Physician Advocacy Since 1873
President’sMessage
Dear ECMS Members,
What an extraordinary year this has been so far! The energy and eng from our physician community has truly exceeded my expectations grateful.
Our events have seen wonderful participation, and it is so rewarding of colleagues who are invested in one another and in this organization That momentum has carried into our advocacy work as well When we put out the call for FMA Annual Meeting delegates this year, the response was overwhelming and that kind of enthusiasm tells me everything I need to know about the state of our local physician community. We are energized, engaged, and ready to make our voices heard.
Our delegates are currently preparing for the FMA Annual Meeting in Orlando the last week of July, and I look forward to sharing an update with the full membership when they return To learn more about getting involved in our advocacy efforts, please reach out to Laura at director@escambiacms.org.
YEARS
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to our ECMS Board of Directors. The time, dedication, and sacrifice that serving on this board requires is something I know firsthand. Their guidance and unwavering commitment make my role as President not just manageable, but genuinely joyful I could not do this without them
And to our sponsors and business partners: thank you. Our events and programs exist because of your financial support and personal investment in this community. I encourage every member to visit escambiacms.org/sponsors to see who is standing behind ECMS and when you need services, whether for your practice or personally, please make it your first stop Supporting the partners who support us is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen our community
As we move into the second half of 2026, I remain so proud of what we are building here.
Thank you for showing up, speaking up, and being part of something worth belonging to.
Best,
Deanna Oleske, MD
2026 ECMS President
2026 ECMS Board President
Deanna Oleske, MD
President Elect
T Alex Edgil, MD Treasurer
Benjamin Abo, DO
Members at Large: Michelle Beasley, MD
Deborah Boland, DO Erin Mayfield, DO
Stephen Slobodian, MD Andres Candela, MD
Anthony G. Pietroniro, MD
ECMS Bulletin
The Bulletin is a publication for and by the members of the Escambia County Medical Society. The Bulletin publishes quarterly with a printed version in December
Mission:
Advancing physicians’ practice of medicine in our community.
View and opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the board of directors, staff or advertisers. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit or reject any submission.
Editors: Ben Abo, DO
Laura Griffin
www escambiacms org
ECMS Calendar
Get the Most Out of Your Membership
Events are one of the best ways to connect with colleagues, stay informed, and experience ECMS in action but they're just one part of what membership offers. Whether you're a regular at our happy hours or haven't made it out yet this year, we're glad you're here. When you're ready, we'd love to see you. Check out what's coming up at escambiacms.org/events and find something that works for you.
Your Community. Your Advocacy. Your Medical Society.
Medicine in Northwest Florida is better when its physicians are connected and that's exactly what ECMS exists to do. We're not just a membership organization. We're your colleagues showing up for you, your voice in the room when policy decisions are being made, and your community when the work gets hard. When you join ECMS, you get:
Free CME
Free confidential wellness coaching through our Physician Wellness Program
20% off employment contract review through Resolve
20% off Practice Management Institute courses
Complimentary notary services
Access to local networking events, membership meetings, and more
A seat at the table in regional and state advocacy
Know a physician who should be part of this? Send us their name and we'll personally reach out. 850.478.0706 | director@escambiacms.org | escambiacms.org/membership
Resident Physicians: Apply for a Free ECMS Membership Through Our Resident Scholar Program
ECMS is proud to introduce the Resident Scholar Program a special designation for resident physicians in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties who are selected to receive a complimentary ECMS membership.
The first 50 residents accepted into the Resident Scholar Program receive a free ECMS membership (a $50/ year value). Apply today and join a growing community of local physicians invested in their profession and their community.
As a Resident Scholar, you'll enjoy all the benefits of full ECMS membership!
Residency is the time to start building your professional community — not after. The relationships you build now will shape your career for years to come, and ECMS is where that starts.
Spots are limited to the first 50 applicants.
Apply now at the link below and invite your fellow residents to do the same! forms.gle/c57rgW9eJatRi5rt9
greekscateringevents.com
Understanding hospice: early integration when prognosis is uncertain
For physicians caring for patients with advanced cancer, progressive pulmonary disease, dementia, or frailty, prognostication remains one of the most challenging – and consequential – clinical skills As Schlögl and colleagues describe, prognosis has been called “medicine’s lost art,”1 yet it is fundamental to aligning medical care with patient goals, values, and preferences When prognostic conversations are delayed or avoided, patients are more likely to receive intensive, burdensome interventions that may not reflect what matters most to them.
