The East County Observer • MARCH 2012
HEALTH MATTERS
COVER STORY: Lakewood Ranch’s Donna Soda shares her story of lifechanging brain surgery. / 6-7
Health Matters
MARCH 2012
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physician spotlight: Drs. Nicholas & Keri Rowe Drs. Nicholas and Keri Rowe recently opened Rowe Family Chiropractic in Lakewood Ranch. LAKEWOOD RANCH — Dr. Nicholas Rowe endured years of intense pain and discomfort before a lifechanging visit led him to his true calling. After suffering severe migraines for much of his adolescence, Rowe decided to go to a chiropractor as a last resort. The visit changed his life. After seeing the chiropractor, Rowe’s migraines went away. Shortly thereafter, Rowe felt compelled to help others the way his chiropractor had helped him. “I felt a calling early on to lay hands on people,” Rowe says. “I felt pulled to do that.” After earning a bachelor’s degree from Salem State College, Rowe went on to Palmer College of Chiropractic. There, Rowe met his wife, Dr. Keri Rowe, who also felt compelled to help people at a young age. From the time she was in middle school, Keri wanted to be a doctor. But after starting her premedical program, she realized it just wasn’t for her. Then, Keri decided to become a chiropractor.
“I liked it, because there’s a different cause to the problem,” she says. “You’re not just putting a Band-Aid on it. I just liked the whole idea that there’s a different way to help people other than pills and medication. “I love seeing people have hope that didn’t have hope to begin with,” Keri says. “We can go a different route and see them get better without drugs or surgery.” The Rowes earned their doctoral degrees in 2005. Upon graduation, the two moved to Boston, where they spent two years working as associates. The couple then moved to Atlanta, where they spent three-and-one-half years working as independent contractors. “It’s just great watching people get well,” Nicholas says. “We want to take care of the pains and aches, but we also want to create a (sense of) healing and healthy wellbeing that’s uplifting, so you don’t have to worry about aches and pains.” While living in Atlanta, the Rowes began looking into the possibility of following their dream of opening their own
practice. The couple always had envisioned relocating to Florida to be closer to family, and when the opportunity to purchase their practice from another chiropractor presented itself, the couple jumped. The couple recently opened Rowe Family Chiropractic Center on Lake Osprey Drive in Lakewood Ranch. Nicholas already has begun seeing patients, and Keri will join her husband as soon as her Florida license paperwork arrives. “We’re just looking forward to being our own bosses and implementing our own ideas and creativity,” Keri says. “Our focus is family and the focus of our practice is taking care of families. “Our kids were adjusted right when they were born,” she says. “It’s not just paindriven. It’s health-driven. God made you perfect, and we want to keep you that way.” When the Rowes aren’t busy helping other families, the two enjoy spending time with their 2- year-old daughter, Audrey, and 8-month-old daughter, Chloe. — Jen Blanco
Jen Blanco
Drs. Keri and Nicholas Rowe say the focus of their new practice will be helping families.
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MARCH 2012
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health news
New to the Neighborhood By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor LAKEWOOD RANCH — Sarasota Orthopedic Associates will expand its East County presence when it opens a new Lakewood Ranch facility this May. The nearly 5,000-square-foot facility, located 6230 University Parkway, Suite 203, of the HomeBanc Building, will offer comprehensive orthopedic care for both adults and children, physical therapy and more. “We wanted to bring Sarasota Orthopedic Associates on a full scale to enhance the services of orthopedic care in Lakewood Ranch,” says Pilar Von Lazar, marketing director for Sarasota Orthopedic Associates. “Lakewood Ranch is growing, and there’s a need for it. It’s just screaming for it.” With about 60% of its patient population residing in northern Sarasota and Southern Manatee counties — and the majority of those along the Interstate 75 corridor — Lakewood Ranch proved a perfect fit for Sarasota Orthopedic Associates’ patient base. “We have several physicians that live up in that area with their families, and it’s just a need that we knew needed to be filled for the community,” says Lisa Dement, who will serve as the administrator of the Lakewood Ranch office. “It just was a natural fit for us.”
Sarasota Orthopedic Associates will open its new location off University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch this May.
