Diane Smith, vice president of clinical operations at Nathan Adelson Hospice, was appointed to a three-year term on the HealthInsight Nevada board of directors. Smith, an adjunct professor at UNLV, has more than 28 years of experience in health care. HealthInsight is a nonprofit group dedicated to improving health and health care.
Sunrise Hospital is the first in Las Vegas to use the Linx System to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Shawn T. Tsuda is the first Linx-trained surgeon in Southern Nevada. The system uses a small, flexible band of magnets to keep weak esophageal sphincters closed. Additionally, Sunrise is the first hospital in the nation to integrate its electronic medical record software, Meditech, with Walgreens Pharmacy to offer bedside delivery of medications to adult patients.
Dr. Steven Leibowitz, an ophthalmologist, recently completed his fifth medical mission. He traveled to the British West Indies to perform surgeries to treat Graves’ Disease and other tearing conditions. Leibowitz is medical director of the Center for Graves’ Disease at Sunrise Hospital and funds his own missions.
Almost 120 UnitedHealthcare employees packed 4,500 boxes of food at Three Square to provide local people in need 50,000 meals. In addition, Smithfield partnered with Vons, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Speedway Children’s Charities to donate 40,000 pounds of protein to Three Square. City National Bank also partnered with Three Square to support its backpack and food sorting programs. The bank contributed $2,500 to the organization, and a number of City National employees volunteered to sort food and fill backpacks with food.
Dr. Keith Brill is the incoming president of the Clark County Medical Society. He succeeds Dr. George Alexander. Brill works at WellHealth Women’s Specialty Care in the Spring Valley Medical Center. The medical society also awarded several honors during its 59th annual Presidential Installation Dinner. Winners included Ellia Ciammaichella, of Touro University, Student Rising Star award; Zareen Choudhury, of the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Student Rising Star award; and Dr. Joseph Hardy, Harold Lee Feikes, M.D. Memorial Award for outstanding community service.
The Valley Health System, composed of Centennial Hills, Desert Springs, Spring Valley, Summerlin and Valley hospitals, announced several promotions and appointments: Dr. Edwin “Flip” Homansky is regional chief quality officer; Dr. Daniel McBride is regional chief medical officer; Louis Duhe is senior director of information services; Scott Romney is senior director of marketing and business development; Christine Beltran and Lori Harris are advertising directors; Allyson Hoover is director of physician, outreach and governmental relations; and Gretchen Papez is director of public relations and media relations.
Kathryn Bonello is manager of major gifts at Nathan Adelson Hospice. She is responsible for securing donations that support the programs of the hospice. Prior to joining Nathan Adelson Hospice, Bonello was the manager of major gifts at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif. She built and managed a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and donors.
Rod Davis won a President’s Medals from Nevada State College. Davis is senior vice president of Dignity Health’s Nevada operations and president and CEO of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals’ Siena Campus. The medal honors local leaders and philanthropists’ dedication to the college.
Quest Diagnostics and Dignity Health each donated $50,000 of in-kind services to Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada. The money from Quest will pay for lab tests.
Susan Bauman is president of Western Risk Insurance, which serves customers in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah. She has been with the company for 11 years. Bauman is a graduate of UNLV and has two decades of marketing and sales experience.
The Nevada Chiropractic Board received the Earl L. Wiley Outstanding Board Award by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards.
WestCare, a human services and behavioral health nonprofit group, expanded its veterans’ services to include care for patients with post-traumatic stress, brain injuries, sexual trauma, anxiety and depression.
A group of Southern Nevada health care professionals attended the National Association of Health Underwriters’ 83rd annual convention in Atlanta. The health care summit focused on helping insurance professionals adapt to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Attending were: Vickie Mayville, of Mayville Inc.; Larry Harrison and Mike Wied, of Harrison Insurance Agency; Rebecca Purdy, of Distinctive Insurance; Joy Gardner, of Comstock Insurance Agencies; Ken LaRovere, of Word and Brown; Melissa Davies, of Clark and Associates; Emily Maushardt, of United Healthcare; Lydia Boske, of Nevada West Business Insurance; Heidi Sterner, of Health Plan of Nevada/Sierra Health and Life Insurance; and Len Barend, of Barend Agency Inc.
