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Winter 2021

FEATURED ARTICLES

(see Do Dental Visits Hit A Nerve?, page 4)

Have no fear. Advanced techniques help comfort anxious patients

Do Dental Visits Hit A Nerve?

N early 80 percent of college students change majors at least once before graduating, according to federal

data. Many do so simply because they can’t pass the math classes required to complete the curriculum in their initial major.

� at’s how it was for Karen Laws.“When I first went to college, I

wanted to get into computer program-ming,” Karen relates. “But math and I were not good friends. So, I decided that studying the languages might be a better choice. I think it worked out pretty well.”

Now 72, Karen retired seven years ago after completing a 40-year career as a Spanish teacher. All but one of those years was in Brevard County, where she taught higher-level Spanish at the junior and senior high school level.

She started at DeLaura Junior High in Satellite Beach, then spent a year in Atlanta before returning to teach at Johnson Junior High in Melbourne.

“I was there for about 18 years, then moved to Palm Bay High School in Melbourne and � nished out my teaching career there in 2013,” Karen explains.

Except Karen is still teaching. She has “kept her foot in the door” by tutoring, which she does remotely now to avoid contact with students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, Karen recently paid the price for avoiding contact with her dentist for too long.

“I’ve always been dentist-averse, so much so that a few years ago after a crown came o� and I knew I needed to get to the dentist, I kept putting it o� ,” Karen relates. “� en in November 2019, I had a gold � lling pop out. At that point, I knew I had to go see him.”

Karen’s dentist is Richard Leong Jr., DDS, P.A., but he had not seen her in a few years when she came in with the missing � lling and crown. Dr. Leong found addi-tional issues when he examined her.

“� e second lower right molar was the tooth that lost the filling, and the tooth right in front of it, the lower right � rst molar, lost the crown,” Dr. Leong reports. “It took some work, but I was eventually able to cement the crown and the gold � lling back on.

“Because it had been so long since I’d seen Karen, I thought it best to take some x-rays to make sure there wasn’t another problem somewhere else that I couldn’t � nd through a visual examination. It’s a good thing I did because there was another problem.”

The molar that lost the crown had a large cavity.

“� e only reason she hadn’t noticed it was because that tooth had been given a root canal and there was no nerve left in it,” Dr. Leong says.

“I also found that the second molar on her lower left side had a lot of infection around it. So that tooth and the one where she lost the crown both needed to come out. � e trick was doing the work and getting around her fear of dentists.”

Fear Management Dr. Leong has become quite adept at managing dentophobia, or fear of dentists. He has developed several techniques to alle-viate the panic, no matter the level of distress.

“I have a number of arrows in my quiver,” Dr. Leong states. “One is the ability to deliver a local anesthetic injection pain-lessly. � at’s something I learned 50 years ago. But for someone such as Karen, there are other tools that I can pull out of my arsenal.

“One is a sedative that we sometimes give patients in pill form prior to their visit to relax them. We also o� er patients nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, which will relax them even more.

“In addition, we have what we call conscious sedation. You can do that through medication or intravenously. It puts the patient in a sedative state where they’re still awake and can respond to commands, but they’re very calm and don’t feel anything or remember the procedure afterward.”

Karen Laws

Implant Dentistry of

Florida

6Full Stream Ahead

Feel Like Your Old Self

Reduce Joint Pain

The Time Is Now

3Interventional

& Vascular Center

9Regenerative

Biologics Institute

Havkin Urology

11

Vascular Vein Centers A Silent Killer

EarCare, P.A.I’m A Believer

FHCN Special ReportDecreasing Diabesity

Cancer Care Centers of Brevard

Healthy Partnership

Dean Wellness Institute Turn Back The Clock

Lake Washington Foot & Ankle Think On Your Feet

Florida Pain Management Associates

Conclusive Evidence

Implant & ComprehensIve DentIstry

A PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA HEALTH CARE NEWS, INC.

Brevard Health Care News

A PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA HEALTH CARE NEWS, INC.

Brevard Health Care News

Brian L. Dunfee, MD, is a vascular and interventional radiologist who is board-certifi ed by the American Board of Radiology in diagnostic and interventional radiology. Dr. Dunfee attended medical school at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He com-pleted an internship at Yale-Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut and a residency at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Dunfee also completed a fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Robert J. Kennedy, MD, is a vascular and interventional radiologist who is board-certifi ed by the American Board of Radiology in diagnostic and interventional radiology. Dr. Kennedy attended medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. He completed an internship at the Mayo Clinic Florida in Jacksonville and a residency at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Dr. Kennedy also completed a fellowship at UNC.

BRIAN L. DUNFEE, MD

ROBERT J. KENNEDY, MD

Learn more about their services at www.interventionalvascular.com

EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE

AND ENTHUSIASM

Dr. Dunfee and Dr. Kennedy are committed to improving patients’ health and quality

of life by providing minimally invasive, image-guided techniques rather than

major surgery. To schedule a consultation, contact their

offi ce in Melbourne at:

415 S. Wickham Rd.

(321) 400-1220

Relieve symptoms of enlarged prostate with new, nonsurgical procedure

M ichael Powell is a visionary. Since he was in his mid-20s, the 63-year-old inventor and entre-

preneur has been in a rinse-and-repeat cycle in which he creates a business, cultivates it, then moves on to his next brainstorm.

“Right now, I’m working on a housing project,” Michael shares. “My company has designed about 50 different model house s out o f glass, steel and

resin. � ey require no maintenance and virtually surpass all building codes to be hurricane and earthquake proof.

“� e prototypes were made in China with the intent of manufacturing the houses in the US and creating jobs here, but my shipment from China has been sitting in customs for more than a year because the duty went from 2.9 percent to 28.9 percent. I went back to our engineers and asked them to remake prototypes over here so we can move forward.

“Our goal is to ship the houses throughout the world in shipping containers. � ey’ll arrive with all the components ready for assembly with plans that are preapproved and certi� ed by our engineers, so buyers won’t have to battle with local building engineers.”

Michael’s latest venture comes in the wake of a physical setback that he began to struggle with in 2014, when his uncomfort-able symptoms ultimately landed him in the hospital. While there, he learned about the true problem those symptoms revealed.

“All of a sudden, I felt very swollen and could no longer urinate,” Michael recalls. “I went to the emergency room and remained in the hospital for three days with a really bad urinary tract infection. At that time, the doctor told me, You have a very large prostate. We need to do a TURP.”

A TURP is a transurethral resection of the prostate. It’s a surgical procedure that involves cutting away some of the prostate tissue. Debulking the prostate relieves the urinary symptoms caused when the enlarged gland presses against the bladder and urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.

“I did a little research and learned about the horri� c side e� ects that can occur from TURP surgery,” Michael relates. “I know a few people who had it and ended up having to wear diapers or having sexual side e� ects, and I thought, � ere’s got to be a better way to treat my condition.”

