MISSION: TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE FOR THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF THE PATIENT. (850) 877-9018 Fax: (850) 878-0218 www.capmed.org
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Russell Cole, M.D., President
John Meade, M.D., President-Elect
Brence Sell, M.D., Secretary/Treasurer
Helen Paulson, M.D., Immediate Past President
Nicholas Farber, M.D.
Candace Gonzalez, M.D.
Narayanan Krishnamoorthy, M.D.
Alexander Loeb, M.D.
Michelle Miller, M.D.
Amy Neal, M.D.
Mary Norton, M.D.
Cassandra Parra-Ferro and Louisa Sellinger, CMS Alliance Co-Presidents
Cielo Rose, D.O.
Enrique Urrea-Mendoza, M.D.
Del Carter, M.D., Family Medicine Resident
Tom Block, MS, Executive Director, CMS
PUBLICATION
EDITOR
Frank Skilling, M.D.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Lauren Trudgeon
MANAGING EDITOR
Shannon Boyle
EDITOR EMERITUS
Charles E. Moore, M.D.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING AN ARTICLE FOR CAP SCAN?
Please contact Shannon Boyle at sboyle@capmed.org. All articles submitted will be reviewed by your peers prior to publishing.
Cap Scan is the official publication of the Capital Medical Society. Advertising in Cap Scan does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the Capital Medical Society nor necessarily imply the accuracy or reliability of any advertisement displayed in this publication.
ADVERTISER INDEX
Capital Eye Consultants PG 8
Episcopal Church of the Advent PG 7
FSU College of Medicine — PG 13
MagMutual PG 13
Right at Home PG 10
Tallahassee Ear, Nose & Throat, P.A. PG 3
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare PG 21
Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic PG 9
The Naumann Group PG 6
CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION HONORS DOCTORS
By Tom Block, CMS Foundation Executive Director
National Doctors’ Day was first observed nearly a century ago in Winder, Georgia, a small-town east of Atlanta that sits less than 300 miles from Tallahassee. Originated by a doctor’s wife, the day provides others the opportunity to recognize and honor doctors who have impacted their lives.
It’s a simple concept that salutes significant impact. Take a moment and reflect on the positive effect doctors have had on your own life.
Now take a moment and reflect on the positive impact doctors in our area have had on countless lives in our community, the Big Bend, the Panhandle, and all of Florida.
A half century ago, our member physicians established a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to operate alongside CMS. Known as the Capital Medical Society Foundation, Inc. since 1981, CMSF is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.
And there is much to celebrate. When it comes to impact, the Foundation’s We Care Network program has coordinated more than $135 million in donated specialty medical and dental care to
low-income, uninsured adult patients from Leon, Jefferson, Gadsden, and Wakulla Counties. In the next couple of years, the Foundation will cross the $1 million threshold in scholarships awarded to local medical students, with an emphasis on rewarding students who plan to practice medicine in our area upon completion of their residency.
These are impressive figures. But we can do more. I ask that as we celebrate doctors this month and CMSF success this year, you consider a gift to the Foundation. Whether it’s to support the prescription costs for a We Care Network patient, or to increase the scholarship awards to our local medical students, it makes a difference.
Let’s acknowledge how much we appreciate our doctors, their excellent healthcare, tireless work ethic, passion, enthusiasm, medical expertise, and their fantastic teamwork.
https://capmed.org/donate/
Margaret Havens Neal, M.D. - 1st
John Elzie, M.D. - 3rd
Terreze M. Gamble, M.D. - 4th
Helen Paulson, M.D. - 4th
David Bellamy, M.D. - 5th
Andrew Wong, M.D. - 5th
Kennessa W. Hugger, M.D. - 6th
Michael Sweeney, M.D. - 6th
Thomas L. Truman, M.D. - 6th
Matt Vermeer, M.D. - 6th
Tommy E. Enoch, M.D. - 7th
Robert L. Lott, M.D. - 8th
Lance M. Garber, M.D. - 9 th
Nancy M. Wright, M.D. - 9 th
Jacob Patrick Henderson, M.D. - 12 th
Aaron Guyer, M.D. - 13th
{MARCH BIRTHDAYS}
Jeremy Maxwell, M.D. - 13th
James Renehan, M.D. - 14th
Clara Barranco, M.D. - 15th
Alma B. Littles, M.D. - 15th
Albert Lee, M.D. - 16th
Stephen L. Sgan, M.D. - 16th
Mary Elizabeth Seay, M.D. - 17th
Gregory D. Perry, M.D. - 19 th
Caulley F. Soto, M.D. - 19 th
John S. Thabes, M.D. - 19 th
Forrest Ray Dolly, M.D. - 20 th
Karen Krueger, M.D. - 20 th
Andras Schaffer, M.D. - 21st
Venkata Bavikati, M.D. - 22nd
Camron Browning, M.D. - 23rd
Andrea D. Friall, M.D. - 23rd
Paul F. Hartsfield, M.D. - 23rd
Brian G. Wilson, M.D. - 23rd
John C. Turner, M.D. - 24th
Charles D. Williams, M.D. - 24th
Eric H. Loevinger, M.D. - 25th
R. Spencer Stoetzel, M.D. - 25th
Angela M. Bradford, M.D. - 26th
Charles E. Moore, M.D. - 27th
Pablo Rengifo-Moreno, M.D. - 27th
Victor Feldbaum, M.D. – 28th
Roland Jones, M.D. - 28th
Jamey Alan Sarvis, M.D. - 28th
Leslie D. Wilson, M.D. - 29 th
Sachin Joseph, M.D. - 30 th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN! DID WE MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY? IF SO, PLEASE EMAIL ROSALIE CARLIN AT RCARLIN@CAPMED.ORG!
