Perspectives Edition, featuring a diverse range of opinions from the region’s top pundits and newsmakers. SIGN UP ONLINE AT SRQMAG.COM/SRQDAILY
ORIGINS OF “SRQ” The “SRQ” in SRQ magazine originates from the designated call letters for the local Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. “SR” was the original abbreviation for the airport before the growth in total number of airports required the use of a three-letter code. Letters like “X” and “Q” were used as filler, thus the original “SR” was revised to “SRQ,” much as the Los Angeles airport became “LAX.” As a regional publication committed to the residents of and visitors to both Sarasota and Manatee counties, SRQ captures the place that we call home. LOCAL PUBLISHERS OF SRQ MAGAZINE, LIVING LAKEWOOD, ROCKETKIDS, SRQ TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE, SRQ ELITE TOP ATTORNEYS PROGRAM, SRQ HOME & DESIGN, SHE ROARS, LIVING BRADENTON AREA, LOVE LOCAL GUIDEBOOK AND SRQ DAILY.
Shpresa Mehmeti 331 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 | Phone 941-365-7702 SRQMAG.COM / @SRQMAG
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITION Join our readers in the pleasurable experience of receiving SRQ magazine in your mailbox every month during season and bimonthly during the summer. To reserve your subscription, provide your information and payment online. You can set up multiple addresses, renewals and special instructions directly through your online account. When you subscribe online, your first print issue will arrive in your mailbox in 6-10 weeks. Subscribe online at SRQMAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE. Contact us via email at subscribe@srqme.com Vol. 25, Issue 241 Copyright © 2022 SRQ MEDIA. SRQ: Live Local | Love Locall. Sarasota and Bradenton Area is published 10 times a year. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The entire contents of SRQ are copyrighted by Trafalger Communications, Inc. Column and department names are property of Trafalger Communications, Inc. and may not be used or reproduced without express written permission of the publisher. SUBSCRIPTION: Subscriptions to SRQ are $36 for 20 issues. Single copies are $4 at area newsstands.
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STORIES ABOUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EXPERIENCES THAT DEFINE OUR HOMETOWN
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COMPETING EQUESTRIAN
a weekend of horse bliss at terranova. Wes Roberts | Barbie Heit LIKE AN EQUESTRIAN TRIATHLON, eventing tests the abilities of
horse and rider in three phases—dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Guests and spectators of the event were treated to a thrilling experience and a lovely day in the country. TerraNova Equestrian Center, a world-class, multi-discipline equestrian competition facility in the picturesque countryside of Myakka City, held its inaugural event this past October.
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TERRA NOVA EQUESTRIAN CENTER teamed up with
three local nonprofit organizations that champion their causes: Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, SMART (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy) and Southeastern Guide Dogs. Each competitor selected one of the three organizations— each charity having about 50 riders. “We have several Olympic riders here this weekend,” says Hannah Herrig Ketelboeter, president of TerraNova Equestrian Center and an eventor herself. “We really hope to get the community involved with the sport and educate them so they can follow the riders and be excited to come year after year. We have a lot of international riders with us, and although most are from the U.S., we have seven countries represented at this event.” For those not in the know about equestrian events, Ketelboeter explains the phases of competition. “There are three phases and a lot of people refer to this as the triathlon of the equestrian sports. The first phase is dressage where the judges score based on balance, rhythm and harmony between horse and rider as well as accuracy of movements. So that’s the only subjective scoring part of eventing. The next phase is the cross-country where riders navigate more solid objects, ditches and banks, and jump in and out of water elements. That phase is based on time. There’s an optimum time and if you’re below that time, you’re 14 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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good. If you go past that time, you’d get time faults. Then, if you have a refusal at a jump or a runout at a jump, that costs you penalties as well. The final phase of eventing, which most people are familiar with, is show jumping, where riders prove their precision as they clear a course of fences.” Dressage and cross-country competitor, Sara Beth Anton, has been riding since age six. She believes some of the best horses and riders the U.S. has to offer are competing at this top-notch event. “It is truly one of the most incredible things to watch horses thundering past you on cross-country and sailing over fences with speed,” she says. “This is by far one of the nicest facilities that I’ve ever been to, and I’ve traveled around to a lot of different facilities,” says Claire Anderson, a competitor from Ocala, FL. When asked about what percentage of people she thinks are in this for financial gain or prize money versus the love of the sport, she adds “I would say that a lot of people do this work for the love of it. They truly love these horses.” Nine-year-old Nicole Nair who has been riding for five years, says she’s probably been in about 100 competitions. Her horse, Jack Run, can sometimes be a little bit hard to control, but when he does well in a competition, she feels great. Her advice to little girls just starting out: “First try on a little pony, start walking and then move up higher.” SRQ
Previous page: Taylor Wright. This page, clockwise: Sara Beth Anton; Hannah Herrig Ketelboeter, Cofounder of TerraNova Equestrian Center; and, Nicole Nair.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES ROBERTS.
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ANCHORED FLOW trade out your trusty yoga mat for a buoyant boga board. Brittany Mattie
EVER TRY GETTING GROUNDED ON AN UNSTEADY SURFACE? Sounds counterintuitive, but taking
your earth-bound practice to one of nature’s pools of CBD may surprise you. Simply being near a body of blue water reaps benefits to our well-being. Those effects ripple, undulate and pulsate under the palms and feet when you take your asana from the ground to the Gulf. Connect: SUP Yoga SRQ founder and instructor, Stephanie Ouellete, leads a sun salutation at sunset off the shores of Longboat Key on BOGA paddleboards. Weekly classes typically launch from the Ski-a-Rees site (behind Mote Marine Laboratory), or Overlook Point in LBK. Find up-todate class schedules or book a private session at supyogasrq.com or @ supyogasrq.
CANADIAN YOGA INSTRUCTOR STEPHANIE OUELLETTE recently flew south from Ottawa, Ontario where her stand-up paddleboard (SUP) business, Suptopia Floating Yoga, operated seasonally—mainly in the stunning lake town of Muskoka. Ouellette has also led eco-therapy Vinyasas at various yoga and music festivals in Canada, and has wandered the globe living and working on the water in countries as far as Australia, Japan, China, Malaysia, Germany, Singapore and India, as well as various cities in the U.S. Now finding her flow in Florida, SUP Yoga SRQ came to light. Having launched (no pun intended) in June of last year, Ouellette teaches private and group classes three days a week where she provides waterbound yogis with BOGA stand up paddleboards—designed specifically as floating aquatic-fitness mats for supporting movement on the water—as well as paddles, dry bags and anchors in order to moor your vessel to the sea bottom and keep the group together in one safe spot. Ouellette’s classes are lower and slower than a studio class, as every pose is a balance pose on the SUP. But, combining the movement and intention of yoga with Sarasota Bay views in every direction, yogis can channel all three of their warriors by challenging their lower body, engaging their core, balancing the mind and controlling their breath. “When practicing on the water, all the wobbles require all our stabilizer muscles to fire, muscles you didn’t even know you had, and your focus has to be all there,” she explains. “This heightened mindfulness helps us truly tune in to the ‘here and now.’” To start finding your sea-legged center, slow everything down. “Attune your body to the ripples and the wind, heighten your receptivity as the board whispers that you need to shift slightly to the left or right,” Ouellette says. “And just wait till you observe the horizon from Downdog—seeing the movement of the water under you and around you, and everything upside down—talk about perspective shifting.” So yes, to avoid falling in, consider micromovements for smooth transitions and focusing your gaze on a fixed point. But, in all honesty, falling in seems part of the fun. Embrace the humbling aspect of being in nature’s playing field and let the saltwater heal any literal or figurative wounds. “I wholeheartedly believe combining yoga and SUP magically bundles all the benefits together,” she says. “When I am on the water, I feel connected to and part of nature. The events and circumstances that might’ve irritated me that day fall away—it’s almost like my problems stay on shore when I paddle out and it is just me, my breath and my board.” So whether mastering a one-foot balance in Eagle pose or gently stretching the spine in Child’s pose, being able to counteract, and react, to the unpredictable flow of the water below is a gratifying feat, culminated by a blissful, floating sensation that’s like a “mini-holiday for the nervous system.” Anchors away and namaste. SRQ 16 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.
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MAKE IT IN 3D
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been using 3D printed equipment to improve the work lives of its staff and the safety of patients. Chloe Cuyler
This page. left to right: Director of Technology Assessment and Biomedical Engineering Robert Santos explains how 3D printing technology was used by SMH during the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printer creating strain-relief pieces for cables.
WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH $1000? GO ON A SHOPPING SPREE? TREAT YOUR FRIENDS TO A LAVISH NIGHT ON THE TOWN? HOW ABOUT USING IT TO SAVE LIVES? Well that’s exactly what Sarasota
Memorial Hospital did. Last year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when vital medical supplies and personal protective equipment such as CAPRs (controlled air-purifying respirators) were becoming increasingly difficult to source, SMH made a life changing purchase. With $1000, the hospital purchased a small 3D printer that would quickly become an essential tool in its arsenal. Using this tiny, yet powerful machine, SMH’s biomedical engineering team was able to create CAPR mounting tab replacements so that medical care providers would not have to rely on N95 masks—which can often be claustrophobic and lack eye coverage—to protect them from COVID-19 while treating infected patients. But that is far from the end of the story. In the past year, Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been testing the waters with exactly what can be achieved with 3D printing in the medical field by using the innovative technology to create a more ergonomic environment for medical workers. Like many of us know, some of the most necessary and helpful things in life are those that can often be overlooked. This is true in the medical field as well—as SMH has discovered. The management of cables and hoses in the operating room is a major focus—these essential components deliver not only the anesthesia, but also life-sustaining gases and monitor the patient’s vitals. And because they can pose a tripping hazard in the O.R., SMH’s 18 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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biomedical engineering team has been working on fixing this issue. “We’re trying to create different methods of holding those cables out of the way,” says Robert Santos, director of SMH’s Biomedical Engineering and Technology Assessment Department. “We even have a little clip that we designed that goes on the accessory rail of the surgical table. It’s a small plastic clip that hoses can hang on so they don’t go on the floor.” The biomedical engineering team has also been working on ways to reinforce the weak point in cables to reduce the risk of bending and breaking. Since beginning its 3D printing journey last year, Sarasota Memorial Hospital has purchased a larger 3D printer—allowing them to create larger pieces—and most recently, a 3D scanner. This machine functions by taking a series of images of the item placed on its platform and then converting them into a CAD (computer-aided design) file that can be used as a template for creating a prototype. “Once an idea is received, we can usually have a prototype done in 24 to 48 hours,” says Santos. “We often have a quicker turnaround time than even Amazon Prime.” This is just the beginning of what is to come. “We’ve only really scratched the surface in talking to some of the hospital’s leadership and discussing the technology,” he says. “We’ve been doing really simple, yet important, stuff for them.” Santos and his department believe that the next major step for SMH will be 3D metal printing, which while more expensive, will allow for the creation of more durable and long-lasting equipment. SRQ IMAGES COURTESY OF SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE.
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DISMOUNT TO DE-STRESS Horseback riding is like chicken soup for the soul. Brittany Mattie
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN
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Epic Equine Experiences offers trail riding experiences through county and state parks close to town and I-75. On the well-maintained trails and scenic ‘off-trail’ areas explored, riders will be immersed in ecological wonders, native flora and Spanish moss, Florida wetlands and swamps, hundreds of exotic bird species, wild animals and tranquil meadows. Homemade meals and decadent drinks are provided for riders by the Klaubers—a nod to their former careers in food and dining, and a bonus for riders to look forward to an outdoor picnic in the oak forests.
BEYOND THE PET-OWNER RELATIONSHIP THAT MANY OF US HAVE LOVINGLY EXPERIENCED, SOME ANIMALS GO EVEN FURTHER. In therapeutic settings,
oftentimes they help individuals navigate mental health struggles, heal from challenging times or emotional detriment. Growing in popularity due to its experiential, holistic approach and evidence-based effectiveness, “equine-assisted therapy” and “equine-facilitated psychotherapy” are trotting to the top of Google searches as neoteric terms for those searching for a helping hoof. Longtime recreational rider Jaymie Klauber says riding on the trails for her is “chicken soup for the soul.” Whether a peaceful, solo escape to decompress from life stressors, or a fun activity to get together with friends and husband Tommy Klauber with a potluck picnic of home-catered meals for an afternoon outing, Jaymie says one look in a horse’s eyes and, “you’re hooked.” “Something about their eyes—it’s like they can see straight into your soul. There’s such a special bond and partnership there between horses and humans. So much trust is involved with riding—in part of you and the horse. So I suppose that’s what makes it easy for a person to connect with them over another animal.” When the Klaubers decided to close their restaurant and catering business, Jaymie asked herself what would bring her the most joy in her next chapter, and the answer stared straight at her in the form of a majestic, chestnut-colored thoroughbred. “I wanted to be around the horses as much as possible, spend more time with them, so I decided to create Epic Equine Experiences to introduce others to the awesomeness and healing opportunities of horses.” And sometimes healing goes both ways. Calm, sensitive and full of stamina, Jaymie’s eight rescued horses of a variety of breeds are mostly former racehorses, or retired thoroughbreds that have come from the racing world. Adopted and rehomed for other equestrian pursuits, Jaymie gives them a second chance at life and a newfound purpose “offtrack.” Between their salient stature and free-spirited disposition, “there’s a feeling being around horses that’s just good for your mind and soul,” says Jaymie. “Everything you do on horses is good for your body, too. For one, you have to be fit, or riding will quickly get you fit. The old joke is, ‘What’s the big deal? The horse is doing all the work.’ But that’s not true!” she laughs. Using just about every muscle in your body, arms steer
and control, the core tightens for balance and keeps you upright, while your legs are like an alligator clip against their sides for stability while in motion. But beyond the fitness related to riding, the emotional healing and mental release involved with horses is what keeps Jaymie’s riders from ever quitting Epic Equine Experiences. In particular, a woman diagnosed with cancer and currently undergoing chemo. “She schedules different days to get down here from St. Pete. She comes in between her chemo treatments, on days she knows she’ll be feeling well,” shares Jaymie. “She used to ride a really long time ago, but she’s gotten back into it while going through this cancer, as part of her recovery. It brings her so much joy and release.” With their calming effect on the brain and ability to lift spirits and induce smiles, “people get pretty addicted to horses,” she continues. “I witness people get out to the barn and you can just see the pressures of their day lifting away right when they touch a horse, it’s wonderful to see. There’s a great deal of smiling involved.” SRQ
Left and above: Equestrian advocate and lifelong rider, Jaymie Klauber resolves any stress by spending time out east with her therapeutic thoroughbreds. Contact Jaymie at epicequineexperiences. com, @epicequineexp or 941-705-3884 to set up a ride.
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S R Q M A G A Z I N E | S P E C I A L C O N T E N T M A R K E T I N G F E AT U R E | j A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2
2022 SRQ MAGAZINE
ELITE REAL E S TAT E A G E N T S L A U R A A N D M AT T R O D E | a N D R E W A N D n ata l i e Ta n n e r | J U D I ta u l b e e | T h e w a r r e n g r o u p
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2022 ELITE AGENTS
SARASOTA GULF COAST HOMES Laura and Matt Rode began their career selling real estate in Sarasota, FL in 2014. In 2018, they joined Keller Williams on the Water Sarasota and established their team, Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes. This elite group of professionals includes several members of Keller Williams Luxury International and CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialists). They are your market experts for all things real estate in both Sarasota and Manatee counties.
THE MISSION OF SARASOTA GULF COAST HOMES
is to deliver excellence and aim to exceed expectations in everything we do. For the majority of people, the purchase or sale of a home is their largest single investment. Their goal is to guide you successfully and easily through the contractual investment and emotional decisions involved in the real estate process. They are committed to providing you, your friends and family with superior service and expertise. The team’s commitment to their clients shows as the Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes quickly became one of Sarasota’s top producing teams in just two years. Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes is on track to close $130 million worth of real estate volume in 2021. This full-service team strives to modernize the experience of buying and selling real estate while serving their clients at the highest level.
Keller Williams on the Water Sarasota 1549 Ringling Blvd #600, Sarasota Matt Rode c: 941.241.7949 SarasotaGulfCoastRealtors.com
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2022 ELITE AGENTS
Andrew and Natalie Tanner “Fulfilling lifestyle dreams and creating outstanding results and value by delivering the highest quality of service that exceeds the expectations of our clients -- every transaction, every day.” This client-focused vision and mission elevates Andrew and Natalie Tanner above and beyond with highly-evolved core values that guide their client relationships: inclusive, dependable, inspired, accomplished, intentional and notable.
As we look forward to 2022, we look back at 2021 with gratitude for the many opportunities we had to be of service to clients. Significantly, we assisted sellers in implementing end-to-end strategies that realized lucrative ROIs, and negotiated successful purchases for buyers to win the home of their dreams in a highly-competitive resale market.
Our specialty is Sarasota’s high-end real estate market. We know this market inside and out, and provide valuable guidance and advice to support impactful decisions. Nothing compares to the level of personal attention we commit to every relationship. We pledge to get to know you and give you the luxury of unhurried time. We provide the tools, the staff and the know-how to cover every detail. Our service is second to none. And we create outstanding results to put more money where it belongs -- in your pocket. Our outlook for this year is “Connect 2022.” Connect with vision, connect with gratitude, connect with value—connect with you! We are here for you and ask that you give us the opportunity to represent you in your next real estate transaction. We look forward to getting to know you. ANDREW AND NATALIE have built a distinguished reputation providing outstanding results in Sarasota’s luxury real estate market. As members of the Peter G. Laughlin Group, one of Sarasota’s top real estate groups, they consistently assist clients in making choices that positively impact their lifestyles and wealth.
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty Andrew Tanner c: 941.539.0998 Natalie Tanner c: 941.539.0989 PeterGLaughlin.com
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2022 ELITE AGENTS
Judi Taulbee My goal to exceed everything you’ve ever known about working with a realtor and help you find your new Florida address. I’m truly committed to serving each customer with exceptional personal, first class service.
With 18 years in the real estate industry, I feel it’s crucial to be dedicated to providing in-depth local market knowledge. I enjoy providing each customer with individual attention, enthusiasm and my years of knowledge into the Greater Sarasota real estate market. From Sarasota to Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Parrish, Venice and across to The Islands, I thrive on this coastal lifestyle and want you to do so as well. Whether you are listing or buying, I’m here for you. I’ve been fortunate to earn over 200+ FIVE Star Zillow reviews as well as being the #1 Top Volume Sales producer at Fine Properties for many years running. I’m thoroughly committed to offering you an informed, solution-oriented and responsive approach to each unique listing for my sellers and everything involved in working with buyers in this dynamic market. I’m accessible to answer each and every one of your timely questions and you can trust my guidance. Contact me if you’d like to chat about your real estate goals. I’m here for you and interested. Recognized in Forbes Magazine in 2020 as one of the top agents in the country. Fine Properties is a full service Brokerage with
over 280 agents selling over 2200 homes per year in the Manatee/Sarasota area. All of our agents experience full service from marketing to top of the line websites and full cloud based transactional management service. In addition we also own our own Title company and have a full time attorney on staff. Currently we have 3 fully staffed locations from Venice to Upper Manatee. With over $750 million in annual sales, we rank in the top four brokerages in this area.
