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Cover Story: Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Can Assist with Website Accessibility

Continued from page 1 is one hospital that has taken advantage that some users who go to websites are
computer is with keystroke commands of Miami Lighthouse's services. Jacko not able to see the text clearly because
that are interfacing and telling me what's added that statistics show that one out of the font size is too small, or there is not
on the monitor; they enable me to navi- four seniors age 75 or older will have enough contrast between the back-
gate to wherever I need to go. I can read uncorrectable vision loss. "These are ground and foreground. "It's especially
any spreadsheet, I can schedule an your patients," she said, referring to difficult for persons who have color
appointment, I can shop on the internet medical facilities. "People now in their blindness. It's important for website
– as long as the website is compliant with 70s have grown up with computers, so developers to have a color pallet that has
accessibility standards." they expect to be able to schedule high contrast on images." And Jacko clar-
That last phrase – "as long as the web- appointments, not be shut out. So it's not ified, "We're not suggesting that anybody
site is compliant" – is the key, and that's just for the legally blind, it's really for change their branding; the issue is on the
what Miami Lighthouse can assist com- everybody." contrast."
panies in doing. Because some websites The Miami Lighthouse tech team com- As Jacko concluded, "We want people
aren't accessible, lawsuits are being filed prises three members who are visually who are visually impaired to have com-
against businesses under Title III, but impaired; two have degrees in computer plete capability for any technology.
Jacko has a team that is able to put every- science, and one is working toward one. There is no reason why a person can't be Technology is changing, but as long as
thing in place and has helped various Jacko mentioned in particular Bill Rivera, employed as long as the entity has a web- it's properly designed, it can be good for
industries, including hospitals, doctors' who she said "is totally blind just like I site that is compliant, and the person is business and good for employment; and
offices, transportation, entertainment, am, but he is a more powerful IT guy able to run JAWS on the computer. So it's in the health care industry, it can be good
and state and county governments. than anybody I've run into." not only good in terms of people con- for patients."
Accessibility is important in any indus- Rivera said, "I cannot see anything at ducting health-related business on the
try, but using hospitals as an example, all, I have no light perception. To work internet, but it also is good for employ- For more information, visit
she said, "In a hospital, you might need on the computer, I don't use the mouse, I ment." www.miamilighthouse.org/
to make an appointment to get an X-ray, just use the keyboard and a screen reader For people who have limited sight, WebsiteAccessibilityAuditing.asp or call
or for your lab work. Or you may need to program that echoes information on the accessibility may just be a matter of mak- Virginia Jacko at (305) 856-4176.
look at your bill." Jackson Health System computer screen back to me audibly. It's ing a few adjustments. Rivera explained
called JAWS – Job Access With Speech.

Marine Organisms Hold Around the Region… Around

Promise for Treating Triple

Negative Breast Cancer Cleveland Clinic Martin Health

The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface and provide a Announces Chief Operating Officer
rich source of unique, bioactive natural products. Their chemical diversity and
structural complexity represent an untapped supply of potential new drugs, lead Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is pleased to announce
compounds for medicinal chemistry and biological probes to better understand that Christopher Soska, MBA, has joined the leadership
diseases. More than 50 percent of cancer drugs currently used have originated team as Chief Operating Officer. Soska brings 20 years of
from natural products. Cleveland Clinic leadership experience. He has served as
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic System Executive Director, Hospital and Ambulatory
Institute have received $801,000 from the Florida Department of Health’s Operations since August 2018. Soska holds a Master of
Bankhead Coley Cancer Research Program for a project to investigate the use of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College, and
marine natural compounds as potential treatments of triple negative breast can- a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Walsh Christopher Soska
cers. University. He also serves as an executive coach for Cleveland Clinic.
The objective of the project, “Discovery of Marine Natural Products Active
Against Triple Negative Breast Cancers Using 3D-spheroid Cultures; an In Vivo
Relevant Assay Platform,” is to discover compounds from the extensive marine Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
natural products library at FAU Harbor Branch that can induce programmed cell
death (apoptosis) in triple negative breast cancer cells grown as spheroids. Cells Announces Chief Financial Officer
grown as spheroids more closely mimic tumors, and thus compounds identified
through this screening effort are expected to be more easily translated to the Michael Moehring has been appointed Chief Financial
clinic. Officer of Cleveland Clinic Martin Health. Moehring joined
The researchers hope to identify clinically active compounds that will revolu- the Martin Health System finance department in 1993, serv-
tionize treatment regimens and provide more effective treatment options, with ing most recently as Assistant Vice President of Finance and
less side effects, and greater survival rates. The five-year survival rate for triple Reimbursement since 2013. Moehring holds a Master of
negative breast cancers is about 77 percent compared to 93 percent for other Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University
breast cancer types. and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Marietta College. Michael Moehring

VA Sunshine Healthcare Network

Announces New Healthcare
Coming Next Month...
System Director
• Financial, Legal and Business Professionals
The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to
in Healthcare
announce the appointment of Kalautie JangDhari, M.S.P.H.,
• Advances in Medical Technology as the new Director of the Miami VA Healthcare System.
& Medicine JangDhari is currently serving as the Medical Center
Director, West Texas VA Health Care System, VA Medical
•Telemedicine in the Healthcare Delivery System
Center in Big Spring, TX. JangDhari is an associate of the Kalautie JangDhari
• Medical Tourism American College of Healthcare Executives, a life member
Bundled Payments – of the Interagency Institute for Healthcare Executives Alumni Association, a member
of the Leadership VA Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Veterans

Navigating the Challenges to Success Healthcare Administration (VHA) Executive Career Field Program. She serves as a
mentor for the VHA Executive Candidate Development Program and VHA Executive
For advertising information Career Field Program. She earned her Master of Science degree in Public Health,
call Charles Felix at 561-368-6950 Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology,
or email charles@southfloridahospitalnews.com from Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN.

12 June 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News