Seeking alternatives, Michael learned of other treatments. One was frequency healing, in which certain frequencies of sound are used to manipulate brainwaves to promote healing of the body. Michael tried that but didn’t achieve the result he hoped for. He then tried Rezum therapy.

“During Rezum therapy, they place a catheter into your prostate and release steam,” Michael describes. “� e steam release kills prostate cells and reduces pressure on the urethra so you can urinate.

“I found a doctor in Melbourne who o� ers it, but he said, We don’t use Rezum

on men with prostates larger than 80 or 90 cm, and yours is 172 cm. He then referred me to a doctor in Melbourne who o� ers a new technology that’s been very successful with enlarged prostates.”

� at doctor is Robert J. Kennedy, MD. He is a board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist at Interventional & Vascular Center. He and his partner, board-certi� ed vascular and interventional radiologist Brian L. Dunfee, MD, use minimally invasive, image-guided techniques to treat condi-tions such as an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

“Michael came to us in August 2020,” Dr. Kennedy recalls. “He had a history of BPH with urinary tract symptoms including episodes of urinary retention, difficulty voiding and issues requiring catheterization and hospitalization. He had been on medications, but they were no longer working.

“� ere are many surgical options for BPH, but due to the size of Michael’s prostate his options were limited. He consulted with a urologist and weighed his options. He was interested in our

prostate artery embolization technology, so the urologist referred him to us.”

Disrupted Flow� e aim of prostate artery embolization is to decrease the size of the prostate by limiting its blood supply.

“All tissue needs oxygen and nutri-ents from blood to grow,” Dr. Kennedy educates. “When the prostate’s blood supply is disrupted, some of its cells die in a process called ischemic necrosis. As a result, the gland shrinks down to a size where symptoms improve.”

Prostate artery embolization is a same-day, minimally invasive procedure performed with the patient under moderate sedation in Interventional & Vascular Center’s o� ce-based lab.

“During the procedure, we insert a catheter into the patient’s groin and move it into the arteries that supply the pros-tate,” Dr. Kennedy explains. “We then inject gelatin particles, which plug up the small blood vessel branches supplying the gland and cut o� blood � ow through those branches. We use � uoroscopy, moving x-ray, guidance to navigate our catheters into the proper blood vessels. � at way, we know exactly where the catheters are, and we can safely embolize the prostate.”

Michael’s I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), which grades the severity of his symptoms, was mark-edly improved following the procedure, Dr. Kennedy details. And he was able to discontinue his medications.

Michael raves that the treatment was “absolutely incredible.”

“� e most painful part, which wasn’t painful at all, was when they stuck the IV needle into the vein in my hand,” he

recalls. “That tiny little pinch was the most discomfort I felt throughout the entire procedure.”

� ere are several advantages of pros-tate artery embolization over other BPH treatments, Dr. Kennedy points out.

“One is that there are no sexual side e� ects, such as erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation, which is ejacula-tion into the bladder,” he says. “It also has a shorter recovery time than most surgical procedures.”

“No Issues Whatsoever”Michael didn’t require a catheter following prostate artery embolization and his activities weren’t restricted. In fact, he felt so good that he and his wife celebrated the occasion.

“Afterward, we went out for lunch and had a good time,” Michael reports. “� e following few days were a little rough. After all, my prostate was being starved of blood and was swelling. But I had rougher times with urinary tract infections in the months before I met Dr. Kennedy. On the fourth day, we drove to North Carolina, about a 12-hour trip.

“Somewhere around the sixth or seventh day after the procedure, I started to urinate with no issues whatsoever,” he details. “I haven’t been able to relieve myself like that since 2014. I started seeing results during the � rst week, and it’s only gotten better.

Michael believes prostate artery embolization saved him from a lifetime of emotional and physical scars related to prostate surgery.

“What distresses me is the number of people who are subject to surgery and its consequences because their doctors aren’t approved to do the procedures that Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Dunfee can do,” he says. “Surgery is sold to them as a solution when it’s really not.”© FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Michael's photo

courtesy of Michael Powell. mkb

Conclusive Evidence

HAROLD J. CORDNER, MD, FIPP, ABIPP

Harold J. Cordner, MD, FIPP, ABIPP, is board-certifi ed in anesthesiology and pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology and in interventional pain management by the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians. He received his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Dr. Cordner completed an internship in general sur-gery and residency in anesthesiology at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ. He is a member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, International Neuromodulation Society,

and numerous national and international pain societ-ies. He frequently lectures

and teaches physicians advanced interventional pain procedures nation-ally and internationally.

Consumers Research Council of Amer ica named Dr. Cordner one of “America’s Top Physicians.”

Get Back Into the Swing of ThingsDr. Cordner welcomes questions about pain management.

To schedule a consultation, call or visit the o� ces of Florida Pain Management Associates at one of these locations:

Sebastian13825 US Hwy. 1

Vero Beach960 37th Pl., Suite 102

(772) 388-9998Visit Florida Pain Management Associates on the web at www.� oridapain.com

Regain A Pain-Free Lifestyle

P a i n m a n a g e m e n t a l l o w s individuals who experience chronic pain to enjoy life again. Dr. Cordner treats a variety of conditions, including back pain, cancer pain, whiplash injury, arthritis, bursitis, vascular disease, re� ex sympathetic dystrophy, herpes zoster (shingles), intercostal neuralgia, sacroiliac joint arthropathy, failed back surgery syndrome, post-laminectomy syndrome, scoliosis, diabetic neuropathy and headaches.

New approach to spinal cord stimulation provides superior relief

A fter her children began a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l , Deborah Boneta began looking for a way to get out of the house and do

something productive with her time. She read that the United States Postal Service was hiring, so she applied and got the job.

“I took a test, passed and was hired,” Deborah remembers. “I stayed there for 28 years. I delivered mail for 14 years and

then worked as a clerk in the post o� ce. I enjoyed delivering mail because I

was out there talking to people and getting the job done. But mostly I liked working by myself.”

In the late 1990s, Deborah was in an accident while deliv-ering mail that aggravated a

longstanding b a c k

injury.

Deborah agreed, and after a successful seven-day trial to determine the potential e� cacy of the treatment, the stimulator was implanted in May 2019.

Cellular Communication The study was aimed at determining whether di� erential target multiplex, or DTM, would provide patients with more relief than conventional stimulation.

“With conventional stimulation, we target the nerve cells in the spinal cord,” Dr. Cordner explains. “But 90 percent of the spinal cord comprises other cells, called glial cells, that are involved in many of the pain conditions we treat.

Ten years of research was conducted on stimulating glial cells with electricity to reduce pain, Dr. Cordner says.

The 12-month DTM study was the first in humans looking at the effectiveness of that approach. Participants had back and/or leg pain that lasted an average of more than 12 years. As part of the research, half of the patients were given conventional spinal cord stimulation and half were

put into the study group that received the new stimulation.