Courtesy photo
Sarasota Orthopedic Associates officials say their new location will be convenient for the majority of their patients. The Lakewood Ranch facility will feature new, digital X-ray machines with a picture archiving and communication system, diagnostic equipment, electronic medical recording and a full physical therapy department. “We’ve made a long-term commitment to the community instead of just subletting space,” Dement says. “We’ve physically put down roots in the community
ALL ROOMS ARE
and are becoming a permanent part of Lakewood Ranch. “It was really important for us to find an equal partner to our original location,” Dement says. “It really is a fully operating fulltime commitment instead of just (doctors) rotating in and out.” The Lakewood Ranch office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and offer Saturday hours or clinics, especially with its close proximity
to the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch. “The sports campus is out there, and that will be a (factor) not just on an emergency need, but for those who just need to be seen,” Dement says. “We’ll evaluate the priorities for us and evaluate the best needs for the community.” All of the different specialties, including sports medicine,
foot and ankle, hand and elbow reconstruction and joint replacement, among others, will be represented at the Lakewood Ranch facility, and the majority of the specialties, with the exception of a hand surgeon, will have a specific doctor that works out of the new office full-time, allowing patients to be seen within 24 hours. “We have a lot of crosspollination,” Von Lazar says. “A patient can always be seen by someone. A large orthopedic group with multiple specialties, which allows any type of patient with any orthopedic needs to be able to come in.” Additionally, all of Sarasota Orthopedic Associates’ physicians have received staff privileges with the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s orthopedic floor. “We really like to partner ourselves with those professionals on the cutting edge,” Dement says. “Our (focus) is getting them back out and playing with their kids and grandkids or their sports.” Sarasota Orthopedic Associates also will continue to operate from its Sarasota office, which is in the process of undergoing a renovation to mirror the new Lakewood Ranch facility. “We’re very much concerned with tying the two locations together,” Dement says. “We want (our patients) to have a familiar feeling when they walk in.” For more information on Sarasota Orthopedic Associates visit the practice’s website, www. SOA.md. Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.
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Health Matters
MARCH 2012
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cover story
On the Brain
East County Realtor Donna Soda had brain surgery in October, several months after a trip to the emergency room revealed she had a tumor composed of blood vessels on her brain. MANATEE COUNTY — Local Realtor Donna Soda had never given a second thought to the severe headaches she had experienced for years. In fact, she always blamed them on sinuses and allergies — until last summer, when she was visiting her sister in California. While at a nail salon, Soda suddenly became violently nauseated, dizzy and experienced blurred vision along with an excruciating headache. The symptoms were so severe — and so unlike anything Soda had experienced — she and her family immediately headed to a local emergency room. “I threw up on the ride to the emergency room,” Soda says. “It was only five minutes. I couldn’t stop.” Because of her symptoms, the E.R. doctor decided to perform a CAT scan. And, hours later, Soda was informed she had a halfdollar-sized mass on her brain — a cavernous hemangioma, a benign, slow-growing vascular lesion. Darkness around it indicated dried blood, and red around it indicated a fresh bleed.
“The recent bleed could have been the cause of my symptoms,” Soda says. “(The doctor) explained that this was common in Mediterranean women, and I’m all Italian. The symptoms start between 40 and 60 years old. It was surreal.” Although Soda’s neurologist, Dr. Rene Sanchez-Mejia, could have performed surgery to remove the hemangioma that morning, Soda opted to get a second and third opinion — which reaffirmed her diagnosis. Although the mass was benign, its removal was imperative to prevent future bleeds, which could cause episodes such as the one Soda first experienced or possibly something more severe. Soda worried something would happen while she was driving, at which time her blurred vision and other symptoms could impact the safety of others. “There was a 100% chance of it bleeding again, but (you can’t predict) the size of the bleed,” Soda says. “If it was significant enough, I could (have gone) paralyzed on my left side. I didn’t want to take that chance.” Soda returned to Sanchez’s care in California in October,
undergoing surgery Oct. 5, 2011, to remove the tumor. The hemangioma will not grow back.
ABOUT HEMANGOMIAS Dr. Mark Best, a pathologist and faculty member at Lake Erie College of Medicine’s Lakewood Ranch campus, says hemangomias are common tumors that can be found throughout the body. If a cavernous hemangioma develops in the gastrointestinal tract, for example, an individual may become anemic or suffer other symptoms. Hemangiomas in the brain or skull, however, can cause symptoms by pressing against something else or by rupturing. “It’s a fairly common type of benign tumor,” Best says. “It depends on the location, as to whether (the hemangioma) causes problems or not.” Hemangiomas found on the brain, he says, can be the most problematic. Neurologist Dr. Andrew Keegan, clinical director for the Roskamp Institute Clinic, agreed, noting the condition also can present itself by causing stroke or seizures.