Hospice care exists at this critical intersection between prognosis and patient-centered decision-making. Increasingly, evidence and clinical experience suggest that earlier integration of hospice principles – despite uncertainty – can improve quality of life, communication, and care alignment across serious illnesses.
Prognostic uncertainty is the norm – not the exception Modern medicine has complicated prognostication Advances in immunotherapy, targeted treatments, and chronic disease management have created highly variable illness trajectories, particularly in oncology, COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and dementia Functional decline may be nonlinear, punctuated by acute exacerbations or temporary improvements. As a result, clinicians often hesitate to initiate hospice discussions, fearing inaccuracy or loss of hope.
Read more....
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION Foundation
Dear ECMS Members,
ECMS Foundation Board Members
President: Ellen W. McKnight, MD Treasurer: Benjamin Abo, DO Members at Large: Brett Parra, MD Deborah Vigilione, MD Brian Kirby, MD Current ECMS President: Deanna Oleske, MD
What a spring it has been! I am overjoyed to share some great news from the ECMS Foundation, and I hope you are as energized as I am by what our community has accomplished together.
First and foremost we exceeded our April online fundraising goal of $5,000! This is a testament to the generosity of our members and supporters, and every dollar raised goes directly toward the community programs we hold so dear: the Go Seniors! Transportation Program, the BP Cuff Program, and the Physician Wellness Program. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who gave, shared, and cheered us on.
April also brought our very first 1873 Society Soirée, and what a beautiful evening it was. I am so pleased to welcome our newest 1873 Society members: Michelle Gilmore Beasley, MD, Robert Kincaid, MD, and Amy Watson, MD with several more pledged to join! The 1873 Society exists because people believe in the long-term health of this community, and seeing that circle grow is deeply meaningful. If you are interested in learning more about joining, please contact Laura at director@escambiacms.org.
FORYOURSUPPORT
I also want to thank everyone who joined us for our Physician Wellness Event in May Seeing our physicians prioritize their own wellbeing whether on the pickleball courts or simply connecting over good conversation is exactly what this program is all about. Your participation and enthusiasm mean so much, and we are committed to continuing to support all dimensions of physician health and happiness.
To our ECMS Foundation Board Members: thank you. Your dedication, strategic vision, and tireless support make everything we do possible I am honored to serve alongside each of you
Now, looking ahead please save the date for Wednesday, October 29th for our 3rd Annual Health Excellence Awards! We are so excited for this signature event, and this year we are opening nominations a little earlier than usual starting in July to give everyone plenty of time to recognize the outstanding healthcare professionals and initiatives in our community. Watch for the nomination link at escambiacms.org/hea, where you will also find event details and sponsorship information
Speaking of sponsorships we are actively seeking sponsors for this year's Health Excellence Awards, and we would love to have you involved. Please visit escambiacms.org/hea to learn more about available opportunities. Your support makes this celebration of excellence possible.
ECMS-FOUNDATION THANK YOU
Together, we are making a real and lasting difference in the health and wellbeing of Northwest Florida. Thank you for being part of it
Ellen W. McKnight, MD ECMS-Foundation President
SERVING COMMUNITY SUPPORTING PHYSICIANS
Mission of the ECMS-Foundation:
The ECMS-Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare services to those most in need throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, while also supporting the physicians who serve those populations.
OUR PROGRAM & SERVICES
Removing transportation barriers by providing free taxi vouchers to seniors aged 60+, ensuring they can access medical appointments, pharmacies, and lab services throughout Pensacola. Go Seniors! Transportation Program
Providing free blood pressure monitors to underserved patients in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, enabling home health monitoring and preventing cardiac emergencies BP Cuff Program
Providing ECMS members with confidential wellness coaching and support services, helping physicians maintain work-life balance and professional resilience. Physician Wellness Program
Creating positive healthcare experiences through an interactive medical exhibit at the Pensacola Children's Museum, helping children feel comfortable with doctor visits through play-based learning Kid’s Clinic at Pensacola Children’s Museum
In a demanding profession like medicine, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and managing stress are vital.
The Physician Wellness Program (PWP) is a confidential wellness coaching initiative offered exclusively to ECMS members through the ECMS Foundation. Because the challenges of medicine don't stay at the hospital and neither should the support.
What the PWP Offers:
Up to three free sessions per year with a licensed clinical psychologist, covering:
Burnout and work-related stress
Career change decision making
Work-life balance
Family and relationship challenges And more
Complete Confidentiality — Guaranteed
Sessions are entirely confidential There is no insurance billing and no member identification to ECMS. Your privacy is our absolute priority.