“Deborah was part of the study group and responded very well,” the doctor informs. “She reported greater than 80 percent relief during her stimulator trial.”

The study’s results show that 69 percent of patients with the new stimu-lation were profound responders, meaning

they experienced 80 to 100 percent pain relief. With conventional stimulation, about 35 percent of patients experienced that level of relief.

“Further, when we look at patients who are successful long term with spinal cord stimulators, the results with conventional stimulation is about 50 percent, whereas about 84 percent with DTM stimulation are successful,” Dr. Cordner observes.

“Typically, patients grade their pain on a scale of one to 10,” Dr. Cordner informs. “� e average back pain score for the study participants was 7.5. After the study, it was 1.7. � at’s profound pain relief. � e study results show conclusively that DTM stimulation is superior to conventional spinal cord stimulation.”

Now, Florida Pain Management Associates is opening two new studies. � e � rst will look at the e� ects of DTM stimulation in patients with back and/or leg pain who have not had previous surgery. � e second will look at patients who continue to experience neck or upper extremity pain despite undergoing surgery or trying other therapies.

“Patients who are interested in partic-ipating in one of these studies can contact our o� ce for enrollment information,” Dr. Cordner notes. “We’re excited to give our patients an opportunity to receive newer, superior treatments for pain.”

Waves of ReliefDeborah says she’s glad that she agreed to participate in the trial because spinal cord stimulation has given her the pain relief other therapies could not.

“� e device is de� nitely helping me,” she says. “I’m feeling really good now. I started feeling better shortly after the surgery to implant the stimulator. Now, I’m receiving 95 percent pain relief.”

Deborah says she can do all the everyday activities that she could before the pain intensi� ed, including standing for long periods. � at’s important for her because she volunteers with � e Salvation Army and crochets blankets for Boggy Creek, a camp for seriously ill children and their families.

“My treatment at Florida Pain Management Associates is a success, and I highly recommend it to anyone with back or leg pain,” she concludes. “� e spinal cord stimulator does the job, and I highly recommend Dr. Cordner as well. In fact, I’ve already talked to other people about him.”© FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. FHCN file photo. mkb

“I slipped into a canal. At the time, I continued doing my job, but then I started feeling back pain, which got worse a few years later,” she describes.

“It got really bad around 2001. I was experiencing a lot of back pain and pain shooting down my leg. It was di� cult to shop and prepare meals because I couldn’t stand for very long. I had to � nd some-where to sit down. And I would get worn out very quickly.

� e agony lasted several years. “� ere were days when the pain was

an eight on a scale of one to 10,” she remembers. “But I continued doing my job and what needed to be done at home.”

Deborah sought relief through chiropractic, physical therapy and spinal injections. Back surgery helped for a while, but the pain returned worse than before.

� en, she turned to the internet. “I researched online and saw that

Dr. Cordner o� ers treatments for people in a lot of pain,” Deborah states. “I thought he might have an answer for my pain.”

Harold J. Cordner, MD, of Florida Pain Management Associates, has an arsenal of noninterventional and interven-tional services for managing pain. One is spinal cord stimulation.

With spinal cord stimulation, an implanted device impedes pain by sending electronic waves in the form of a gentle tingling or massaging sensationto the spine.

A f t e r e x amin ing Debor ah , Dr. Cordner recommended spinal cord stimulation and asked if she would consider participating in a study his practice was conducting to determine the e� ectiveness of a new form of stimulation.

Page 2 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Brevard Health Care News | Page 3InterventIonal raDIologypaIn management

Richard Leong Jr., DDS, is a general and implant dentist practicing comprehensive dentistry. He is one of the few dentists in the area who place special emphasis on treatment of dental implants and temporomandibular joint dysfunction using lasers, CT scans and Invisalign orthodontics. A pioneer in dental implantology, he has been performing dental implant surgeries since 1975. Dr. Leong graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned his dental degree from the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry in Memphis. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, a

master in the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics, a diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantology and a master of the Academy of General Dentistry. His professional member-

ships include the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Brevard County Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, International Congress of Oral Implantology, American College of Oral Implantology, American Academy of Implants and Transplants, International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics, American Society of Osseointegration and International Institute for Christian Studies. In addition, Dr. Leong is co-chair of the implantology division at Atlantic Coast

Research Center in West Palm Beach, where he teaches dental implantology. He lectures nation-ally and internationally on the subjects of dental implants, temporomandibular dysfunction

treatments, neuromuscular occlusion, practice management, lasers in dentistry and CT 3D scans in general dentistry.

For more information, visit Dr. Leong’s website at www.richardleongdds.com

For All Your Dental Needs

Dr. Leong and his staff invite you to call or visit the offi ce

and discover that high-quality technical expertise can coexist

within a warm, casual, welcoming environment. Dr. Leong’s offi ce

is in Melbourne at:

400 S. Babcock St.

(321) 723-7255

(continued from page 1)

Dr. Leong applied some of these techniques with Karen over multiple visits. While treating her gums for infection prior to the tooth extractions, Dr. Leong gave Karen nitrous oxide. She was then sedated for the extractions and the work that followed.

Tha t work inc luded replacing the failed teeth with dental implants, which are root-shaped, screw-like bodies surgically placed into the jawbone. These become the foundation for an abutment and replacement teeth.

For Karen, the replace-ment teeth were two crowns cemented to the abutment, but replacement teeth can also come in the form of a partial bridge attached to one or more implants or a full denture fastened to a series of implants.

Prior to placing an implant, some patients require a bone grafting procedure designed to enhance the volume of the

jawbone so that it can properly support the implant. Karen required a bone graft.

“During the extraction process I found a lot of infection around the two teeth I’d taken out, but I have a special dental laser that is used to decontami-nate that area to prepare it for the

implants,” Dr. Leong educates.After treating the infec-

tion, Dr. Leong performed the bone graft, which can be done using cadaver bone, a synthetic bone substitute or bone material taken from the patient. He also performed a

technique to speed up the bone-growing process.

“That calls for something called platelet rich fibrin,” Dr. Leong explains. “We get that by drawing blood from the patient’s arm and spinning it in a centrifuge that separates the � brin clot material, which is high in growth factors.

“When you mix the platelet rich � brin with the bone grafting material, you get a much better bone graft. We completed the bone graft, placed the implant and then waited three months for the new bone to grow around the implant.”

Some patients can be fit with temporary crowns, bridges

or dentures while they wait for the bone to grow around the implant. Because of the infection, Karen could not be � t with temporary crowns. She received permanent crowns in March 2020.

“I learned about the impor-tance of molars during that time because I had to chew with my side teeth,” Karen recounts. “And in the end, it was worth it because I am thrilled with the outcome. Since I got the permanent crowns placed on the implants, I have not had one bit of trouble with them and I’m eating with confidence again. I’m back to going to the dentist regularly for cleanings, So far, all of my checkups have been good.

