PHSC grads celebrate success
NEW PORT RICHEY – Kendall Childers is set to graduate from Pasco-Hernando State College on May 8 with her Associate in Science degree in nursing, earning her qualifications as a registered nurse.
Childers is from Dunnellon and moved to Tampa in 2020, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of South Florida. During her studies at USF, she learned her passion lay in nursing.
“Choosing to attend Pasco-Hernando State College’s Registered Nurse program was an easy decision, thanks to the program’s strong reputation and the supportive learning environment,” Childers said. “I’m incredibly thankful for the knowledge, guidance, and clinical experiences I’ve gained throughout my time at PHSC.”
She is moving forward with her career goals and has already accepted a position at Tampa General Hospital, where she plans to work in the transplant unit. At the same time, she is planning to continue her education this fall at PHSC to earn her Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Childers is one of two student speakers during commencement. The other is Sarah Summers, a dual enrollment student from Zephyrhills High School.
Summers has been in dual enrollment since her sophomore year, but this last year she became the collegewide president for Phi Theta Kappa and the secretary in the Student Government Association at PHSC.
“I have learned a lot through these programs, and it is an honor to be a commencement speaker,” Summers said.
Hospital builds beds for kids
PALM HARBOR – Volunteers from AdventHealth North Pinellas joined forces with the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children in need across Pinellas County.
The bed build event took place April 25 at Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation.
According to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, 7,361 children in the Tampa area are sleeping without beds. Over the years, the organization has delivered 4,428 beds to families in need across Tampa Bay.
“Last year, AdventHealth volunteers built beds for more than 50 children who had been sleeping on floors,” said Andrew Santos, hospital CEO. “This bed build is one of the ways we can show our support for our North Pinellas community, and it goes a long way in making both our team and our community feel whole.”
Initiative trains hospice and palliative care nurses
TAMPA – The University of South Florida College of Nursing and Empath Health are partnering to invest in the next generation of hospice and palliative care nurses through the state’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education funding initiative.
The collaboration will provide $10,000 scholarships to three Accelerated Second Degree students – Brianna Barton, Jaelynn Burton and Brianna Temes – helping complete their final semester and join Florida’s nursing workforce.
While hospice is often viewed as simply “end-of-life care,” Empath Health is working to redefine it as “Full Life Care”—a holistic, patient- and family-centered approach that emphasizes dignity, comfort and quality of life at every stage.
On the web: empathhealth.org
Caucus focuses on American-made medicines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and others have launched the American-Made Medicines Caucus.
The group promotes policies to onshore and friendshore pharmaceutical manufacturing as well as reduce America’s reliance on adversarial countries for essential medications.
The U.S. imports 90% of all generic drugs and ran a $127 billion trade deficit in pharmaceuticals in 2024.
“With our overwhelming reliance on Chinese pharmaceutical products and ingredients, it’s imperative that we find ways to increase domestic manufacturing capacity and preserve consumer access to these important and lifesaving products,” Bilirakis said. “Public health and wellness should not depend on our foreign adversaries and I look forward to finding ways to address this threat through the caucus.”
BayCare breaks ground
Quick Hits
- HART has unveiled a new Autism Awareness wrapped bus. The bus will remain in service for an entire year to promote awareness and inclusion throughout the community.
- BayCare broke ground April 30 on BayCare Hospital Manatee, its 17th hospital, and BayCare HealthHub (Manatee). The $563 million hospital is expected to open in 2028 with 154 beds.
- AdventHealth Lake Wales Wound Care Center has been honored with three awards by Healogics: the President’s Circle Award, the Center of Distinction Award and the Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Clinical Excellence Award.