Pam Eubanks
“The odds are against you if you don’t listen to your body,” Lakewood Ranch resident Donna Soda said. “Listen to your body.” Most cavernous hemangiomas, however, are asymptomatic and are not found until new symptoms develop, he says. “New symptoms are worth evaluating, but they’re not specific to hemagiomas,” he says. “If someone has any new
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symptoms, then she should see her physician. Though that process, they may find a family history of hemangiomas.” Keegan says severe headaches and migraines are not necessarily indicators of hemangiomas, and migraines, in particular, have
By John V. Dunne, MD, FACS Almost 50% of men and women in the US suffer from some type of vein problem – that’s approximately 80 million Americans! Leg veins are the most common and include the larger, sometimes bulging varicose veins and the thinner web-like spider veins. Some people have leg pain or aching which prevents them from doing things they love and most don’t like the way varicose and spider veins look. And some leg veins are a sign of a more serious health problem. Thanks to advancements in technology and phlebology (the study of veins), vein specialists can treat leg veins successfully in-office, with little discomfort and essentially no down time. Therapies beyond exercise and compression stockings that work include: Surface Laser Therapy (for spider veins) The doctor uses a laser to send heat through the skin onto the vein which makes it slowly fade and disappear. Sclerotherapy (for spider and varicose veins) The doctor injects a chemical into the vein with a small needle to force it to seal shut, reabsorb and disappear. Endovenous Laser Ablation (for varicose veins) The doctor inserts a laser fiber into the vein, heating it and causing it to collapse, shrink and disappear. Important things to consider if you are seeking treatment: • Have a board-certified vein specialist examine your legs • Have an ultra-sound evaluation by a registered vascular technician in an accredited vascular laboratory • Ask about insurance - Medicare and most plans cover some vein procedures. • Follow your doctor’s post-treatment advice John V. Dunne of The Vein Center at Erasers is a board-certified vein specialist and vascular/thoracic surgeon in Lakewood Ranch and Sun City Center (established in 1976)
941.907.3400 8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Suite 290, Lakewood Ranch, FL
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By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
MARCH 2012
www.yourobserver.com
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Health Briefs
unique characteristics that are different from those caused by the presence of a hemangioma. Individuals should consult their physician, he says, if new symptoms emerge.
n Blake announces
FULL RECOVERY
Although Soda still has slight swelling from her surgery, she says she cannot believe how differently she feels. Soda used to get severe headaches three or four times a week and have headaches so painful she had to lie down at least twice a month. Since the surgery, however, she hasn’t had severe headaches, Soda says. Her hemangioma likely had been pressing on her sinuses. Now, Soda’s focus now is making others aware of the condition and how it can impact individuals affected by it. “I want to warn women,” Soda says. “If you have an ongoing headache that causes dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, get checked. Demand a CAT scan. These (hemangiomas) are asymptomatic, meaning they are found by accident. They are not sure why these incidents (of bleeding) happen either.” “A lot of women will think it’s something else, but they should look into it,” she says. “It could be much more serious (than they think). You need to be in tune with your body.” And anyone diagnosed with a cavernous hemangioma, particularly on the brain, should make sure his or her family members get checked for it as well, as the condition is sometimes hereditary. Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.
Health Matters
Frist award winners
CAVERNOMAS
Cavernous malformations (cavernomas) are abnormally formed blood vessels that have the appearance of a small mulberry in the brain or spinal cord. The leakage of blood from these malformations may cause significant blood loss (hemorrhage). Cavernous malformations may enlarge slowly as a result of repeated small hemorrhages. Seizures may also occur when the malformation is in the surface layer of the brain (cerebral cortex). — www.mayoclinic.org
MALFORMATIONS
Vascular malformations of the brain and spinal cord have typically been classified into four major types: • Telangiectasias • Cavernous malformations (which include cavernous hemangiomas) • Venous anomalies and arteriovenous malformations
— Neurovascular Center Neurosurgical Service of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Blake Medical Center announced recently employee Erica Johnson and volunteer Leroy Williams as the recipients of the 2011 Frist Humanitarian Awards. Johnson, a human resources assistant, has been with Blake since 2010. In addition to her work at Blake, Johnson is active in the community volunteering her time supporting American Cancer Erica Johnson Society’s Relay for Life, American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, American Heart Association, as well as donating time to the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. Williams has been with Blake since 2008 and has volunteered in various departments including open-heart surgery, general recovery and patient transportation. In addition, Williams was instrumental in developing the Volunteer Orientation Handbook. He is active in the community volunteering his time working for Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread and Meals on Wheels for 14 years. “We are extremely proud to recognize Erica Johnson and
Leroy Williams for their efforts on behalf of our patients and our community,” said Daniel Friedrich, president and chief executive officer. “Their exemplary work and compassion sets a high standard for health-care professionals. We’re proud to have them as part of our Blake family.” The Frist awards were created to recognize one employee and one volunteer at each HCA-affiliated facility who demonstrate extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and their community. The awards are given annually in recognition of the humanitarian spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA. National recipients will be honored in the spring at a reception at the company’s Nashville headquarters.
