18BB
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020
BUSINESS REPORT
Black-owned Businesses Making History in South Florida
BY BEATRICE LOUISSAINT
Small businesses, particularly minorityowned businesses, are fueling South Florida’s economy. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s applaud the successes of these black-owned businesses making history, and support blackowned companies by doing business and partnering with them. 2Lyons Aerospace is a certified distributor of aviation parts domestically and internationally with customers in
South America, Indonesia, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and other countries. Firm President Mike Cantave, a commercial pilot for a major airline, started the company in 2014. Cantave has more than 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, including managing the FedEx location in Fort Lauderdale. 2Lyons Aerospace ensures that customers receive the highest-quality aviation spare parts possible by utilizing only FAA certified repair stations that meet the most stringent quality standards and ISO/ASA certification requirements. www.2lyonsaero.com DeEtta Jones and Associates is a leading management consulting and training company that has been in business for more than 15 years. The firm specializes in equity, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, and individual and organizational transformation. The company’s founder and principal, DeEtta Jones has 25 years of experience guiding people and organizations through the process of fundamental change. Jones’ years of experience as a management consultant and trainer have turned her into one of the
most sought-after speakers and consultants in her field. Clients include higher education institutions, nonprofits, financial services firms, advertising companies and healthcare organizations. www. deettajones.com Dr. Angelo P. Thrower is a medical doctor specializing in ethnic skin and hair conditions. He opened his private practice more than 25 years ago. Thrower formulated the Dr. Thrower Skin Type Specific care products and authored three textbooks covering skin and hair care for ethnic skin. Since 1992, he has also served as one of the team physicians for the NBA’s Miami Heat. Thrower is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine and George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His over-the-counter products are sold in his practice, in beauty supply stores and online. Thrower also created the Thro-Grower Rx Hair Regrowth products, which are scalp-friendly for all hair types. www.drthrowerskincare.com Imaginart Media Productions, a marketing and production company, offers services in Caribbean communities throughout the United States, Canada and
the Caribbean Islands. The company is a one-stop shop for audio/video production services, including TV and radio commercials. Additionally, the firm helps its clients develop and expand their media presence by developing and executing promotional campaigns tailored to targeted customers through local or national print, online, television and radio outlets. Imaginart president, Elizabeth Guerin strives for the company to consistently exceed client expectations, using unparalleled creativity to help brands reach their target markets. www.imaginartmedia. com/about-us To meet these and many other minority entrepreneurs, attend the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council’s 35thAnnual Business Expo, April 16-17 at The Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines (greater Fort Lauderdale). Learn more about the Business Expo at www.fsmsdc.org, or call (305) 762-6151. Beatrice Louissaint is president and CEO of the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council. n
BROWARD HEALTH
Physician-Patient Relationship Key to Reducing Heart Disease Among African Americans
BY JENNIFER SMITH
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and across the world. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Census Bureau, and Florida Department of Health indicates that rates are event higher in South Florida. It’s estimated that 56 percent of African-Americans in Miami-Dade County, and 57.3 percent of African Americans in Broward County, suffer from heart disease, rates significantly
higher than those found in Caucasians. Violeta McCormack, M.D., medical director of interventional cardiology, Broward Health Medical Center; Aldo Calvo, D.O., medical director of ambulatory care, Broward Health Community Health Services; and Arnoux Blanchard, M.D., director of the cardiology fellowship program, Broward Health Medical Center, gave their reasoning as to why we are seeing these discrepancies. “When we look at higher death rates for minorities living within counties with more of their ethnic peers, we have to consider that those counties and areas also have a higher poverty rate, which impacts access to proper treatment,” said Calvo, a primary care physician. Calvo explained, for example, from a cultural perspective, Hispanic diets can have a higher concentration of complex carbohydrates that are associated with a higher risk for diabetes, which is a risk factor for developing heart disease.”
Calvo, Blanchard, and McCormack, who are all part of the Broward Health Physician Group, said they also feel socioeconomic and environmental issues can be key in recognizing risk factors in minorities and creating a map to manage existing health disparities. “In the black community, one of the reasons the outcomes are so bad is because many patients don’t take their medicine,” said Blanchard, a cardiologist. “Yes, the medicine is expensive, but we can work it out. They often don’t understand why a doctor is giving them 10 medications. There’s an issue of mistrust. They are suspicious. The doctor-patient relationship is critical.” “In these populations, their first encounter with a doctor is often in the ER with a heart attack,” McCormack said. “We save their lives, but it’s sad that because of their circumstances the attack wasn’t prevented or the onset delayed.” “I’ve seen people who have been unknowingly walking around with heart
disease for decades,” added Blanchard. “This sheds light on the importance of timely checkups and promoting the physician-patient relationship.” Calvo, McCormack, and Blanchard also agreed that education is critical to create necessary lifestyle changes and overcome patient mistrust. “The patient-physician relationship is key,” said Blanchard. “Physicians need to sit down with a patient with socioeconomic distress and be sensitive to their cultural nuances.” Calvo added, “To be more effective, you have to understand the cultural norms that make Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties this beautiful melting pot. The most important person is the patient. For an hour of their time, we can go over nutrition and the side effects of medication. We’d rather know their complications now so we can prevent a heart attack later. We are just trying to get them healthy, happy and with access to what they need.” n