Judi Taulbee Fine Properties 5224 Paylor Ln. Sarasota 34240 juditaulbee@gmail.com 26 | srq magazine_ JAN22 elite agents 2022
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Warren group sarasota Warren Group Sarasota prioritizes quality of relationships over quantity of transactions. This ensures a personalized client experience that instills confidence and promised results. Warren Group Sarasota prides itself on more than 18 years of dedicated service to the Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch Communities. Our sincere desire is for all our clients to love where they live. Coldwell Banker Realty Warren Group Sarasota Pat Warren c: 941-350-7044 Julie Warren c: 941-350-7439 Patrick Warren c: 941-400-4436
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The Warren Group has built a reputation for the highest level of integrity and diligence for their clients over 18 years of dedication to their local Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch communities. PAT WARREN left a career as a CPA and entrepreneur after 10 years in Vail, Colorado and along with his wife JULIE WARREN and their three kids, relocated to Lakewood Ranch over 20 years ago. Julie, a seasoned sales professional from the pharmaceutical industry and a successful Interior Design consultant in Vail, brings next-level energy and professionalism to the team, plus unmatched marketing and staging expertise. Pat’s financial experience, market knowledge and negotiating acumen, combined with Julie’s marketing and design passion make for a powerful team, dedicated to their clients’ realization of their Real Estate goals as part of a family, the Warren Group family.
The Warren Group recently announced the addition of PATRICK WARREN to the team. Patrick recently graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Advertising and Marketing, bringing another level of marketing power to help us sell your home quickly and efficiently. Patrick has a tremendous level of commitment to his clients and an unmatched work ethic, all targeted to help serve his clients’ real estate needs. PATRICK was born in Vail, Colorado and moved with his family to Lakewood Ranch when he was 3 years old. He’s always been a hard worker and committed to his education and athletics. Patrick competed in golf and lacrosse in high school, eventually landed a lacrosse scholarship at Rhodes College and ultimately receiving a Marketing degree from the University of Florida. He currently works on new client development and marketing as well as listing and selling homes in this amazing market. His talents combined with the experience and expertise of Pat and Julie combine for a powerful family team, all targeted to help you achieve your Real Estate goals. LET OUR FAMILY VALUES BRING YOU HOME
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LOCAL PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS+CULTURE
This page: Sarasota Orchestra’s Principal Cellist
Natalie Helm shares the stage with SCD’s Co-founder, Director and Choreographer, Leymis Bolaños-Wilmott in November’s ‘Bach Immersion’ performance.
culture city A BACH IMMERSION
rincipal Cellist of Sarasota P Orchestra finds growth in collaboration with Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Andrew Fabian
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FOR NATALIE HELM, PRINCIPAL CELLIST OF THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA, the pandemic proved to contain a fertile combination
of angst, uncertainty and, most importantly, free time—ingredients that, historically, have led to some of the most prolific creative periods in art. She took advantage of it to hone her technique, add compositions to her repertoire and conceive new ideas to excite her. “I’m also very type-A too,” she jokes, “so I’m always looking for something to do,” And out of that fertile period of unrest came her Bach Immersion collaboration with Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD). In November, Helm took the stage with SCD’s Leymis BolañosWilmott for a performance that pushed her far outside her comfort zone as she performed Bach’s cello suites Number 5 and Number 3. The unique interdisciplinary performance saw Bolaños-Wilmott arrive at SCD’s studio dressed in full hiking gear—windbreaker, pants, hiking boots, beanie and big camping backpack—as though she had just completed a hike to the top of a mountain. She interacts with guests while in character then heads inside, where the stage is scattered with leaves and a tent is pitched off to the side. Helm, also dressed in camping attire, roams the stage with binoculars and as the audience streams in, plays her part by wondering aloud where Bolaños-Wilmott is. The two greet each other and make 32 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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some small talk before Helm grabs her cello and begins performing Suite Number 5. Wilmott dances around the campsite and amongst the audience—all with a backdrop of massive paintings of the Oregon coast by artist Steven Strenk. For Helm, the unique challenges of the collaboration also proved to be the most fruitful. For one, Helm has no acting background. “Leymis was really supportive of me during rehearsals when it came to the acting,” says Helm, “and she really encouraged me to push my role a little further for the story.” Musically, Helm had to overcome the discomfort of playing without an entire orchestra. “It’s so different when your technique and phrasing is front and center,” says Helm, “and I also got an opportunity to relearn the skill of memorizing music, which is something you don’t always have the time to do during the orchestra season.” But it all comes back to the pandemic and the space it inadvertently created for artists like Helm, Bolaños-Wilmott and Strenk. “The quarantine period last year definitely gave me the space to push myself,” says Helm, “and I decided that if I’m not uncomfortable, then I’m not growing.” SRQ The third and final performance in the Bach Immersion series is in April of this year.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.
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culture city
GAMING THE SYSTEM
Moffitt Cancer Center and Ringling College team up to gamify patient care. Andrew Fabian
IN AN ABC NEWS SEGMENT LAST JUNE, cancer survivor Richard Wright described his experience with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Linear Accelerator (MRILINAC) at Moffitt Cancer Center as “a game, and it’s actually kind of fun.” His enthusiasm for the cancer treatment seems puzzling when directed at a high-tech piece of equipment used to treat an often-deadly condition, and rightfully so. But it’s the manner in which Wright underwent treatment that inspired so much optimism. The machine requires that patients stay as still as possible for 25-second intervals to ensure greater accuracy of the targeted radiation dose. Even breathing makes organs and other internal physiological components of the body shift. So, patients like Mr. Wright—already anxious about being placed inside a cramped, loud machine for treatment of a disease that for decades has had the feel of a death sentence—now have the added burden of holding their breath. “I’ve had patients come in on the morning of their treatment and say, ‘I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about my breathing,” says Dr. Sarah Hoffe, Moffitt Cancer Center’s section head of gastrointestinal radiation oncology. “But if you can get clients to go from feeling terrified to feeling like it’s a game—that’s powerful,” And to that end, Virtual Reality (VR) technology has much to offer. 34 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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Though most people are familiar with VR as a technology used in the video game or entertainment industries, its use as an immersive training tool is likely to contribute more meaningful gains to society. Local coffee and ice cream shop, Rise & Nye’s, uses VR training modules as part of its onboarding process for the employees with developmental challenges that it hires. Dr. Hoffe, who is heavily involved in mentorship at Ringling College with its Creative Writing program, saw potential in the school’s VR program for “gamifying” the pre-treatment experience of her patients. After conversations with college president, Dr. Larry Thompson, Dr. Hoffe helped orchestrate a partnership through the school’s INDEX (Industry Experience) initiative. The goal of that partnership is to help acclimate new patients to the requirements of an MRI-LINAC procedure. Spearheading this “gamification” of the pre-treatment process was Ringling College student, Joseph Janssen. “My freshman and sophomore years in the program, I had tunnel vision for game design and entertainment,” says Janssen, “but this INDEX project has really opened my eyes to a lot more industries where the technology can be applied.”
This page: Ringling College
VR students involved in the project assess the application of the immersive VR module. Janssen tests out his VR design in Ringling College’s VR lab. Screen shots of the screen patients see when they are taking the MRI scan.
IMAGES COURTESY OF RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN.
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Already experienced in the rudiments of objectivebased VR experiences, Janssen applied his skills to an experience that could coach prospective MRI-LINAC patients on the physical demands of staying perfectly still during the procedure. The experience includes a series of cues that walk the patient through the full duration of the treatment, with breathing prompts and timers along the way. “Working with the patient advisors was critical,” says Janssen, “especially with Mr. Wright because he’s been through treatment with the MRI-LINAC and could be really specific with what worked and what didn’t.” In his interactions with Wright, Janssen also adopted his idea of incorporating golf elements into one of the design options. “It’s something that seems so obvious with the demographics in the region,” says Hoffe, “but we didn’t think of it until Mr. Wright said something.” A small putting green serves as the graphic for the timer element, with the clock starting upon a golf club’s impact with the golf ball and ending as it falls into the hole. A VR controller attached to the patient’s chest begins the animation when it senses the patient has held their breath. The other “game” option sees the patient hold their breath as a moon goes through its cycle over 25 seconds. Both games seem simple enough when considering how advanced the technology can get, but from a skillbuilding perspective, Janssen was also able to practice communicating with the end user. “It’s already a really balanced field in terms of using design and logic,” says Janssen, “but adding the interpersonal element was a great learning experience.”
Morgan Woolverton, the college’s interim department head for game art and virtual reality development, sums up the project’s impact perfectly. “The patients that use this design are in a vulnerable place,” says Woolverton, “and Joe [Janssen] was just the perfect fit to lead this project. He has such a strong sense of adventure and curiosity.” As for the future of the partnership between the Cancer Center and Ringling College, there remains more work to be done. Janssen graduates this Spring and leaves behind a fully functioning prototype that the next cohort of students can refine. Dr. Hoffe will look to take the design’s proof of concept and seek funding for research that can corroborate what she already knows intuitively: patients with less emotional stress have better outcomes. “We have a great team of researchers here at the center and we want to look at measuring salivary cortisol along with other vitals,” says Dr. Hoffe. Cortisol is known as a stress hormone whose levels directly correlate with experienced stress. Along with heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate, the team at Moffitt can track just how effective the VR design is for lowering the stress levels of patients. “And it doesn’t just lead to better outcomes for patients,” says Dr. Hoffe, “it means they can get through their procedures more quickly and we can treat more patients on a machine that not many hospitals have. So now you’re looking at more optimal schedules for treatment too. The possibilities are truly endless, but it all starts with creativity. Creativity is the currency of innovation.” SRQ
This page: Ringling College
VR students storyboard concepts for the interactive gaming model.
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CRACKING THE LID
Sarasota Art Museum’s new executive director wants to turn a hidden gem into the crown jewel Phil Lederer
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN
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culture city HEAD DOWN TO SARASOTA ART MUSEUM THESE DAYS AND IT’S A VERITABLE HIVE OF ACTIVITY. From the
atypical career retrospective on painter Judith Linhares, to seeing the artist curate a mini-exhibition within her own show as a tribute to the artists who have inspired and pushed her— to the launch of two new exhibition series—In Focus, highlighting and celebrating a single work of art at a time, and In The Making, which dedicates space for emerging artists—Sarasota’s newest museum seems determined to stake its claim as a top arts institution in a crowded field. “This is a jewel box,” says Virginia Shearer, who joined Sarasota Art Museum as executive director in early 2021. “And we need to figure out how to crack it open for everyone.”
SRQ: What makes an exhibition right for Sarasota Art Museum? How do you balance entertaining and educating? Virginia Shearer: What’s really special about Sarasota Art Museum is that it’s founded on the premise that contemporary art is changing, evolving of this moment that we all live in, but it is also about our collective lived-in human experience and our collective consciousness. We want to capture that by making sure that we always have an exhibition that has a message or theme that resonates for the moment we’re in. We’re looking for artists who have a purpose. They’re putting their passion and their work behind a message that they want to convey. And we’re interested in bringing those messages to light. But we are also always thinking about diversity of material and diversity among artists. I’m also interested in exhibitions where we can have multiple artists work in dialogue. And that hasn’t really happened here at Sarasota Art Museum. I want to move toward more large scale group exhibitions.
How would you describe the current voice of the museum and where do you want it to be? We’ve created a kind of academic type institution. And scholarship is incredibly important and has to be the bedrock of everything we do. What we need to do is really hold tight to our roots, but also lean more into the balance of being a community museum. That’s where playfulness comes in. We have a fresh perspective, a fresh voice, and we fill a niche here in Sarasota that is about what’s new, what’s next, the pulse of what contemporary artists are thinking. But we have to really push harder in making our voice more welcoming, playful and, dare I say, even fun. Why is playfulness important in a museum? Because people learn when they’re having fun. The best way to learn is when you get lost and you lose time, because the pursuit that you’re working in is so consuming that you lose track. And that’s where you start to really become even more creative and learn even more. We want our experience to be something that helps to engage people in that flow. It’s where learning is seamless.
How do you achieve that? We’re looking at integrating more participatory experiences. In April, we’ll be opening a major group exhibition called State of the Art 2020: Con-
structs. And that exhibition will have performance art, video art, installation art, paintings, sculpture. And the idea is if we can get more work that invites participation and interactivity in the galleries. It’ll just kind of amp up the experience. People will move out of the, “We need to just walk along and behave in a certain way.”
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars. Every day. In fact, I have a t-shirt that says, “The Force is female.” My husband has one with Darth Vader that says, “I am your father.” One year I gave all the cousins and all the kids, Millennium Falcon crew t-shirts. I’m also obsessed with George Lucas and I can’t wait for the museum to open in LA.
Is it the shared emphasis on the intersection between education and play? People just learn in different ways. When it comes to museums: for auditory learners, there’s the tour; for visual learners, there’s everything you can get out of just looking at the art. But you can also read. And for those people who like to intrinsically experience the world, you can walk around by yourself. For those people that are in a group, you can have these social events. The extrinsic learner and kinesthetic learners, you can participate in a dance class or do whatever. We have to be ready for them all because we’re all so diverse. And that’s how we will design programs. That’s a piece that I’m going to bring to the equation here that wasn’t quite in place.
What do you imagine the museum of the future will be like? Museums are always, always, always going to be an important part of our lives. Humans are endlessly fascinating, and what we make is that residue from our lives. And other humans are interested in that residue, what came before. And there is nothing like the real thing. I very much believe that where the magic happens is between us and original works of art. A lot of artists have said this beautifully: a work of art is never complete until the viewer is actually there before the work of art and making it whole. And I believe that. SRQ This page: The historic, renovated building of the Sarasota Art Muse-
um glows bright at golden hour as an illuminated backdrop to its new Executive Director Virginia Shearer.
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Any opinions or forecasts contained herein reflect the subjective judgements of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial. This information should only be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.
ASK THE EXPERT
GULFSIDE WEALTH Jared R. Motzenbecker | CFP®, CMT, CPWA® Senior Wealth Advisor
WHAT ‘NEW FRONTIERS’ DO YOU SEE WITHIN YOUR INDUSTRY THAT SRQ READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? There is potential for significant change in tax and estate planning laws in the near future. Combined with shi ing fiscal and monetary policy around the world, this decade could look very different from the previous one. These potential changes, and the accompanying uncertainty, make proper planning a necessity. Every day our conversations with current and potential clients are about what those changes could mean for them and how to prepare. Most people we talk with are concerned that their current plans and investments may not be the best solution for the future. We are guiding families to update those plans and portfolios when necessary to be er align with their desired outcomes.
SHARE YOUR INSIGHT ON IMPROVING FINANCIAL AND RETIREMENT PLANNING THIS YEAR? WHAT SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERING FOR THE FUTURE? Do not wait. Procrastination is not a strategy and can be detrimental to your wealth. Delaying estate, business succession, or retirement planning may present obstacles due to changes in tax policy, regulation, or diminished capacity. Failing to update beneficiary designations can potentially override bequests made in your estate plan. Outdated desig-
nations may result in ex-spouses or estranged family members inadvertently receiving an inheritance. Not discussing details of your estate plan with family or executors may lead to incorrect assumptions and conflicts among heirs. This can be avoided by discussing your plans and wishes in advance. You usually don’t get a “do-over”. Start early.
WHAT SETS GULFSIDE WEALTH APART FROM OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANIES? Our culture. As a boutique firm, we spend a lot of time listening to our clients to ensure we truly understand them and their intentions. We use a team approach, partnering with tax and legal experts, to offer an extremely high level of service to our clients, many of whom are like family. Also, our relationship with Gulfside Bank, the only community bank based in Sarasota County, makes available a wide range of services including financial planning and banking with a truly personal touch.
Is your financial and estate plan up to date? Contact us today so we can help you prepare for the future. 727.417.0308
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.
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JOY IN THE JOURNEY
The Petrone family finds joy in the in-between—flipping an outdated duplex on Holmes Beach into a color-happy boutique bungalow in. Brittany Mattie
This spread: Stylish color schemes and coastalboho decor reign throughout Joie Inn’s four themed units.
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WORTHY OF HAVING THEIR OWN HGTV SHOW —Ashley and Dino Petrone get down on just about anything that has to do with designing, building, repurposing and DIY-ingg. Their last house project, “Chateau Petrone,” was a French-style family home in California they renovated while documenting the progress on social media—catapulting Ashley’s blog and Instagram (@arrowsandbow), which now has over 667K followers. But before they even got to this point, the Petrone family of five purged just about everything they had—including their 3,400-sq. ft. house in the mountains and everything in it—to move into a 180-sq. ft. RV trailer on part of their land. With having purchased the land, Ashley and Dino had grandeur hopes of building their “dream home” on it. “But, after 17 months living more simply in a trailer, with less stuff, lots of dirty work and no actual building of a home, I picked up the motto, ‘finding joy in the in-between,’” shares Ashley. “It just seemed like I had lived my life trying to get to the next best thing so I could find joy. I realized, I could intentionally find it in the everyday—even squished in a trailer with my husband and three kids on a bunch of dirt piles.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARIELLE VEY. (@ariellevey)
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With another baby on the way, and disparaged interest in chasing big lots of real estate to build houses filled with stuff, Ashley and Dino took their newfound, minimal mindset and turned their direction to a more southerly destination—a little slice of sun-soaked paradise known as Anna Maria Island. Upon arrival in the Sunshine State, the Petrones found and purchased a dated, gray duplex on Gulf Drive desperately in need of an uplift and renovation from a young, design-savvy couple. And “Joie” (‘joy’ in French) was that perfect spin to bring a little extra joy to the name from their Californian chapter. Months of jaw-slacking beforeand-afters shared on Ashley and Dino’s Instagrams, as well as @joieinn’s, garnered the attention of thousands of paradise-seeking travelers and aesthetic-hungry designers from all over the nation. With renovation help from Coastline Contractors, as well as a little handy work and personal touches from family members—including hand-painted rainbow murals and sun stencil designs to the exterior—Joie Inn flipped from an outdated, fixer-upper to a colorhappy, boho bungalow that feels like a blend between a boutique hotel and homey Airbnb. Local photographer Arielle Vey (@ariellevey) captured images of AMI for Ashley to incorporate as art on the Frame TV which doubles as a high-quality picture frame. Upon arrival, guests receive locally-made cookies, a custom room tote bag, Joie Inn koozie, keychain, as well as a comprehensive travel guide written by the Petrones and filled with their favorite local jaunts. In addition to the take-away amenities, each room comes geared up for 50 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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a day outing on Holmes Beach just across the street— including beach wagons, chairs, sand toys, an umbrella, sound machine, and, of course, a Dyson vacuum to clean up all that sand upon salty return. Categorized into color tones—Terra-cotta, Sage, Blush, and Sun Room—each unit fleshes out shades of intentional design choices to embody its designated color theme. “I thought it would be fun to have themed rooms but in an updated, fresh way,” Ashley says. “Get people excited about booking a certain colored room, but then also just as excited to try another one on their next stay. So I decided to make each of the four units its own color to highlight the sunsets and shells that fill the beaches here and build off of one of my favorite linen bedding brands.” The darling duvets in the bedroom set the tone in each of the units, while the painted shower tiles in the respective bathrooms perfectly match the colorscape of each hue-centric haven. Heading outside for some early morning sun, guests are greeted with a Palm Springs-inspired pool and patio cozies, surrounded by lush palms to a shaded outdoor coffee bar. Undoubtedly, the hardest part of your day will be to decide whether to stay lounging in the cottonwoven hammock surrounded by tropical greenery with a coconut-served cocktail, or, temporarily leave your blissful bungalow sanctuary to use the Blue Jay electric bikes and scooters (available for Joie Inn guests) to cruise around and explore AMI. “When you look around, you can’t help but feel the cool, laid back, oldFlorida vibes of Anna Maria,” shares Ashley. “You come here to relax and be filled up with a little joy.” SRQ
Above: Tropic palms are plentiful around Joie— colorfully painted on outdoor murals and lushly planted around the pool deck to provide a jungle-like escape for guests. Joie Inn, 3501 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach, 34217, hello@joieinn.com, joieinn.com, @joieinn
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARIELLE VEY. (@ariellevey)
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forage LOCAL EPICUREAN ADVENTURES AT THE TABLE
Below: Opus’ caponata is dense with eggplant, succhini, red peppers, tomatoes, olives, capres and parsley.