n Life Care Center
hires physician
Life Care Physician Services LLC, a subsidiary of Life Care Centers of America, recently announced Dr. Joe Walsh as a full-time, on-site physician at Life Care Center of Sarasota. Walsh was hired as part of Life Care’s initiative to place full-time physicians in Life Care Centers of America’s buildings in Florida. In his new position, he will provide patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment, working with the facility team of nurses, dieticians,
therapists and caretakers on behalf of patients. Walsh also will aid in hospital transitions and pharmacy communications, and being onsite will allow him to respond personally to medical changes or emergencies. “I researched the opportunities of the practice in multiple skilled and long-term care facilities and immediately Dr. Joe Walsh appreciated the benefit of staying in one facility for continuity of care,” Walsh said. “I especially enjoy the team atmosphere of our staff and the daily progress I see with our patients. Before entering this new role, Walsh was a physician at Manatee Memorial Hospital for 11 years. He has also practiced family medicine. Walsh earned his doctor of osteopathy degree from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City. He is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians and is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners. Life Care Center of Sarasota 8104 Tuttle Ave., is one of 21 facilities in Florida operated or managed by Life Care Centers of America.
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technology
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Therapy Motions CEO Jim Miller says the adjustability of the eVO Therapy System makes the bike perfect for use in health-care facilities who have patients with a variety of needs. physical limitations or a desire for increased stretching and flexibility. “The application of this product is tremendous,” Miller says.
Miller, who has 30 years experience in the medical products industry, began collaborating with eVO’s originator, Dave Sellers, about three years ago. He and an
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executive management team re-launched the company as Therapy Motions in January 2010, with a more sophisticated product and a new business plan — one that expanded its customer base to include healthcare facilities. “We had to redesign it so it was more adjustable and enhanced it with more features,” Miller says, noting the product now can be adjusted to meet a variety of patient needs. “(Sellers) were selling this product to individuals for home use. We’re doing that, but we’re also taking this product to health care professionals. “People who need equipment at home should feel comfortable that a health care professional would endorse a product,” he says. With this change in marketing strategy, individuals who receive therapy on the eVO machine can become familiar with it in a clinical setting, and then use it comfortably and safely at home to continue their exercise regimen, he says. For more information on Therapy Motions, visit www. therapymotions.com or call (800) 921-5213. Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.
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LAKEWOOD RANCH — Jim Miller knows the benefits of exercise don’t disappear with age or after an accident. That’s why his company, Lakewood Ranch-based Therapy Motions, has found a niche making exercise possible for individuals who may not able to move well, or at all, on their own. Therapy Motions’ eVO Therapy System is a motorized therapy cycle with reciprocating handlebars and foot pedals that are interlinked to provide fullbody, coordinated movement. “That’s the critical difference with this product,” says Miller, Therapy Motion’s CEO. “It emulates the limbs by moving the same way (as in) a walking gate.” The machine also allows for its user to select one of three modes of motion. The user can operate the eVO using only his own strength, or he can set up the machine so it’s smart motor provides slight assistance to aide in movement. Additionally, eVO’s motor can move the user’s arms and legs in a steady safe manner without an effort on their part, making it a great form of exercise for individuals affected by paralysis.
Additionally, the eVO’s seat swivels and can be raised or lowered to make it easy for individuals in wheelchairs to use the product. Miller says the eVO safely provides therapeutic exercise to stroke victims, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease patients, and those affected by spinal cord injuries, hip and knee replacements, paralysis and more. Exercise, he says has been shown to improve range of motion, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular endurance, improve muscle tone and increase stamina, among other benefits for such patients. “The physical action of exercise helps,” Miller says. “It may not make muscle, but it still gives complete body exercise. This reminds your brain of movement. If your muscles don’t move, they get smaller and taut. This helps keep them (flexible and loose).” The eVO also has built-in intelligent resistance technology, so if an individual has the bike set at a certain speed and suddenly has a leg cramp or spasm, for example, the machine will automatically shut down, Miller says. It also is highly adjustable, so individuals can move the seat back and arms to accommodate
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By Pam Eubanks | News Editor
Lakewood Ranch-based Therapy Motions’ eVO Therapy System, a motorized therapy cycle, helps those who cannot move well to still exercise.