{APRIL BIRTHDAYS}
Amy Reimer Neal, M.D., MBA - 3rd
Amir Aboutalebi, M.D. - 4th
Emily Brown Macbeth, M.D. - 4th
Duncan S. Postma, M.D. - 4th
William "Barry" Bradley, M.D. - 6th
Maria Andrews, M.D. - 7th
Laura Harrison, M.D. - 7th
Randy R. Reese, M.D. - 7th
Jesse L. Judelle, M.D. - 9 th
Terry McCoy, M.D. - 10 th
Vikki McKinnie, M.D. - 10 th
Michael Tompkins, M.D. - 11th
Mansukhlal Padalia, M.D. - 12 th
J. Anthony Giralt, M.D. - 13th
David D. Miles, M.D. - 13th
Louis B. St. Petery, M.D. - 14th
Hank Hutchinson, M.D. - 16th
Jongin Julia Baek, M.D. - 20 th
Lisa M. Cook, M.D. - 20 th
I. Wayne Freilich, M.D. - 20 th
R. James Mabry, M.D. - 21st
Jana Bures-Forsthoefel, M.D. - 24th
James A. Davenport, M.D. - 25th
Clifton J. Bailey, M.D. - 27th
Julian E. Hurt, M.D. - 30 th
Douglas Mancuso, M.D. - 30 th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN! DID WE MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY? IF SO, PLEASE EMAIL ROSALIE CARLIN AT RCARLIN@CAPMED.ORG!
Please tell the advertiser you saw their ad in the Cap Scan magazine!
PROFESSIONAL NOTES
In February 2025, Dr. Andrew Borom was elected FMA PAC President for the 2025-2026 election cycle during the FMA Board meeting in Gainesville, FL. Dr. Borom, an orthopedic surgeon exclusively focused on foot and ankle care, has practiced with Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic for 22 years. Congratulations, Dr. Borom!
In March 2025, Dr. Niraj Pandit was appointed as Vice Chair of the HCA Florida Capital Hospital Board of Trustees. He has served on their Board of Trustees since 2019 and is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with HCA Florida Healthcare. Congratulations, Dr. Pandit!
In February 2025, Dr. Lynn Jones was promoted to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Capital Health Plan (CHP). Since joining CHP in 2010, Dr. Jones has played a pivotal role in improving health outcomes and advancing patient care, most recently serving as the Medical Director of Affiliate Network Integration. As CMO, she will lead efforts to enhance health care delivery, implement best practices, and ensure quality, affordable care for CHP’s members. Congratulations, Dr. Jones!
CMS Members: If you receive accolades, please let us know, so we can include you in this section! Email the details to Shannon Boyle at sboyle@capmed.org.
Repair your dry eyes and skin with our innovative solution. It harnesses gentle pulses of light to alleviate dryness and discomfort caused by inflammation, combined with focused energy to increase collagen production, promoting lasting relief and optimal eye comfort for a fresher, youthful look.
On February 19th, Eric E. Cleckler, MSN, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II with The Doctors Company, provided an excellent presentation: Medical Professional Liability Update.
We thank Jihan Cote with Boston Scientific Cardiology ~ Watchman for their partnership of the February 19th Lunch and Learn.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE REMAINING 2025 LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINARS!
Wednesday,
April 16 ~ Workers' Comp and Patient Claims
Wednesday, May 14
Wednesday, June 18
Wednesday, August 20
COMING SOON
Wednesday, September 17
Wednesday, October 15
Wednesday, November 19
Seminars will be held at the Capital Health Plan on Governors Square Blvd. –and we thank CHP for providing this venue.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Rosalie Carlin at (850) 877-9018 or rcarlin@capmed.org.