Karen no longer avoids the dentist.

“Everything is going very well, s h e e x p l a i n s . “ Dr. L e o n g and his staff do such a

wonderful ly good job of making sure their patients are comfortable and at ease. � ey’re really good people and I recommend them to anyone. In fact, I already have. One of the teachers I used to work with was having some problems, and I told her to go see Dr. Leong. He’s been caring for her for about three months now.”© FHCN article by Roy Cummings. FHCN

file photos. mkb

Do Dental Visits Hit A Nerve?

With more than four decades of dental experience, Dr. Leong began teaching implantology in

1982. He recently became an adjunct professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he teaches the dental aspect of biomedical engineering.

In addition, Dr. Leong teaches implan-tology at the Atlantic Dental Research Clinic in West Palm Beach, where he lectures and oversees surgical procedures performed by practicing dentists learning about implants. Dr. Leong was recently given an award for 30 years of teaching there. His career is de� ned by his passion for learning as well as his thirst for knowledge, which he enjoys passing on.

“At this point in my career, I enjoy helping people in different ways, either through teaching dentistry or working directly with patients,” Dr. Leong explains. “I love giving something back. � ere’s always something new to learn and incorporate into your practice. Technology is ever-evolving, and we keep up with it. I maintain advanced equipment in

my o� ce to diagnose problems and perform various dental procedures. I have students come to the o� ce, where I demonstrate the use of the equipment.”

Dr. Leong also shares his knowledge on an international level. In 1992, he had a chance to participate with his church on a mission trip to Nicaragua. He went to spread his faith and provide free dental care to those in need. In the years since, the mission trips have developed into an annual medical-dental contribution.

“I started with missions and that expanded to teaching in the dental schools,” he says, “but it’s still missionary work because we take care of all of these people who need a great deal of dental work.”

Whether he’s helping patients far from home or in his Melbourne o� ce, Dr. Leong says it’s wonderful to witness the results of his e� orts.

“� e ultimate goal for me is to care for people,” he concludes. “� at’s what I do. It is so rewarding to take what I know and help others, and to teach others to do the same.”

A Dentist and a Teacher Why Choose Dental Implants• Function and feel like natural

teeth, allowing you to eat and speak comfortably

• Can be restored to look like natural teeth so you can smile with con� dence

• Maintain the bone structures of the jaws and face, preventing the premature aging process often associated with tooth and bone loss

• Firmly and securely support dental work, eliminating the need for bulky, plastic dentures or adhesives

• Help prevent decay in the jawbone

• Will usually last a lifetime

Melissa Dean, MD, specializes in internal and general preventative medicine and is an expert in treating menopause and andropause. She has also been trained in diabetes management, hormone replacement and nutrition. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1997 and her

master’s degree in the same discipline in 1998. She earned her medical degree from Ross University of Medicine in Barbados in 2003 and completed her residency training in internal

medicine at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She was fellowship-trained at the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. She earned a second master’s

degree in metabolic medicine from the University of South Florida in 2012. In addition to her work domestically, Dr. Dean has traveled to Ireland, Central America and the Amazon to study local medicine and take part in medical missions.

To learn more about treatment options, visit deanwellnessinstitute.com

MELISSA DEAN, MD

Dean Wellness Institute has been serving Vero Beach and surrounding areas for more than 15 years. The institute is focused on providing a holistic approach to wellness and improved health and works closely with patients to improve their quality of life. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call or visit the institute in Vero Beach at:

1345 36th St., Suite B

(772) 567-1500

To work with each patient in a team approach and provide the most up-to-date information in an integrative manner that empowers each patient to be the best they choose to be. Our focus is getting to the root cause of health issues, rather than just treating symptoms.

Natural anti-aging therapies rejuvenate the body, inside and out

On the night of her 14th b i r thday, L i s a * wa s surprised by her parents with a trip to the theater

to see the musical “Cabaret.” To say that the show changed the young Chicago-area native’s life forever would be an understatement.

“I’ll never forget that night,” Lisa remembers. “It was the � rst time I had ever seen a play or musical live, and it just blew me away. � e music was great, of course, but the costumes and choreog-raphy were what captivated me the most.

“I got hooked on the theater right then and there, and from that point on, I knew I wanted to be a dancer. I had been taking ballet and dance lessons for a number of years already, but my dream after that was to dance on stage just like the cast in 'Cabaret.' ”

Lisa eventually realized that dream. After studying dance in college, she spent eight years traveling the country as a member of the dance companies for musicals such as “Guys and Dolls,” “42nd Street” and “Cats.”

A foot injury forced Lisa to retire from touring, but she hasn’t given up her dancing career. Now 58, she teaches the discipline at a local dance school.

A year ago, however, teaching became a challenge.

“Out of nowhere I started to feel very fatigued,” Lisa recalls. “I was also experiencing a lot of muscle weakness and indigestion. At � rst, I thought it was just a virus or something and that it would pass, but after a few weeks, I still wasn’t feeling any better.

“I found myself really struggling to get through the dance lessons, and then I started to have trouble sleeping. No matter how tired I was physically, I was sleeping very restlessly. After a couple of weeks, I went to see Dr. Dean.”

Balancing Act Melissa Dean, MD, of the Dean Wellness Institute in Vero Beach, practices traditional medicine while also offering a holistic approach to wellness. She is also an expert in treating menopause and andropause.

Her specialties include hormone balancing, adrenal support therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which is considered the most natural and e� ective solution for hormone-related issues.

Her clinic also specializes in intra-venous therapies, including IV vitamin therapy, anti-aging/regenerative medicine and aesthetic treatments such as neuro-modulators, hyaluronic acid-based � llers and microneedling with PRP.

“I knew of Dr. Dean because my husband visited her a while back for some problems he was having with joint pain,” Lisa remembers. “She gave him ozone injections and they worked extremely well for him, so I went to see if she might have something to help me.”

After a thorough examination, including blood work, Dr. Dean discov-ered that Lisa’s fatigue, muscle weakness and restless sleep pattern was a result of a hormone imbalance. To correct the problem, she prescribed BHRT.

BHRT can be received in a number of ways, including pellet injections or through topical creams. Lisa chose to receive the therapy sublingually, and she

returns every three or four months for a reevaluation of her hormone levels.

“Depending on what we find during the reevaluation, I can adjust the makeup of the BHRT troches to ensure the patient’s hormone levels are right,” Dr. Dean explains. “� e ultimate goal is to turn back the clock internally and get the patient feeling better.”

� e BHRT troches did just that for Lisa. A couple of weeks after beginning the therapy, she regained her old energy levels, her muscle weakness disappeared and her sleep improved.