MARCH 2012
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Health Matters
7
heart health
Time is Tissue
The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has been using its new 16 Lead (Women-Friendly) EKG for about six months. Heart Attack Signs in Women
• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Note: As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Source: American Heart Association
By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor LAKEWOOD RANCH — Jan Froelich knew all of the warning signs. She had spent years working in the catheterization laboratory and had learned to distinguish the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. At least that’s what she thought. It wasn’t until a woman in near-perfect health came into the emergency room several years ago complaining of a toothache that Froelich learned just how valuable time could be. Froelich administered an EKG and, in doing so, realized the woman was having a heart attack right before her eyes. She called 911 and sent the woman to cath lab, which ultimately saved her life. “That’s why EKGs are so important,” Froelich says. “I tell that story every time I teach a class.” Now as the director of cardiovascular services for the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Froelich is focused on making sure both the hospital’s employees and the general public is aware of the importance of EKGs and maintaining heart healthy living. “Time is tissue,” Froelich says. “We think we are invincible. At 45
(years old), you don’t think you’re going to have a heart attack, but it’s the No. 1 killer of men and women.” Recently, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, an accredited chest-pain center, purchased eight new 16 Lead (Women-Friendly) EKG machines about six months ago. The new machines utilize four additional leads, allowing physicians to see the entire cardiovascular system. In addition, the 16 Lead EKGs also have a software package specifically for women. “I love them,” Froelich says. “They’re small, easy to use for the staff, very compatible, and the technology is superb. “Now when you’re looking at a specific segment, if it’s elevated you can go quickly,” Froelich says. “You’re going to know something’s not right, right away.” Although heart disease is the No. 1 killer among men and women, the signs and symptoms aren’t readily apparent. Unlike men, women don’t typically experience the crushing chest pain, shortness of breath and pain running down one or both arms that are commonly associated with a heart attack. Instead, overwhelming fatigue and flu-like symptoms and nausea or more often linked to
Jen Blanco
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Director of Cardiovascular Services Jan Froelich says she is impressed with the 16 Lead EKG. heart disease in women. With the new EKGs, physicians can indicate if they are doing an EKG on a woman, which triggers the machine to be more sensitive and take a closer look. “It’s really tricky,” Froelich says. “We’re not the same as men. The symptoms are masked in women. That’s why EKG (diagnostics) are so important in women, because the signs are so vague.” With the addition of the new machines, the hospital is hoping to stress the importance of EKGs and value of heart-healthy living, including maintaining an active lifestyle, eating healthy
and watching your weight and cholesterol. “We want to keep you out of the hospital,’ Froelich says. “If an artery is blocked off, it’s really important for us to be able to open the artery in 90 minutes. As soon as we can identify (the problem) and if we can open it (within) 90 minutes, we can save a lot of the muscle. “A lot of people don’t realize how prevalent heart disease is,” Froelich says. “I’d rather have 100 ‘not-rights’ to alert someone then to actually meet someone in the ER.” Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.
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athletic edge
Mental Breakthrough Sarasota resident Joshua Lifrak has been a mental conditioning consultant at IMG Academies since June 2005.
By Jen Blanco | Associate Editor BRADENTON — Joshua Lifrak had been down the same path time and time again. He knew exactly what he needed to do. But as he approached the top of the hill and peered down below at the narrow bridge that was barely the width of his tires, the Sarasota resident was hit with an unexpected case of nerves. Rather than pedaling hard and then coasting across the bridge as he had done countless times before, the New York City native reached the bottom of the hill and froze. A perplexed Lifrak hopped off and carried his mountain bike back up the hill and once again attempted to make it across the bridge. Finally, after the third or fourth trip, Lifrak thought about what he needed to do and pushed his fear aside. “I finally said to myself: ‘You’ve got this. All you’ve got to do is pedal really hard and zoom right across,’” Lifrak says. Lifrak made it across the bridge on his next trip down; and in those first few moments after reaching the other side of the bridge, Lifrak began contemplating what happened and wondered if other athletes had similar experiences.
