Page 38 - SFHN March 2021

Researchers Recruiting

for Wearable Device Study MAKINGROUNDS…MAKINGROUNDS…

That Might Help Detect Family Medicine Physician Lisai

COVID-19 Upon Infection Zhang, DO, Joins Cleveland Clinic
Martin Health
BY LISETTE HILTON tem could prompt wear-
ers to get a COVID-19 Cleveland Clinic Martin Health welcomes primary
University of Miami Miller test to confirm results care physician Lisai Zhang, D.O.
School of Medicine from the wearable, then Dr. Zhang earned her Doctor of Osteopathic
researchers are recruiting quarantine with less risk Medicine degree from Des Moines University College
health care workers to study of spreading the virus, of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Family
whether a wearable device, a he said. Medicine Residency at Palm Beach Consortium for
wristwatch, can capture real Miller School Graduate Medical Education, where she also serves as Dr. Lisai Zhang
time data that can be used to researchers have been a Resident-Student Liaison.
alert wearers of subtle physio- among the pioneers in Dr. Zhang’s professional affiliations include the American Academy of Family
logical changes that may indi- conducted National Physicians and American Board of Family Medicine. She has also been involved
cate they have become infect- Institutes of Health with the Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation, providing pediatric cardiac screening
ed with COVID-19. Wristwatch funded trials looking at for the organization.
The goal of the research is wearable devices for var-
to prevent COVID-19 transmission in ious applications. Many of these devices
health care settings by letting wearers capture biometric data, including heart Cleveland Clinic Weston Names
know that they may have been infected rate, skin conductance, temperature, Mariana Berho, MD,
before clinical signs or symptoms of the heart rate variability, sympathetic nerv-
virus start, according to Frank J. Penedo, ous system activation and other markers as Chief of Staff
Ph.D., associate director for Cancer that suggest stress, illness and more in
Survivorship and Translational real world settings. Some studies use the Mariana Berho, M.D., Chairman of the Department
Behavioral Sciences at Sylvester devices to monitor sleep quality, work- of Pathology and Laboratory Services, has been named
Comprehensive Cancer Center and pro- day stress or the body’s reaction to recre- Chief of Staff at Cleveland Clinic Weston. Dr. Berho,
fessor of Psychology and Medicine at the ational activities. who has been with Cleveland Clinic Weston since
Miller School of Medicine. “When you put it all together you 2000, is also Chief Wellness Officer for Cleveland
“The wearable device employs an have a pretty comprehensive set of bio- Clinic's Florida region. Dr. Mariana Berho
algorithm to captures early signs for res- logical data that can give you a picture of Board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology,
piratory infection. We are recruiting 70 how the individual is functioning prior Dr. Berho completed fellowship training in
health care workers who do not have to developing overt symptoms of dis- Immunopathology at the University of Miami and Oncologic Surgical Pathology
COVID-19 and have opted not to get the ease,” Dr. Penedo said. at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, NY.
COVID-19 vaccine. We are asking that This multisite study, funded by the Dr. Berho obtained her medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in
they wear the Empatica E4 watch for 30 U.S. Department of Health and Human Argentina and completed residencies in West Virginia University in
days during non-working hours. Services Biomedical Advanced Research Morgantown, WV, and Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, where she
Participants will also take a daily nasal and Development Authority (BARDA), was Chief Resident. She recently obtained a Masters' Degree in Conflict Analysis
swab to detect whether they have sero- is looking for subtle changes that take and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida.
converted to COVID-19,” Dr. Penedo place in an individual’s physiological During her career, Dr. Berho has had a number of academic appointments
said. “The idea is to be able to pull bio- functioning that might not be noticeable including, Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology at the University of Miami,
metric data such as temperature and but are indicative of being infected with Professor of Biomedical Science at Florida International University, Professor of
heart rate together to see if there is a way the virus, including even slight changes Biomedical Science at Florida Atlantic University, Honorary Clinical Senior
to accurately predict seroconversion to in temperature. Lecturer at University College London.
COVID-19 prior to the development of
clinical symptoms that otherwise might To find out more, health care workers
not be detected.” should call (305) 243-5393
Conceptually, the early warning sys- or email w.chauvel@med.miami.edu.
Accolades Accolades

Cover Story: The Promise

of Vaccines for All Maternity Nurse, Christine

Lowman, Awarded 2020
Continued from page 1 Administration (FDA) have proven to be
With systemic health and social 94-95% effective in preventing serious Nurse of the Year
inequities placing many people of color illness from COVID-19. If you have
at an increased risk of getting sick and questions or hesitations, I encourage you Marking the completion of the first year administering
dying from COVID-19, Broward Health to contact a physician or healthcare the Daisy Award, Palms West Hospital selected Labor and
is working closely with state and local provider you trust to discuss more. Delivery nurse, Christine Lowman, RN, RNC-OB, as recip-
authorities to help ensure safe distribu- It has been almost a year since the first ient of the 2020 Nurse of the Year Daisy Award, following
tion of vaccines to all groups, especially patients in Florida were diagnosed with an overwhelming number of nominations throughout the
people of color. We are committed to COVID-19. We now have the chance to year. A Wellington resident, Christine has been a nurse at
enhancing community access to this life- deploy our most effective tool yet in Palms West Hospital since 2014. Christine Lowman
saving vaccine, as well as providing edu- curbing COVID-19: a vaccine that can
cation to members of our community, return a sense of normalcy. I encourage
enabling them to make the best decision everyone, especially people of color and Holy Cross Health Named
about the vaccine for themselves and those with high-risk health conditions,
their families. to consider receiving a vaccine. While we in the Top 5 in the U.S.
When it comes to the vaccine, safety is are currently only vaccinating communi-
a top priority. The federal approval ty members over the age of 65 and for Shoulder Arthroplasty
process for all vaccines, including those patient-facing healthcare providers, that
protecting against COVID-19, requires will soon change and it will be your turn Holy Cross Health has been recognized as one of the top five hospitals in the
rigorous testing and trials to prove the to receive the vaccine. Please, consider country for shoulder arthroplasty according to Orthopedic News Network.
vaccine is safe and effective, and we have being vaccinated as together we learn As chief of orthopedic surgery and medical director of the Holy Cross
seen the U.S. vaccine safety system effi- from this pandemic and enjoy a healthier Orthopedic Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Jonathan Levy is internationally
ciently and properly work to ensure that future. known for his expertise in treating shoulder injuries by utilizing the latest tech-
all vaccines meet these criteria before nologies in shoulder surgery, offering patients access to cutting-edge techniques
distribution. The vaccines that have been Dr. Shawnette Saddler, Internal Medicine, and solutions and opportunities to participate in four recent FDA trials.
currently approved under emergency use Broward Health Physician Group.
authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug

38 March 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News