Pleased with the results, Lisa asked about aesthetic treatments the Dean Wellness Institute o� ers. Looking to turn back the clock externally as well as inter-nally, she chose to undergo microneedling with platelet rich plasma, or PRP.

“I was starting to get some discolor-ation on my skin and felt like I needed a little revamp,” Lisa explains. “I also had

some acne scars from years ago and some broken red capillaries that were showing, and Dr. Dean said the microneedling would help with that.”

Microneedling is a skin-rejuvenation process during which a technician uses a small handheld device to induce micro-traumas to the skin. � e microtraumas are then treated with PRP to further enhance the therapy.

“� e microneedling device is about the size of a pen with a bunch of tiny needles at the end,” Dr. Dean explains. “� e needles induce trauma to the skin, and when you do that, the body responds by sending healing factors to that area.

“By inducing the trauma, we’re drawing regenerative growth factors to that area from inside the body. We then hit that same area from the outside by topically applying PRP, which we obtain by drawing blood from the patient.”

“You Look So Good” � e PRP separation process is performed inside a special centrifuge that Dr. Dean has in her office. The process takes about 20 minutes, and the results of the inside-outside approach to skin rejuvena-tion is “tremendous,” Dr. Dean enthuses.

Lisa concurs. She says she noticed subtle improvements within a few days of receiving the first treatment. That prompted her to get a second and third treatment, the results of which “blew me away,” Lisa raves.

“I was really, really pleased,” Lisa adds. “And one of the best things about it is that it’s been six months since I had the treatment, and I still have the result. I think I’m going to have this done at least once a year just to keep that fresh look that I like.”

Lisa isn’t just looking refreshed. She also feels refreshed.

“My friends ask me all the time, What did you do?” Lisa elaborates. “They say, You look so good and have so much energy; what’s the secret? I just tell them, Go see Dr. Dean. She’ll get you looking and feeling better just like she did with me.

“Dr. Dean and her sta� are terri� c and they are the nicest people. � ey’re very laid back but also very professional. Every time I go there, it’s a very pleasant experience.”© FHCN article by Roy Cummings. mkb

*Patient’s name changed at her request.

Page 1 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2016 | Template County Edition IntegratIve meDICInePage 4 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Brevard Health Care News | Page 5

Barry LevineExecutive Publisher

Thom GiordanoAssociate Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

Brian LevineProject Coordinator

Rick MayerCopy Editor

Patti DiPanfiloLaura EngelEditorial Staff

Laura EngelProduction Assistant

Jordan PyszPhotography

Richard Jones Aldy Laracuente

Gary Smith Steve TurkDistribution

Richard Leong, Jr., DDS, P.A.Implant &

Comprehensive Dentistry

Florida Pain Management Associates

Pain Management

Interventional & Vascular Center

Interventional Radiology

Dean Wellness InstituteIntegrative Medicine

Implant Dentistry of FloridaImplant, Cosmetic & General Dentistry

Lake Washington Foot & AnklePodiatry

Regenerative Biologics InstituteStem Cell Therapy

Vascular Vein CentersVenous Disease

Cancer Care Centers of BrevardOncology

Havkin UrologyMen’s Health/Urology

EarCare, P.A.Audiology & Hearing Aids

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Brevard Health Care News

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Implant & ComprehensIve DentIstry IntegratIve meDICIne

Clark F. Brown Jr., DDS, P.A., is board-certifi ed by the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego, and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree

from Georgetown University. Dr. Brown served as a dentist in the Air Force from 1978 to 1981. He has been in private practice in Melbourne since 1981. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, International Congress

of Oral Implantologists, American Society of Osseointegration and American College of Forensic Examiners, and is

a fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

CLARK F. BROWN JR., DDS, P.A.ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ, DMD

JORDAN ROBBINS, DMD

State-of-the-Art

Dental CareDr. Brown and his team

look forward to meeting the readers of

Brevard Health Care News. For additional information or to schedule an appointment,

visit or call the offices of Implant Dentistry of Florida in

Melbourne at:

1801 W. Hibiscus Blvd.(321) 372-7700

Marcus Before

A s a corpsman in the Navy, Andrew Blackburn attended not only to the members of his ship’s crew that needed medical care,

but also to the sick and injured in clinics and hospitals onshore.

In the mid-1980s, however, Andrew was injured himself aboard the USS Canisteo, which was based in Norfolk, Virginia. He hurt his back while on duty helping others and underwent multiple back surgeries following his discharge from the service.

“After I got out of the Navy, I worked as a surgeon’s assistant for a few years, but then I developed paralysis in my legs from the surgeries and couldn’t stand,” Andrew recounts. “I also had to have surgery on my neck and ended up with kidney disease from all the medications they gave me.

“In 2010, I applied for Social Security because I couldn’t work anymore due to all my health problems.”

Andrew is proud to show o�

his new smile.

Eating was complicated as well. Many common foods required extraordinary steps for him to ingest them.

“If we had corn on the cob, I had to cut the corn off the cob to consume it,” Andrew describes. “And with no upper teeth, hamburgers and sandwiches were hard to bite, so I cut them up and ate them piece by piece, which was kind of weird in restau-rants. People wondered, Why is he cutting up that burger? Normally, people pick them up and eat them, but I couldn’t do that.”

Andrew � nally realized he needed a plan to replace his missing teeth and set out to � nd a dentist. His wife’s co-worker recommended Clark F. Brown Jr., DDS, of Implant Dentistry of Florida, where Dr. Brown and his colleagues, Alejandro Martinez, DMD, and Jordan Robbins, DMD, provide a full range of dental services. � ey perform cosmetic and general dentistry, as well as all phases of dental implant surgery and smile restoration.

Dental implants are screw-like bodies that are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace the roots of missing teeth. Once the implant is in the jawbone, new bone naturally grows around it to form the foundation for an abutment and replacement teeth.

The replacement teeth can be a crown that is either cemented or screwed onto the abutment, a partial bridge that

Renewed Self-EsteemAndrew was initially given several choices for his new upper denture, including a remov-able type as he had before and a conventional one that rests on the gum tissue and requires adhesive to keep it in place.

“He chose instead to go with a fixed denture that comes down to the tissue but doesn’t press into it as he bites,” Dr. Brown reports. “It gives him much better chewing ability and a lot more confidence when he smiles.”

� e � nal set of teeth for Andrew was made with TriLor® and eMax®. TriLor is a relatively new carbon-fiber material that is extremely strong but relatively light-weight, and eMax is a porcelain that has a “nice translucency and is very aesthetic,” Dr. Brown details. TriLor is used underneath and screws into the implants, and the eMax is cemented to the TriLor.

“As a result, Andrew has fixed teeth that are strong and aesthetic,” Dr. Brown explains.

“When he came to us, he didn’t have much up top, but when he left, he had a full set of strong, secure upper teeth. � at’s important, because people who don’t have a nice smile tend to be self-conscious and don’t smile a lot. But when they get their smile restored, it makes them seem happier to others as well as themselves. � at’s what happened with Andrew.”

