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Volume 18 • Issue 4 • $5.00 October 2021

THE REGION’S MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS & PHYSICIANS
OUR 18TH YEAR SERVING THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY!

Steward Health Care Names

Marisela Marrero, MD, as Regional

President for South Florida

BY DANIEL CASCIATO

In September, Steward Health Care named Marisela
Marrero, M.D., as its first Regional President for the
South Florida Region. In her new role, Dr. Marrero over-
sees the five hospitals Steward acquired from Tenet
Healthcare Corporation last month, including North
Francis Afram-Gyening Shore Medical Center, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Dr. Arthur E. Palamara
Hospital, Palmetto General Hospital in Miami-Dade
Camillus Health County, and Florida Medical Center in Broward County. Dante’s 10th
“The opportunity to become market president was a
pivotal one, because it allows me to instill positive Circle of Hell
Concern change in a community that I personally love and have
ties to,” she says. Dr. Marisela Marrero
Receives 5 respond to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, as well as to expand high-quality, BY ARTHUR E. PALAMARA, MD, FACS
Dr. Marrero will also lead the hospitals’ efforts to

In March or April, 1300, as he wan-
CHQR Badges physician-led healthcare to the diverse communities of South Florida. dered through the underworld, Dante
“My primary challenge has been the resurgence of COVID-19,” she says. "Hence,
we are joining forces with all of the stakeholders in our community in an effort to finds himself in a dark woods. Losing his
educate the public on the importance of vaccination.” way, he has to face monsters from classi-
BY LOIS THOMSON In addition to her regional role, Dr. Marrero has served as the new President of cal mythology. As he wandered further
Hialeah Hospital since August. into the underworld, he faces leopards,
"We strive to keep our quality top- Prior to coming to Steward, Dr. Marrero, a Harvard-trained, board certified emer- wolves, and a lion. He is driven back into
notch," said Francis Afram-Gyening, CEO gency room physician, was clinically practicing as an ED physician at North Shore a dark place into which the sun does not
of Camillus Health Concern. CHC is a Medical Center, which included Salem Hospital in Salem, MA and Union Hospital in enter. Dante meets his guide, Virgil, the
community health center whose purpose Lynn MA. Both hospitals were part of Partners Healthcare which is now known as Latin epic poet who will lead him out.
is to help people experiencing homeless- Dante hesitates. Virgil explains that he was
ness and indigent people with health care Continued on page 13 sent by Beatrice, the symbol of divine love,
services, and the organization was recent- Santa Lucia, the symbol of Grace, and
ly awarded five Community Health Oncology... Oncology... Oncology... Oncology... Rachel, the symbol of contemplative life.
Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges. Dante then passes through the gates of
There are 1,400 community health centers hell which bears the inscription “aban-
in the nation, and the badges recognize Mammograms and Breast Cancer don hope, ye who enter here.” Dante and
health center programs that have made his guide Virgil, hear the anguished
notable quality improvement achieve- Screenings Save Lives screams of the uncommitted, the oppor-
ments in the areas of access, quality, health tunists–who were out only for them-
equity, and health information technology. selves, and the cowards. These miscre-
The five badges CHC received were: BY ALIA ABDULLA, DO ants wander around naked in pursuit of
(1) Health Center Quality Leader, their own ever-changing self-interest.
which recognizes health centers that Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diag- Dante wrote this epic poem to describe
improve quality of care and achieve best nosis for women after non-melanoma skin cancer, and it the punishment for sins, immorality, and
overall clinical quality measure perform- continues to be the second leading cause of cancer death transgression of the people and politicians
ance. CHC was within the top 10%. in the United States. According to a 2021 study by the of 14th Century Florence. While no one
(2) Access Enhancer, which recognizes American Cancer Society it is estimated that more than would suggest that COVID-19 is a result of
health centers that increase the total num- 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 49,290 moral turpitude, what doctors and nurses
ber of patients they serve who receive at new cases of non-invasive breast cancer will be diag- face daily, is no less traumatic.
least one comprehensive service (e.g., nosed in women in the U.S. Walking into the ICU corridor, one is
mental health, vision, dental) by at least These numbers are likely to be even higher as many confronted with an imposing series of
5%. CHC showed an increase of nearly women have delayed regular healthcare screenings due long, shiny, aluminum vent pipes that
6%. to the pandemic. A National Institute of Health study Dr. Alia Abdulla appear more suited to a factory than a
(3) Health Disparities Reducer, which shows an alarming decline of nearly 60% in mammogram hospital. They are intended to carry
recognizes centers that meet or exceed screenings last year. As a physician, I am concerned that aerosolized viral particles to the outside
goals in the areas of low birth weight, prolonged delays in screenings will lead to a surge in later-stage cancer diagnosis. where they will be diluted and neutral-
hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes for During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, women should educate them- ized by the sun. The pipes are immediate-
at least one minority group, and demon- selves and understand what to expect in breast health. There is no question that early ly discordant and jarring, although, after
strate at least a 10% improvement in those detection, whether it’s breast cancer or other cancers, saves lives. We all must be in a while, one becomes oblivious to them.
areas. CHC was one of 98 centers to tune with our own bodies. The doors of the individual units are
achieve this, meaning it was in the top 1% closed, on which signs are hung that pro-
Continued on page 10 Continued on page 14 Continued on page 8