The Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) recently recognized the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic as its 2016 Philanthropic Service Organization of the Year. The award was presented at the AFP’s celebration of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15 at Lowry Park Zoo.

Staffed entirely by volunteer USF Health students and overseen by volunteer faculty advisors, the BRIDGE Clinic provides free primary medical care on Tuesday evenings at the Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare to more than 850 underserved patients each year from the University Community Area.

From left: Dr. Lucy Guerra, a BRIDGE Clinic medical director; Emily Goodwin, USF medical student; Kristin Prewitt, MD/MPH student and executive student director of BRIDGE Clinic; and Dr. Frederick Slone, a clinic medical director; recently accepted the AFP Suncoast Chapter Philanthropic Service Organization of the Year award on behalf of the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic.

What began nine years ago as the vision of four USF medical students has grown into a robust, interdisciplinary resource for both USF and the community it serves. USF Health students, social work students, and attending physicians accomplish its namesake mission of “Building Relationships and Initiatives Dedicated to Gaining Equality” by volunteering more than 13,500 hours each year at an estimated benefit of more than $1 million in health care services.

The clinic collaborates with community partners to provide routine care for non-emergency medical needs for uninsured adults who make 200 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines. Its partnership with Florida Hospital has allowed the the clinic to operate at a nearby second location inside the Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute one Thursday night each month.

“We are honored and humbled to receive this award from AFP and are inspired by the efforts to better the Tampa community from the other recipients,” said Kristin Prewitt, executive student director of the BRIDGE Clinic and an MD/MPH student. “We couldn’t do this work without the countless faculty, students, and USF community members who dedicate their time to serving our patients. We owe any recognition to them and our patients.”

Two other University of South Florida benefactors, Kate Tiedemann and Ellen Cotton, were recognized as philanthropists of the year at the event. The couple’s generosity to the USF St. Petersburg campus has been recognized through the naming of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business and the Ellen Cotton Atrium.

Story and photo by Davina Gould, USF Health Development

The first of its kind, an investigational drug, may enhance the body’s stem cell response at the site of cardiovascular injury  

TAMPA, Florida (Feb. 20, 2013) – Cardiovascular disease specialists at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute affiliated with the University of South Florida announced today they have enrolled their first two patients into the clinical trial of a novel gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure after ischemic injury.  The therapy may promote regeneration of  heart tissue by encouraging the body to deploy more stem cells to the injury site in patients who are suffering from heart failure.

Dr. Charles Lambert, Medical Director of Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Leslie Miller, Director of the USF Heart Institute, are leading the way for the randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which spans 10 sites across the United States. The study, called the STOP-HF, will enroll 90 patients nationwide.

Dr. Leslie Miller, director of the USF Heart Institute, confirms the exact location of the catheter tip as an injection map is drawn precisely detailing gene therapy delivery sites in the heart.

Heart failure (HF) happens when the muscles of the heart becomes weakened and cannot pump blood sufficiently throughout the body.  The injury is most often caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart resulting from chronic or acute cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.   Considerable scientific evidence has emerged over the past decade demonstrating the high therapeutic potential of stem cell-based regenerative medicine for a host of diseases.  Heart failure is a leading cause of death, disability and hospitalization.

Dr. Charles Lambert is performing the gene therapy by direct injection into the heart using an investigational system in the catheterization laboratories at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute.

“Pepin Heart and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute and USF are exploring and conducting leading-edge research to develop break-through treatments long before they are even available in other facilities,” said Dr. Lambert.  “Stem cells have the unique ability to develop into many different cell types, and in many tissues they serve as an internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells. This trial is unique in that it uses gene therapy to turn on a process leading to cell regeneration rather than simply administering stem cells directly.”

Dr. Miller (right), national principal investigator for the STOP-HF trial, is collaborating with Dr. Charles Lambert, medical director of Pepin Heart Institute Florida Hospital, on the local gene therapy study. This is the first of several regenerative medicine trials that will team USF Health and Florida Hospital.

“This is the beginning of a new era in cardiovascular therapies,” said Dr. Leslie Miller, national principal investigator for the trial and professor of cardiovascular sciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Targeted gene and cell therapies delivered directly into the heart hold promise for helping to regenerate tissue, reduce injury and restore heart function.  USF Health, working with our partners, will find new ways to diagnose and treat patients, with the aim of reducing and ultimately harnessing the global impact of heart disease.”