Andrew says his personality dictated that he get as close to normality as possible or he wouldn’t be comfortable or happy.

“� e denture Dr. Brown gave me gets me there,” Andrew reports. “Dr. Brown worked very hard to give me back my smile.”

Driven By NeedIn the 1980s, Marcus* possessed a chau� eur’s license but wasn’t satis� ed with the work he was doing. So, in the 1990s, he upgraded to a commercial license and began driving a tractor-trailer. He’s been hauling products across the country on and o� ever since.

“I travel throughout the United States and Canada driving primarily tankers,” Marcus elaborates. “They’re food-grade trucks, and I generally haul orange juice, apple juice, milk and other products we eat and drink.

“I enjoy my work. I like the challenges of being on the road, and I like the scenery. It’s always di� erent – never the same day twice. And truck driving is a profession I can always fall back on when things happen, such as a pandemic.”

Like Andrew, Marcus enjoyed good dental health for years. Then, about 10 years ago, he began to develop problems. He believes a lack of routine dental care was a major contributor to the breakdown of his oral health.

“ My d r i v i n g schedule doesn’t really allow me to schedule things six months out , which most dentists require for cleaning and filling appointments, so my condition eventually snowballed to the point that I had to do something,” the 58-year-old shares.

“Thankfully, Implant Dentistry of Florida is just down the street from where I live. I also Googled implant dentistry and, of course, their name came right up, so I made an appointment. When I got there, I met with Dr. Martinez.

“In a way, I expected to be rejected as a patient because my teeth needed so much work. I didn’t know to what degree Dr. Martinez would accept me into his care, but he wasn’t afraid to tackle the challenges my teeth posed.”

Marcus’ oral health did present a chal-lenge. When he � rst met with Dr. Martinez, he had decay and infection along the facial part of his teeth, and his two primary front teeth were severely worn down and broken.

“� e good news for him was that he had plenty of tooth structure to save his teeth as opposed to having to extract them,” Dr. Martinez reports. “On most of Marcus’ teeth, we were able to be conservative, to excavate the decay and place � llings.

“Unfortunately, with the amount of tooth loss and decay on the two front teeth, we weren’t able to just patch them up. But we were able to prep them as anchors to support crowns.”

Treating Marcus required a good game plan, which included creating a detailed treatment schedule.

“We determined how much we could accomplish in one day and how much time Marcus would be required to be in the dental chair,” Dr. Martinez explains. “By doing this, we were able to get as much work done as possible in a single visit.

Single-Visit Smile“The care plan I received from Implant Dentistry of Florida spanned about 20 visits, but Dr. Martinez knocked out the � rst six or seven in the first week,” Marcus recounts. “During my initial appointment, I got a cleaning and quite a few fillings. Then, I received two crowns on my front teeth.”

Technology played a big role in expediting Marcus’ treatment process.

“We have the tech-nology to prep Marcus’ teeth, scan them digitally and then mill his restorations in-house in one day using our CEREC®

equipment, which uses computer-aided design and manufacturing ,” Dr. Martinez reports.

CEREC uses 3D imaging to accurately scan the patient’s mouth. It then designs the restorations, such as the crowns Marcus received, and fabricates them out of solid porcelain in the o� ce in one visit. � ere’s no need for temporaries or a second visit.

“After a crown is milled, we glaze and � re it, and it crystallizes into a beautiful ceramic restoration,” Dr. Martinez informs. “We cemented the two crowns onto Marcus’ front teeth after we cleaned out the decay and put simple restorative � llings on his other teeth.

“While Marcus’ crowns were milling and being processed in our oven, I focused on the other restorations, so we really optimized his time. After about two hours, Marcus had a beautiful new smile. He was ecstatic to go to work with the con� dence of a new smile.”

“The process is amazing,” Marcus asserts. “� e facility is set up with a lab and three-dimensional x-rays. And there’s quite an extensive sta� that works there. It allows Dr. Martinez to do all the work in-house.”

Marcus’ future treatment involves � lling in the gaps in his teeth with permanent restorations. He has opted to have dental implants placed in those areas.

“We plan to use crowns as the resto-rations over the dental implants once they inte-grate with the jawbone,”

Dr. Martinez states. “Integration takes about three months, after which the implants are stable enough to handle the restorations.”

Revealing ResultsAndrew reports that his new upper denture works very well and is very comfortable. He says it makes him feel like his old self.

“I feel like the man I was prior to losing my teeth,” he states. “My wife says I almost look the way I did as a young man, except for the aging in the face. But my teeth are

back to being pearly whites, and I can smile with con� dence again.

“Not only that, but my denture allows me to chew with no problem. I can eat everything I couldn’t eat before, including sandwiches, burgers, corn, ribs and apples. It actually brought a lot of foods back into my life.”

Marcus is looking forward to the care he’ll be receiving from Dr. Martinez during future visits to Implant Dentistry of Florida.

“Dr. Martinez said there’s some thinning of my jawbone in one location so he’s not comfortable placing an implant there,” the truck driver details. “He suggested putting a bridge there, but placing implants elsewhere shouldn’t be an issue.

“When we’re done with my treat-ment, I’ll have a whole-mouth makeover. � at’s absolutely the goal.

“Everybody at Implant Dentistry of Florida, from the receptionist at the front door to the intake person to Dr. Martinez, is very friendly and accommodating, espe-cially considering I have such an in� exible schedule,” Marcus adds. “If I say, I would like to spend the next 10 days with you, they make it happen. My experience with them is really good.”

Andrew has battled his depression with the help of professionals who gave him advice for facing life’s di� cult times. � e advice gave him the desire to seek treatment at Implant Dentistry of Florida, which changed his outlook on life.

“One thing they told me was I didn’t have to accept my teeth the way they were. I could do something about them,” Andrew recalls. “I was able to � nd the right dentist to get the job done right, and it’s worked out really great for me.

“I haven’t had a depression episode in a few years. Being able to smile makes me feel better about myself.”©FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Marcus’ before and after

images courtesy of Implant Dentistry of Florida. Andrew’s photo

is an FHCN file photo. mkb

*Patient’s name changed at his request.

Strong and Aesthetic“Andrew came to us with problems regarding his upper teeth,” Dr. Brown remember s . “He had two denta l implants in his upper jaw with some teeth attached that had broken off, and the remainder of his upper teeth were decayed and not savable.

“To correct those problems, we removed one of the existing dental implants, which was failing. Then, in a single visit, we extracted his remaining upper teeth, placed four additional implants to give him a total of � ve and � t him with a new upper � xed denture.

“When securing a lower denture, four implants are sufficient. The bone on the upper arch, though, doesn’t have the same density as the bone on the bottom. It’s more porous, so four to six implants are usually needed to secure an upper denture.”