“I thought, ‘What just happened?’” Lifrak says. “Why was I nervous when I was completely prepared?’ I thought, ‘Is there a field in this?’” It was at that point that Lifrak, who had a degree in sociology from the University of Rhode Island, decided to turn his attention toward mental conditioning. After earning his master’s degree in exercise and sports science from Ithaca University, Lifrak joined the mental conditioning staff at IMG Academies in June 2005. As a mental conditioning consultant, Lifrak, who is one of nine mental conditioning consultants on staff, works with IMG Academies’ more than 800 athletes to help maximize their potential both physically and mentally. The department uses a threetier approach through education, application and support. The mental conditioning staff focuses on educating athletes on the different mental strategies and ways of thinking and then applying those strategies on the courts and fields. “The highest level athletes are the ones that seek us out the most,” Lifrak says. “We have a saying here at (IMG) that says, ‘You don’t have to be sick to get
better.’ We work with individuals who simply want to get any edge they can in the field of athletics and want to get better — whether it’s working on a better attitude, focus or pushing a little harder physically. Attitude, concentration and effort … athletes come seek us out to improve on those aspects.” Lifrak, who works as the mental conditioning coach for tennis, baseball and basketball, spends his days giving lectures and teaching classes, checking in on practices, working with individual clients as well as other professional athletes and groups that might be training at IMG Academies on any given day. “Mental conditioning is part of the fabric of the culture here,” Lifrak says. “I enjoy helping people and giving them the lessons I didn’t know until I started. Seeing their successes, especially those who have moderate ability and then when they have a mental break through where they finally get it — it just puts goose bumps on your arms. “This is a field that people are understanding more and more now,” he says. “It’s a new field that’s really starting to blossom a lot more opportunities as we go (forward).” Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@ yourobserver.com.
Jen Blanco
Joshua Lifrak, of IMG Academies, uses his experience in mental health to assist aspiring athletes.
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Health Matters
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nutrition
The Royalty of Fresh By Molly Schechter | Food Editor Beginner gardening books would have you believe that growing something involves little more than putting a seed in a piece of appropriate earth and giving it food and water. But as any 8-yearold who has ever emptied a packet of carrot seeds will tell you, there is a great deal more to it than that. Move the undertaking up to even a small-scale commercial level, and you have a marvel of complexity. I was reminded of all this in a golf cart ride around King Family Farm, a 104-acre spread in the East County. This family operation grows a dazzling variety of produce with the idea of selling it fresh. The lettuce you buy on Tuesday is picked on Tuesday. (If it doesn’t sell, the price is reduced on Wednesday.) In these days of ethylene-ripened, long-distanceshipped red rocks claiming to be tomatoes, it is a real treat to eat an heirloom variety picked just hours ago. At the King Family Farm market, cards displayed with the produce
tell you how often it is picked, and the farm stand prices will come as a pleasant surprise. No lettuce is more than $2 a head, including beautifully grown red leaf lettuce, Little Gem romaine and an irresistible maroon baby crisp head cultivar called Rhazes. Arugula is $2 a bunch (probably not for much longer — it is getting too warm). Italian and Japanese eggplant are $1.75 per pound. Broccoli is $3; and cauliflower is $3.50 (white and purple). My guide for this tour is Shelby King, who tells me, “Everybody wants ‘baby,’” while taking a phone order from a local chef who wants tender young beet greens. She headed to the fields to find them as I was leaving. The King Family Farm uses sustainable agricultural practices, but it is not organic. This comes not from lack of belief in organic growing practices, which are enthusiastically practiced, but from distaste for the associated politics and, frankly, costs — to the grower and to customers. For many crops, including some two-dozen
heirloom tomato varieties, the farm even saves its own seeds. The heirloom tomatoes are a specialty (you can buy an assortment at Morton’s). Another is peaches; the Kings grow two freestone types and two clingstones. The fruits have just been pruned to eight inches to 10 inches apart for size, and the Kings expect to start harvesting as early as the end of March. They also grow 20 acres of blueberries at a separate location in Myakka City. This is a place of constant learning and experimentation. Ben King (Shelby King’s husband) is in charge. At the moment, he is doing a trial of lettuce growing on “salad tables” raised about 2.5 feet off the ground. The results are fewer bugs, less tip burn and a cleaner head of lettuce, which is a big plus for restaurant chefs. The farm supplies several directly, including Sonia Diner, Ortesia and Sweet Eats in Bradenton; Tommy Klauber’s Polo Grill and Bar in Lakewood Ranch; and Station 400 in Sarasota. The Kings have about one-third of their Bradenton acreage under
Heirloom green plum tomatoes are green when ripe.