Dr. Lambert injects one of multiple doses of medication containing the gene into a catheter inserted into the heart wall. With the assistance of contrast imaging, the gene therapy is carefully targeted to sites in the heart tissue with the potential for rejuvenation.

The trial, sponsored by Juventas Therapeutics,  a double-blinded Phase II study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the drug JVS-100 in patients with ischemic heart failure.  JVS-100 is the name of the gene therapy that directs the heart muscle to produce Stromal cell-Derived Factor 1 (SDF-1), a protein that has been shown to repair damaged tissue in the body through the recruitment of circulating stem cells to the site of injury, prevention of ongoing cell death and restoration of blood flow.

Earlier this year, Juventas reported results from its Phase I study in Class III ischemic heart failure patients.  In addition to meeting the primary safety endpoint, patients in the study who received the drug demonstrated clinically significant improvements in exercise levels at the 12-month mark.   Other prominent institutions participating in the trial include Columbia University Medical Center, the University of Utah, the Lindner Center for Research at the Christ Hospital, and the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.

Dr. Lambert, foreground, and Dr. Miller, back, watch the monitor displaying images of the patient’s heart.

Jadie Heberlein, clinical research nurse coordinator for the USF Heart Institute, monitors the gene therapy injections of patients enrolled in the STOP-HF case from the cardiac catheter laboratory control room at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute.

Photos by Daniel W. Baker, Florida Hospital Tampa

About Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute

Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute is a free-standing cardiovascular institute providing comprehensive cardiovascular care with over 76,000 angioplasty procedures and 11,000 open-heart surgeries in the Tampa Bay region.  Leading the way with the first accredited chest pain emergency room in Tampa Bay, the institute is among an elite few in the state of Florida chosen to perform the ground breaking Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure. It is also a HeartCaring designated provider and a Larry King Cardiac Foundation Hospital. Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute, affiliated with the University of South Florida (USF), are exploring and conducting leading-edge research to develop break-through treatments long before they are available in most other hospitals. To learn more, visit www.FHPepin.org

About USF Health

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

About Juventas Therapeutics

Juventas Therapeutics, headquartered in Cleveland, OH, is a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of regenerative therapies to treat life–threatening diseases. Founded in 2007 with an exclusive license from Cleveland Clinic, Juventas has transitioned its therapeutic platform from concept to initiation of mid-stage clinical trials for treatment of heart failure and critical limb ischemia. Investors include New Science Ventures, Takeda Ventures, Triathlon Medical Venture Partners, Venture Investors, Early Stage Partners, Fletcher Spaght Ventures, Reservoir Venture Partners, Glengary, The Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, Tri-State Growth Fund, North Coast Angel Fund, X Gen Ltd., JumpStart Inc., and Blue Chip Venture Co. The company has received non-dilutive grant support through the Ohio Third Frontier-funded Cleveland Clinic Ohio BioValidation Fund, Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center and Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine.

Media contacts:  
Jennifer McVan, Media Relations Manager
Florida Hospital, Tampa Bay Division
(813) 615-7395 (direct)  or (813) 373-9505 (cell)
Jennifer.Mcvan@ahss.org

Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
University of South Florida
(813) 974-3303 or abaier@health.usf.edu

The alliance brings the latest medical advancements to local communities

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TAMPA, Fla. (March 12, 2012) — Florida Hospital and USF Health have formed a strategic alliance, combining Adventist Health System’s innovative approach to patient-centered care with the University of South Florida’s leading research, to deliver cutting-edge medical therapies in hospital and outpatient settings. Through this unique public/private partnership, Florida Hospital is making an investment of approximately $14 million in four key specialty areas to bring enhanced patient care, state-of-the-art technology and expanded services to Tampa Bay.

“Our partnership with USF Health will bring their leading-edge research right to the doorsteps of residents in communities where we have hospitals in Tampa Bay,” said Mike Schultz, President and CEO of the Florida Region for Adventist Health System, the parent company of Florida Hospital. “Patients in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties will no longer have to travel for personalized and state-of-the-art medicine in the specialties where we have affiliations with USF Health.”

In September 2011, the Florida Hospital announced that it was developing strategic health care partnerships, including one with USF Health. Today, both organizations announced how the partnership is translating medical research advancements into cutting-edge patient treatment in the following specialty areas: cardiology at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, breast health at Florida Hospital Tampa, neuroscience at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and surgical oncology, melanoma and breast cancer at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs.