OLD WORLD, NEW SCHOOL
Opus in Gulf Gate puts fresh spins on Mediterranean classics.
Andrew Fabian
WHEN THE KATAIFI SHRIMP ARRIVES at Opus Restaurant & Lounge in Gulf Gate, the impression it makes nearly defies words. Though it may look familiar to Greeks, to the rest of us it looks like some absurd postmodern sculpture, a cheeky mash-up of aquatic life and a bird’s nest. The shrimp tails protrude from a tangle of threads and each morsel rests on a puddle of sweet and spicy cherry sauce dashed with za’atar. In the end, after a bit of wonder and, admittedly, puzzlement, the dish is just a deliciously approachable bit of shrimp wrapped in threads of dough and deep fried. And that’s what Opus seems to do with its entire menu; take something classic and tasty like the Greek specialty of kataifi-wrapped shrimp and augment it with seasonality and locally sourced product.
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Created in collaboration between proprietor Richard Carney and Executive Chef Kyle Harrington, the menu borrows from Carney’s culinary palate and Harrington’s fine dining background, which began in Gasparilla Inn’s upscale kitchens on Boca Grande nearly 20 years ago. Carney, a former interior designer who hails from Buffalo, NY, and Harrington, born in South Philadelphia, were eager to celebrate cuisines of the western Mediterranean coastline, from Tunisia and Spain to France and Italy. Carney, unsurprisingly, also handled the restaurant’s modern yet warm design, with lots of blues and earth tones offsetting the sleek lines of the building itself. A caponata pays homage to Carney’s Sicilian roots. Specifically, the inclusion of pine nuts skew the small plate towards the Catania style of the dish, but no matter the region of Sicily, Opus’s caponata is dense with eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, olives, capers and parsley. Depending on how the locally sourced produce looks that day, Harrington might garnish the dish with parsley or basil, but either way, when dolloped on the toasted baguette it eats more like a healthy entrée than a light appetizer. Another common application of caponata is to serve it with fish, and Opus does just that with the seasonal Gulf snapper entrée. An ample cut of snapper comes seared with the skin on, giving it a bit of crunch and crackle that complements the buttery and delicate cut of fish. The caponata rests underneath the fish, which makes it easy to get all the flavor profiles in one bite, including a garlicky 54 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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salsa verde so good it can make a microwaved corn dog taste divine. A squeeze of lemon juice from the grilled lemon expands the flavor profile further still, adding a bit of pep to an otherwise unctuous dish. The gateway gimlet cocktail pairs well with the snapper. Made with gin, muddled basil, St. Germaine, lemon juice and house made ginger syrup, the dry, citrusy and slightly sweet drink cuts nicely through the richness of the plate. But if rum is more your speed, the Opus old fashioned beckons. Diplomatico rum, chocolate bitters and a coconut ice cube give this iteration of the popular drink less bite than its whisky counterparts. This drink pairs well with the roasted chicken entrée, which comes with a whole bird bronzed as perfectly as a lifeguard on Baywatch. The jus from the roasting process rings around the ample serving of pomme puree (mashed potatoes) made with two parts Yukon potatoes and one part sweet cream butter. When all of it is combined with the mushroom gravy, the umami is off the charts. Steak frites offer what is likely the easiest win on the menu, with perfectly charred butcher’s steak served with frites that check all of the boxes—a little crispy, a little tender inside, exquisitely savory. A harissa ketchup brings a touch of spice to the fries while a salsa Española should not be overlooked as an accompaniment to the steak. Though listed as an entrée, the plate can easily be shared on account of the steak being cut into slices. If shared, it may leave room for the quattro formaggi peppers, Opus’s version of a Buffalo favorite. Hungarian wax peppers, which can
Above left to right: Blues and earth tones help give the interior a modern-rustic seaside vibe. Crumbled pistachios add the finishing touch to the Rum Baklava. Though steak and frites are good on their own, the Espagnole sauce and harissa ketchup must not be overlooked. Wrapped in fine strands of kataifi and deep fried, the shrimp app looks like a postmodern mashup.
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vary on the Scoville scale from bite to bite, come stuffed with ricotta, gorgonzola, pecorino and mozzarella. The creamy cheeses inside offset the heat of the peppers, though a tall glass of water should remain close by. While the kataifi shrimp or Gulf snapper might be more deserving of signature status at Opus on account of their more ambitious, complex flavor profiles, the dish most likely to sell out every night is the pappardelle. Yes, many Italian restaurants in the Sarasota region boast some form of braised short rib ragú served atop freshly made pasta, but it’s a dish so categorically wonderful that it warrants a spot on any menu. The broad noodles are made from scratch, giving them the perfect al dente consistency while a four- to five-hour braise time on the short ribs provide ample time for the fat to render into a silky, finger-licking affair. A fair warning. Like all comfort food, this dish is hefty, which means it should be eaten with caution if you hope to try one of the scratch-made desserts. A crispy, sticky baklava comes with a nuttier profile than most thanks to a hearty dose of diced pistachios while a seasonal crostata makes use of Harrington’s mother’s dough recipe—and a worthy legacy it is. Crispy yet fork tender, the crostata comes stuffed with compotes of whatever seasonal fruit is available. Served with a Frangelico whipped cream on the side, the dessert is assuredly worth leaving room for. For those with bottomless joie de vivre, head next door to the Opus lounge for a nightcap of house made limoncello. SRQ
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Dream Earth Bowls connects community with healthy eating.
Brittany Mattie
WHAT ONCE BEGAN ON A LITTLE ISLAND KNOWN AS OAHU, now resides on a more familiar slice of the Gulf Coast. Ashley Yamamoto, Cape Coral native and founder of Dream Earth Bowls, has never not had big dreams of leaving a positive impact on the world. “Growing up, I longed for a space where I could connect with other dreamers in my community,” she said. And, in the midst of figuring out her college career path, she left the traditional academic world, “on a quest.” That quest was a one-way ticket to Hawaii. Upon landing in Maui, Yamamoto received her 200-hour Yoga-Teacher certification, before hopping on a puddle jumper to Honolulu where she worked on an organic farm focusing on permaculture, self-education and peaceful living in a dream-like state.
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This spread: Ashley Yamamoto and her business partner Joseph Malu bring the super to superfoods with four smoothie bowls: Dream; Blossom; Earth; and Ocean Bowl. Find them every Saturday at the Sarasota Farmers Market, dreamearthbowls.com, @dreamearthbowls.
“I began asking myself deep questions: ‘What did I want to contribute while I am here?’ ‘What impact did I want to have on the world?’ and ultimately, ‘What is my dream?’” she said. “It began to click. I used my passion for health and wellness and created a solution for my childhood search.” Dream Earth Bowls soon became a concept to bring people together to share their dreams, inspire others to follow theirs, and serve communities with nutritious food options. Having recently relocated back to her hometown, Yamamoto, along with business partner Joseph Malu, is now making their mark on the region’s farmers market scene. Spot them as vendors at four Southwest Florida locations: Captiva Island Farmers Market, Lakes Park Farmers Market, Sanibel Island Farmers Market and our very own Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market. And while a brick and mortar store may be on the horizon for them, farmers markets have made Yamamoto feel more connected with her community and develop a clearer understanding of what people enjoy. The colorful menu features four hand-crafted smoothie bowl blends: Dream Bowl (an acai, strawberry, blueberry, banana, organic apple juice base); Blossom Bowl (a dragon fruit, mango, strawberry, almond milk base); Earth Bowl (an acai, strawberry, blueberry, banana, peanut
butter and coconut milk base); and Ocean Bowl (Blue Majik spirulina, banana, pineapple, coconut milk and MCT oil base). Not one artificial coloring, added sugar, preservative or filler will be found here. Instead, each blended fantasy comes packed with a smattering of heartand gut- healthy ingredients and antioxidative superfoods. Topped with organic granola, coconut flakes, fresh-cut fruit and drizzled with either local honey, almond butter or homemade cocoa hazelnut, this abundantly nutritious, sweet treat seems too good to be true. And just as you’ve set your heart on which colored bowl to go with at their tented stand, you’ll be prompted to pensively ponder, “What’s Your Dream?” — written out in cursive on Dream Earth’s wooden board. Clothespins hang on string to attach and share penned answers on notecards. Aspirational responses from predecessors read, “To build out a van, roadtrip across the country and give back;” “Travel the world and save all the animals;” “Change children’s lives, to give clean water and food;” “Own many animals and live on a farm;” “Pet all the dogs.” A pattern is evident with these fellow dreamers— perhaps some have even idealized theirs into action by now. As for the bowls, well, they remain in a state of otherworldly deliciousness. SRQ srq magazine_ JAN22 live local | 57
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A retrospective of Resilient Retreat’s Farm To Table Feast —savoring a taste of Florida culinary invention while benefiting individuals of mental, emotional or physical trauma.
FORAGING HEALING WRITTEN BY BRITTANY MATTIE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN
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resilient
(adj.) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult or tough conditions.
retreat
(n.) a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax. Sarasota nonprofit, Resilient Retreat, brings two words and concepts together to help and empower survivors of trauma abuse by encouraging a healing journey of self-care and understanding community. Led by Certified Trauma Professionals and Certified Compassion Fatigue Professionals— including first responders and helping professionals that have experienced trauma themselves in the workplace (police, fire fighters, advocates, medical professionals, teachers, nonprofit workers)—those leading the Retreat’s recovery programs know firsthand just what individuals are going through. Resilient Retreat’s center broke ground in 2020 on their newly-acquired 84-acres of conservation land, and is expected to be completed later this year. In the meantime, the organization continues to offer their free, evidence-based day programs online and in-person for kindred souls who’ve encountered domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, sex trafficking, stalking, etc. within their lifetime. Programs created and integrated focus on bettering the mind, body and spirit—including equine therapy (horseback riding), Zentangle art drawing (a free-flowing, relaxing way to draw images of structured patterns called tangles), reflective journaling, neurofeedback, nutrition, massage, yoga, sound bath meditations and “Survivor Strong” support groups. 60 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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Left: Lisa Intagliata Executive Director of Resilient Retreat. Below: By the end of the evening, after the sun set and the Myakka star-lit sky showed off its twinkle, a very successful live auction and paddle raise, conducted by rockstar Auctioneer Trey Morris of Kentucky, netted approximately $100,000 for Resilient Retreat—more than $40,000 over the organization’s initial fundraising goal. Hearts and bellies left full.
In order to continue funding Resilient Retreat’s free programs of light and respite, the nonprofit hosted an inaugural ‘Farm to Table’ outdoor dining experience this past November. A thriving philanthropic crowd attended for a magical evening among the majestic live oaks and orange-pink sunset sky on Resilient Retreat’s farmland east of 75. Attendees were able to see the 18,000 sq-ft Retreat Center construction in progress on the secluded, wideopen pasture of conservation and vegetation. “Having this unique retreat facility will provide us the opportunity to expand our services and to offer intensive multi-day retreats to those impacted by trauma and abuse,” said Lisa Intagliata, executive director of Resilient Retreat. “Our mission is more critical now than ever before. Last year we screened 196% more participants than the prior year.” Creating a Farm to Table fundraiser was a natural fit for Resilient Retreat—seeing as their abundant acreage of idyllic land features a vegetable, herb and flower garden from which ingredients were harvested and utilized for guest’s meals at the event. “Our garden provided produce that will be used for dining during our retreats, and will also be used for participant programs like nutrition and cooking classes,” said Intagliata. “Nutrition plays an important role in dealing with psychological trauma. Eating
a healthy diet can reduce the negative effects of stress on your body and builds a solid, more enduring foundation for your body by reducing oxidation and inflammation.” In true farm-to-table fashion, a select group of locallyrenowned chefs and restaurateurs crafted a festive tasting menu inspired by the culinary history of Florida in celebration of Sarasota County’s Centennial. Served hor’dourves and multi-course dishes featured the very best of seasonal and foraged foods to create a truly enchanting, alfresco feast. “Moments that really stood out for me during the evening,” shares Intagliata, “were hearing from each chef as they introduced their culinary creations to our guests, describing how they connected to our mission, or how they themselves are, or were, impacted by trauma in their lives.” Honorary Chair Chef Tommy Klauber, former owner of local restaurants Pattigeorge’s and Polo Grill & Fête Catering, was integral in establishing this epicurean event by helping to coordinate the farm-fresh menu and top local chefs who contributed their talents for the evening. Of the Chef lineup, dishes came from the innovative minds and hands of Jim Angus, Atria Cafe; Darwin Santa Maria, Almazónica Cervecería & Peruvian Eatery; Christopher Covelli, Sage Restaurant and Bijou Cafe; and Greg Campbell, GROVE and Pier 22. SRQ
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CHEF DARWIN SANTA MARIA ALMAZÓNICA CERVECERÍA & PERUVIAN EATERY (@ALMAZONICACERVECERIA) HOR D’OEUVRE BEET POTATO CAUSA (A COLD CASSEROLE) ROLLED WITH CRAB MEAT, TOPPED WITH SALMON ROE AND HUANCAINA AIOLI (PERUVIAN SAUCE MADE OF AJÍ AMARILLO CHILES AND QUESO FRESCO). FIRST COURSE CHAR-RILLED OCTOPUS ANTICUCHERO OVER TOP AJI AMARILLO POTATO PUREE, DRIZZLED WITH BLACK OLIVE BOTIJA AIOLI AND GARNISHED WITH LOCALLY-GROWN MICROGREENS.
SRQ: What does the term “farm-to-table” mean to you in relation to mental health and physical wellness? Santa Maria: First and foremost, caring for the planet. It also means health, wellness and welfare of what you put into your body. I learned that embracing the farm-to-table movement has great positive effects on the environment by promoting the ethical treatment of animals and food safety.
How do you implement these ideals/ standards into your dishes? After relocating to South Florida, we quickly recognized the vibrancy and depth of culture that the Amazon and Florida both share. At our restaurant, we make sure to shop at local farmers’ farms and purveyors. Locally grown food is full of so much flavor— we use them in a fusion with our small-batch ceviches and rich Peruvian dishes.
Besides cooking up foods from your native country of Peru, what do you do to keep a healthy mind, body and spirit? Workout with weights, run and hang out with my kids.
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CHEF JIM ANGUS | ATRIA CAFE (@ATRIA.CAFE) BREAD + BUTTER HOUSEBAKED HEIRLOOM PURPLE MAIZE PORRIDGE BREAD, PAIRED WITH HOUSE-CULTURED HONEY BUTTER MADE FROM LOCAL BEE POLLEN OF MYAKKA CITY’S HERITAGE BEE FARM. HOR D’OEUVRES LIONS MANE AND BLACK PEARL OYSTER “STEAK”, WILD MORINGA, PICKLED SEEDS AND ELDERBERRY CAPERS ON TOAST, next page; AND SWAMP CABBAGE SCALLOPS WITH MOTE MARINE SEA PURSLANE, CORTEZ CONSERVA BOTTARGA, AERATED CAROTENE AIOLI AND KEY LIME KOSHO, page 59 . SECOND COURSE DUCK CONFIT WITH LACTO FERMENTED DATIL PEPPER, SMOKED MUSCADINE GRAPES, SUNCHOKE, FLORIDA PERSIMMON AND HICKORY NUT MISO.
Above left: We milled the corn, then we made polenta with it, folded the polenta in with our Rustic dough which fermented overnight before we baked it to be crusty on the outside and soft on the inside,” says Jim Angus. “For the bee pollen, we took a trip out to Heritage Bee Farm. I’ve been on the hunt for someone who is obsessed with bees for around two years, and Chris is my guy! To make the butter we started with culturing our cream for 18-24 hours. Then we gently melted the Heritage pollen to dissolve into the butter and we whipped it with some of Heritage’s Orange Blossom honey. We finished by piping into our honeycomb molds and cooling them in the fridge.
SRQ: What does the term “farm-to-table” mean to you in relation to mental health and physical wellness? Angus: Farm-to-table is about nourishing ourselves and knowing where the food comes from. It allows us to connect with one another in the community with better food. It makes us naturally healthier and we feel good about what we are eating. In my view, farm-to-table shouldn’t be a style of food, but more about the highest ideal of what the food industry should be. We are working to get there, closer each day.
How do you implement these ideals/ standards into your dishes at atria? We use a lot of seasonal ingredients and try to show
those off. In Florida, the weather changes are less extreme, so it’s easy to forget that we do have seasonal harvest. We try to utilize what is in season and grown locally as much as we can.
How are you incorporating items from the local farms and how did you utilize them? One of my favorite fruits that happens to be locally grown food is the Florida persimmon, grown by Jubilee Organics. Florida persimmons are too astringent to be eaten out of hand like an apple. However, they make excellent hoshigaki. Hoshigaki are persimmons that are peeled, hung, then massaged every day for a whole month. After a month, these little balls of starch transform
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into sugar bombs ready to pair with Duck Confit. For this dinner, we leaned heavily into wild foraged food. We got hickory nuts from Hickorynut Lake, elderberries that we turned into capers foraged near Lorraine Road, bee pollen from Chris at Heritage Bee Farm, wild moringa foraged in east Bradenton, and fresh hearts of palm that we got to harvest with the cowboys of Strickland Ranch. I’m particularly excited about the hearts of palm because I’ve wanted to forage them since moving to Florida in 2009. Wild food is around us and super plentiful— my vision is to see more chefs use it.
Have you experienced personal trauma/ hardship you’re open to sharing with readers that made you feel particularly drawn to Resilient Retreat? I have worked with several people who have experienced severe trauma in one of my prior lines of work. Specifically, first responders are dealing with high-impact trauma, and oftentimes, they are so busy caring for others, not realizing that they need to be cared for as well after experiencing major trauma. I believe there aren’t enough places for people to discover healing, which is why it is so incredible what Resilient Retreat is doing to care for these individuals.
What do you do to personally keep a healthy mind, body and spirit? My wife, Weyli, and I started a business in the middle of a pandemic, so needless to say, staying healthy can be a challenge. Spending time with Weyli and my girls is the one thing I am not willing to compromise on—it is the most refreshing and important thing I do. The business demands so much from us, but if it puts relational strain on my marriage and family, it is not worth it and we reprioritize so that we can stay connected. I also devour dozens of audiobooks while working long hours, and Weyli and I decompress by watching movies.
Right and far right: Preserved Petrichor Mushrooms’ Lions Mane and Black Pearl Oyster “Steak” Bites, Wild Moringa, Pickled Seeds and Foraged Elderberry Capers. Duck Confit with Lacto Fermented Datil Pepper, Smoked Muscadine Grapes, Sunchoke, Florida Persimmon and Hickory Nut Miso.
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CHEF CHRISTOPHER COVELLI THE REALM RESTAURANT GROUP—SAGE RESTAURANT AND BIJOU GARDEN CAFE (@SAGESRQ, @THEBIJOU)
Below left: The Realm team’s vegetarian option, a seasonal vegetable and herb terrine.
THIRD COURSE BLACKBEARD RANCH’S SMOKED SHORT RIB WITH A KEY LIME AND PRICKLY PEAR CHUTNEY, SUCCOTASH, COD CROQUETTES AND HUSH PUPPIES
SRQ: What does the term “farm-to-table” mean to you in relation to mental health and physical wellness? Covelli: Farm-to-table is how I grew up, it’s not a new concept to me having lived and worked in Italy for many years. Natural food/ingredients growing on your own property has everything to do with healthy living and mental health.
What foraged ingredients did you choose to source and incorporate into your dish from local farms? Prickly Pear and Swamp Cabbage, aka Heart of Palm, which is an exclusive-
ly locally-grown ingredient. Amaranth is as well, which we used, and the short rib came from one of the nation’s finest beef producers, right here in Myakka City, FL at Blackbeard’s Ranch.