Baby round Italian eggplant
Little Gem baby romaine growing in the elevated bed experiment.
The king and queen of fresh: Ben and Shelby King cultivation. Much of the rest is occupied by the homesteads of various family members. The Kings have three children: Lily, 12; Jeb, 10, and Reid, 8. Altogether, there are nine cousins of that generation living on the property. King Family Farm is located at 4630 60th St. E., off State Road 70. Its season typically runs from the third week in October to the second week in June, and the farm market is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The Kings keep bees and sell
Photos by Molly Schechter
Long, thin Japanese eggplant
honey. Their market sells potatoes from Jones Potato Farm, dairy from a farm in Myakka, bread from Bavarian Bread Co. in Sarasota and strawberries from O’Brien Family Farms. On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, there is a mini festival featuring pulled pork and other ’cue, the food products of other local artisans and growers (fresh, of course) and music. Everything seems to grow well at the King Family Farm. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a rare fox squirrel with a big bushy tail.
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MARCH 2012
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alternative medicine
East meets West By Pam Eubanks | News Editor SARASOTA — Dr. Rene Ng knows the body is complex. And at his practice, the Traditional Chinese Medical Solutions Healing Center in Sarasota, Ng’s treatments follow the Chinese philosophy to treat the entire body. The speed of recovery from one injury or illness, he says, largely will depend on how healthy the other systems of the body are, and Ng’s goal is to make each of his patient’s bodies are as healthy as possible. “(For example), the kidney system governs the development of bones, so your bones are weak if your kidneys are weak,” Ng says. “You don’t just focus on one area. “Cancer, (tuberculosis), glaucoma — all of those are symptoms of what’s going on in
WHOLE-BODY TREATMENT Chinese medicine is a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. It is based on the concept of restoring balance and harmony to the body by stimulating the life force energy in the body, called “qi,” and keeping the body’s circulatory and organ and neuromuscular systems in good health.
your body, just like wrinkles,” he says. At his practice, Ng, a nationally board-certified licensed acupuncturist and doctor of oriental medicine, not only is offering services such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy, moxibustion and cupping but also is using oriental medicine specifically to aid in the care of cancer patients. “We try our best to understand the factors that can contribute to people getting cancer — stress, nutrition, suppressed emotions,” Ng says. “At some point in time, a person went from Point A to Point B — from healthy to cancer.” Ng works in coordination with a cancer patient’s oncologist to develop a treatment plan intended to help a patient deal with the emotions of being diagnosed with cancer, to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation and to help the body be as healthy as possible while it fights the disease. Once the cancer goes into remission, Ng then can work with a patient to help ensure the disease does not return. “You create an environment that is not conducive to cancer cells,” Ng says. Although Ng has long been a practitioner of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, his interest in helping cancer patients, specifically, developed in 2005, while studying
Dr. Rene Ng is using oriental medicine to support cancer patients and promote overall health as they battle the disease.
Pam Eubanks
Dr. Rene Ng specializes in using oriental medicine to provide cancer care. He says having a positive attitude is important for beating the disease. under Dr. Ruan Jin Zhao, a renowned acupuncturist who specializes in cancer patient care. “At that time, I saw a lot of miracles in how much (Chinese medicine) did for cancer patients,” Ng says. “In the time I spent with him, it lit the fire in me. From that point on, I knew my calling was helping in this fight against cancer.” In 2008, Ng moved to California,
where he successfully started and ran an integrative Chinese medicine program at a major oncology center. He returned to Sarasota in January 2011 to focus on helping cancer patients locally. With cancer patients, Ng says he also focuses on improving nutrition, as it can severely influence the development of cancer, as well as breathing and improving oxygen
flow within the body. “The key to cancer survival, I feel, comes from the heart,” Ng says. “The best medicine is some kind of combination of East and West medicine, and you must have the will to win.” For more information, visit www. chinesemedicalsolutions.com. Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.
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health/fitness calendar Prepared Childbirth Weekend Crash Course — takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 24 and 25 and May 5 and 6, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Cost is $70. Registration required. 782-2100.
