Six faculty members from the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville are among the 22 medical professionals honored as Jacksonville Business Journal’s 2009 Health Care Heroes. The weekly newspaper annually recognizes physicians, nurses and scientists who make extraordinary efforts to improve health care and save lives. They were honored Nov. 5 at a breakfast in the Jacksonville Marriott. The awards showcased the college of medicine’s involvement with hospitals and other health care facilities throughout Northeast Florida. The UF honorees are:
Lifetime Achievement:
Dr. Hector James, a professor in the department of neurosurgery and chief of the division of pediatric neurosurgery
Also chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, James was honored for building the region’s first pediatric neurosurgery program, for his strategic role in Wolfson receiving $5 million from the Lucy Gooding Charitable Foundation Trust to provide services to children and for developing multidisciplinary treatment programs for children with such conditions as spina bifida and epilepsy. Surgeons perform about 30 procedures a month on children who previously would have had to go elsewhere.
Pediatrics:
Dr. Mobeen Rathore, a professor and associate chair in the department of pediatrics, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases and immunology and chief of the division of general academic and hospitalist pediatrics
A clinician, hospital epidemiologist and researcher, Rathore was recognized for leading Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s response to the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, which has killed about 4,000 people in the United States this season. He also is widely respected for his HIV research and treatment and his significant part in building UFCOM-Jacksonville’s department of pediatrics.
Dr. Eric Ceithaml, an associate professor in the department of surgery and chief of the division of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery
Ceithaml was honored for his exceptional dedication to an Afghan child who had heart surgery at Wolfson Children’s Hospital through Patrons of the Hearts, a non-profit organization that provides treatment for children around the world with life-threatening heart conditions. A Patrons of the Hearts leader, Ceithaml is helping to resurrect the Korean Heart Program for pediatric patients.
Surgeon:
Dr. Eric Frykberg, a professor in the department of surgery and chief of the division of general surgery
Recognized nationwide as an expert on mass casualty care and disaster management, Frykberg has been educating health care providers on emergency preparation for a quarter of a century. As a young Navy surgeon in 1983, he cared for victims of the suicide bombing at the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, a tragedy that influenced his medical career. Since then, he has been teaching disaster management. Three years ago he developed a course on mass casualty care through the American College of Surgery that has been given 50 times throughout the country.
Physician:
Dr. Lyndon Box, an assistant professor in the department of medicine, division of cardiology
Regarded as a problem-solver who challenges his staff to excel in health care, Box is a hero in the race to save people who are having major heart attacks. Head of the STEMI heart attack program, he led the efforts to cut the time from identification to treatment by more than half. Opening the artery quickly is critical to stopping a major heart attack. Through STEMI, paramedics learn how to identify patients having major attacks and teams of professionals coordinate efforts to rush them to hospitals for surgery.
Community Service:
Dr. Joan Huffman, an assistant professor in the department of surgery, division of acute care surgery
A trauma surgeon, Huffman was honored for her dedication to teaching physicians, students and the community about domestic violence prevention and end-of-life care. Having suffered child abuse and intimate partner violence, Huffman speaks to groups about her experiences and serves on the board of Hubbard House, a local domestic violence shelter. She also is passionate about end-of-life care as a result of seeing surgery patients and families struggle with various issues. She serves on the ethics committee at Shands Jacksonville and is involved nationally with organ donations.
Dr. Nicholas Dodaro, founder and chief physician at Crucial Care, an acute care clinic
Dodaro, an emergency medical physician, has served as medical adviser to the Northeast Florida American Red Cross for six years. In addition to being on call during disasters, Dodaro provides continuous leadership and expertise to staff, volunteers and families in need. Red Cross officials use his recommendations to shape policies and procedures, including developing a response plan for the current H1N1 pandemic.