International scholar visit
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has chosen the Oak Hill Hospital Anesthesiology Residency Program as an international scholar observation site.
Each year, the ASA sponsors three international scholars to participate at the ASA meeting, prior to which the scholars are assigned to different academic centers for clinical observation.
This year, Dr. Gaston Nyirigia was selected as a scholar to observe at Oak Hill with Program Director Dr. Jeffrey Huang.
Dr. Nyirigia is from Rwanda and was chosen to participate in several international training programs throughout North America and Africa, and has co-authored numerous reviews and abstracts.
Dr. Nyirigia received a bachelor’s degree in general medicine at the National University of Rwanda in 2009, and a Master of Medicine in Anesthesia, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine from the University of Rwanda in 2015.
Premier celebrates 40 years of care
Premier Community HealthCare commemorated 40 years of care at its inaugural Premier Community HealthCare Impact Breakfast with community members, policymakers and key leadership.
The celebration reaffirmed Premier’s commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered and accessible health care services to the Pasco and Hernando communities.
The event paid homage to Premier’s 1979 inception, and showcased inspiring community partner sentiments, a resolution presented by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells, a keynote speech by CEO Joey Resnick, and a patient testimony by Christine Collins.
Brewfest raises $28,000
The Fall Brewfest for Hospice, an annual fundraising event to benefit Gulfside Hospice, raised a grand total of $28,000 to support hospice patients.
Gulfside Hospice serves patients in Pasco County as a nonprofit organization, which means that no patient is turned away from needed care due to financial reasons.
“The money raised allows our interdisciplinary team to ensure that everyone in Pasco County is able to receive the quality care they need,” said Linda Ward, president and CEO of Gulfside, in a release.
Approximately 1,000 people attended the event to sample beer and wine from 23 different local breweries and wineries, as well as visit other vendor and sponsor booths.
Entertainment was provided by Stonegrey. Activities included a “Cooler than Cash” cooler drawing, 50/50, and The Giving Wall.
Pasco and Pinellas join initiative
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has announced that Pasco County and Pinellas County have joined the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative to create more dementia-sensitive communities.
According to a DOEA news release, there are more than 15,000 individuals living with probable Alzheimer’s disease in Pasco County, and more than 33,000 in Pinellas County. And, these figures do not include other forms of dementia, nor do they include the tens of thousands of families and caregivers dealing with the ramifications of the disease.
“The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas is proud to establish a Dementia Care and Cure Initiative Task Force to educate the community about dementia and related disorders,” said Ann Marie Winter, executive director for the agency, in a release.
“This task force aims to create a more dementia-caring community, where those living with dementia, their families and caregivers are supported, and have access to help and local resources,” Winter said.
For information, visit ElderAffairs.org.
New medical staff
Access Health Care Physicians has welcomed Dr. Monica Esposito to its medical staff. She will join Dr. David Herndon’s practice at 5500 Little Road in New Port Richey.
Dr. Esposito is board certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment.
She comes to Access Health from completing her family medicine residency at St. Petersburg General Hospital, where she was selected as chief resident in recognition of her leadership skills.
Also joining Access Health is Dr. Johanna Gilbreath Asquith, specializing in infectious diseases, at 14690 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill.
Dr. Asquith comes to Access Health from completing a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
She competed a residency in internal medicine at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, as well as two years of an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Ohio State University.