Dr. Stephen Klasko, CEO of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine

“Through these critical specialties, we’re going to transform how patients experience health care at Florida
Hospital in our area,” said Dr. Stephen K. Klasko, CEO of USF Health and dean of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Patients will have greater access to our world-class physicians and the new scientific discoveries at USF Health. As important, USF Health will also work with Florida Hospital and its patients to create personalized, coordinated care in cardiology, breast health and other targeted specialties.”

Cardiology

Cardiovascular patients at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute will benefit from research collaboration and USF Health’s exploration in genomic screening for personalized health care. Genomic screening uses an individual’s genetic profile to customize the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease to each patient.

“No other providers in Tampa Bay will be able to replicate the level of how we begin to tailor procedures to individual patients to maintain their heart health,” Dr. Klasko said.

“Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute will now combine its personalized health care delivery and clinical research with USF Health’s leading academic medicine and research,” said John Harding, President and CEO of Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division. “This innovative partnership will give health care consumers a broader range of treatment options for cardiovascular disease.”

John Harding, President & CEO, Florida Hospital Tampa Bay, is interviewed by local media at partnership announcement.

Breast Health

Women across Tampa Bay have been experiencing the benefit of a comprehensive diagnostics center exclusively dedicated to breast care at Florida Hospital Tampa. Recently, USF Health partnered with an existing breast program composed of Florida Hospital Tampa, Community Medical Imaging and Tampa Bay Breast Care Specialists to build an even more comprehensive breast health and cancer program. This collaboration brings together private practices, academic medicine and a hospital to form a renowned team of expert radiologists, radiation oncologists and breast surgeons. Based at Florida Hospital Tampa, this multidisciplinary approach to breast care provides a comprehensive range of diagnostic services, cancer treatments and research protocols to patients, while offering a higher level of coordinated care. One of the major patient benefits is reducing the time from screening to diagnosis to treatment. Providing rapid diagnosis — often within the same day — increases early detection, which is a critical factor in successful outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Mike Schultz, CEO of the Florida Region, Adventist Health System

Neuroscience

The new Neuroscience Institute at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will have a team of USF Health neurosurgeons on-site who are trained in the treatment of brain, spine and acute stroke procedures. Time is an important factor with most medical issues, but especially with stroke and neurological conditions. The new 24/7 dedicated stroke team includes academic neurosurgeons from USF, neuro-interventional radiologists, board certified neurologists, emergency physicians and certified registered nurses to coordinate care from triage to diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Patients will have access to the latest evidencebased treatments from USF, including brain surgery, spine surgery and minimally invasive treatment of aneurysms. Having all of these services offered in one location means patients will no longer need to travel outside Pasco County, saving precious time, which is a critical factor for neurological procedures.

Dr. Brad Bjornstad, chief medical officer of Florida Hospital Tampa, sports his USF Bulls tie.

Surgical Oncology, Melanoma and Breast Cancer

To round off the partnership, patients in Pinellas and west Pasco counties will benefit from enhanced medical expertise at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital. USF Health physicians will now be available for patients – a plastics and reconstructive surgeon trained in the most advanced technologies and treatments for breast cancer and other oncological disorders, and an internationally known surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of malignant melanoma, complicated skin cancers and breast cancer. The partnership creates a comprehensive and coordinated approach to cancer care that gives patients the option to receive state-of-the-art treatment without leaving their community.

“These four affiliations are the foundation for Florida Hospital and USF Health’s plans to establish a higher standard of coordinated care throughout the market,” said John Harding. “This announcement is just the beginning of our vision to elevate health care in Tampa Bay.”

For more information, please visit www.HigherDegree.org.

About Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division

The Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division is a not-for-profit 1,003-bed hospital system composed of Florida Hospital Tampa, Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (opens 2012) and Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital. Part of the Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital is a leading health network consisting of 22 hospitals throughout the state. For more information, visit www.ElevatingHealthCare.org.

About USF Health

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 34th in federal research expenditures for public universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Photos by Eric Younghans, and video by Amy Mariani, USF Health Communications

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Media contacts:
Will Darnell, Media Relations, Florida Hospital Tampa, (813) 400-8743 or wdarnall.ahss.org
Susanna Martinez Tarokh, USF Health Communications, (813) 974-2776 or smartin1@health.usf.edu