Cost: $13 per person, per seminar (includes lunch)
VIEW FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE OPERATING TABLE
By Frank Skilling, M.D.
While I was having my latest pre-operative visit with a nurse, I commented that “I now have the experience of being on both sides of the operating table.” Without stretching the reference to Joni Mitchell’s famous song of the same title, I explained that I was a retired eye surgeon, and after years of standing at the head of the operating table, I was now lying down on the table as a patient.
I retired from surgery almost ten years ago primarily because I felt that “it was time,” and I didn’t want to be in the position of eventually being told I had to quit. It wasn’t a hard decision then, and I was fortunate to be able to practice office ophthalmology for another five years until COVID-19 came along and forced restrictions on building capacity.
Staying in Tallahassee was the one demand that I had. Karen and I have lived here since I started my practice in 1978, and we both love the city and our friends. We were able to build a new house that had all the features which could allow us to “age in place,” so we didn’t have to worry about remodeling our previous house.
But I have now developed some of the conditions that are inherent with aging. In the past several years I’ve had surgery on both hands and forearms, a retinal detachment repair, cataract surgery, and a total knee replacement. All surgeries were done in Tallahassee at both hospitals and three of the surgical centers. Fortunately, I was able to have them all as an outpatient, which was a bonus for me, although it placed more stress on my wife. But most importantly, I was able to choose
my surgeon, and that gave me more confidence that things would turn out well.
As a surgeon I’m all too aware of the vagaries of operating on the human body. John Kirklin, M.D., the chairman of surgery at UAB, who I greatly admired when I was a medical student there, always made a pre-op note in his patients’ charts which included the phrase, “The risks and imponderables have been discussed with the patient.” When I was learning to do eye surgery, I came to appreciate that executing a procedure involved controlling as many of the variables as possible. For me now that means choosing the surgeon very carefully, since that is essentially the only variable I can control. After that decision it’s up to the doctor to control the variables, including when and where to perform the procedure.
Years ago, one of the leading cataract surgeons in South Florida made the statement that when an ophthalmologist needed cataract surgery he always chose the best cataract surgeon he knew.
I’ve been cared for by excellent local surgeons and physicians. While I don’t know each one personally now, I know how to find them, and so when I experience “both sides now” I’m confident that everything will go as well as possible.
Aging inevitably brings a new collection of “challenges.” So far, I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to meet them with the help of my fellow surgeons and physicians in Tallahassee.
Dr. Skilling is a retired ophthalmologist. He practiced with Eye Associates of Tallahassee (now Eye Associates of North Florida) from 1978-2020. He also serves as the Cap Scan Editor.
Clerkship faculty are the backbone of the clinical component of our academic program — and we thank them for their unwavering commitment to educating the next generation of health care professionals.
Instead of spending most of their time learning in a traditional academic medical center, seeing only the sickest patients, our students learn one-on-one from community health care professionals in their offices, clinics and other outpatient settings, as well as in area hospitals.
A complete list of our clerkship faculty can be found at med.fsu.edu/directory.
We work hard to help our PolicyOwners avoid the unexpected outcomes that can lead to medical professional liability claims. When one happens, though, we’ll guide you through it – efficiently, attentively and expertly. We use predictive claims analysis to evaluate decades of data we’ve gathered as a leading healthcare liability insurer and develop fact-based recommendations to resolve claims. You’ll be better informed and better prepared. Most important, you’ll see better results.
JITENDRA PADALIA, M.D.
– RECIPIENT OF THE 2025
I.B. HARRISON, M.D. HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Q: What brought you to Tallahassee?
A: I wanted to raise my family in a small community. Tallahassee was the perfect place. I joined Anesthesiology Associates of Tallahassee in July 1979.
Q: How many of your family members are in the medical profession?
Q: Who is the strongest influence in your life?
A: My father (passed away last year at the age of 101) used to say, “life is a race, everyone is looking to finish, sometimes you need to look back and help needy people.” He did this from his small pension money.
A: My wife Kokila holds a psychology degree, daughter-in-law Zarana is a nurse, my son’s Veeral and Vishal involved in ABNB and oysters farming. My extended family has 25 in medicine.
Q: How many charity medical trips have you made to India?
A: 10 charity medical trips. They are usually December 23 - February 15, missing holidays, NFL and college playoffs, Super Bowl, and grandson’s birthday.
Q: Can you give a brief overview of how the charity medical trips work?