Who Can Access the PWP: Available to all active ECMS members and their relatives attending with the member.
How to Get Started: Email patrick@psyassociates.com or call (850) 434-5033 x8. Identify yourself as an ECMS member when scheduling.
The PWP is a program of the ECMS Foundation.
Your wellbeing matters to your patients, your family, and to us.
https://escambiacms.org/PhysicianWellness director@escambiacms.org 850-478-0706
HEALTHCARE CHAMPIONS FUNDING OUR FUTURE
"Investing in the Foundation means investing in the health of our entire community - and supporting the physicians who serve it.",
Ellen W. McKnight, MD - ECMS Foundation President
1873 Society members provide foundational support for the Go Seniors! Transportation Program, the BP Cuff Program, and the Physician Wellness Program serving both patients who need care and the physicians who provide it.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST 1873 SOCIETY MEMBERS!
1873 SOCIETY MEMBERS
Michelle Gilmore Beasley, M.D.
Michelle Brandhorst, M D
Joanne Bujnoski, D.O.
Hillary Hultstrand, M.D.
Robert Kincaid, M.D.
Jack Kotlarz, M.D.
Kurt Krueger, M.D.
Susan Laenger, M.D.
Bach-Uyen Le Thi, M D
Ken Long, M.D.
Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
Jennifer Miley, M.D.
Brett Parra, M D
Jill Prafke, M.D.
Michael Riesberg, M.D.
Robert Sackheim, M D
J. Howell Tiller, M.D.
Amy Watson, M.D.
Steve Ziller, M.D.
The 1873 Society is open to physicians and community members who believe in the long-term health of Northwest Florida. A $3,000 contribution to the ECMS Foundation secures your place in this giving circle and directly funds our community programs.
Give by Check Give Online
Michelle Gilmore Beasley, MD Robert Kincaid, MD Amy Watson, MD
October 29, 2026 5:30pm
Cocktail Reception & Awards Ceremony
2025 Award Recipients
Workplace Health Vanguard Award - Nemours Children's Health
Clinical Excellence Award - Julie Smith, MA, CCC-SLP, HCA Florida West Hospital
Rising Care Award - Grace Sims, Vivid Pathology
Operations Excellence Award - Jessi Truett, PhD
Rising Impact Award - Andrea Wright, Baptist Neurosurgery Department
Heart of the Community Award - Carol "CiCi" Sekhon, MD, Gulf Coast Kids House & Sally Bergosh, Health & Hope Clinic
The ECMS Pinnacle Award - Brent Videau, MD, Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute
Thank you to our 2025 honorees for their dedication to healthcare excellence!
BAPTISTHEALTHCARE
JamesTaylor,D.O.,FACOSJoinsBaptistHeart&VascularInstitute
Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute welcomes board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon James Taylor, D.O., FACOS, to its team. Dr. Taylor has 28 yearsofexperienceandworkswithpatientstodevelopcomprehensivetreatmentplanstomeettheirindividualneeds.
Dr.TaylorearnedhisDoctorofOsteopathicMedicineatDesMoinesUniversityinDesMoines,Iowa,andaBachelorofSciencefromSetonHall UniversityinSouthOrange,NewJersey.Dr.TaylorcompletedhisresidencyingeneralsurgeryatPeninsulaHospitalinQueens,NewYork,and his fellowship in cardiovascular and vascular surgery at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey. Dr. Taylor has 28 yearsofexperienceincardiothoracicsurgeryandisboard-certifiedbytheAmericanBoardofThoracicSurgery.
BaptistHeart&VascularInstituteWelcomesAngelMorrobel,M.D.,FACC
Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute welcomes Angel Morrobel, M.D., FACC, a board-certified cardiologist with over 20 years of experience. He joinsthearea’slargest,mostcomprehensiveheartteam,committedtodeliveringleading-edgecardiovascularcare.
Dr. Morrobel earned his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He completed two residencies in internal medicine. The first at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic, andthesecondatRushUniversityMedicalCenterinChicago,Illinois.