Andrew was still in his 40s when he was forced into retirement, and the thought of being disabled at such a young age caused him to spiral into depression. Adding to his despair was his discontent with the condi-tion of his smile due to lost and failing teeth.

“My father was an autoworker, so I had good dental care growing up,” Andrew relates. “But no one really enforced the flossing procedure, and I ended up with periodontal disease. Over time, I lost a lot of my upper teeth. � e bone around the teeth deteriorated from the periodontal disease so my teeth couldn’t stay in.

“I eventually got a removable denture that was held in place by dental implants, but that didn’t work very well and I didn’t wear it. I’m normally very conceited about my looks and like to show o� my pearly whites when I smile. But I wasn’t able to do that, so I didn’t smile at all because I was embarrassed.

“I tried to talk and eat without showing that I didn’t have teeth up top, but that’s hard to do. Because of that, I didn’t go out very much and pretty much isolated myself at home. You get depressed when you can’t see yourself the way you want, and I couldn’t see myself the way I wanted without teeth.”

can be affixed to one or more implants, or a full denture that can be fastened to a series of implants.

Prior to placing an implant, some patients require a bone grafting procedure designed to enhance the volume of the jawbone so it can properly support the

implant. The amount of time needed for the bone development is about three months.

Bone grafts are not always necessary, but with patients who have been missing teeth for many years, a graft is sometimes required because bone mas s de t e r io ra t e s when there i s no

pressure from chewing to stimulate natural bone regeneration.

Bone grafts are typically done at the time the implants are seated. � e implants then need three to six months to heal to a point where they can support a prosthetic. During the healing period, patients are usually � t with temporary replacement teeth.

Alejandro Martinez, DMD, graduated cum laude with a degree in Community Health from Utah Valley University and completed his Doctor of Dental

Medicine degree at Temple University in 2019. Dr. Martinez is adept in all aspects of general dentistry, is a certi-fi ed Invisalign provider and is fl uent in

English and Spanish. His empha-sis on comprehensive patient care and education allows him to build lasting bonds with his patients.

Jordan Robbins, DMD, earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from University of Florida in Gainesville in 2017. She completed a gen-eral practice residency with the Air Force in Colorado in 2018 and served as a dentist in that service branch from 2018 to 2021. Dr. Robbins is skilled in implant placement and resto-ration, Invisalign and CEREC single-visit dentistry, and off ers IV conscious sedation.

Page 6 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Brevard Health Care News | Page 7Implant, CosmetIC & general DentIstry

Best Foot Foward

Tips to help you keep your feet healthy:• Check feet daily

for abnormalities such as cuts, bruises or changes to toenails

• Never try to remove corns or callouses yourself

• Have shoes fi tted properly• Exercise – the better

your circulation, the better your ability to heal

• See a podiatrist regularly

by treatment for fungal nails because of known side e� ects to the liver and other organs. � ese medications are no longer the only option, and alternate treatments are available.”Article courtesy of Lake

Washington Foot & Ankle

Center. mkb

LAKE WASHINGTON FOOT & ANKLE

ROBERT P. DUNNE, DPM, FACFAS

Robert P. Dunne, DPM, FACFAS, is a board-certifi ed podiatric surgeon and a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. After receiving his degree from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, he completed a

podiatric surgical residency followed by a preceptorship at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Dunne participates in ongoing research,

including double-blinded studies for pharmaceutical trials.

Experiencing Foot Pain?

Dr. Dunne welcomes the opportunity to answer your questions about

plantar warts and other foot health issues. To schedule an appointment,

call or visit his offi ce:

Melbourne2717 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 4

(321) 253-6191

What diabetic patients need to know to maintain foot health

D iabetes is a disease that can affect a person’s hear t , k idney s , e ye s , nerves and feet. However, with

adequate medical care, home management, exercise and proper diet, most people with diabetes can lead a normal and full life.

Because the disease can result in a decrease in circulation and/or a decreasing sensation in the feet, foot issues are among the more common complications caused by diabetes.

“Part of managing the disease should include routine foot screenings,” explains board-certi� ed podiatric surgeon Robert P. Dunne, DPM, of Lake Washington Foot & Ankle Center. “Most patients watch what they eat, take their medications as prescribed and exercise, but many fail to

see the importance of having a physician evaluate their overall foot health.”

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, more than 65,000 diabetic patients per year will have a lower limb amputation, and the odds of a second amputation within three to � ve years increases by 50 percent.

� is is why it is essential to keep an eye on your lower extremities and take care of any issues that may occur.

“Seeing a podiatrist can greatly reduce a patient’s risk of having a lower limb amputation,” Dr. Dunne emphasizes.

“When it comes to corns, callouses and routine nail care, patients often don’t give a second thought to taking care of these issues themselves. But many times home treat-ment can lead to greater issues, including ulcers and infection. � is will typically stem from the patient nipping the skin without realizing it as a result of neuropathy that often accompanies diabetes.”

Early Intervention� ere are other complications directly related to diabetes that can present themselves such as peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Many of these issues can be avoided by seeing a podiatrist regularly for routine care.

Lake Washington Foot & Ankle is a comprehensive podiatric clinic o� ering treatment for everything from bunions to hammertoes.

“We treat ingrown toenails, warts and neuromas,” Dr. Dunne assures.

“Our patients come first, and we recommend that they take action now if they have a problem,” Dr. Dunne informs. “Many people are intimidated

Diabetic ChecklistWhat a diabetic patient should be on the lookout for:• Any swelling of the foot

or ankle• Numbness in the feet or toes• Pain in the legs• Slow-healing wounds• Ingrown and fungal toenails

(yellowing, thickening and becoming brittle)

• Dry cracks in the skin• Changes in skin color

Decreasing DiabesityExamining the link between obesity and diabetes

O besity is a huge problem – pun intended. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

37.9 percent of Americans 20 and older are obese, which is de� ned as having a body mass index of 30 or above.

Obesity puts people at risk for a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, but one of the most common diseases associated with obesity is diabetes, specif-ically Type 2 diabetes.

� ese conditions are so intricately entwined that experts have coined the term “diabesity” to describe their rela-tionship. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 95 percent of the diabetes cases in the US, and more than 90 percent of people with the disorder are overweight or obese.

Our bodies need energy to function, and they get it from the food we eat. During digestion, food is broken down into a sugar called glucose that travels through the bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, works like a key: It opens your body’s cells to let the glucose enter to be used by the cells as fuel.

Too Much or Not EnoughSome people’s bodies don’t make enough, or any, insulin, or they don’t use insulin

appropriately, and glucose remains in the blood instead of getting into the cells. When the glucose level in your blood is too high, you’ve got diabetes.

High glucose levels can damage many parts of the body, including the eyes, heart, kidneys, nerves and feet. With Type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin properly. Its onset can occur at any age, but it most often starts when people are middle-aged or older.