Have you experienced personal trauma/ hardship you’re open to sharing with readers that made you feel particularly drawn to Resilient Retreat? I recently lost
doesn’t leave my mind every day. It was gratifying to do this event because you realize that people like myself are dealing with all different types of trauma like I am, and knowing you’re not alone helps. Just staring out into the trees while doing the event brought a sense of calm to me. Also, knowing that this retreat is right there, and will help others heal, made me feel good. It was emotional and rewarding.
my husband to Covid-19, he passed away while I was putting him to bed. I am interested in ways of dealing with this trauma since the visual of him passing
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CHEF GREG CAMPBELL GROVE AND PIER 22 RESTAURANT, PATIO & CATERING (@GROVE_LWR, @PIER22DINING) DESSERTS A DUO OF CARAMELIZED GUAVA FLAMBE OVER VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM; AND PAN-FRIED SEMINOLE PUMPKIN CREPES WITH ORANGE BLOSSOM HONEY. PAIRED WITH A “SPIKED” COFFEE BAR SRQ: What does the term “farm-to-table” mean to you in relation to mental health and physical wellness? Campbell: Both mental and physical wellness are cultivated by our connections with what we eat. Not only in the physical sense by consuming raw, natural and minimally processed foods—which we know are more nutritious for the human body—but also in the metaphysical sense by understanding what we eat, where it comes from, and that labor involved in bringing food to our tables. A cornerstone of mental health is a feeling of purpose, grounding us to the present moment and being thankful for the gift of life offered to us through the food that grows from the soil.
How do you implement these ideals/standards into your dishes and restaurants? Approaching each menu item, we prepare with that in mind—allowing us to maintain those values. Proteins should be simply prepared with minimal processing and only topped with sauces, gravies and spices that complement natural flavors and textures. Side dishes that are comprised of grains, fruits and vegetables are always cooked lightly to preserve nutritious qualities and optimal freshness.
What are some of your favorite locally grown/foraged foods of the season? How are you incorporating them into your dish? Starfruit and guava are always highlights
bumper crops of citrus and strawberries. Using them in simple applications like shortcakes and flambé over ice cream is a great way to highlight the peak flavors and textures, while minimal preparation also saves time in the kitchen.
What do you do to personally keep a healthy mind, body and spirit? I always make sure to set aside time to reflect on my daily life. Setting goals and staying focused helps promote a sense of purpose and reason behind the motions I get caught up doing day-in and day-out. Being able to work with my hands to create, see, sense and touch is also imperative for me to promote a feeling of accomplishment in the course of a day’s work. SRQ
of the fall and winter seasons in Florida, as well as
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Staying healthy goes far beyond opting to take the stairs or eating our veggies. Aside from getting exercise and a well-balanced diet, which are certainly important medicines for the brain too, SRQ teams up with the brains behind The Brain Health Initiative (BHI) to explore less obvious areas of focus to boost the mental and physical state of our central organ, this New Year and beyond.
NEURO NURTURE BECAUSE OUR BRAINS NEED SELF-CARE TOO.
WRITTEN BY BRITTANY MATTIE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BRAIN HEALTH INITIATIVE
Born from the global brain health crisis that still challenges many people today, BHI brings opportunity and hope by revolutionizing neuroscience and pioneering work. Tapping into community engagement and accelerating research, BHI has grown into an emblematic roadmap to engage and empower people to make more brain healthy lifestyle choices. “The first component of the Brain Health Initiative is really about raising awareness to create a brain-healthy community,” says Founder, Executive Director and Neuropsychologist Dr. Stephanie Peabody, PSYD, HSPP. “And in order to do that, we have to help the residents and workforce begin to speak a common language, use a common lense, share a common understanding and set common goals.” Headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Dr. Peabody’s team—in a collaborative effort with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)—recognized the dire nature of combating isolated strain and stressors through extensive research and discoveries. BHI has since garnered local and national attention by cultivating 12 Brain Health Pillars as protective factors crucial to accelerating brain health for performance optimization, as well as prevention factors for early identification, symptom and recovery intervention. But the brain is a vast and complicated organ. Which means BHI’s job is never really done. Throughout the pandemic’s peak, and still today, the Initiative continues to pump up their efforts of education and awareness, as well as find progressive solutions to minimize external risk factors, in order to further create a culture of brain healthy communities—especially ours. So we, as a whole, can optimize performance longevity of all ages while preventing/fighting brain illness across the lifespan of the Suncoast region. To celebrate a clean slate and neuro-healthy new year, Dr. Peabody was instrumental in connecting us with her affiliate nuero-savvy network—including clinicians, researchers, academics and innovators from across the Harvard system and U.S. Together, we honed in on five of the Brain Health Pillars; five key components we feel are attainable, and imperative, in keeping us at the top of our game for not only 2022, but the rest of our years. Facials and pedicures are great, but it’s time for some real self-care. SRQ
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THE POWER OF POSITIVITY EXPERT: DR. SHELLEY H. CARSON, PHD Positive neuroplasty is the act of rewiring the brain to attend to more positive, rather than negative, stimuli. It has the great benefit of increasing positive thoughts and emotions and generally promoting well-being. This is important for individuals because it helps us stay happy and resilient. But it’s also good for communities! Positivity activates the approach system in our brains, whereas focusing on the negative activates the avoidance system. When we’re in avoidance mode, we shut down and focus on personal protection. This is basically what was happening during the pandemic lockdowns. However, when we’re in approach mode, we’re interacting with our environment and moving forward. This is where all human progress and innovation takes place. If a community is full of individuals building positive neuroplasty, that community will be forward-thinking, open and innovative. We can all contribute to our community’s positive growth by generating more personal positive growth in the coming year. — S.H.Carson, MD, PhD Researcher + Instructor, Department of Psychology at Harvard University; Founding Scientist/Scholar of BHI
E
Here are a few tips from Dr. Carson to boost that feel-good serotonin in your brain and increase your overall positive neuroplasty: Improve and savor even minor social interactions. With each person you encounter, take three seconds ahead of time to say to yourself: ‘Here’s a fellow human being whom I genuinely care about.’ Then be really present with that person and spend a few seconds after the experience processing it.
Notice and savor things in your environment (new palm trees or flowers planted in the median strips of the roads, your neighbor’s garden, the sun glinting off the water, a colorful sunset). Take delight and build new positive neural pathways for the things we so often take for granted. Whenever you’re outside doing an activity—even if it’s a chore— stop for a moment and enjoy just being out of doors. Remember the days not so long ago when we were forced to be inside most of the time because of the pandemic. When you’re outside,
think about what you can see, smell and hear. Being outside, even if it’s raining, can be a joyful experience! Enjoy looking at the faces of your fellow humans when you’re out and about. We pass by each other without a thought, without remembering that each person has a history and a story. Take time to enjoy the camaraderie of the human experience and throw a smile someone’s way!
Craving for more positive thoughts? Find Dr. Carson’s award-winning book Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life (Jossey-Bass) and the critically-acclaimed book Almost Depressed (Hazelden), which she co-authored. Or, head to Psychology Today’s popular blog “Life as Art” to find her contributing words. Make it local. BHI’s ‘Brain Health Boosts!’ is a fully-loaded resource with scientifically-proven ways to live a more positive lifestyle, found on brainhealthinitiative.org/outreach/brain-boosts or by signing up for their newsletter. Tips to stay uplifted for the everyday include happy film recommendations to watch, brain healthy playlists to listen to, mind-body meditations, exercise clips, Harvard Medical School webinars to tune into and more.
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BRAIN BODY Keep the brain juices flowing with these intuitive tips from Dr. Merzenich to enable, and enhance, your cognitive stimulation: Amplifying the processes that increase your alertness and brightness is a primary goal of Posit Science’s BrainHQ programs. Scientific studies have shown that specific exercise can restore your attentiveness to a lively ‘youthful’ level, can help bring you out of a funk (if you are in one), and improves your rates of learning new skills or abilities. Most older folks spend much of their time sleepwalking through life. Be like a child again. Recover your childlike sense of wonder about the world out there. There are wonders out there everywhere, if you just look for them. Acquire new skills and abilities that, by their nature, speed up your neurological processes. Faster brains are healthier brains. Progressive fast-responding games or forms of exercise (ping-pong, pickleball, handball, dancing, et alia) are great for your brain. Note to reader: This is only the case if you work to progressively improve your abilities at these activities. The machinery of your brain that controls its plasticity supports your positive good spirits,
increases your attentiveness and liveliness. It needs exercise. Again, you can get some of that exercise by going to the ‘brain gym’ (BrainHQ). You can also exercise it by adopting a life strategy of continuous new skill acquisition. In my case, I am continually working to master new practical abilities (outdoors in the mountains or at the beach or riverside, in my workshop and ‘art studio’, in our cultural and social life, in the garden and orchard and kitchen, in community service). All that new skill acquisition directly engages the machinery that keeps me—and will help keep you—lively and alive. Be kind and generous in life. Every act of giving, of kindness, of sympathy exercises the machinery in the brain that controls your positive good spirits. Regular exercise of this crucial brain machinery grows its powers. Being a ‘good soul’ is very good for your brain. Healthy brains are usually possessed by people who have healthy bodies. That is not an accident. The brain regulates innumerable processes in the body that contribute to your physical health and longevity. At the same time, control of your physical actions is (of course) one of the most important enterprises—and forms of ‘exercise’ —for the brain itself. To the extent that it is possible, keep them both healthy and in action, together.
ENHANCING COGNITIVE STIMULATION EXPERT: MICHAEL MERZENICH, PHD Your brain is begging you to engage (or perhaps in a somewhat tired or dispirited life, RE-engage), in a lively way with the world around you. Your neurological health and the functional capabilities of this most precious of organs are dependent on continuous cognitive engagement driving continuous regenerative and strengthening neurological change. Get lively and STAY lively! Since we’re all endowed with the ability to improve ourselves (our brain and its function) all across the span of our lives, why on earth wouldn’t you take full advantage of this precious gift. — M.Merzenich, PhD Professor Emeritus, UCSF; Chief Scientific Officer, Posit Science; Founder & President, Brain Plasticity Institute 70 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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OPTING TO BE OUTDOORS EXPERT: JENNIFER WALSH Our bodies and our brains crave being in natural elements because we came from the natural world. The more technology we have, the more nature we need for our brain and body to be healthy. I want to change the way we look at nature by having more of our conversations in nature. — J.Walsh Beauty Bar Founder; Wellness & Nature Expert; Journalist & Podcaster
We live within walls so much already—take every opportunity to spend more time outdoors. Here’s a few tips from Walsh to get out there and open our eyes to the outside: I always suggest a ‘wellness walk’ for optimal health and wellbeing and to decrease risks of brain illness. This walk is not about getting from point A to point B in a specific amount of time, it is more of a walking mindful meditation. If you can’t get to a local park or beach, a simple walk on your block is also okay,
just no headphones for this walk. This walk is allowing your body to truly activate the senses. This walk can last 15-20 minutes and can be done any time of day, even if you feel stuck on a project for work. Be present enough to smell what is around you, to hear the sounds, really look at nature in your own backyard and neighborhood. Is the air fragrant enough for you to almost taste? Don’t forget to touch the trees, plants, etc. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Are you noticing something you may have never seen before? Allow yourself to feel the breeze or the sunshine on your skin, how does that make you feel?
Every once in a while, pop out of your chair and off of your computer and give yourself (and your brain) some fresh air. We become more creative when we spend time outside. Want to make this into more of a great habit? Grab a little one, a family member, a neighbor or coworker and set up a weekly time to meet up for a stroll. Want to learn more? Read Walsh’s new book Walk Your Way Calm, which drops this month, or check out her blog/ website, walkwithwalsh.com. Make it local. Watch out for BHI’s Brain Wellness Walks—coming to a neighborhood near you in 2022. These engaging walks will be hosted by the BHI Brain Health Scholars and inspire a growing habit to get outside and get some fresh air!
Want to learn more? Dr. Merzenich is the author of Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life, which is full of advice about how to engage your brain in ways that can help you improve your organic brain health and grow your brainpower. In addition, head to his site BrainHQ.com for “brain games” and exercises.
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BRAIN BODY
CULTIVATING NEW HABITS, REACHING GOALS EXPERTS: CHRISTOPHER BRAY, PHD AND GALE BRAY The Brain loves to create habits so you don’t have to use up energy with thinking (driving the same way to work, drinking the same soda, going to the same restaurants, etc.). If you aren’t reaching your goals, make them smaller. The secret to reaching goals is taking small steps every day. Small successes every day lead to big changes over time. The small steps you take daily create new neural networks in your brain that, over time, become strong habits. Oh, and, your brain doesn’t know the difference between a good habit and a bad habit, so choose wisely the habits you want.— Dr. Bray, PhD Cognitive-Behavioral Researcher, speaker and CEO of the Adaption Institute. Habits set a course for our lives. It is not just a repeated behavior, a habit is a tether to our life goals. Do not beat yourself up when you are not perfect at creating your habit. A missed day is not a failure. Keep on the course even when you’re not perfect and the habit will eventually be formed through consistency.— Gale Bray Teaching Assistant, Harvard; keynote speaker, facilitator and BHI faculty advisor.
The Brays share their intel to finally make (and stick to) that habit you’ve been kicking yourself to get in the groove of every New Year: The creation and formation of a habit occurs through the ABC (Anchor, Behavior, Celebrate) method: ‘Anchor’ the habit to an existing routine. The new behavior will be linked to a current strong habit to create an extrinsic prompt to serve as a reminder to begin the new habit. Example: If I want to build a habit of starting my day with one minute of deep breathing, anchors could be when I get in my car and put my key in the ignition of the car, I will stop for one minute and practice my deep breathing, or when I make my morning cup of coffee. ‘Behavior’ is the simple first step of a new habit. Create the smallest action possible that you can complete in less than 30 seconds. Example: If you want to walk 15 minutes a day to build resilience, the smallest action would be to put on your running shoes. (That’s it!) After a few days, you would then move the smallest action to “walk out the door and take ten steps.”
‘Celebrate’ and create a positive emotion when you complete the micro habit. Celebration creates positive affective emotions which creates self-efficacy and the belief that the behavior can change. Keep your habits small (Also known as ‘micro-try’s’). Micro-try’s are quick to create lasting behavior change. Attainable habits can be completed daily and take little time and cognitive function. The ease of the micro-try builds changes over time, reduces pressure for perfection and eliminates the emotional risk of failure. Plus, small amounts of motivation and willpower are needed due to the limited effort required for a micro-try. Micro-try’s should be small and easy to quickly complete, thus reducing the expectation of time, effort and motivation needed to complete the behavior. Big goals get the brain excited and engages with the thought of large rewards, but this is unsustainable and becomes a prescription for self-criticism and disappointment. Individuals desiring change often initially push themselves beyond physical, emotional or mental capabilities (think of the workout regimen that you start upevery January!). This might be sustainable for a short time, but humans don’t do things that are painful for very long. Small is usually not considered significant but has a higher rate of long-term success and sustainability.
Want to learn more? Listen to Dr. Bray’s podcast, The Dr. CK Bray Show. The podcast focuses on the brain and how it affects all aspects of our lives—including career, personal relationships, wellbeing and happiness. It is a 15-minute show with over 400 episodes. Additionally, his book, How to Raise Remarkable Kids Without Talking To Them: A Daily Dose of Great Parenting was newly-released last month. His first book Best Job Ever was a USA Today Best Seller. Make it local. BHI will soon be launching a program with Dr. Bray on ‘Leading with the Brain in Mind’ for individuals as well as for companies. Leading with brain healthy habits benefit the overall health and performance of an organization and of their associated workforce and the families they care about. This has a positive ripple effect into the entire community. Stay tuned to learn more about this work of the BHI and its faculty experts. 72 | srq magazine_ JAN22 live local
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Want to learn more? Read Dr. Breus’ newest book, Energize!: Go from Dragging Ass to Kicking It in 30 Days, which was recently
BRAIN BODY
released December 2021. His first book Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Health was an Amazon Top 100 Best Seller. Become even more awakened on his website, thesleepdoctor.com, and by catching his regular appearances on The Dr. Oz Show. Make it local. Dr. Breus was a past Brain Health Matters! Lecture Series speaker in February of 2020, where he spoke in Lakewood Ranch about ‘How to Be Better in Bed: Sleep is a Fundamental Pillar of Brain Health.’ Look out for the announcement of more upcoming lectures on brainhealthinitiative.org/outreach/events and @brainhealthinitiativefl.
HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH? EXPERT: MICHAEL J. BREUS, PHD Sure, getting a full eight hours of sleep is great, but sometimes not always feasible, or needed. I get a consistent six hours and 15 minutes every night. I go to bed very consistently at midnight and wake up at 6:15 naturally, and I feel good. Determine your own ideal bedtime, create a personalized prebed routine, develop strategies to avoid waking up in the night, and how to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Everything we do, we do better with a good night’s sleep. The basics of brain health all seem to underpin sleep deprivation. It affects every organ system, every disease state, cancer cells even multiply faster the more sleep deprived you are. People are always like, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’ But REM sleep is when we move information from our short term memory to our long term memory bank. So when you’re not getting enough REM sleep, that is going to have a dramatic effect on your memory. For a lot of people in this community being an older demographic, one of the first things they’re thinking about is loss of memory. They think, ‘Oh, my memory’s going—must mean I’m getting old.’ Honestly, in a lot of cases, just get some sleep. You may be really surprised at how that has a major effect on you.— M.Breus, PhD Clinical Psychologist; Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine; Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Breus lays out the best bets for getting your best night’s slumber on a more consistent basis and without interruption:
increases in our fight or flight hormones. Thinking less stressful or positive thoughts can help reduce stressful feelings and help with sleep (improves deep sleep and encourages more positive dreams).
Take a hot shower or bath 90 minutes before bed: Wash off all those germs and increase your core body temperature. Your body temperature will decrease once you get out of the tub and help produce melatonin naturally.
Give yourself an electronic curfew of 90 minute prior to lights out: This means a media diet before bed (you need time to relax and destress). Remove blue light by wearing blue light blocking glasses, it will help you wind down before bed and help your body produce melatonin on the proper schedule.
Keep your schedule consistent: The more consistent your wake-up time, the more consistent your overall body function. Avoid extra napping if you are homebound, it will only disrupt your nighttime sleep.
Make sure your environment is clean: If possible, use HEPA filtration for your bedroom air. Wash sheets 2x a week (in hot water), try to do an overall deep cleaning of your bedroom, you will be spending a lot of time there.
Lower stimulants and depressants (e.g., caffeine and alcohol). If you are already stressed out, adding caffeine to the mix is not a great idea, it will only increase the unwanted side effects. Alcohol, while making you feel sleepy, does not allow for quality rest, which in turn will make you feel even more stressed if you have a hangover the next day. It also makes you less able to fight a virus.
Understand that sleep is healing. When you sleep, you heal. When we’re not getting good quantity or good quality—and that can be for a whole host of reasons: environmental, medical, medication, alcohol, caffeine or what have you—everything slows down, almost immediately. We see cognitive decline, emotional dysregulation and memory deficits. The goal is to get people to get good, quality sleep, enough of it, and still enjoy your life.
Consider meditation or progressive relaxation before bed or while falling asleep. Compile a gratitude list in your mind (while lying in bed, in the dark): Many people think stressful thoughts as they fall asleep (which makes sense, it’s the first time all day you get to think by yourself), but that causes
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2021 PEER REVIEW MEDICAL RESOURCE
PALMETTO PALMETTO BAY ANNA MARIA HOLMES BEACH BRADENTON LAKEWOOD RANCH SARASOTA VENICE NORTH PORT
2021 Honorees Second Printing
TOP DOCTORS
SECOND PRINTING | A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO SRQ MAGAZINE
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MEET COASTAL ORTHOPEDICS’ 2021 TOP DOCTORS
Arthur Valadie, MD
Melissa Boyette, MD
Richard Bundschu, MD
Sports Medicine Specialist
Hand and Wrist Specialist
Pain Management Specialist
David Cashen, MD Joint Replacement Specialist
Gennady Gekht, MD
John Harkess, MD
Daniel Lamar, MD
Pain Management Specialist
Joint Replacement Specialist
Sports Medicine Specialist
Douglas Constant, MD
Patrick Dermarkarian, MD
Pain Management Specialist
Orthopedic Spine Specialist
Andrés O’Daly, MD
Laura Ottaviani, DO
Foot and Ankle Specialist
Pain Management, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Founded in 1973, Coastal Orthopedics is home to 20 orthopedic surgeons and pain management physicians who maintain hospital affiliations with Blake Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital. Coastal Orthopedics' board certified and fellowship trained physicians provide patients with the very latest in pain and orthopedic treatment technology. Patients can experience restoration of function both surgically and non-surgically through the use of physician-guided strengthening, therapy, medications, injections and stretching. Privileges with Blake Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, and Manatee Memorial Hospital.