Shannon L. McGrath, MSN, WHNP, has joined the Red Rock Fertility Center and is based at its new location in Henderson. McGrath completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, San Diego and received her master’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University with the highest honors. As a certified women’s health nurse practitioner, McGrath has been working in the field of reproductive endocrinology for 13 years. Her office is located at 870 Seven Hills Drive, Suite 103, Henderson.
Yanné Givens is a community and public relations specialist at the Clark County Medical Society. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from the John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University and a Master’s Degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
The First Person Care Clinic Community Health and Wellness Center medical center held a ribbon cutting and health fair. The center serves uninsured, underinsured, undocumented and refugee patients, as well as Medicaid and Medicare patients. It is located at 1200 S. Fourth Street, Suite 111 in Las Vegas.
Centennial Hills Hospital has been certified by the Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center after an on-site review in March.
Nicholas Vogelzang, an oncologist with the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, was named the 2013 Laureate Award winner by the Nevada chapter of the American College of Physicians. The award honors college fellows who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in medical care and education and service to the community.
Dr. Souzan El-Eid, a surgeon with the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada’s breast surgery division, was recognized by patients as one of “America’s Most Compassionate Doctors.” El-Eid also is medical director of the Breast Care Center at Summerlin Hospital. She was recognized for the care she provides, as well as her bedside manner, face time and follow-up care.
Dr. Rupesh Parikh, a medical oncologist with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, has been recognized by HealthTap as one of the “Top Oncologists in the United States.” The award recognizes Parikh for assisting more than 103,000 people on HealthTap and represents the highest distinction for his expertise. HealthTap is dedicated to improving people’s health and well-being by providing users with personalized health information and free online and mobile answers. The site boasts more than 1.2 million physician profiles.
Dr. Mary Ann Allison, a medical oncologist and founding member of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, received the 2013 Commitment to Health Award from the United Way of Southern Nevada’s Women’s Leadership Council.
HealthCare Partners Nevada, a physician-run network of primary, specialty and urgent care providers, received certification in utilization management and credentialing from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. HealthCare Partners also received an “Institution of Excellence” award during the Señoras of Excellence and Señores of Distinction Awards Gala. The annual event, presented by the Foundation for Excellence and Distinction, recognizes people and groups who help improve the community.
HealthCare Partners Medical Group acquired the Nevada Cancer Centers, an outpatient oncology and hematology practice with four locations in Southern Nevada. The practice becomes HealthCare Partners Medical Group Oncology/Hematology. Its 60 employees will continue to provide patients with advanced cancer treatments, screenings and tests.
HealthCare Partners Nevada acquired Las Vegas Solari Hospice Care. HealthCare Partners and Solari Hospice Care will continue to operate independently, with Solari retaining its name, branding and 130 employees. Although Solari also provides hospice care in Houston, the deal was limited to the company’s Las Vegas division.
HealthCare Partners Medical Group donated a supply of flu vaccine to Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit group that treats uninsured patients who don’t qualify for government assistance programs.
Family care provider Dr. Sunita Kalra, has joined HealthCare Partners Medical Group. Kalra, a board-certified family physician, sees patients at the West Charleston clinic at 9499 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 150, Las Vegas.
Dr. Lara Wenner, a primary care provider, and Dr. Jay Patel, a cardiologist, joined HealthCare Partners Medical Group. Wenner, a family physician, serves patients at 3960 W. Craig Road, Suite 101, North Las Vegas. Patel will continue to see patients in his office at 4275 S. Burnham Ave., Suite 335, Las Vegas. However, the clinic’s name has changed to HealthCare Partners Burnham Cardiology.
Primary care physician Dr. Richard King joined HealthCare Partners, seeing patients at 129 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Suite 10, Henderson. King received his medical degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa, and has practiced in Southern Nevada for more than 15 years.