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Microbiologist Dr. Greg Smith is the featured speaker Tuesday, November 7 for the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition’s Evening Lecture Series. And you won’t want to miss it!

Dr. Greg Smith went from learning to code a computer to studying a virus that recodes itself.

“When I was in elementary school, my father bought me an Apple II computer and told me to program my own games,” says Smith, an associate professor of microbiology-immunology at Chicagobased Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Programming that computer taught me to think in a logical, progressive way. And writing code that made the computer respond made me think about life’s code.”

Always interested in science, the next logical step was a career in microbiology.

“I wanted to learn what is the code making life work,” says Smith, who earned his post-doctoral degrees at Princeton University and earned his doctorate from Pennsylvania University. “The main focus of my graduate school work was initially microbes. At that time, I dismissed viruses as simple entities.”

But that changed when Smith attended a lecture on viruses given by Lynn Enquist, a

By JoAnn Guidry

Princeton University professor.

“Dr. Enquist asked the question of how do larger, more complex viruses get into our nervous system,” says Smith. “That’s when I realized that viruses are not simple entities but complex, highly adaptive ones. And that changed my career path.”

The main focus of Smith’s research is the three herpes viruses that get into our nervous system: herpes simplex I (cold sores), herpes simplex II (genital lesions) and varicella-zoster (chicken pox). The focus of his IHMC lecture will be: “What Are We Learning From A Virus That Reprograms Itself?”

“Viruses are small nanomachines that are genetically derived. They replicate and then disseminate,” says Smith. “The herpes virus evolved to get into the central nervous system. There, it goes dormant so your immune system won’t see it and attack it.” population is infected with it, many people never even know it.” Stress can reactivate the herpes virus, and Smith says that “cold sores are the most common manifestation, but the virus can transmit into the eye, causing blindness, and into the brain, causing encephalitis.”

Smith notes that “the herpes simplex I virus is so good at this deception that even though roughly 80 percent of the U.S.

The herpes virus’ ability to adapt makes Smith’s research very challenging.

“Our bodies are not going to develop a way to protect us from the herpes virus,” says Smith. “So our research is focused on studying how to gather beneficial genetic information and develop a vaccine.”

EVENING LECTURE SERIES › Dr. Greg Smith, associate professor of microbiology-immunology › Tuesday, November 7, 6-7pm › (352) 387-3050 › ihmc.us

Oak Hill Hospital recently held its first commencement ceremony for its Graduate Medical Education program (GME) in internal medicine. All 10 graduates who began in 2014 were honored with graduation certificates presented by Dr. Salman Muddassir. Three of the graduating physicians will remain at Oak Hill Hospital, and an additional six will be practicing within 60 miles of Oak Hill Hospital.

“The fact that we have been able to retain nine out of the 10 residents in the state of Florida proves the success of our program in attracting and retaining highly qualified medical practitioners in the Tampa Bay area,” said Salman Muddassir, MD, the program’s director.

Ocala Neurosurgical Center (ONC) recently added neurosurgeon Jacob Freeman, MD, to its surgical team. ONC, which has been serving patients and referring physicians throughout Marion County and The Villages for more than two decades, delivers diagnoses and treatment of brain and spinal diseases and disorders, including brain tumor, spinal pain and stenosis, motions syndromes and other neurological issues.

“I chose ONC because the surgeons are of the highest character. They are known for both quality of care and surgical expertise,” says Dr. Freeman. “I’m able to add to ONC’s services and establish comprehensive, state-of-the-art tumor treatment here in Central Florida that will help deliver the best outcome to patients needing cranial operations.”

In early August, Ocala Health expanded its minimally invasive surgery program with the addition of the da Vinci Xi® Surgical System from Intuitive Surgical. Ocala

Health’s use of the da Vinci Xi demonstrates the various surgical capabilities with this new technology, including general, gynecologic and urologic surgery. With real-time high definition, three-dimensional video and smaller, more versatile robotic arms, Ocala Health’s physicians and robotics team are able to provide a surgical experience with less pain, smaller incisions, less time in the hospital and quicker return to regular activities.

“We are dedicated to bringing the latest technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques to our community. With the addition of the da Vinci Xi system, our team facilitated surgeries for general surgery, gynecology and urology. The cases we’ve performed show the various capabilities of our physicians and our robotics team,” says Chad Christianson, Ocala Health CEO.

Radiology Associates of Ocala (RAO) recently added another doctor to its team of board-certified radiologists. Diagnostic and vascular and interventional radiologist Jaime L. Abesada, MD, is RAO’s newest member, boosting the practice’s number of radiologists to 20.

“I’m proud to be part of the RAO team and grateful to have the opportunity to bring my experience to the local community,” Dr. Abesada says. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues and assisting patients with their ongoing health, comfort and vitality.”