A: Initially I selected 5 hospitals, now I go to 2 hospitals, first Upleta Medical Camp (we are major donor) starts around Dec 25 with eye surgeries then full camp. We have volunteers in every department. We have doctors visiting from USA, out of state and residents from nearby medical college. In 2 weeks, we do 5,000 consultations, 250 cataracts surgeries, and 650 general surgeries (including ENT, plastic, OB/GYN, and urology).
After camp I go to Timbi Hospital in the middle of a cotton field. They have 2 full time anesthesiologists, but when I go, they schedule more cases in other rooms. Before end of the trip, I visit my medical school dean for needy projects. So far, we 3 brothers (all anesthesiologists) and alumni friends donated: mammogram machine, CPR training kits, echocardiogram machine, ultrasound machine for nerve block, ventilators, several oxygen concentrators during covid time, setup eye surgery center, 3 dental clinics, laboratory equipment, and consultation rooms outpatient clinics. I am also involved in Mobile Hemoglobin Testing project, premedical students (east coast by doctor foundation-Titusville, FL & west coast by UCLA) medical mission trips to India, cancer prevention awareness, and hospice care. Other projects for my village include clean water, toilets, and planting road side trees. I have also gotten involved in animal care with sponsoring an animal medical/surgical camp for one day, free treatment for 300-400 cows, buffaloes, dogs, cats, dogs, and birds.
MANSUKHLAL PADALIA, M.D. – RECIPIENT OF THE 2025 I.B. HARRISON, M.D. HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Q: What brought you to Tallahassee?
A: My younger brother Jitendra joined the group first, then he invited me to join the group as the new group was expanding fast. I joined as the 7th physician in the group. There were 26 Anesthesiologists and 55 CRNA, AA when I retired.
Q: What inspires you to make charity medical trips to India?
A: My goal was to help my native country. I provided financial help to start the Pharmaceutical college (it is named after my wife, NM Padalia Pharmacy College, Ahmedabad). I also assisted in medical treatment camps, hospital rooms, hostel rooms for college students, community halls, institute for blind and disabled, pilgrimage rest houses, room and food for disabled homes, and food for underprivileged students and peoples. Additionally, I write 100 checks to different charities including TMH and CMS Foundations in USA. I feel India needs more help than the USA as the USA is a rich country.
Q: How many of your family members are in the medical profession?
A: My older son is an internist in Orlando. My younger son is an anesthesiologist with pain management. My daughter is a pharmacist, working as a liaison in a drug company. All undergraduate from FSU and graduate from UF.
Q: What is your favorite meal?
A: My favorite dish is Dhokla (steamed rice, chickpea, and condiments), and Undhiu (mixed vegetable curry with Masala).
Q: Who is the strongest influence in your life?
A: My dad taught me discipline, generosity; my mom taught me to be a good citizen; and my dad's cousin encouraged me to be doctor as there was no doctor in the Padalia Clan.
Q: Is there one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: I love gardening. I plant vegetables, flowers, fruits, spices, sugarcane, grapes, and landscaping. Also, we love to travel. We have visited all 51 states of the USA (including Puerto Rico). And about 60 countries.
WHO WAS I.B. “BUD” HARRISON, M.D.?
By J. Orson Smith, M.D.
Again, this year we will honor a recipient of the I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award. I was asked to tell the many new doctors in this community who Dr. I.B. “Bud” Harrison was. He remains the icon in this community for an intelligent, competent, and compassionate physician. He was also a leader and role model to many family practice physicians.
Bud was 8 years older than I, but we were both Cardiology Fellows under Dr. Bruce Logue at Emory. Dr. Logue was our role model. In 1961, while serving in the Army at Fort McPherson and attending a Cardiology conference at Grady Hospital, Bud approached Bruce to ask if he knew anyone that might join him and Fred Butler in medical practice. Bruce pointed to me and said, “Orson will.” I always did what Dr. Logue told me to do.
The other mechanic said, “Well if it is, he ain’t no good.” Time certainly proved this to be wrong!
In the early 1970’s, Bud had a catfish fin gouge him in the knee and he developed a pseudomonas infection, which led to the need for a Charnley fusion. This made night call very difficult and he took a position as Chief of Medical Affairs at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. This led to the most important contribution of his life, namely, becoming a teacher in the Residency Program.
Dr. I.B. “Bud” Harrison
In 1962, we became Butler, Harrison and Smith, P.A., which after a number of additions and mergers became Southern Medical Group. Bud taught me about dealing with people, just as he later taught his residents. He always said that if you do a good job practicing medicine, the financial portion would fall into place. However, he hated to charge patients. It seemed that everyone had “professional courtesy” or were “no charge.” This was before Medicare and many of his patients were poor. He treated everyone the same.
