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Business
Business May 15, 2008 South Bay Hospital, ALS, Brandon Hospital, Busch Gardens
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May 15, 2008 - 1:42:47 PM

South Bay Hospital Honors Outstanding Volunteers
 South Bay Hospital honored the Outstanding Male and Female ­Volunteers of the Year at the annual Volunteer Awards Banquet held in Sun City Center. The award recipients are Information Desk ­Receptionist Maria Musgrove and Patient Transporter Robert Connine.

“It is an honor to be able to recognize these outstanding volunteers,” said Hospital CEO Stephen J. Daugherty during the awards ceremony. “All of our volunteers deserve an award for the great work they do each day to help our patients and their families.”

Maria Musgrove is described as a stranger to no one and confidante to many. She is a conscientious, hard-working and fun-loving individual. Musgrove works two afternoons a week and often comes in extra to cover shifts when her teammates need her. She is one of South Bay Hospital’s original volunteers.

Robert Connine is described as always enthusiastic with a contagious smile and a hug for all he meets. He is well respected and admired by his fellow volunteers. Connine has a great sense of humor and is quick with a joke or funny story. He is a real morale booster. Connine has made a huge impact with the people of South Bay Hospital since becoming a volunteer in 2002.

For more information, call Melissa Morgan at (813) 634-0496.

Robert Betzu, M.D. Named Doctor of the Year
South Bay Hospital is proud to announce that Robert Betzu, M.D. has been selected as the 2008 Doctor of the Year. Originally from New York, Dr. Betzu has been a cardiologist on staff at South Bay Hospital for the past 17 years and currently serves as the chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees.

“Dr. Betzu is an excellent representative of our medical staff,” says Hospital CEO Stephen J. Daugherty. “He is passionate, caring and a true patient advocate. Dr. Betzu is highly respected by our physicians, nurses and staff.”

“The best reflection of Dr. Betzu’s commitment, lies in the continued service and dedication to his patients,” says Angela Reed, Director of the Cardiopulmonary Department.

Together, Dr. Betzu and his wife Natalie have four children; Justin 19, Brian 17, Sarah 17, and Nicole 16. The family enjoys working on ­outdoor projects and is actively involved with church activities.

The top ten nominees for the 2008 Doctor of the Year were Mark ­Alkire, MD; Ashok Dhaduvai, MD; David Goldsberry, MD; Javed Hafeez, MD; A. Ghassan Ksaibati, MD; Sarat Lingam, MD; Benjamin Marquez, MD; Sean Shanahan, DPM; Cecil Sue-Wah-Sing, MD; and Julie Vitko, MD. Nominations were collected from hospital employees, physicians and physicians’ office staff.

For more information, call Melissa Morgan at (813) 634-0496.
  

May is ALS Awareness Month
May is ALS Awareness Month. This month, I am honored to shine a light on the courageous men and women fighting ALS who continue to live life to the fullest. I invite you to join me and thousands of Americans who honor those who, despite the wrath of Lou Gehrig’s Disease, refuse to allow it to triumph.

Throughout ALS Awareness Month, The Association’s ALS Across America national campaign recognizes courageous individuals with ALS and their caregivers who are role models to people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. These special individuals reflect the spirit of the ­organization as they make a positive difference in their community by expanding awareness of ALS and embodying the spirit of living life to the fullest.
Join them this month in their celebration of spirit and fight for a cure today. Visit their website at www.alsa.org to find out all the ways we are honoring those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease during ALS Awareness Month.

        Sincerely,
        Dara Alexander
        Exec. Dir, The ALS Association Florida Chapter

Don, left, allowed Directors David Simms and Toni Peterson, as well as Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Susan Laber, to try out the fun.


The Pancake Man Visits Brandon Hospital
On May 7, “The Pancake Man” Don Hyde, visited Brandon Regional Hospital in honor of Nurses’ Week. Flipping thousands of pancakes for the nurses, staff and volunteers, Don’s talents were the highlight of the week! Other Nurses’ Week festivities included a Cinco de Mayo celebration, Sweets & Treats, Taste of Chocolate and a Fruity Friday.

 For more informaiton, call (813) 792-8558.

Busch Gardens Welcomes New Baby White Rhino
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announces the birth of a male white rhinoceros on May 8. The rhino was born in the night quarters adjacent to their 26-acre white rhino habitat on the Serengeti Plain.

Weighing in at an estimated 100 pounds, the newborn -- who has yet to be named -- is the third calf and first male born to mother Mielani and father Tombo. The October 2004 birth of Mielani and Tombo’s first calf, Malaika, marked the first white rhino birth in the park’s 46-year history. Their second calf, Dakari, was born in August 2006.

Busch Gardens participates in the American Zoological and Aquarium Association (AZA) Special Survival Plan (SSP) to ensure genetic ­diversification among threatened and endangered animals in zoological facilities. The birth brings the total white and black rhino population at the park to 12.

Mielani, Tombo and another female white rhino were airlifted from Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2001 through the efforts of the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of rhinos. According to the IRF, just over 14,5­30 white rhinos remain in the wild, and fewer than 170 live in zoological facilities across North America.

For more information, call Busch Garden’s Public Relations Department at (813)
987-5090 or visit www.buschgardens.com.


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