Florida Cancer fundraiser a success
Dr. Christopher George and Dr. Julio Lautersctain, of The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, co-hosted “50 Shades of Pink” at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
This year’s theme was “The Great Gatsby” and featured flappers, a covert speakeasy, casino games, and live jazz and swing music.
The fundraiser grossed $200,000, with all proceeds going to patient grants. The FCS Foundation provides financial assistance for non-medical living expenses to qualified cancer patients who are currently undergoing treatment in Florida.
For information, contact Terri Gagliardi at or (941) 677-7192.
Hospital receives baby award
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County presented Florida Hospital Zephyrhills with the Baby Steps to Baby Friendly award for enhancing its maternity care practices in support of breast-feeding.
The Baby Steps to Baby Friendly project is a Healthiest Weight Florida Initiative that encourages and recognizes hospitals that offer optimal promotion and support for breast-feeding, including supportive hospital policies and practices, staff education and post-discharge community referrals.
The hospital follows guidelines set in place by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program launched by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition’s Quest for Quality Maternity Care Award.
Arrhythmia Center opens
The Heart Institute at Oak Hill Hospital announced the opening of its Arrhythmia Center on its campus at 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville.
The center will offer patients who are struggling with cardiac arrhythmias an opportunity to receive specialized care, from diagnosis to treatment to education, to help them overcome irregular heartbeats.
Symptoms of arrhythmias can include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, dizziness, heart palpitations, weakness, and sensation of a missed or extra heartbeat.
Volunteer awards
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced the recipients of its third quarter volunteer Star Awards.
Eugene Hausladen, Five Star Award, has accumulated more than 5,000 actual hours and 6,000 merit hours since becoming a volunteer in December 2014. Hausladen volunteers five days a week, for eight hours each day. He has worked in the ER as a concierge, in the lab making up kits or filing pathology slides, and as a courier.
Debbie Hennessy, Five Star, began volunteering in February 2015 at Welcome Center A. She has accumulated more than 2,000 actual life hours and more than 2,700 merit hours. Hennessy also has been the recording secretary of the Volunteer Association, chairperson of the by-laws committee and scheduling chairperson of the courtesy cart drivers.
Rose Santise, Five Star, has been volunteering at Welcome Center A since 2010. She has accumulated more than 2,300 life hours and 3,700 merit hours.
Amanda Stewart, One Star, is a courier with more than five years of service. She has accumulated 935 actual hours and 978 merit hours by running errands in the hospital, and discharging and admitting patients.
Lions Club sight program
The Zephyrhills Lions Club Sight Program will accept applications at 5827 Dean Dairy Road from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The program is open to all Pasco County residents in need of basic eye care. Applicants must bring required documents found online at E-clubhouse.org/sites/zephyrhills/.
For information, call (813) 788-1444.