Bud drove an old car that was always dirty and full of old papers. In 1964, I had saved enough money to put a down payment on a Comet Convertible and was in the Mercury dealership to have a check-up. Bud’s old beat up Mercury was there for repairs. I heard two mechanics discussing the car. One said, “I hear this is a doctor’s car.”
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Whit Oliver’s acceptance speech as he was awarded the 2010 I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award. He shared wonderful insight into Bud’s “make-up.”
“Dr. Harrison was loved by most and respected by all who knew him. When dealing with patients he was compassionate, caring, and totally focused on the patient regardless of their life circumstances. He had a marvelous bedside manner. He always tried to sit on the patient's bed, touch the patients and listen to them, letting them describe their plight, being supportive of their problems. He was an excellent clinician who could synthesize the data and zero in on the diagnosis and management, directing us toward the most efficient way to achieve the best outcome for a particular patient, including the most appropriate consultation or referral for specialty input. He approached problems with common sense and was pragmatic and practical.”
Tallahassee is blessed with an excellent Family Practice community, and I think that will always remain Bud Harrison’s legacy.
Reprinted from the March 2011 Cap Scan.
THOMAS NOEL, M.D. – RECIPIENT OF THE 2025 THOMAS L. HICKS, M.D. OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN AWARD
Q: What led you to choose cardiology as your specialty?
A: Interventional cardiology was a large commitment in time and energy and required quick decision-making in potentially life-threatening situations. This required the utilization of technology in conjunction with manual dexterity. Interventional cardiology allowed for the combination of clinical care in the context of performing advanced procedures.
Q: What do you do when you’re not practicing medicine?
A: Spending time with my wife Farra and my children Jackson, McKenna, and Miles. I also am an average tennis and pickleball player. I am an above average trash-talker however.
Q: Who is the strongest influence in your life?
A: My faith, my father Thomas W. Noel, and my wife Farra, have been the greatest influences on me.
Q: What brought you to Tallahassee?
A: I attended FSU as an undergraduate and met my wife at FSU. I was actively recruited by a colleague, Carlos Hubbard, who had recently moved to Tallahassee and had joined Southern Medical Group.
Q: What is your favorite meal?
A: The older I get the less I care about the food and more about the company in which I enjoy it with.
Q: What are the obstacles you overcame to get where you are now?
A: Overcoming the financial obstacles of attending college was the greatest barrier for me. It was challenging to work during school and compete at the level necessary to become a physician.
Q: What inspired you to become a doctor?
A: I was 16, a close family member had a massive heart attack and died while playing basketball. Watching this moment and the events that followed inspired me to become a physician.
Q: Is there one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: My wife and I married in Las Vegas at the Chapel of Love.
WHAT IS DOCTORS’ DAY? WHY WAS IT FOUNDED?
The first Doctors' Day observance was held on March 30, 1933, by the Barrow County Alliance, in Winder, Georgia. The idea of setting aside a day to honor physicians was conceived by Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, and the recognition occurred on the anniversary of the first administration of anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long in Barrow County, Georgia, in 1842. The Alliance immediately adopted the following resolution:
"WHEREAS the Alliance to the Barrow County Medical Society wishes to pay lasting tribute to the Doctors, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Alliance of the Barrow County Medical Society that March 30, the day that famous Georgian Dr. Crawford W. Long first used ether anesthesia in surgery, be adopted as 'Doctors Day,' the object to be the well-being and honor of the profession, its observance demanding some act of kindness, gift or tribute in remembrance of the Doctors."
This first observance included the mailing of cards to physicians and their wives, flowers placed on graves of deceased doctors, including Dr. Long, and a formal dinner. After the Barrow County Alliance adopted its resolution to pay tribute to the doctors, the plan was presented and passed by the Georgia State Medical Alliance in 1934 in Augusta, Georgia. The resolution was introduced to the Women's Alliance of the Southern Medical Association at its 29th annual meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1935. Since then, Doctors' Day has become an integral part of and synonymous with, the Southern Medical Association Alliance. Through the years, the red carnation has been used as the symbol of Doctors' Day.
On March 30, 1958, the United States House of Representatives adopted a Resolution Commemorating Doctors’ Day. In 1990, Congressmen Mike Parker (D-Mississippi) and G. V. Montgomery (D-Mississippi) and Senator Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) introduced legislation in the House and Senate to establish a national Doctors' Day. Following overwhelming approval by the US Senate and the House, on October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed S.J. RES. #366 (which became Public Law 101-473) designating March 30 as "National Doctors' Day":
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That –
1. March 30, 1991, is designated as "National Doctors' Day"; and 2. The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.