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WE TREAT YOU BETTER. Coastal Orthopedics is proud to announce that 17 of their physicians have been recognized as Top Doctors by their peers in the Sarasota Manatee area. For over 45 years, Coastal Orthopedics' physicians have helped many patients in Southwest Florida live their lives pain free. Coastal Orthopedics is planning for the future with two new state of the art facilities to open in 2022.
R. Stephen Otte, MD Shoulder and Elbow Specialist
Steven Schafer, MD
Sara Simmons, MD
Justin Sirianni, MD
Eric Sundberg, MD
Sports Medicine Specialist
Hand and Wrist Specialist
Pain Management Specialist
Orthopedica Spine Specialist
Alan Valadie, MD Joint Replacement Specialist
CoastalOrthopedics.com
THREE BRADENTON/LAKEWOOD RANCH LOCATIONS 6015 Pointe West Boulevard | 5101 4th Ave. Circle East, Suite 500 | 8340 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, 3rd Floor
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2021 Top Doctors There was a time, not long ago, when area residents traveled out of town seeking expertise for their complicated medical problems. Now, however, a cadre of top-of-the-line physicians who would be the envy of any community have made the Sarasota area their home. “We have worked hard to bring the best and the brightest to this community,” notes John Steele, M.D., a founding member of Intercoastal. “Our mission has always been to provide the highest quality health care. The success of Intercoastal is the result of quality and hard work by each of the physicians who make up the group.” Intercoastal Medical Group is proud of its physician colleagues who have been named by their peers for SRQ Top Docs.
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Suzanne Lutton
Hakim Morsli
Wende Kozlow
Jesus Perez
Cardiology
Cardiology
Endocrinology Diabetes
Endocrinology Diabetes
Robert Browning
Jon Yenari
David Reichel
Ricardo Yaryura
General Surgery
Gynecology
Internal Medicine
Interventional Cardiology
Matthew D. Byers
Richard Aranibar
Joe T. Kelley
Luis G. Guzman
Pulmonology and Critical Care
Rheumatology
Rheumatology
Otolaryngology Ear, Nose & Throat
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INTERCOASTAL MEDICAL GROUP is a physician-owned and led organization, consisting of more than 100 physicians in more than 20 specialties, serving Sarasota and Manatee counties with multiple locations. Founded in 1993, Intercoastal features a team of board certified, experienced physicians, all of whom completed their residency training programs in either the United States or Canada. The physicians at Intercoastal Medical Group are highly recruited, nationally — coming from some of the best medical institutions across the country. Intercoastal offers this area’s most current technology and resources, allowing for fast and accurate diagnostic tests and procedures at conveniently located Intercoastal facilities. No matter your health concern, Intercoastal Medical Group provides seamless care through the shared accessibility of medical records among all of our specialists. Patients have access to weekend care clinics and superior services such as a 10,500-square-foot state-ofthe-art ambulatory surgery center, where more than 8,000 surgeries are performed a year. Intercoastal services also include physical therapy, audiology, clinical laboratory and a wealth of diagnostic imaging options.
Mauricio Concha
Penny Heinrich
Ryan Supplee
Francene Martin
Mark Ramos
Neurology
Hematology
Vascular Surgery
Gastroenterology
Cardiology
Robert J. Summerlee
Randy B. Powell
Julio Cantero
Joseph Yohn
Janine Mylett
Family Medicine
Neurology
Dermatology
Pulmonology and Critical Care
Gastroenterology
CONTACT | intercoastalmedical.com
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2021 Second Printing
TOP DOCTORS
We are deeply grateful to the medical and nursing professionals who are dedicated to supporting our community through this challenging time. The individuals who are being honored in this year's prestigious SRQ TOP DOCTORS | PEER REVIEW program have received the overwhelming support of colleagues in the medical professional communities of Greater Sarasota including Palmetto and Palmetto Bay, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Venice and North Port, Florida. The Colorado-based team at DataJoe Research facilitates all aspects of the online peer-voting process and conducting government references. We appreciate the doctors who participated in the program by sharing their thoughtful nominations—it is your insight that makes it possible for us to provide the readers of SRQ Magazine with the second printing of this noteworthy, annual guide to the highly-regarded doctors in the region.
SECOND PRINTING | 2021 SRQ TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
METHODOLOGY SUMMARY DataJoe Research is a software and research company specializing in data collection and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers. To create the "top doctors" list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process, also referencing government sources. DataJoe then tallied the votes per category for each doctor to isolate the top nominees in each category. After collecting nominations and additional information, DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had a current, active license status with the state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence of a doctor's current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that doctor was excluded from the list. In addition, any doctor who has been disciplined, up to the time-frame of our review process for an infraction by the state regulatory board, was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to the magazine for its final review and adjustments.
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In
TOP DOCTORS 2021
Conversation
DANIELLE BABB, D.O. DABA, DABA-PM, RAMOS CENTER FOR INTERVENTIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE
AVANTIKA MISHRA, MD FLORIDA DIGESTIVE DISEASE SPECIALISTS
JEHANZEB "JB" BILAL, MD RENAL HYPERTENSION CENTER
IN CONVERSATION WITH THREE LOCAL 2021 TOP DOCTOR HONOREES ON TRENDS IN MEDICINE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS INTERVIEW FACILITATED BY WES ROBERTS | COMPILED BY BARBIE HEIT
SHARE WITH OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR PRACTICE, AND WHAT SERVICES YOU PROVIDE. JEHANZEB BILAL, MD: I am a nephrologist, or kidney disease specialist, a hypertension specialist, and I have a special interest in geriatric medicine and in ICU or critical care patients who have kidney-related issues. I have been practicing as a nephrologist since 2013. Originally from Pakistan, I moved to the US in 2007and to Sarasota in 2017. Renal Hypertension Center (RHC) is a specialized group of all nephrol-
ogists from Hudson down to Fort Myers. We are one of the biggest groups in the Tampa Bay area. I am part of the Venice and Sarasota offices. DANIELLE BABB, D.O. DABA, DABA-PM: I’m an interventional pain physician, part of the Ramos Interventional Pain and Functional Medicine practice. Our focus is primarily doing interventional new techniques to treat chronic and acute pain. And we also offer a way of other therapy options such as medication therapy, addiction treatment, psychotherapy options, and physical therapy.
AVANTIKA MISHRA, MD: I am a gastroenterologist with special interest in cancer prevention, reflux disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, women's health, liver disorders, and many other topics. I work with the Florida Digestive Health Specialists, a large gastroenterology organization serving a huge area in Florida, but there is a large presence here in the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch area. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PARTICULAR AILMENTS OR SPECIALTIES THAT ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE SEEN WITHIN YOUR PRACTICE? MISHRA: Gastroenterology is very interesting because it's an all encompassing specialty. We deal with disorders starting from the mouth, swallowing in the esophagus, the stomach, the liver, the gallbladder, the pancreas, the small intestine and the large intestine. So anything related to digestive health is incorporated in gastroenterology. BILAL: Renal hypertension, which is due to a specific abnormality in the renal vasculature that leads to high blood pressure, is a specific field,
ENGAGING READERS THROUGH BRANDED STORYTELLING.
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I N C O N V E R S AT I O N
and a name given to our practice to tell people that we are not just about kidneys, but an associated specialty called hypertension as well. When it comes to hypertension, people do not recognize that it is a specialty of a nephrologist as well as cardiologist, whereas we are the ones who deal with most of the difficult cases, of course, in coordination with cardiologists and other colleagues. IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING FOR OUR READERS TO LEARN, WHAT IS IT THAT BROUGHT YOU TO BEING A PHYSICIAN AND THEN THIS SPECIALTY? BABB: Growing up, both of my parents were chronic pain patients. My mother injured herself at work as a nurse. She herniated a lumbar disc, and my father shortly thereafter injured himself at work, falling off a ladder, doing construction. So through my adolescence, I used to bring both of my parents to their chronic pain physician's office for interventional procedures and the pain physician they saw helped both of my parents recover significantly. So he was really a mentor toward me and kind of brought me to the specialty. MISHRA: I always knew I wanted to help people. But the way to approach that was very nuanced. I initially started off thinking I wanted to do health policy and work in diplomacy at the international level.
And ultimately I realized that I wanted, after going on medical missions and really dealing with patients in different countries and locally in the United States, that I felt the way I made the most impact was direct patient contact. And so ultimately, that helped stir me into medicine itself. And then GI was my calling ultimately, because I think basic happiness comes from enjoying simple pleasures. I think having a meal with loved ones, having shared experiences, being able to have good bowel movements, those are basic and simple pleasures that I think really impact people's quality of life and can really help people. BILAL: As a young man, our family physician, Dr. Zia Ullah, exposed me to the ways to talk to people, make them comfortable, and about the actual pathology. He improved my parents' life. They both have diabetes, they both have high blood pressure, and they both have acid reflux. So, I saw how he improved their quality of life by being their health coach. Nephrologists take pride in the fact that we are detectives. We want to look into more data so as to give a more accurate picture to the patient that, "Hey, this is what's going on with your kidneys, with your life in general, and that's where I can be helpful." So, I enjoy being that detective, doing that workup, being the first
person to inform a patient. It's a great feeling every day to help out these patients because you are changing lives in a big way. DR. BILAL, WHAT ARE THE NEW CHALLENGES AND/OR NEW TREATMENTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING FOR PEOPLE WITH RENAL CHALLENGES OR HYPERTENSIVE PEOPLE? BILAL: I think the biggest challenge that we all are facing, whether we're physicians or non-physicians is COVID-19, the way it has changed each and every physician's practice. And the challenge is to find a cure or a treatment that targets specifically that population, because the prevalence of kidney failure or kidney-related dysfunction or diseases is very high in people with COVID-19. And in fact, it is a sign of higher risk of death if they end up getting kidney failure, if they get admitted to a hospital with COVID-19. So, so far we are working on a lot of new strategies, but none of them have been proven or are ready for prime time. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CUTTING EDGE TREATMENTS IN YOUR FIELDS? BABB: I really enjoy going through this algorithm with the patients, laying all the cards out on the table. These are the steps of everything I can offer you starting with the things that are least invasive, maybe just
therapy or a very directed form of physical therapy to medication therapy, if they're interested in using that as an adjuvant to more aggressive things like injections. Sometimes surgeries, minimally invasive surgery, sometimes implantable therapy...there's lots of different treatment options, depending on what's going on. We see orthopedic injuries from acute inflammatory conditions to chronic spine pathology, so there's not just one algorithm, but there are very effective and safe, minimally invasive techniques that are available and they're continuing to be developed. So it is an exciting time to be in interventional pain medicine. I think we're really making strides and helping patients. And getting patients back to doing what they love, whether that's golf or traveling with their spouse or significant other, spending time with their grandchildren. That's our goal. even more with it. BILAL: We have seen some tremendous developments, especially in the last 10 years or so. We've seen a lot of new medications that have revolutionized nephrology practice recently. The biggest, SGLT2 inhibitors, are medications that were initially brought on as diabetes medication, but we noticed they have profound benefits in reducing mortality in patients with kidney disease, heart disease, as well as diabetes.
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ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS AVANTIKA MISHRA, MD, OF FLORIDA DIGESTIVE DISEASE SPECIALISTS is a board-certified gastroenterologist serving the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch communities. She has a special interest in obesity and nutrition, cancer prevention, esophageal and reflux disorders and women’s health. She completed her internal medicine residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, then went on to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School for her gastroenterology fellowship. Dr. Mishra provides care to patients who struggle with common to complex gastrointestinal and liver diseases. “Diagnosing gastrointestinal issues can be very nuanced and layered; it requires paying key a ention to patients’ symptoms while keeping in mind already diagnosed medical comorbidities. Patients need to know they’re heard and are working with someone that is invested in their care. An essential part of this doctor-patient relationship is continual patient education and engagement. As physicians, we need to constantly be talking to our patients about the importance of understanding symptoms and early screening. With this work, we can save lives.” Florida Digestive Disease Specialists – Lakewood Ranch 11505 Palmbrush Trail, Suite 200, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Phone: (941) 361-1100
Congestive heart failure is a big problem in people with kidney disease and heart disease. These ailments are the biggest drivers of Medicare money and health expenditure, so the medication has huge implications there. We are in a great position to help a patient who could decline potentially by just having the old school treatments available to them. With this medication we've seen excellent results. MISHRA: Originally the guidelines used to say that at 50 years old you should get a colon cancer screening. But recently, the guidelines have been amended amongst all health societies to say screenings should begin at 45. Overall there have been large population studies done that help drive these screening guideline changes. And this happens in every field, whether it's in breast cancer screening or other disorders. But, ultimately there's just been a rising incidence of colorectal cancer in patients at a younger age. These days I'm seeing colon cancer, personally myself, younger and younger. And I've diagnosed it as young as someone in their early thirties most recently. And so ultimately, while we don't perform screening on everyone who has symptoms, these generalized studies for the population have really triggered all societies to amend their previous recommendations.
"There's just been a rising incidence of colorectal cancer in patients at a younger age. These days I'm seeing colon cancer, personally myself, younger and younger. And I've diagnosed it as young as someone in their early thirties most recently." — Dr. Avantika Mishra
AS A PHYSICIAN, HOW HARD IS IT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ON BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES? BILAL: I feel very privileged being their health coach from a nephrology standpoint, because nephrology is a very cross-sectional kind of field of medicine—we see patients with all kinds of disorders that involve heart, gastroenterology, liver, lung, immune system, cancers. When a middle-aged or elderly person comes in they are already motivated to change their lifestyle and are looking for the right advice. Younger patients are not as open to getting our input because, first, they need to be convinced that there's something wrong or abnormal. I start with the dietary
modifications. We all are what we eat, we all are what we consume. Everything else is secondary. And our role as health coach is important because we're not here just to give them medication. We have a great network of dietitians and my goal, I feel, is to educate them, so they can then change their lifestyle. MISHRA: There are very basic things that we can do in our own life that can promote our own health. I think ultimately, hydration is key for prevention. So if you're drinking your 64 ounces of water per day, drink up. A plant-based diet, which is very crucial to your digestive health, but also your cardiac health, amongst other organ system healths, is very important. And then, for digestive disease prevention, a high fiber diet is very crucial, especially for things like colon cancer prevention. I do my best to abide by these practices myself. But I'm only human as well. And I also enjoy the occasional pleasure, whether it's a glass of wine or the occasional high-sugar dessert. But ultimately, I think you have to practice what you preach. And we just do our best, but we understand where others are coming from. CHANGING GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT. DRS. BABB AND MISHRA, WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A FEMALE PHYSICIAN? DOES THAT INFLUENCE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR
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PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY? AND DO YOU FEEL THAT FEMALE PATIENTS WILL SEEK YOU OUT BECAUSE YOU ARE A FEMALE PRACTITIONER? BABB: I think being a female gives me an understanding for certain pathological states like female pelvic pain or just some conditions that some of my male colleagues are just not as well versed in naturally. So I think it gives me a different perspective. I find it challenging and stimulating. But I receive complete support from my male colleagues. Pelvic pain is something that is uncomfortable, not just from the pain perspective, but just dealing with the social anxiety and kind of emotional stress related to that. And so I have many patients that are seeking a female physician for comfort. Some of the other specific requests for a female physician are ethical like religious patients that prefer a female physician to discuss their medical problems with. But beyond that, I have male and female patients. I'm actually not the only female physician in my practice. There's also Dr. Lindsay Schroer who has been practicing a long time in this community and she's wonderful. And we have discussed some of these patients we see and we share some of these patients together. We may be two of the few female pain physicians in this community, but we're able to provide that to patients.
MISHRA: I think in the field of gastroenterology, particularly when I was in training, there was a little bit of a lack of mentorship. Because at that point, less than 10% of gastroenterologists were females. In the past several years, there's been a lot of momentum. And actually, medicine is changing in the sense that there's a lot more females entering medical
"Pelvic pain is something that is uncomfortable, not just from the pain perspective, but just dealing with the social anxiety and kind of emotional stress related to that. " — Dr. Danielle Babb
school than males at this point. And I think people who are out in practice now, whether they're in academics or private, especially in the field of GI, we acknowledge that dramatic mentorship is needed. So I myself have taken on roles of mentorship to help people behind me because that was something that I didn't receive. And so I've had to pave my way a little bit. But now I'm trying to pay it back because I think ultimately that would've
made my experience rising in this field a lot more positive. I think it definitely helps having a female perspective. Ultimately, because of my own independent experience, but I think empathy goes a huge way because you have a personal understanding. And so yes, I see a lot of female patients with ailments that are not quite diagnosed. And I think ultimately, being able to relate and also acknowledge that there are some perplexing diseases and disorders that are very particular to the female body versus the male body. I think it helps. And I think it all goes back to patients wanting to feel seen and heard.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE A PATIENT WHO PERHAPS HAS TRIED EVERYTHING AND IS READY TO GIVE UP HOPE COME TO REDISCOVER HEALTH? BILAL: Nephrologists are the gatekeepers of a life-saving therapy called hemodialysis, or dialysis in general. And so, we provide a life-saving therapy, but also a life-preserving therapy. Starting someone on dialysis is a big deal for any person, they feel it's the end of the world. We see a lot of these people actually starting dialysis for days, weeks, sometimes months, or even a year, and then recovering their kidney function. So, that is like a life-changing experience. BABB: It’s like instant almost at times
DANIELLE E. BABB, D.O. DABA, DABA-PM, OF RAMOS CENTER FOR INTERVENTIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE is an interventional pain physician who completed her Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida Tampa campus in 2012. In 2016 she graduated from Medical School, locally, at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. Following medical school, she relocated to Miami, Florida where she completed her residency and internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. During her time in south Florida, Dr. Babb was selected to participate in research focused on patient safety and quality improvement. During this study she designed and developed surveys that helped measure patient outcomes and responses to interventional treatment. In 2020, Dr. Babb made the move to Lexington, Kentucky for her Fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at the University of Kentucky. Upon completion of her fellowship, she knew she wanted to return to the sunshine state—she is a native of Fort Myers. Dr. Babb was inspired at a young age to go into the field of pain medicine when she witnessed how chronic pain directly impacted a family member. Ramos Center for Interventional and Functional Pain Medicine: Sarasota Location: 2540 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34239.New Patients: 941213-8752. Existing Patients: 941-708-9555. Locations: Bradenton, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Dunedin
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ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS JEHANZEB “JB” BILAL, MD, graduated from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine from Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. He joined University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he completed a Geriatrics Fellowship. He subsequently completed a Nephrology Fellowship at Cooper University Hospital. At Emory University, he completed a Mini Fellowship in Renal ultrasound. Dr. Bilal is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He is a CertifiedClinical Hypertension Specialist. Dr. Bilal has a special interest in Kidney Ultrasound, Kidney disease of the Elderly and Critical care Nephrology. Dr. Bilal served as a Nephrologist in Rural West Virginia for 4 years before joining Renal Hypertension Center. He served as the Medical Director of Grundy Dialysis unit, VA and Home Dialysis Medical Director at Eastern Kentucky Dialysis unit in Pikeville, KY. Sarasota Location: 3801 Bee Ridge Rd., Ste. 1 Sarasota, FL 34233 Phone: (941) 922-4498 Fax: (941) 922-4571 Venice Location: 517 Riviera Street Suite B Venice, FL 34285 Phone: 941-488-2881 Fax 941-486-8305
" We see a lot of these people actually starting dialysis for days, weeks, sometimes months, or even a year, and then recovering their kidney function." — Dr. Jehanzeb "JB" Bilal
when we do a procedure and we can tell that's the nerve or that's the spot. And the patients have this sense of ease and relief over their face that's just almost immediate. And it's so satisfying for a physician to say, well, we know what the problem is now. So we can further investigate this and focus our treatment here. But for the patients, to take their pain that's a 10 out of 10 limiting their ability to live their life down to a one out of 10 or zero out of 10, for some patients, that's life changing. And to see our patients that are debilitated, unable to walk, unable to go to the grocery store now, traveling, going to Europe, it's incredible. I love what I do and I wouldn't do anything else. MISHRA: I think ultimately, if you really sit down with patients and try to get down to the root symptoms originally, that you can actually provide a lot of benefit for them. I also think there's a
huge component of the patient physician relationship that is very crucial in this interaction as well. And so I think if you ultimately spend a few minutes just to take a break and listen to the patient, rather than interjecting your own beliefs, I think that goes a huge way with helping diagnose someone who's tried it all, but really, maybe just hasn't been heard. DR. BILAL, IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT YOU AS AN IMMIGRANT, SOMEONE COMING FROM PAKISTAN, THAT HAS BEEN INFLUENTIAL TO YOU IN HOW YOU'VE BEEN CARING FOR PATIENTS? BILAL: Here in the United States, almost everyone who gets on dialysis gets Medicare to cover the cost. So that's a huge, huge thing, which most of the other countries don't. In Pakistan, you don't have that privilege. So kidney disease is like a death sentence to them because most of the people live under the poverty line. They don't have the money, they don't have the resources. I tell my patients that back in my country, people are dying because they can't afford a single dialysis session. And here people are living 10, 15, 20 years after starting dialysis, just because it's so easily available here. Medication, life-saving medication in general, the testing, the doctors, everything that is available here is like a dream in so many other countries. SRQ
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SECOND PRINTING | 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
TOP DOCTORS
Emily F. Arsenault MD, FAAD
HONOREE Dermatology
Arsenault Dermatology is a full-service dermatology center that has served both Manatee and Sarasota Counties for over 18 years. Founded by Dr. Emily Arsenault, Arsenault Dermatology now includes five Manatee locations, with a dedicated luxury aesthetic clinic added in 2021. With an unwavering commitment to quality patient care, our dermatologists have been handpicked for their world-class diagnostic skills and dedication to going above and beyond for our clients. Discovering and treating over 200 melanomas a year, the Arsenault team have a well-earned reputation for discovering deadly cancers early, helping their patients live long and healthy lives.
WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART?
We provide high quality care, respect our patient’s time, and facilitate the integration of new patients as they move into the area. Over the years we have created an incredibly efficient healthcare delivery system. Some patients describe it as a well-oiled machine! We're known for catching melanomas early, and everyone on our team is experienced in looking for subtle signs. We are saving lives every day and making an impact on the community. We feel everyone deserves a lifetime of healthy skin. We partner with our patients, focusing on education and developing good habits early.
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS?
We're known for being approachable, friendly, and honest with our patients. We’re serious about skin health and are incredibly thorough. Our approach is unique: we’ve crafted an enjoyable experience for our patients to minimize stress and anxiety during their visit. As a full-service skin clinic, our dermatology specialists have extensive experience in medical, surgical, Mohs, and cosmetic dermatology. Every team member is trained to listen carefully to patients and work with them to address their skin concerns. Our clients feel confident and comfortable asking questions about their diagnosis, empowering them to take positive action towards a lifetime of healthy skin
SPECIALTIES • • •
Dermatology Pediatric Dermatology Cosmetic Dermatology
ARSENAULT DERMATOLOGY 8926 77th Terrace East, Unit 101, Bradenton, FL 34202 941.907.0222 | info@arsenaultdermatology.com | Asenaultdermatology.com 92 | srq magazine_ JAN22 top doctors medical guide
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Sumeet Bhanot MD, FACS
HONOREE Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Sumeet Bhanot was born in Chandigarh, India while his father was on the battlefield. His father fell ill when he was eight causing an abrupt move to the U.S. for emergency medical care. This tumultuous early life is what has shaped him into the dedicated surgeon he has become. Dr. Bhanot is a double board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon who completed both medical school and a surgical residency at the prestigious Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital; he further honed his skills with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Bhanot has been serving the Sarasota area in his endless pursuit of excellence for the past eighteen years.
WHAT PROCEDURE BEST ENCOMPASSES YOUR PASSION AND LIFE’S WORK IN ADDRESSING THE AGING FACE? Through-
out my career I have been striving to solve the conundrum of how to create a natural, refreshed, youthful appearance while being true to Mother Nature’s design and natural proportions. Early in my career, I performed the standard SMAS facelift which, while very satisfactory at addressing the neck and jowl, fails to reposition the mid facial volume. This left me feeling cornered and forced to consider camoflauging solutions such as fat injection or excessive fillers to hide the limitations of this technique, which results in the all too common cherub-like plumped faces. I resisted the pressure and evolved my technique to a Deep Plane Facelift; my patients and I have been very happy since. My technique is a product of comprehensive study of the anatomy of aging. Aging is the shift of facial volume–not loss of volume. With the Deep Plane Facelift, the fallen malar fat pads are elevated and repositioned to their initial location restoring the volume proportions and youthful facial harmony. The facial volume is globally addressed in a vertical lift. Patients look decades younger and natural, with soft fullness in the upper face and less heaviness in the lower face. In the past I treated wrinkles; now I realize that true rejuvenation needs to address the root cause and not the superficial manifestations. The answer is not to compensate by overfilling or overly stretching the skin. My patients report that their family and friends did not realize they had a facelift, only that they look younger and fabulous, I invite you to look at the results and decide for yourself.
SPECIALTIES • • • • •
Surger y of the Aging Face Deep Plane Facelift, Necklift, Eyelid Lift, Browlift Cosmetic and Functional Rhinoplasty Noninvasive Procedures: fillers, Botox, lasers, peels, etc. Facial Reconstructive Surger y
BHANOT FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY 2038 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239 941.966.FACE (3223) | sarasotafacialplastics.com 94 | srq magazine_ JAN22 top doctors medical guide
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Issam A. Halaby MD, PhD, FACS
HONOREE Vascular Surgery
Dr. Halaby is a Board-Certified Surgeon practicing General and Vascular Surgery. After receiving a PhD in Molecular Neurobiology from Cornell University, he went on to complete Medical School at St-Louis University. He then trained in surgery at the University of Rochester, NY, with world renowned surgeon Dr. Seymour Schwartz. Dr. Halaby served two deployments as an officer in the US Army Medical Corps, in support of operation Enduring Freedom. Dr. Halaby splits his practice between General and Vascular Surgery. He has held numerous leadership positions , including Chief of Surgery and Chief of Medical Staff. He admits patients to Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Venice Regional Bayfront Health, and soon at the new Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Venice campus, where he will serve as Chief of Surgery.
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Dr. Halaby's practice is evenly split between General and Vascular Surgery. Dr. Halaby performs expert minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgery. After more than 700 robotic operations, Dr. Halaby is capable of treating complex abdominal wall hernias, major abdominal resections for cancer and benign disease. Dr. Halaby also specializes in vascular surgery, serving as Director of the award-winning Center for Wound Care in Venice, treating vascular disease, from aneurysms, to carotid surgery and stents, to surgery of both arteries and veins. Depending on the patient's needs, Dr. Halaby employs both minimally invasive vascular techniques as well as major bypasses. WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? In an era where medicine has become impersonal, Dr. Halaby continues to individually care for each patient. Often, patients have direct access to his cell phone number. As a practice, we are keenly aware of the importance of communicating with patients, and ensure that they understand their conditions and treatments. We are an independent practice, and have privileges in most local hospitals, allowing patients to chose where to have their operation. We are humbled and honored to have been the choice of our patients and referring physicians for the past 20 years.
SPECIALTIES • • • • •
General Surger y Robotic Surger y Vascular Surger y Vein Surger y Hernia Surger y
ISSAM A. HALABY, MD GENERAL & VASCULAR SURGERY 436 Nokomis Ave South, Venice, FL 34285 | 941.445.5045 Halabymd.com
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Steven Mamus
HONOREE Hematology
Cancer Center of Sarasota Manatee is the only local cancer center in which all physicians are board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. All patient visits are attended by a physician to afford patients the highest level of care. Additionally, every patient received their physician's cell phone number in order to have direct access at all times.
MD
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Cancer Center of Sarasota Manatee (CCSM) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Steve Mamus, who graduated from Harvard University and completed his medical training in Syracuse, Chicago and Minneapolis. He is former Chief of Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Orlando and has received 44 national awards for cancer care. Dr. Steve Mamus is proud to practice alongside his colleagues, Dr. Emile Wang, Dr. Manjesh Lingamurthy and Dr. Kathyrn Bower. The physicians at CCSM share the philosophy that all aspects of a patient’s care must be considered, including medical, emotional, financial and family issues. They believe in taking a flexible approach to care that is as unique as each patient. Treatment plans are tailored in order to meet each patients needs. CCSM provides comprehensive cancer care, including on-site chemotherapy, infusion therapy, clinical laboratory, advanced diagnostic imaging and oral medications.
SPECIALTIES • •
Medical Oncology Hematology
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Sampath Manickam
HONOREE Rheumatology Rising Stars 5 Years in Practice
A native of India who moved to Florida at a young age, Sampath Manickam, MD, joined Gulf Coast Medical Group Rheumatology in 2017 after completing extensive medical training for internal medicine and rheumatology. He attended the Leonard Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami; conducted his internal medicine residency at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida; and completed a rheumatology fellowship at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.
MD
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
Gulf Coast Medical Group Rheumatology provides care for the entire spectrum of rheumatic disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, lupus, gout, vasculitis, and other conditions. The practice features exam rooms, a full infusion suite, on-site lab, X-ray center and ultrasound capabilities, soft tissue injection, joint aspirations and injections to help manage your condition. Our clinic administers several specialty medicines in our infusion center. Our infusion clinic is able to provide biologic infusions, rheumatoid arthritis treatments, and osteoporosis medicines. Our team works closely with other Gulf Coast Medical Group specialties to provide comprehensive rheumatic disease management and treatment.
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS?
Gulf Coast Medical Group Rheumatology combines new medical technologies, medicines and treatments with a personal, patient-focused approach. Extensive counseling with patients about their conditions provides a basis for treating and managing complex rheumatic conditions. Our team looks at the whole patient, tailoring treatment to the individual, which may include considering holistic approaches. Our in-house diagnostic capabilities and infusion suite provide for continuity of care and convenience for patients to accelerate treatment and management of conditions.
SPECIALTIES • • • • •
Rheumatoid arthritis Psoriatic arthritis Osteoporosis Osteoarthritis Lupus
GULF COAST MEDICAL GROUP RHEUMATOLOGY 8383 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34238 844.366.9362 | GulfCoastMedicalGroup.com
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Gino J. Sedillo
MD, FACC, FACP ABOUT THE PRACTICE
HONOREE Interventional Cardiology
Dr. Sedillo moved to Florida after completing his fellowship training for interventional cardiology at The Texas Heart Institute in Houston TX. He joined a large cardiology practice in Bradenton where he worked for the first thirteen years of his career. He then went out on his own to form his own practice he named CardioVascular Solutions Institute. Dr. Sedillo has been at the forefront in bringing innovative techniques and procedures to the area. He has dedicated a large part of his time to training other physicians locally and nationally, serving as proctor to literally hundreds of doctors over the years. His passion for medicine and continuing his education in the field has earned him a spot in many of his patient’s hearts; literally and figuratively.
CardioVascular Solutions Institute, started by Dr. Sedillo in 2011, is a full-service cardiology practice with a focus on vascular (blood vessel) and structural heart (heart valves, etc.) procedures. Blocked blood vessels anywhere in the body can often be successfully opened using minimally invasive procedures. Heart valves can be repaired or replaced without the need to open the chest such as with the Mitral Clip and TAVR procedures. Holes in the heart can be closed using special closure devices. In addition, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure can be managed using pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. Dr. Sedillo’s team of providers include Dr. Anthony Pizzo, also an interventional cardiologist (specializing in coronary interventions and pacemaker / defibrillator insertion), Jessica Levanti PA-C and Christine Lalime PA-C physician assistants who are well trained in diagnosing and treating all types of cardiac and vascular conditions. Our office staff is comprised of well- trained, competent individuals who strive to provide the very best compassionate patient care possible.
WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART FROM OTHERS? Dr. Sedillo has been a leader in the local
medical community for many years. He was honored to have served as Founder and Director of the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention program at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota. He is currently the Director of Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program and Co-director of the Mitral Clip/ Structural Heart Team at Manatee Memorial Hospital. He is the Director of the Structural Heart Program at Blake Medical Center. As of this past year, he has started a TAVR program at Fawcett Memorial where he is proctoring other colleagues. Most recently, Dr. Sedillo was appointed by HCA as South Market Physician Director of Cardiovascular Services. CardioVascular Solutions Institute will continue to be a leader in our medical community. We have just broken ground on a new office facility which will include our own Outpatient Cardiac and Vascular laboratory scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2022.
SPECIALTIES • •
Inter ventional Cardiology Cardiovascular Disease
CARDIOVASCULAR SOLUTIONS INSTITUTE 714 Manatee Avenue East, Suite A, Bradenton, FL 34208 941.747.8789 | cvsifl.com
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Alberico J. Sessa MD
WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART?
Sarasota Surgical Arts, the name says it all! This is where surgical excellence, safety, and art collide. Alberico Sessa, MD is an artist. An expert in Cosmetic Surgery. An expert is defined as 10,000 hours performing a task. After 14 years and 7,000+ cosmetic procedures completed at his surgical facility – I would say Dr. Sessa is an expert. It's all in the training.
HONOREE Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Sessa started his career in dental school, where he learned that a tenth of a millimeter can make all the difference. He then went to medical school and onto Oral and Maxillofacial surgery at Charity Hospital in New Orleans for six years. This is were he learned to take apart the bony structures of the head and face and put them back together better than before. The training culminated in a year long post-graduate fellowship in Cosmetic Surgery of the face and body. This is where it all came together. It was at this fellowship, that every day, he along side his mentor performed cosmetic surgery in a private facility. Under this tutelage, he was able to hone his skills performing complex breast, tummy, face, and nasal surgery. This expertise allowed him to come to Sarasota in 2007 and begin practicing at the highest level immediately. Thousands of surgeries completed, five patient choice awards, hundreds of 5-star reviews across multiple platforms, and thousands of thrilled patients. He is a diplomate of both the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery as well as the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Fellowship director, and American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Board examiner for the past four years.
Alberico Sessa, MD, is a perfectionist. The surgery is never completed until it is perfect. The first questions asked at a consultation are to find out exactly what is the patient’s idea of beauty and what they are concerned about. Then the journey begins. Sarasota Surgical Arts provides an array of Cosmetic surgery to help the Breast, Body, or the Face. Some of the procedures performed: facelift, breast Augmentation, Tummy tuck, Breast lift, Breast reduction, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, Laser skin resurfacing. Non surgical options are also found at Sarasota Surgical Arts: Venus freeze —a skin-tightening procedure that works. Vanquish is an all-in-one treatment to dissolve fat and tighten skin, both painless and inexpensive. A medi-spa, along with a knowledgeable aesthetician, is also onsite. Skin peels, facials, derma planing, “PRP” facials (Vampire), micro-needling, as well as micro-blading for eyebrows are performed. We also have our very own skin care line-DR AL’s RX. All Cosmetic Surgery is performed at his private surgical facility. This facility is certified by the Florida Board of Medicine yearly. The anesthesia is provided by a board certified practitioner with 32 years of experience.
SPECIALTIES •
Cosmetic Surger y
SARASOTA SURGICAL ARTS 4143 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34233 941.923.1736 | SarasotaSurgicalArts.com
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TOP DOCTORS
Gregory Farino
HONOREE
Hand Surgery SPECIALTIES
MD
• • • • •
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS?
The physicians at 360 ORTHOPEDICS have a total of over 140 years of experience in the medical field providing treatment from “head to toe” with the most up-todate technology. Our locations are self-contained so that you may have all your orthopedic visits at one location, and even in one visit! This convenience allows you to see your physician, have an x-ray/MRI, undergo physical therapy, and receive durable medical equipment all in one place. We are unique in our ability to offer same day or next day appointments for our patients when needed.
Carpal / Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Trigger Finger Hand / Wrist / Digital Fracture Ulnar Ner ve Damage Tendinitis
I received a B.S. in Biology at DeSales University and my medical degree at Temple University Medical School. That was followed with an orthopedic residency at Penn State University and a fellowship in hand and wrist at the University of Pittsburgh. As an advocate for personalized care, I’ve always treated patients as family members. I talk to them about their challenges, offer the best possible solutions, and together, we come to a consensus as to the best treatment for their situation. I’m trained in the latest techniques for hand and wrist conditions and strongly believe in staying involved in all aspects of patient care from initial diagnosis to post-operative rehabilitation.
Jeffrey Silverstein
HONOREE
Orthopedic Surgery SPECIALTIES
MD
• • • • •
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS? Our name says it all … we treat our patients with a 360 degree view of their health for comprehensive and compassionate care. In the center of our logo, you will find the word “hope” displaying our wish for every patient. Our colors of blue and green represent trust, wisdom, balance, health, and renewal.
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
Hip and knee replacement Direct anterior hip replacement Revision hip/knee replacement Partial knee replacement Robotic Surger y
I received a B.S. in Biology at Indiana University and my medical degree at West Virginia School of Medicine. That was followed with residency at the Chicago Medical Center and a Fellowship in hip and knee reconstruction at FL Orthopedic Institute. As an advocate for improving quality of life for my patients, I believe open communication between physician and patient as key to successful outcomes. I’m trained in the latest techniques for hip and knee replacements including direct anterior hip replacements and traumatic fractures. When applicable, I perform less invasive techniques including muscle sparing incisions, partial knee replacements, robotic assisted technology, and custom patient specific implants.
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TOP DOCTORS
Rose Baez
HONOREE
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
ELITEHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER
Internal Medicine
1281 S. Tamiami Trail #2, Sarasota, FL 34239 941.960.8741 | elitehealth.com
MD
SPECIALTIES
ABOUT THE PRACTICE At EliteHealth we know that no two patients are the same; therefore, we provide patients with a comprehensive customized evaluation of their health and, more importantly, an action plan to improve it. With all in-house diagnostic testing, we are committed to provide you with a thorough assessment of your current health and potential health risk. Our additional wellness based services, such as nutrition counseling and participation in the Silver Sneakers program, allow us to provide the patient with the tools by which to actively participate in their wellness program. By combining the latest scientific technology with an unparalleled level of personal care and attention, EliteHealth delivers an incomparable patient experience.
Rebecca S. Cohen
• •
Dr. Baez is a bilingual Spanish-speaking IM trained physician specializing in treating a wide variety of disorders affecting adults over the age of 18. A native of New York, Dr. Baez completed medical school at the SUNY-Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York. She completed her internal medicine residency at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Baez has over 15 years practicing in the Sarasota and Venice community with a commitment to quality comprehensive preventative care.