Tues., March 27 Ovarian Cancer: Screening and Detection — takes place at 11 a.m. March 27, at Manatee Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 206 Second St. E. Dr. Stacey South, of Women’s Choice Oncology, PLLC, will discuss signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, as well as screenings and treatment options. Free. RSVP by calling Direct Doctors Plus, 708-8100. Stroke … What You Need to Know — takes place at 4:30 p.m. March 27, at Manatee Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 206 Second St. E. Dr. Ralph Gonzalez, of Bradenton Neurology Inc.; and Christine Gonzalez, RN, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center Coordinator at MMH, will help you understand your risk factors, common symptoms and the latest treatments options available that can improve recovery. Free. RSVP by calling Direct Doctors Plus, 708-8100. There is Light at the End of Carpal Tunnel — takes place at 6:30 p.m. March 27, at Manatee Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 206 Second St. E. Dr. Patrick Grab-
lin, of Grablin Orthopedics, will answer questions regarding carpal tunnel syndrome, its causes and treatment options. Free. RSVP by calling Direct Doctors Plus, 7088100. Xtra TLC — This class, which helps mothers prepare for labor, takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. March 27 and April 25, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Cost is $15, or free for those registered in the Prepared Childbirth Class. Registration required. 782-2100.
WED., March 28 Cancer Support Community Florida Suncoast Health, Happiness and Humor — takes place from 6 p.m. March 28, at McCurdy’s Comedy Club, 3333 N. Tamiami Trail . Cost is $20. 921-5539, Ext. 207. Prepared Childbirth Series — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 28, April 4 and April 11, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Cost is $70. Registration required. 782-2100. Sparks in the Heart — takes place at 5:30 p.m. March 28, at Hyatt Place, Sarasota/Bradenton, 950 University Parkway, Sarasota. Dr. Kenneth Zide, of Bradenton Cardiology Center, will discuss heart rhythm disorders, medications and treatment options at this special event. Free. RSVP by calling Direct Doctors Plus, 708-8100.
THURS., March 29 Childbirth Education: Preview Night — takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 29, April 12 and April 23, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. 7822100.
THURS., April 5 Breast-feeding Class — takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 5, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. 782-2100.
sat., April 14 Baby Care Basics — takes place from 9 a.m. to noon April 14, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Cost is $15. Registration required. 782-2100.
thurs., April 19 Infant CPR — takes place at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 19, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Cost is $10. Registration required. 782-2100.
Sun., April 22 Book Fair — takes place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 22 through 25, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Proceeds benefit the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Auxiliary. 782-2100.
WED., April 25 Cancer Support Community Florida Suncoast Celebration of Hope — takes place at 6 p.m. April 25, at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Ave., Sarasota. Tickets are $200. 921-5539.
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To publicize your event in our calendar, please e-mail your information to Managing Editor Michael Eng, meng@yourobserver.com. Photos are welcome.
ongoing
port Group meetings are held on alternating months. Call 782-2273 for more information.
ALS Association Resource Group — This group meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the first Saturday of each month, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Conference Room 1, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Call 1-888-257-1717, Ext. 130, for information or to make a reservation.
Little Nippers — This group for new parents and their newborns meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Lunch available for $3.50 (optional). Call 782-2229.
Alzheimer’s Association: Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Caregiver Support Group — meets at 11 a.m., the second Wednesday of each month, at Windsor of Lakewood Ranch, 8220 Natures Way. 9079177. Celebrate Recovery —This group meets at 7 p.m., Mondays, at Faith Christian Church, 5215 Lorraine Road; and 7 p.m. Fridays, at Bayside Community Church, 15800 S.R. 64 E. 545-1077 (Faith Christian) or 718-4845 (Bayside). Dance, Tone and Stretch —This class meets at 9 a.m.,Tuesdays and Fridays, at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1201 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota. Gail, 586-3464.
Manasota Fibromyalgia Support Group —This group meets at noon, the first Saturday of each month, at Braden River Branch Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E. 355-8664. Manatee Aging Network — This voluntary coalition of persons representing both profit and not-for-profit health, human and social service organizations and other concerned with aging issues meets at 8:30 a.m., the fourth Tuesday of each month, at Waters Edge of Bradenton, 3132 21st Lane W., Bradenton. 748-7797.
Diabetes Self-Management and Education — This Lakewood Ranch Medical Center program offers monthly support groups and three-day educational classes. Call 782-2123 for information or to make a reservation. Heart Support Groups — Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s Healthy Hearts and Heart Device Sup-
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Health Matters
MARCH 2012
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introducing
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