Doctors’ Day is the result of dedicated Alliance members across the country. The enactment of this law enables the citizens of the United States to publicly show appreciation for the role of physicians in caring for the sick, advancing medical knowledge, and promoting good health.
Presented by: Andres Rodriguez, M.D., Digestive Disease Clinic
Capital Medical Society Presidential Installation
OF RUSSELL COLE, M.D.
(L-r) Tom Block, CMS Executive Director; Dr. Russell Cole, 2025 CMS President; Sandy Cole, Dr. Cole’s wife; and Anna Cate, Dr. Cole’s daughter.
Tom Block, CMS Executive Director; Dr. Russell Cole, 2025 CMS President; and Dr. Alma Littles, FSU College of Medicine Dean, Florida Medical Association Vice President, and Keynote Speaker for evening.
and Tom
Please Thank Our Sponsors for their support of the Capital Medical Society Presidential Installation
Title Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Capital Health Plan
Capital Medical Society Foundation
TMH Federal Credit Union Truist Wealth
Event Sponsors
Allegro Senior Living – Tallahassee
Florida Medical Association
KWB Pathology Associates MagMutual
To view the Minutes from this meeting, visit capmed.org and navigate to the “Membership Meetings” tab. If you are viewing Cap Scan electronically, click here.
Dr. Alma Littles performed the installation and administered the Oath of Office for Dr. Russell Cole while Dr. Helen Paulson, CMS Immediate Past President, observed.
(L-r) Dr. Helen Paulson, CMS Immediate Past President; Dr. John Meade, CMS President-Elect; Dr. Russell Cole, 2025 CMS President; Dr. Brence Sell, CMS Secretary/Treasurer;
Block, CMS Executive Director.
(L-r)
13 Past CMS Presidents were present: (l-r) Dr. Helen Paulson, Dr. Sarah Ko, Dr. Kenneth Whithaus, Dr. David Dixon, Dr. Joshua Somerset, Dr. Nancy Loeffler, Dr. Lisa Jernigan, Dr. Marilyn Cox, Dr. Tony Weaver, Dr. Alma Littles, Dr. Terry McCoy, Dr. John Mahoney, and Dr. J. Brian Sheedy.
(L-r) Dr. Russell Cole, 2025 CMS President; Dr. Julia Weeks, Dr. Cole’s friend, colleague, and introducer for the evening; and Tom Block, CMS Executive Director.
CONGRATULATIONS, DR. COLE!
We are proud of your many accomplishments and your dedication to patient care and educating future generations of family medicine physicians.
TB OR NOT TB, THAT IS THE QUESTION (WELL, IT COULD’VE BEEN)
No Question: CMS Trivia Night was a Success
By Tom Block, CMS Executive Director
Nosocomephobia is the fear of what?
Appearing in the original Star Trek series and several films, who is the chief medical officer aboard the USS Enterprise?
What is the smallest skeletal muscle in the human body?
If you answered “hospitals, Dr. Leonard McCoy,” and “the Stapedius” to the above questions, you should make plans now to attend the next CMS Trivia Night.
A great mix of CMS member physicians, family, and friends turned out for CMS Trivia Night, staged at Ology Northside on February 25th. Four rounds of questions—many with a medical slant— were administered by the evening’s host, who himself is the answer to a trivia question:
Question: What Tallahassee-based trivia host appeared in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
Answer: Cody Burger, who played Cousin Rocky Johnson in the classic movie starring Chevy Chase.
The Stat Team featuring CMS President-Elect Dr. John Meade and wife Vicki, and Dr. Colby Redfield and wife Heather were the unofficial champions of the night, as they teamed up to win two of the four trivia rounds. The Smash Doctors, starring CMS President Dr. Russell Cole, Dr. Michelle Miller, Dr. Tom Enoch, Dr. Paul Arons, Dr. Del Carter, and Kristen Mondik also won a round of trivia.
The fourth round winner of the evening was Malpractice Makes Perfect, represented by Drs. Lynndsey and James Parker, Dr. Joey Jarrard and wife Laurie, and Megan and Matthew Bell.
That leaves just one more question: When is the next CMS Trivia Night? TBD, but we will definitely do this again!
CMS Trivia Night at Ology Northside was sponsored by TC Federal Bank. They were represented by Patricia Griffin and Dustin Baker. Thank you, TC Federal Bank!
Test your medical meddle with this round of questions from CMS Trivia Night: “Alphabetical Eponymous Diseases”
1. A common form of dementia, usually beginning in late middle age, characterized by progressive loss of mental ability.
2. Condition cause by excess corticosteroid hormones in the body, characterized by obesity of the trunk and face.
3. Disorder that affects collagen structure and function, forming abnormally weak connective tissues and hyperextensible skin.