HONOREE
REBECCA S. COHEN, MD, LLC
Psychiatry
1217 S. East Avenue, Ste 209 Sarasota, FL 34239 | 941.404.0545 DrRebeccaCohen.com
MD
ABOUT THE PRACTICE We approach patient care with the idea of recognizing the complex biological, psychological and situational impact of each person’s difficulties. Psychiatric symptoms are complicated because they can impact how you feel about yourself. Our goal with patients is to help you understand your psychiatric symptoms and conflicts, and to work collaboratively with you and your other medical providers to improve your overall health and well-being. We will establish a safe and nurturing environment so we can work together, establish a clear treatment plan and take proper care of your needs. In addition, we strive to assist you with gaining more personal insights, provide support for your discomfort and help you develop new strategies for coping with your challenges.
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Internal Medicine Primary Physician
SPECIALTIES • • • • • •
Major Depression Bipolar Disorder Panic Disorder Stress and Adjustment Disorders ADHD PTSD
Dr. Cohen is renowned as an educator and psychopharmacologist with more than 20 years of distinction in her specialty. She earned her degrees from Tufts University, Boston University Graduate School and her Doctor of Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Cohen completed residency training at Georgetown University Medical Center, designated the Chief Psychiatry Resident from 2000 to 2001. After gaining extensive clinical experience, Dr. Cohen established a solo private practice providing concierge level of psychiatric care. Dr. Cohen has been recognized with awards for excellence in teaching and clinical practice throughout her career.
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Abridged listings excerpted from the November 2021 publishing of the complete 2021 Top Doctors Medical Guide Honorees.
ADDICTION
COSMETIC SURGERY
Amen, Samuel A Ramos Center 100 3rd Ave W, Suite 110 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-662-2621
Derby, Brian M Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center 2255 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-203-1300
License ME139510
License ME122714
D'Agostino, Mark Bluestone Psychiatry PLLC 5664 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 203 Sarasota, FL 34233 877-422-9355
Engel, Scott J Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center 2255 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-203-1300
License ME144849
License ME101569
CARDIOLOGY Kumar, Vivek V. Heart Care Consultants 6310 Health Park Way Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-907-8951 License OS13436
Lutton, Suzanne Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1850
Fezza, John P Center for Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-925-2020
Arsenault, Emily F. Arsenault Dermatology 230 Manatee Ave E Bradenton, FL 34208 941-907-0222
Perez, Jesus Intercoastal Medical Group 943 S Beneva Rd, Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1777
Powell, Randy B Intercoastal Medical Group 921 S Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-365-7390 License ME37407
GASTROENTEROLOGY
License ME96256
Morsli, Hakim Intercoastal Medical Group 965 S Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-366-1888
License ME100611
FAMILY MEDICINE
Sessa, Alberico J. Sarasota Surgical Arts 4143 Clark Rd Sarasota, FL 34233 941-923-1736
DERMATOLOGY
Kozlow, Wende M. Intercoastal Medical Group 943 South Beneva Rd, Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1777
License ME86942
License ME76288
License ME128682
ENDOCRINOLOGY DIABETES AND METABOLISM
Andari, Ronald Florida Digestive Health Specialists 11505 Palmbrush Trl, Suite 200 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-361-1100 License ME140338
License ME117430
Dukander, Jasmine Gastroenterology Associates of Sarasota 2089 Hawthorne St, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-365-6556 License ME145071
Khazanchi, Arun Florida Digestive Disease Specialists 11505 Palmbrush Trl, Suite 200 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-361-1100 License ME86268
Martin, Francene R Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-342-8892 License ME90139
Matheus, Tonantzin Florida Digestive Disease Specialists LLC 11505 Palmbrush Trl, Suite 200 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-361-1100 License ME100744
License ME103882
License ME87116
Ramos, Mark J Intercoastal Medical Group 965 S Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-366-1888
O'Donoghue, J Morgan O'Donoghue Dermatology 1952 Field Rd Sarasota, FL 34231 941-926-7546
Bernstein, Marc Florida Digestive Health Specialists 2089 Hawthorne St Sarasota, FL 34239 941-365-6556
License ME100823
License ME80793
License ME137780
Satya, Y. Emmy Millenium Physician Group 3231 Gulf Gate Dr, Suite 101 Sarasota, FL 34231 941-922-6447
Yohn, Joseph J Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1799
Byju, KR University Gastro, LLC 2401 University Pkwy Suite 202 Sarasota, FL 34243 941-360-2579
License ME80438
License ME83308
License ME81682
Caire, Michael Suncoast GI Associates 101 Riverfront Blvd, Suite 700 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-2417
Mishra, Avantika Florida Digestive Disease Specialists 11505 Palmbrush Trl, Suite 200 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-361-1100 License ME138694
Murchie, Brent Gastroenterology Associates of Sarasota 2089 Hawthorne St, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-365-6556 License ME126633
2021
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TOP DOCTORS
Jordana Hollen
HONOREE
Psychiatry SPECIALTIES
MD
• • • •
ABOUT THE PRACTICE At Bluestone Psychiatry, a physician-founded and led practice, we feel grateful to provide our patients and their families with a dignified, compassionate behavioral health experience. We partner with our patients to build solid connections and trust. Building upon this trust, we incorporate evidence-based treatments including psychotherapy and medication management, as appropriate. Bluestone Psychiatry encourages our patients to set goals, and more importantly, achieve these goals. We appreciate that everyone is unique, and we strive to tailor our treatment plans to each individual. It is an absolute privilege to build these relationships, and we will always strive to create an environment that facilitates the best treatment outcomes.
Women’s Health Mood and Anxiety Disorders Psychopharmacology Psychotherapy
Dr. Jordana Hollen is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with extensive training in psychopharmacology, mood and anxiety disorders, women’s health, ADHD, psychotherapy and TMS. Dr. Hollen graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Honors Program, and she completed her Psychiatry residency training at the University of Florida. She has experience as a Medical Director and Psychiatry instructor for trainees, as well as ten years of outpatient psychiatric practice.
Mark D'Agostino
HONOREE
Psychiatry SPECIALTIES
MD, MS, MSc
• • • •
ABOUT THE PRACTICE At Bluestone Psychiatry, a physician-founded and led practice, we feel grateful to provide our patients and their families with a dignified, compassionate behavioral health experience. We partner with our patients to build solid connections and trust. Building upon this trust, we incorporate evidence-based treatments including psychotherapy and medication management, as appropriate. Bluestone Psychiatry encourages our patients to set goals, and more importantly, achieve these goals. We appreciate that everyone is unique, and we strive to tailor our treatment plans to each individual. It is an absolute privilege to build these relationships, and we will always strive to create an environment that facilitates the best treatment outcomes.
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
Addiction Medicine Mood and Anxiety Disorders Psychopharmacology Psychotherapy
Dr. D'Agostino is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and has a sub-speciality Board Certification in Addiction Medicine. He specializes in the treatment of adults and late-adolescents, with expertise in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and a widevariety of substance use disorders. He was an active duty physician in the US Army, is faculty at Weill Cornell Medical College, and is an alumnus of Brown University Medical School.
BLUESTONE PSYCHIATRY, PLLC 5664 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 203, Sarasota, FL 34233 | 1.877.422.9355 Jordana- jhollen@bluestone.health; Mark-mdagostino@bluestone.health bluestone.health
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Abridged listings excerpted from the November 2021 publishing of the complete 2021 Top Doctors Medical Guide Honorees.
Papper, Michael Gastroenterology Associates of Sarasota 2089 Hawthorne St, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-365-6556
Sforzo, Christopher R. Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine 5831 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34233 941-378-5100
License ME143339
License ME83510
Summerlee, Robert J. Intercoastal Medical Group 11715 Rangeland Pkwy Bradenton, FL 34211 941-538-0092
Simmons, Sara P. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
License ME118680
License ME113187
Heinrich, Penny Intercoastal Medical Group 1217 S East Ave Sarasota, FL 34239 941-200-1125 License ME111369
Mamus, Steven W Cancer Center of Sarasota-Manatee 3830 Bee Ridge Rd, Suit 301 Sarasota, FL 34233 941-923-1872 License ME48231
Boyette, Melissa M Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME103549
Farino, Gregory C. 360-Orthopedics 2750 Bahia Vista St, Suite100 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-264-1196
License ME73423
NEPHROLOGY Bilal, Jehanzeb Renal Hypertension Center 517 Riviera St, Suite B Venice, FL 34285 941-488-2881
License ME140970
OPTHALMOLOGY Banker, Tanuj P Center For Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-925-2020 License ME123104
De Rojas, Joaquin O Center For Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-925-2020 License ME139893
Kim, Joshua W Center For Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-925-2020
INTERNAL MEDICINE
NEUROLOGY
Baez, Rose EliteHealth 4125 S Tamiami Trl, Suit 2 Venice, FL 34293 941-584-9201
Cantero, Julio Intercoastal Medical Group 2881 Hyde Park St Sarasota, FL 34239 941-906-7155
Lahners, William J Center For Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-925-2020
License ME92347
License ME94218
License ME82813
Reichel, David T. Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-371-3337
Concha, Mauricio Intercoastal Medical Group 2881 Hyde Park St Sarasota, FL 34239 941-906-7155
Shoemaker, David Center For Sight 2601 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 4239941-480
License ME79284
License ME69547
License ense: ME39238
Negroski, Donald Negroski Neurology 5741 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 503 Sarasota, FL 34233 941-487-2160
Stelton, Christopher R. SK Retina 3400 S Tamiami Trl, Suite 101 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-777-5000
License ME46199
License ME125837
License ME86132
2021
Yaryura, Ricardo Intercoastal Medical Group 965 S Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-366-1888
License ME131099
License ME87923
HAND SURGERY
Soendker, Anna Lakewood Ranch Obstetrics & Gynecology 8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Suite140 Bradenton, FL 34202 941-907-9298
License ME76343
HEMATOLOGY
Yenari, Jon Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1700
Bilkoo, Pareena Millenial Physician Group 3231 Gulf Gate Dr, Suite 101 Sarasota, FL 34231 941-922-6447 Sedillo, Gino J Cardiovascular Solutions 714 Manatee Ave E, Suite A Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-8789
Browning, Robert Lee Intercoastal Medical Group 11505 Rangeland Pkwy Bradenton, FL 34211 941-362-8662
GYNECOLOGY
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
License ME103980
GENERAL SURGERY
License ME115061
INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY
License ME93875
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TOP DOCTORS
Derek Cuff
HONOREE
SUNCOAST ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY & SPORTS MEDICINE
Orthopedic Surgery
836 Sunset Lake Blvd A-205 Venice Fl 34292 | 941.485.1505 suncoastshoulder-elbow.com
MD
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Dr. Cuff specializes in performing minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures as well as complex shoulder and elbow reconstruction. He utilizes state of the art surgical techniques to treat the full spectrum of shoulder and elbow problems. Dr. Cuff has been inducted into the prestigious American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons (ASES) society. He is one of a small group of surgeons in the state of Florida to be given this honor, and he is the only surgeon in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee or Collier counties to achieve Active Member status in this organization. Dr. Cuff has a strong interest in clinical and basic science research of the shoulder and elbow. He has published multiple articles in peer reviewed international journals on these topics.
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SPECIALTIES • •
Arthroscopic procedures Shoulder and elbow reconstruction
Dr. Cuff graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic residency in Baltimore, MD at the University of Maryland Medical System, and a portion of his training was also at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He went on to complete subspecialty fellowship training in shoulder and elbow surgery in Tampa, FL at The Florida Orthopaedic Institute prior to moving to the Sarasota area.
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Abridged listings excerpted from the November 2021 Publishing of the complete 2021 Top Doctors Medical Guide
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Otte, R. Stephen Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
Constant, Douglas L. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
License ME141436
License ME108659
Silverstein, Jeffrey 360-Orthopedics 2750 Bahia Vista St, Suite 100 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-951-2663
Fura, Abraham J Ramos Center1 00 3rd Ave W, Suite 110 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-662-2621
License ME109120
License OS16143
Cashen, David V. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
Sugar, David A. Sugar Orthopaedics 1630 S. Tuttle Avenue Sarasota, FL 34239 941-556-6900
License ME99185
License ME73607
Gekht, Gennady Coastal Orthopedics 8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, 3rd Fl Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-792-1404
Cuff, Derek J. Suncoast Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine 836 Sunset Lake Blvd, Bldg A, Suite 205 Venice, FL 34292 941-485-1505
Valadie, Alan L. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
Reuter, Todd J. Sarasota Oral & Implant Surgery 2130 South Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-365-3388 License ME106595
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
License ME95587
Dillingham, Christopher L. Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine 5831 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34233 941-378-5100 License ME107087
Harkess, John W Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME132666
2021
Byers, Matthew D. Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1800
PAIN MANAGEMENT Bundschu, Richard H Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY Bhanot, Sumeet Bhanot Facial Plastic Surgery 2038 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota, FL 34239 941-966-3223
Ramos, Fabian A. Ramos Center 100 3rd Ave W, Suite 110 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-662-2621
Graham, Braun H Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center 2255 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34239 941-203-1300
License ME111949
OTOLARYNGOLOGY EAR NOSE THROAT
License OS7921
License ME88523
Shroyer, Lindsay N Ramos Center 100 3rd Ave W, Suite 210 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-662-2621
License ME71811
Ottaviani, Laura B. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
License ME95933
License ME71496
Valadie, Arthur L. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
License ME82027
O'Daly, Andrés E. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME126890
License ME70378
PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
Sirianni, Justin J. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME132277
Smith, Stephen G Ramos Center 1370 E Venice Ave, Suite 104 Venice, FL 34285 941-202-6480 License ME139415
License ME36219
Widmyer, Anna Anna Widmyer MD 11509 Palmbrush Trl, Suite 202 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-500-3350 License ME134153
PODIATRY Lasday, Stephen D. West Coast Podiatry Center 1611 53rd Ave W Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9599 License PO2382
VonHerbulis, Eric West Coast Podiatry Center 1611 53rd Ave W Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9599 License PO3826
License ME68442
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TOP DOCTORS
Vivek Kumar
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
HONOREE
HEARTCARE CONSULTANTS, LLC
Cardiology
6310 Health Park Way Suite 120 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.907.8951 | srqheartcare.com
DO
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Heart Care Consultants is a fullservice cardiovascular medical practice with solo interventional cardiologist and three highly trained ARNP’s, providing consultation services, diagnostic imaging and testing in office, including cardiac and peripheral vascular ultrasound, nuclear stress testing and cardiac PET. We provide in-hospital service and procedures at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, and Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital.
Donald Negroski
SPECIALTIES •
Inter ventional Cardiology Adult Cardiology Nuclear Cardiology
• •
Dr. Vivek Kumar is a solo general and interventional cardiologist, board certified in general nuclear and interventional cardiology. Based in Lakewood Ranch for last five years, with special interests in high risk PCI, pulmonary hypertension, peripheral vascular intervention and TEE. Trained and practiced in Pittsburgh for 15+ years, served as Cath Lab director and Chief of Cardiology at several hospitals in Pittsburgh area before moving to Florida. Serving as Chief of Medicine and Medical Director of Cardiac Cath Lab at LWRMC last 4 years.
HONOREE
NEGROSKI NEUROLOGY
Neurology
5741 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 530 Sarasota, FL 34233 | 941.487.2160 yourfloridaneuro.com
MD
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Dr. Negroski established his Sarasota private practice in 1985 and has a distinguished history of providing comprehensive care to adults suffering from neurologic disorders. Along with his partner Valeriy Sabodash, M.D. and Physician Assistant, Daniel Sellers, PA-C, Negroski Neurology specializes in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, dementia, epilepsy, migraines, Parkinson’s disease as well as diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including EMG, EEG and Botox for migraines and dystonia. By encouraging shared decision making, our patients and providers work together to make decisions, select tests, treatments and care plans based on clinical evidence that balances risks and expected outcomes with patient preferences and values. Negroski Neurology also conducts clinical trials to assist with development of novel therapies for Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological disorders.
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SPECIALTIES • • •
General Neurology Multiple Sclerosis Migraines
Dr. Donald Negroski completed both his residency, serving as chief resident, and fellowship in neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. In additional to general neurology, he specializes in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Recognitions include Partner in MS Care by National MS Society, a member of Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis, medical advisor for MS Views & News and clinical assistant professor at Florida State University College of Medicine, Sarasota Campus.
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Abridged listings excerpted from the November 2021 Publishing of the complete 2021 Top Doctors Medical Guide
PSYCHIATRY Cohen, Rebecca Rebecca S. Cohen, M.D., LLC 1217 S East Ave, Suite 209 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-404-0545 License ME112405
Hollen, Jordana Bluestone Psychiatry PLLC 5664 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 203 Sarasota, FL 34233 877-422-9355 License ME119785
D'Agostino, Mark Bluestone Psychiatry PLLC 5664 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 203 Sarasota, FL 34233 877-422-9355
Koshy, Mary GenesisCare 401 Manatee Ave E, Suite A Bradenton, FL 34208 941-748-4324 License ME92795
Silverman, Larry N. GenesisCare 3210 Fruitville Rd Sarasota, FL 34237 941-364-8887 License ME72235
Swor, Gray B. GenesisCare 3210 Fruitville Rd Sarasota, FL 34237 941-364-8887
Lamar, Daniel Coastal Orthopedics 8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-792-1404
License ME79866
Guzman, Luis G. Intercoastal Medical Group 943 S Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-366-3062
License ME72529
RADIATION ONCOLOGY Fitch, Dwight L. GenesisCare 401 Manatee Ave E, Suite A Bradenton, FL 34208 941-748-4324 License ME95935
Hollen, Tyler R. GenesisCare 3210 Fruitville Rd Sarasota, FL 34237 941-364-8887
License ME137093
Kelley III, Joe T. Intercoastal Medical Group 943 S. Beneva Rd, Suite 201 Sarasota, FL 34232 941-366-3062 License ME85515
Manickman, Sampath Gulf Coast Medical Group 8383 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34238 941-497-4069
License ME88228
Schafer, Steven J Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME77986
UROLOGY Akary, Eihab GenesisCare 3325 S Tamiami Trl, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-917-8488 License ME139247
Bilik, A Joseph Florida Urology Specialists 1 S School Ave, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34236 941-309-7000
License ME133234
SPINE SURGERY Dermarkarian, Patrick G. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404 License ME140651
License ME73513
Green, Joshua T. GenesisCare 3325 S Tamiami Trl, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34239 941-917-8488
License ME118479
License ME97146
Ruane, Thomas J. GenesisCare 842 Sunset Lake Blvd, Suite 403 Venice, FL 34292 941-485-3351 License ME62037
Tingle, William J Florida Urology Specialists 1 S School Ave, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34237 941-309-7000 License ME59349
VASCULAR SURGERY Halaby, Issam A. Surgical Associates of Venice & Englewood 436 Nokomis Ave S Venice, FL 34285 941-488-7742 License ME83954
Suplee, Ryan S Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-341-0042 License ME124998
Torres, Vivian Tampa Bay Surgical Group 5860 Ranch Lake Blvd, Suite 200 Bradenton, FL 34202 941-504-8248 License ME118443
License ME69452
License ME119644
2021
Perry, Matthew J. Florida Urology Specialists 1 S School Ave, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34237 941-309-7000
SPORTS MEDICINE
PULMONOLOGY
Mylett, Janine Intercoastal Medical Group 3333 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-379-1799
License ME103325
License ME120448
RHEUMATOLOGY
License ME75531
Klutke, Carl GenesisCare 842 Sunset Lake Blvd, Suite 403 Venice, FL 34292 941-485-3351
Sundberg, Eric B. Coastal Orthopedics 6015 Pointe West Blvd Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-1404
License ME144849
Aranibar, Richard Intercoastal Medical Group 11505 Rangeland Pkwy Bradenton, FL 34211 941-362-8662
Meinhardt, Philip A. Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine 5831 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34233 941-378-5100
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TOP DOCTORS
Ronald Andari
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES
MD
• •
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE THAT SETS YOU APART? I enjoy connecting with each patient and creating individualized treatment plans to help them lead a healthy, active life. In our practice, patients have access to highly advanced therapies and care without the need to visit a large hospital system or an academic medical center. We find that the outpatient setting allows for more coordinated, streamlined care that is convenient for the patient and their family members. The doctor-patient relationship also thrives. Personally, I find that this human connection, through compassion and alleviating human suffering, is what I love most of being a physician.