Dr Morrobel has over 20 years of experience in cardiology Dr Morrobel’s professional memberships include the American College of Cardiology,theAmericanSocietyofEchocardiography,theAmericanSocietyofNuclearCardiologyandtheSoutheastSocietyofLipids
BaptistMedicalGroupCelebratesNewPrimaryCareClinicinMilton
BaptistMedicalGroup,anaffiliateofBaptistHealthCare,recentlyhostedanopenhouseandribboncuttingceremonytocelebratetheopening ofitsfirstprimarycarecliniclocationinMilton,Florida.Communitymembers,localleadersandBaptistHealthCareteammembers attended the event to tour the clinic at 4244 Avalon Blvd., and meet the care team led by boardcertified physician Gurwinder Kaur, M.D. The newlocationexpandsaccesstohighqualityprimarycareservicesforfamiliesinSantaRosaCounty.
SANTAROSAMEDICALCENTERCELEBRATESPHYSICIANSONDOCTORSDAY
Santa Rosa Medical Center (SRMC) honored its physician community this Doctors Day with a special awards program selected entirely by SRMCemployees ameaningfultributefromthecolleagueswhoworkalongsidethesephysicianseveryday.
Thefollowingawardswerepresented:
HappyGoLucky Dr Bennett
BestBedsideManner Dr Mohammed
BestatCapturingaTeachingMoment Dr.Foles
ExceptionalListener Dr.Dimick
MostCompassionateERDoctor Dr.Mekesa&Dr.Alshazley
EmergingLeader Dr.Retherford
SurgeonMostFrequentlyOn-TimeforFirstCase Dr.Fletcher
Congratulationstoallhonoreesonthiswell-deservedrecognition
Located in Milton, FL, Santa Rosa Medical Center is a full-service, 129-bed community hospital serving all of Santa Rosa County With more than 200 physicians on staff, SRMC holds accreditations from The Joint Commission, the American College of Cardiology, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and is a verified Level 1 Maternal Care Center. SRMC remains committed to delivering high-quality care and deepeningitsconnectiontothecommunitiesitserves.
ESCAMBIACOUNTYPUBLICSAFTEY
CongratulationstoDr.BenjaminAbo—AppointedCMOofEscambiaCountyPublicSafety
Escambia County Public Safety has appointed Dr. Benjamin Abo as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Abo brings a distinguished background in emergency medicine, emergency medical services, and public health, with broad expertise spanning domestic and international disaster response, technical rescue medicine, and extreme environment care A dedicated educator and physician leader, Dr Abo is committed to advancing the quality, safety, and scope of out-of-hospital care for the communities served by Escambia County His appointment marks an excitingnewchapterforthedepartmentasitcontinuestobuildaworld-classEMSsystem.
ANotetoPhysicians:SpecialNeedsShelterRegistry
Ashurricaneseasonisuponus,areminderaboutanimportantpatientcommunicationstep:ifyouarepre-registeringpatientsintheEscambia CountySpecialNeedsShelterRegistry,pleasebesuretonotifythemthatyouhavedoneso.
The registry exists for planning purposes only and does not automatically initiate services on behalf of registrants meaning patients must take action themselves when evacuations are ordered Many registrants are unaware they've been placed on the list, and that awareness can makeacriticaldifferencewhenastormisapproaching
Afewkeypointstosharewithpatients: Registrationsexpireafteroneyearandmustberenewedontheanniversarydate.
Theregistrydoesnotreserveshelterspaces;thespecialneedsshelterdoesnotacceptreservations TransportationassistancemaybeavailablethroughECAT(850-595-3228)forregisteredindividuals.
Forquestionsabouteligibilityortheregistrationprocess,contacttheFloridaDepartmentofHealthinEscambiaCountyat850-595-6683,ext. 2201, or visit the full resource page here: https://myescambia.com/our-services/public-safety/beready/hurricane-shelters/special-needsshelter
Dr.BenjaminN.Abo,CMO,EscambiaCountyPublicSafety
A Note from the Executive Director
What an incredible spring it has been! Our events calendar has been in full swing, and the energy in our physician community is truly something special. From happy hours to membership meetings to physician wellness events, we've had so much to celebrate together and I've loved every moment of it.
I'm also thrilled to share that our April fundraising efforts for the ECMS Foundation were a tremendous success Your generosity directly supports the programs that make a difference right here in our community, and I'm deeply grateful.
As we head into summer and beyond, I'm already excited about what's ahead. If you've been meaning to come out to an event but haven't made it yet this is your sign! I would love to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones There's no better way to connect with your colleagues and stay engaged with the work we're doing together
Check out our upcoming events at escambiacms.org/events and mark your calendar. I hope to see you soon!
Thank you, as always, for being part of a medical society that truly shows up for one another.
Warmly,
Laura Griffin
Executive
Director,
ECMS & ECMS Foundation