4. Autoimmune disease which affects the thyroid, causing it to enlarge and become overactive, with bulging eyes seen in some patients.
5. A type of incurable and fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (en cef a lop a thee) in humans, similar to mad cow disease.
6. Lack of thiamine in the brain causing anterograde amnesia and tendency for confabulation, often seen in chronic alcoholism.
7. Genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance leading to congenital heart defect. Patients share similar physical traits as those with Turner’s Syndrome.
8. Spasms in the sphincter at the opening of the common bile duct into the duodenum, causing pain and jaundice.
9. Childhood developmental disorder almost exclusively affecting girls, who develop stereotypic hand-wringing movements and loss of speech.
10. Genetic disorder with increased prevalence among Ashkenazi Jewish folks where harmful quantities of fatty gangliosides accumulate in the brain.
11. Genetic disorder that is a leading cause of deafblindness, associated with a defective inner ear and degeneration of retinal cells.
12. Common hereditary coagulation abnormality due to lack of an important protein factor needed for proper platelet adhesion
13. Disorder where increased levels of the hormone gastrin are produced, causing the stomach to produce excess hydrochloric acid, often due to a pancreatic or duodenal tumor.
8. Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, 9. Rett Syndrome, 10. Tay-Sachs Disease, 11. Usher Syndrome, 12. Von Willebrand Disease, 13. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Married to Vicki Meade
Medical School: University of Alabama
Walt Colón, D.M.D. Vice-President Dentistry
Periodontal Associates of North Florida
Married to Marybeth Colón
Dental School: University of Kentucky
Brittany Jackson, MHA
Secretary DirectorofLegislativeOperations
Marlisha Edwards, M.D. Family Medicine
Southern Medical Group
Married to Keir Edwards Medical School: Florida State University
Florida Medical Association
Married to Brad Jackson
Undergraduate: Western Kentucky University Masters: Florida Gulf Coast University
David Stewart, M.D.
Treasurer Pathology
KWB Pathology Associates
Married to Gillian Stewart
Medical School: University of New Mexico
Claudia Blackburn, BSN, MPH Retired
Married to Frank McGee
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut Masters: University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston
Lauren Faison-Clark, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Doctors’ Memorial Hospital
Married to Aaron Clark
Undergraduate: Florida State University
Masters: Keiser University
Russell Cole, M.D.
CMSPresident Family Medicine
Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine
Residency Program
Married to Sandy Cole
Medical School: Emory University
J. Alan Cox, Esq.
Attorney
J. Alan Cox Law Office
Married to Tracy Cox
Geryl Forbes, MHA Retired
J. Brian Sheedy, M.D. Hematology/Oncology
Retired
Married to Wende Sheedy
Medical School: State University of Buffalo
Married to John Forbes
Undergraduate: Eastern Michigan University Masters: Strayer University
Paula S. Fortunas, M.A.
Retired, TMH Foundation
Married to Tim Fortunas
Undergraduate: Florida State University Masters: Florida State University
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Law School: Florida State University
Terreze Gamble, M.D.
Family Medicine
Tallahassee Primary Care Associates
Married to Vaughn Samuel
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean
Patricia Holliday, MSW
Retired
Married to Lee Holliday
Undergraduate: Florida State University Masters: Florida State University
David Jones, M.D.
Pediatrics
Capital Health Plan
Married to Dottie Jones
Medical School: Ohio State University
Anthony Speights, M.D.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Florida State University College of Medicine
Married to Heather Speights
John Mahoney, M.D., Emeritus
Pathology
Retired
Medical School: University of South Florida
Jay Walton, D.D.S. Dentistry
Married to Barbara Mahoney
Medical School: University of Florida
Walton & Thomson Dentistry
Married to Susan Walton
Dental School: Emory University
Charles Williams, M.D., Emeritus Radiology
Retired
Married to Pat Williams
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Tom Block, MS
Executive Director
Capital Medical Society Foundation
Married to Laura Block
Undergraduate: Florida State University
Masters: Florida State University
We Thank Our Donors
We thank the following donors who recently made a gift to the CMS Foundation:
Capital Medical Society Foundation – included with their annual dues payment
Ronald D. Ray, M.D.
Capital Medical Society Foundation – Area of Greatest Need
Robin McDougall, LCSW
We Care Network
David Beggs
Dr and Mrs. Terence P. McCoy – In Memory of Molly Ann Mahoney
The CMS Foundation Scholarship Fund
David Bellamy, M.D. – In Memory of Barbara Allen Alexander
David Bellamy, M.D. – In Memory of Judith "Judy" O'Neill Burgert
David Bellamy, M.D. – In Memory of Taylor Elizabeth Long Fishel
David Bellamy, M.D. – In Memory of Robert Mason Snider, M.D.