Marc Bernstein MD
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS? It’s been exciting to see local healthcare develop with Sarasota’s flourishing population. Our team continues to expand and innovate along with this growth to ensure our community has comprehensive medical resources nearby. My goal is to provide the highest level of evidence-based medicine to the region while remaining accessible to every patient. To be recognized as a Top Doctor is a distinct honor that I take great pride in, and I will work hard every day to continue enhancing the lives of SRQ citizens.
2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
Chronic abdominal pain Hepatobiliar y and pancreatic disorders Cancers of the digestive tract
•
Dr. Andari is a board-certified gastroenterologist with specialized training in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. His clinical interests include chronic abdominal pain, hepatobiliary and pancreatic pathology, endoscopic ultrasound and cancer prevention. Dr. Andari completed his internal medicine residency, gastroenterology fellowship and advanced endoscopy fellowship at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He provides care to patients in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, and he is fluent in Spanish, English and Arabic.
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES • • •
Colorectal cancer screening Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) Pancreaticobiliar y diseases
Dr. Marc Bernstein is a board-certified gastroenterologist who received his medical degree at Florida State University, then completed an internal medicine residency, gastroenterology fellowship and interventional endoscopy fellowship in New York and Pennsylvania. He is a partner of Florida Digestive Health Specialists and is based in Sarasota. Dr. Bernstein enjoys treating common to complex GI and liver ailments, and he has a special interest in colorectal cancer screening, gastrointestinal reflux disease and pancreaticobiliary diseases. He has also been featured as a digestive health subject expert in local and national media outlets.
FLORIDA DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALISTS BRADENTON | SARASOTA | LAKEWOOD RANCH | VENICE | ENGLEWOOD AND MORE
fdhs.com | Check the website for the location nearest you.
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TOP DOCTORS
KR Byju MD
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS? It is an honor to be chosen as one of this year’s Top Doctors in Sarasota. My practice would not be the medical establishment it is without the enthusiasm and compassion of our dedicated employees. Collaboration is a pillar of our practice and to be recognized by other nationally acclaimed providers is a distinct privilege. I am proud to be a part of Florida Digestive Health Specialists, a team that has become one of the largest GI practices in Florida. Grateful is an understatement to describe how it feels to be acknowledged by other highly esteemed physicians in my community. I will continue to go above and beyond to provide personalized care to our patients.
Michael Caire MD
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS? It is an honor to be recognized by my peers for providing compassionate patient care and achieving the optimal, patient-centered outcomes. I am happy to share credit for that honor with my partners, because we are a collaborative team of gastroenterologists with expertise in a wide range of specialties within digestive health. We combine decades of experience with upto-date training, and practice with a patient-centered approach. I believe in communication with patients and empowering them to become active participants in their care. I also appreciate the many doctors who have trusted me with the care of their patients and will continue to strive so they can remain confident we are taking great care of their patients.
2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES • • •
Celiac disease IBD/IBS Painless hemorrhoid banding
Dr. Byju is a board-certified gastroenterologist with 20+ years of experience. He practices in Sarasota, with a satellite office in Manatee. Dr. Byju specializes in diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, which include all areas of the stomach and bowel, as well as motility disorders and liver diseases. Dr. Byju has admitting privileges to all three area hospitals and performs colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures as his state-of-the-art surgery center in Sarasota.
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES • • •
Colorectal cancer screening Esophageal disorders Fatty liver disease
Dr. Michael Caire is a board-certified gastroenterologist practicing in Bradenton. He provides comprehensive gastroenterology care, with a special interest in colorectal cancer screening and esophageal disorders. Dr. Caire completed his medical degree at the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine where he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and his internal medicine residency at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was selected Most Outstanding Senior Resident. He returned to USF Morsani College of Medicine for his gastroenterology fellowship, where he was designated Chief Fellow. He has been published in many industry journals. Dr. Caire is a loving husband and proud father of two young children.
FLORIDA DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALISTS BRADENTON | SARASOTA | LAKEWOOD RANCH | VENICE | ENGLEWOOD AND MORE
fdhs.com | Check the website for the location nearest you.
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TOP DOCTORS
Jasmine Dukandar
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES
MD
• • •
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS? I believe a healthy gut equals a happy life. The goal of my practice is to improve the lives of my patients through a patient-centered approach to digestive medicine. I design my practice around the needs of my patients, which often focuses on accessibility, excellent physician communication and high-quality, research-based care. Patient engagement is paramount to improved outcomes. Coupled with an individualized treatment plan, our integrated approach to gastroenterology care ensures our patients come first.
Arun Khazanchi MD
2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
Inflammator y Bowel Disease Colorectal cancer screening Women-related GI issues
Dr. Dukandar is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of all conditions involving the digestive tract and liver. She enjoys providing comprehensive digestive care to patients in Sarasota and the surrounding communities. Dr. Dukandar completed medical school at George Washington University and internal medicine residency training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She then went on to the University of Miami School of Medicine for her gastroenterology fellowship, where she was awarded Chief Fellow for her exemplary leadership and clinical skills. A board-certified gastroenterologist, Dr. Dukandar has presented at international GI conferences and her work has been published in various industry journals.
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES •
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS? My practice is an
•
extension of my family and we’ve created a friendly, warm environment to ensure patients feel comfortable and welcome. Digestive health is a complicated specialty with countless varying factors; it’s paramount for patients to work with a gastroenterologist they trust. Our team of doctors trained at some of the best programs in the country and have experience treating a wide range of digestive illnesses. We prioritize education because when patients understand their diagnosis and treatment path, studies show there is an increased rate of recovery and wellness.
•
Esophageal and pancreas ailments Endoscopic ultrasound for cancers and biopsies IBD
A nationally acclaimed gastroenterologist, Dr. Khazanchi treats digestive health disorders including Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, esophageal and swallowing ailments, irritable bowel syndrome and more. He is one of a small group of physicians who perform endoscopic ultrasounds for cancers and biopsies of the rectum, lungs, pancreas and esophagus. He also specializes in conditions affecting the bile ducts and gallbladder. Dr. Khazanchi practices in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.
FLORIDA DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALISTS BRADENTON | SARASOTA | LAKEWOOD RANCH | VENICE | ENGLEWOOD AND MORE
fdhs.com | Check the website for the location nearest you.
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TOP DOCTORS
Tonantzin Matheus
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES
MD
• • • •
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE THAT SETS YOU APART? I treat patients at all stages of digestive health, from those who have been suffering for years to patients who are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms that are new to them. Each of them is seeking answers and a path to health. Our team takes the time we need to empathize and deeply understand each patient’s lives and the factors affecting their condition. Education is imperative to helping patients regain their quality of life. I strive to combine professionalism, advanced treatments and compassion to amplify our patient’s chance at a healthy, active life.
Avantika Mishra MD
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS? Diagnosing gastrointestinal issues can be very nuanced and layered; it requires paying key attention to patients’ symptoms while keeping in mind already diagnosed medical comorbidities. Patients need to know they’re heard and are working with someone that is invested in their care. An essential part of this doctor-patient relationship is continual patient education and engagement. As physicians, we need to constantly understanding symptoms and early screening. With this work, we can save lives.
2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
Esophageal diseases Pancreatic disorders GERD/Dysphagia Irritable bowel syndrome
Dr. Matheus is board certified in both gastroenterology and internal medicine. She specializes in colorectal screening and GERD/dysphagia and has advanced training in esophageal disorders, including swallowing problems, reflux and digestive tract motility. Dr. Matheus performs in-office capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy screenings and has been practicing for nearly 20 years. Fluent in Spanish and English, she enjoys taking time with her patients to ensure they are fully informed and their questions are answered.
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES • • • •
Cancer Prevention IBD Women's health Obesity/nutrition
Dr. Mishra is a board-certified gastroenterologist serving the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch communities. She has a special interest in obesity and nutrition, cancer prevention, esophageal and reflux disorders and women’s health. She completed her internal medicine residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, then went on to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School for her gastroenterology fellowship. Dr. Mishra provides care to patients who struggle with common to complex gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
FLORIDA DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALISTS BRADENTON | SARASOTA | LAKEWOOD RANCH | VENICE | ENGLEWOOD AND MORE
fdhs.com | Check the website for the location nearest you.
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TOP DOCTORS
Brent Murchie
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES
MD
• • •
HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS? I have been practicing in Sarasota for the past six years and enjoy making a difference in the lives of my patients. In addition to my areas of interest, I provide compassionate, individualized gastroenterology care for all areas of digestive health. A patient-oriented bedside manner is pa amount, and I take time to listen carefully to each patient’s concerns and symptoms. I treat my patients as individuals, and our team works closely together to provide the best possible, tailored care plan for each patient.
Michael Papper MD
2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
Inflammator y bowel disease GI motility disorders Disorders of the small bowel
Dr. Brent Murchie in an experienced gastroenterologist and a trusted, valued provider for all digestive health services. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship at the esteemed Cleveland Clinic Florida Campus, where he was designated as Chief Resident and Chief Fellow, before joining Florida Digestive Health Specialists in Sarasota. He continues to contribute to the future of medicine through published case reports, journal articles, and as an Associate Faculty member at the Florida State Medical School Sarasota campus and Residency Program.
HONOREE
Gastroenterology SPECIALTIES •
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE THAT SETS YOU APART? In part due to my background in
•
psychology, I can offer greater insight into the mind-gut connection to help treat the patient as a whole, helping my patients live their best lives. I am passionate about the prevention of gastrointestinal malignancies and have nearly 15 years of experience performing over 45,000 screening and surveillance procedures.
•
Prevention and screening of gastrointestinal cancers Functional gastrointestinal disorders Esophageal diseases
Dr. Michael Papper is a board-certified gastroenterologist with nearly 15 years of clinical experience providing comprehensive digestive care. He earned his medical degree from the Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at Brown University School of Medicine. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Rutgers) where he was awarded the outstanding fellow award among all medical specialties. Dr. Papper and his family moved to the Sarasota area after providing high quality care at a large multi-specialty group in Massachusetts for the past 13+ years. When not caring for patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, fostering cats, playing pickleball and enjoying the beautiful Sarasota weather.
FLORIDA DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALISTS BRADENTON | SARASOTA | LAKEWOOD RANCH | VENICE | ENGLEWOOD AND MORE
fdhs.com | Check the website for the location nearest you.
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TOP DOCTORS
J Morgan O'Donoghue
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
HONOREE
O'DONOGHUE DERMATOLOGY
Dermatology
1952 Field Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 941.926.7546 | Texts: 941.225.2043 dermfirm@gmail.com dermatologyexperts.com
MD
ABOUT J MORGAN O'DONOGHUE With many accolades including “Best Dermatologist in Sarasota,” “America’s Top Dermatologist,” “Most Compassionate Doctor Award,” “Patients’ Choice Award,” and regular recognition by the Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of “America’s Top Physicians,” his patients are in good hands. His private practice in Sarasota specializes in treatment of skin cancer with Mohs Surgery and the treatment of all disorders of the skin, hair and nails. He also provides a variety of cosmetic services, including laser skin resurfacing, Botox®, sclerotherapy, chemical peels, and injectable fillers. Dr. O’Donoghue is a leader in his field with numerous scientific articles published in national peer-reviewed journals and he regularly delivers lectures on the latest treatments for medical and cosmetic dermatological conditions.
Anna Soendker
SPECIALTIES • • •
Skin Cancer Mohs Surgeon Diseases of the skin, hair, and nails Cosmetic treatments including injectibles, lasers, and microneedling
Dr. J Morgan O’Donoghue is a graduate from the prestigious Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Tulane University in Internal Medicine and went back to Medstar Georgetown/ WHC to complete his dermatology residency. He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology, is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and is past President and fellow of the Florida Society of Dermatologic Surgeons.
HONOREE
LAKEWOOD RANCH OB/GYN
Obstetrics and Gynecology
8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd Suite 140 Bradenton, FL, 34202 | 941.907.9298 lwrobgyn.com
MD
ABOUT THE PRACTICE At Lakewood Ranch Obstetrics & Gynecology, our mission is to provide the highest standard of medical care for women of all ages. We are a full-service practice with obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound and blood drawing services available to most of our patients. Dr. Soendker has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery, including robotic surgery. If you have gynecological concerns, we will take the time to listen to you in our warm and welcoming office. We perform gynecological surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques. Many of our minor procedures can be performed in our office suite for the convenience and comfort of our patients. Professional, compassionate care is our philosophy.
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|
SPECIALTIES • •
Obstetrics Gynecology
Dr. Anna Soendker is a board certified OB/GYN. A native of Belarus, Dr. Soendker completed her medical degree at Grodno State Medical University. While studying in Germany, she met her husband, Nathan, and later immigrated to the United States. Dr. Soendker trained at Covenant Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan and the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Dr. Soendker provides obstetrical and gynecological care to patients of all ages. She is trained in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. She has practiced in the Kansas City area for 5 years prior to moving to Sarasota. A mother of four, she enjoys spending time with her family. She loves skiing, sailing, knitting, learning foreign languages and traveling the world.
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TOP DOCTORS
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
HONOREE
Orthopedic Surgery
SUGAR ORTHOPAEDICS
David A. Sugar MD, FAAOS
ABOUT THE PRACTICE Sugar Orthopaedics provides individualized, personal care for each of our patients. In our relaxed environment, we are able treat everyone as if they are our own family member. Dr. Sugar is extremely humbled to be awarded this honor as a "Top Doctor". He could not have accomplished this without his amazing support team. Additionally, we are extremely proud to announce that our new associate, Andrew Mundy, MD, has joined our practice. Dr. Mundy has recently completed his Fellowship at the world renowned, Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. His emphasis will be in Sports Medicine and minimally invasive techniques involving the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee.
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1630 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34239 941.556.6900 | drsugar.md
SPECIALTIES • •
Orthopaedic Surger y Sports Medicine
David A. Sugar, MD is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in surgical and non surgical, Pediatric and Adult Orthopaedics. He has been practicing Orthopaedics for the past 25 years here in Sarasota. In addition to providing care to those in our community, Dr. Sugar is very proud of the work he does on a regular basis for those in need in Haiti.
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TOP DOCTORS
Vivian Torres
SECOND PRINTING 2021 TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE HONOREES
HONOREE
VENAS VASCULAR SPECIALISTS
Vascular Surgery
6600 University Parkway, Suite 305 Lakewood Ranch, FL | 941.504.8248 myveins@venasvascular.com venasvascular.com
MD
WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART FROM OTHERS?
SPECIALTIES
At VENAS Vascular Specialists, we believe in a patient-centered, holistic and conservative approach to treating vein disease. As a bilingual and board-certified vascular surgeon, Dr. Torres stays up-to-date with the latest advances in vascular procedures and offers in-office minimally invasive treatments that are virtually painless and require little to no downtime. These procedures are covered under most insurance plans, including Medicare. Our ultimate goal is to improve each patient's quality of life by providing compassionate care and giving them tools necessary to live a longer, healthier life and resume activities they enjoy.
• • • • •
Anna Widmyer
HONOREE
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
MD
WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? Plastic surgery has been a lifelong passion for Dr. Widmyer, which helps set her apart in the highly competitive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery field. Dr. Widmyer has a keen eye for asymmetry and is truly dedicated to her patients. Every procedure she performs is preceded by an interactive consultation to answer your questions as well as comprehensive follow up appointments. She believes that everyone is naturally beautiful and unique in their own way. She also understands that most people have insecurities that can hold them back in their life. Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a way to restore form and function, whether you are recovering from cancer, childbirth, massive weight loss, or simply wanting to look as young as you feel. Her purpose is to enhance your natural beauty and to give you the confidence that you need and deserve.
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Vein Disease/Varicose Veins Wound Care Peripheral Arter y Disease Dialysis Access Carotid Arter y Stenosis
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Torres followed in the footsteps of a long lineage of doctors and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine Magna Cum Laude. After completing her Vascular Surgery fellowship in Michigan, Dr. Torres moved to Naples and then to Sarasota to be closer to family. In her spare time, Dr. Torres enjoys paddleboarding, mountain biking and relaxing by the water with family and friends.
ANNA WIDMYER, MD New LWR Location Coming Soon Stay Tuned for More Info | 941.500.3350 1715 Stickney Point Rd. Sarasota, FL 34231 941.927.2447 | drwidmyer.com
SPECIALTIES • • • • •
Breast cancer reconstruction Breast augmentation/mastopexy Abdominoplasty Liposuction Surgical and nonsurgical facial rejuvenation
Dr. Widmyer is originally a native of Delaware and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame followed by medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. She then continued her education with general surgery residency in Allentown, Pennsylvania at Lehigh Valley Health Network and an additional 3 years of plastic surgery training at Summa Health Network in Akron, Ohio. She was recruited into the Lakewood Ranch Community in 2017 for her expertise in breast reconstruction and also offers a variety of cosmetic surgeries including facial, breast and body rejuvenation to help you look and feel your best.
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We greatly appreciate your confidence in the doctors and staff of West Coast Podiatry Center. We remain ever so grateful for the continued referrals from the Manatee and Sarasota county medical communities. We strive every day to give the most comprehensive care to our patients.
Stephen D. Lasday, DPM Alissa Zdancewicz, DPM Eric VonHerbulis, DPM Dustin M. Stroud, DPM Megan Saltzman, DPM
1611 53rd Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9599 | 1961 Floyd St. Suite D, Sarasota, FL 34239 941-366-2627
westcoastpodiatry.com SRQNOV2021-West Coast Podiatry.indd 1
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TOP DOCTORS
RECOGNIZING HONOREES IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES Addiction Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Allergy, Immunology
Oncology
Anesthesiology
Opthalmology
Cardiology
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
specializing in data collection and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers. To create the "top doctors" list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process, also referencing government sources. DataJoe then tallied the votes per category for each doctor to isolate the top nominees in each category. After collecting nominations and additional information, DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had a current, active license status with the state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence of a doctor's current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that doctor was excluded from the list. In addition, any doctor who has been disciplined, up to the time-frame of our review process for an infraction by the state regulatory board, was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to the magazine for its final review and adjustments.
Colo and Rectal Surgery
Otolaryngology:
METHODOLOGY SUMMARY DataJoe Research is a software and research company
Cosmetic Surgery
Ears, Nose & Throat
Dermatology
Pain Management
Diagnostic Radiology
Pathology
Emergency Medicine
Pediatrics General
Endocrinology Diabetes
Physical Medicine and
and Metabolism
Rehabilitation
Family Medicine
Plastic and
Gastroenterology
Reconstructive Surgery
General Surgery
Podiatry
Gynecologic Oncology
Psychiatry
FINAL NOTE We recognize that there are many good doctors who are not shown in this representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding doctors in the region and the results of our research campaign. We take time and energy to ensure fair voting, although we understand that the results of this survey nomination are not an objective metric. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective doctors may not appear on the list.
Hand Surgery
Pulmonology
Hematology
Radiation Oncology
Hospice and Palliative
Rheumatology
Infectious Disease
Sleep Medicine
Internal Medicine
Spine Surgery
Interventional Cardiology
Sports Medicine
Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Surgical Oncology
DISCLAIMERS DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care
Nephrology
Urological
Neurological Surgery
Vascular Surgery
in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe.
Neurology
QUESTIONS For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.
2021
TOP DOCTORS 2021 PEER REVIEW HONOREES
SRQ TOP DOCTORS MEDICAL RESOURCE GUIDE
118 | srq magazine_ JAN22 second printing— 2021top doctors medical guide
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