Capital Medical Society Foundation – FSU College of Medicine Tallahassee Regional Campus Food Pantry Anonymous
Elaine Geissinger – In Honor of Hardworking Medical Students
David Jones, M.D .
The Charles D. “Pedro” Williams, M.D. Scholarship Endowment
Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Williams – In Memory of Calynne Andrews Hill
Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Williams – In Honor of Anna Kaji’s acceptance into the Emory School of Medicine
In October 2024, the CMSF integrated Blackbaud’s Donor Cover into the online gift transaction process. This allows donors to pay fees for their eligible transactions so that their entire gift comes to the foundation for the intended designation, with 100% of the gift amount fully tax deductible. Donor Cover is an optional feature and donors can opt out by unchecking the box before completing their gift transaction.
Gifts may be made by credit card or direct debit at https://capmed.org/donate/, or by check. Checks should be made payable to the CMS Foundation. Indicate on the memo line of your check to which designation you would like to give. Bring your check to the CMS Office or mail it: Capital Medical Society Foundation, 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.
If you would like to discuss a gift of appreciated securities, an insurance policy, designation of retirement plan assets, estate gift, or multi-year pledge, please contact Tom Block at tblock@capmed.org or (850) 321-1648.
SOCIAL WORKERS MAKE THE COMMUNITY A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER PLACE ONE PERSON AT A TIME
By Diana K. Bixler, MPH, We Care Network Program Coordinator
The We Care Network case management team is supported by four case managers, all pursuing social work as a profession. The field of social work is filled with passion, compassion, selflessness, and a desire to improve the lives of others through acts of service. Hear from our case managers in their own words about why they chose this path.
SHONDA DAVIS, MSW
Senior Case Manager and Dental Coordinator
Social work has many forms. We are professionals who are devoted to helping vulnerable populations and communities improve their well-being. We advocate for individuals who don’t have access to the basic things in life. I chose this profession because I am passionate about people. I advocate every day for people by connecting them to resources that are essential for them to have a productive and meaningful life.
“Never, never, be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the wellbeing of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
ASHLEIGH JORDAN,
BSW
Gadsden County Case Manager
Due to my own personal life experiences, I chose to pursue a degree in social work so that I might be able to offer help to those in need. After working for DHHS/Economic Services for 9 years, assisting individuals experiencing food insecurity, I am very passionate about my new endeavor, facilitating case management services that allow uninsured and underinsured members of our community to receive specialty medical services. I hope to continue serving others in this capacity, and I dream that health insurance will be more affordable someday.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
MYRIAM JOSEPH, BSW
Wakulla County Case Manager
From a young age, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. I grew up wanting to be a teacher, but as I began volunteering in the community, I realized I wanted to do more. I chose social work because it allows me to support individuals and communities in meaningful ways. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree at Florida State University with the hope of one day creating my own nonprofit organization. My passion is advocating for those in need, strengthening community resources, and creating lasting change. I hope to make a difference by empowering people and helping build stronger, more resilient communities.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
– Barack Obama
KELLY SMITH, BS
Jefferson County Case Manager
I have worked in many different professions, all involving public service. I have worked as an EMT and a medical assistant in many different specialty areas, such as urology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, and OB/GYN. I worked for the Florida Abuse Hotline, at which time I was there for 2 1/2 years; while working there, my passion grew even stronger to want to help individuals who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. In October 2024, I started at Walden University to obtain my master’s degree as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been working with the We Care Network since January 2025 and absolutely love it. I feel more important in this profession than I have ever felt in any other profession. I am able to assist adult individuals with getting their healthcare needs, thanks to the “Amazing” staff of physicians with the Capital Medical Society Foundation. I hope to one day have my own practice and assist adults and children with their mental health needs.
“There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.”
– Mary Rose McGeady
Monthly Recaps
RECEIVED 402 REFERRALS, WITH 176 PATIENTS NEW TO THE PROGRAM
During the months of December 2024 & January 2025, the We Care Network
$354,970 IN DONATED CARE WAS REPORTED BY WE CARE NETWORK VOLUNTEERS
SCHEDULED 271 APPOINTMENTS WITH VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS
The We Care Network program thanks our referring and donating providers.
To our CMS members and We Care Network partners who provided healthcare to new patients in December 2024 and January 2025, your generosity and support of the We Care Network makes a difference.
To view a detailed list of providers for December 2024 and January 2025, visit capmed.org and navigate to the “We Care Network” tab. If you are viewing Cap Scan electronically, click here