Many studies have demonstra ted a l ink between obes i ty and diabetes, but just how diabe-sity occurs is complex and yet to be fully understood. What we know is that people who are overweight or obese put added pressure on their bodies’ ability to use insulin properly to control glucose levels in the blood. � is makes them more susceptible to developing diabetes.

One way obesity may lead to diabetes is by triggering changes in your metabo-lism, the processes that occur in your body to function. It’s believed these changes cause fat tissue to release fat molecules into the blood. � e increased fat in the blood a� ects the cells that are responsive to insulin and reduces insulin sensitivity.

Calorie-dense foods lead to increased fat accumulation, and calorie-dense diets are common with overweight individuals.

When the body has to store excess fat and cannot properly control insulin levels in the blood, substances called free fatty

acids are deposited in the liver, causing a condition known as fatty liver.

Free fatty acids also move through the circulatory system causing reactions within other organs such as the pancreas, heart and muscles. � is starts a vicious cycle of organ damage, in� am-

mation, and deteriorating insulin resistance and insulin

secretion from the pancreas. Where the fat accumulates on

your body is also a factor in diabesity. If your fat is primarily located around your belly, which is a predictor of visceral fat that lies around your internal organs, you are at an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Like diets high in fat and carbohydrates, visceral fat is associated with worsening insulin resistance.

Winning by LosingIt’s no surprise that major factors contrib-uting to diabesity are chronic unhealthy behaviors, including eating a high-calorie diet and avoiding physical activity. We

know weight loss has a bene� cial e� ect on blood glucose control and fat metabolism, so lifestyle modi� cation through changes in diet and exercise is generally the � rst diabesity management strategy. If you are also taking diabetes medications, your doses will have to be reviewed regularly, as they may need to be adjusted as you lose weight.

In certain cases, weight loss medica-tions may be used to assist someone with diabesity achieve and sustain substantial weight reduction. For some people, a surgical weight loss option, such as a gastric band or bypass, is a choice, espe-cially if they’ve not achieved positive results with lifestyle modification and medication therapies.

Because it can damage many organs and tissues, diabesity also lowers quality of life. If you are overweight, especially if you notice any symptoms of diabetes, have your blood glucose level checked by a doctor. Type 2 diabetes doesn’t always have symptoms, but possible symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urina-tion, hunger, fatigue and blurred vision.

Don’t wait until diabesity damages your body. Get tested today and start on the road to weight loss and glucose control. And a healthier, higher quality of life. © FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. mkb

JASON GRIFFETH, MSBRETT HAAKE, DOFELICE HAAKE, DO

JAY JOHNSTON, MMS, PA-CRICHARD STEINFELD, MD

MIGUEL RIVERA, MD

Want to know more or book a complimentary consultation to see if you are a candidate? Visit Regenerative Biologics Institute online at www.rbistemcell.com

Retired NFL star opts for regenerative therapy over knee surgery

E ddie George had aspirations of playing running back in the NFL for as long as he can remember. His father’s enthusiasm for the game

and particularly that position was a major motivation for Eddie’s ambitions.

“My knee problem was something that progressed gradually over the years,” Eddie explains. “� ere wasn’t any acute injury. I developed bone spurs, loose bodies � oating in my knees. � ey were so big, they cut into my ACLs and sprained them. I had the bone spurs cleaned out, but my knees were still pretty banged up.

“My knees were painful, and it was di� cult to get full � exion with them. It was uncomfortable to sit on planes or in cars for long periods because my knees would lock up. � e pain interfered with many of my everyday activities, including working out, walking and gol� ng. It was really a� ecting my quality of life, and I was facing surgery.

“� en a few years ago, I met Jason Gri� eth and his team one day while we were both in Ohio. � ey told me about the regenerative medicine process they o� er, and I was really intrigued by it. � ey said, Come down to Florida. We’ll treat your knees and see how it works for you.”

Jason Griffeth, MS, is a regenera-tive medicine scientist at Regenerative Biologics Institute in Vero Beach. RBI is one of the few clinics in the country that has both stem cell scientists and physi-cians working together to provide the best possible stem cell-based regenerative therapies for treating arthritic or injured joints.

“I went to Florida and held Jason and his team to their word,” Eddie shares. “� eir process was amazing!”

RBI o� ers multiple regenerative injec-tion therapies, but they all have one thing in common. � ey treat the underlying cause of pain instead of simply masking the symptoms, which is common with traditional orthopedic injections such as cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections.

“At RBI, our signature regenerative therapy is TruGenta™ Injection � erapy, which uses mesenchymal stem cells.” Jason states. “For this therapy, we retrieve millions of those stem cells from the patient, combine them with platelet rich plasma taken from the patient’s blood and inject the resulting mixture into the patient’s damaged joint.”

Mesenchymal stem cells are naturally programmed to heal and repair soft tissue and work in several steps. Once injected into the area of need, such as a knee, hip or shoulder joint, they adhere to the local tissues and bone, and begin to replicate.

“The stem cells then crowd the area and start to fuse together,” Jason observes. “� is fusion can potentially

result in the formation of new tissue. Adding platelet rich plasma and other bioactive growth factors further stimu-lates the mesenchymal stem cells to grow within the joints.”

Another regenerative injection therapy that is now available at RBI is a variation of platelet rich plasma, or PRP, called the GFX™ Injection Therapy. It is PRP that is enhanced with lots of additional growth factors.

“� e GFX therapy combines PRP with amniotic fluid-derived growth factors,” Jason explains. “� ese growth factors help stimulate healing and repair even more. They also recruit other stem cells from around the body to the area it is injected.

“RBI now o� ers more nonsurgical regenerative injection therapies than ever to treat all stages of osteoarthritis and other orthopedic conditions. Both the TruGenta™ and GFX™ injections can help to better form new tissue in patients with severely degenerated joints, particularly those who have lost so much cartilage that they are in a bone-on-bone situation.”

“I Felt Amazing” A few years ago at RBI, Eddie received the traditional TruGenta Injection � erapy. At � rst, Eddie was concerned he might be out of commission for a week or two following the injection, but he was pleased to learn the treatment required no downtime.

“� e treatment wasn’t uncomfortable, and I was literally in and out the same day,” Eddie relates. “It took 30 minutes to have my stem cells extracted, and they said it would take about an hour and a half to process the stem cells and PRP, so I went to lunch.

“When I went back, the injection was ready and the shot was very quick. I received one injection treatment in each of my knees, and afterward, I felt amazing. Now, my knees feel great, and I’m able to do many of the things I had trouble with before.

“Getting in and out of the car is not as uncomfortable as it once was. Before, it took me forever to get my body moving, but now I can get up and walk with no problem. And I’m gol� ng all the time. In fact, I’m able to get out of bed and swing a golf club without having to really warm up. I’ve gotten my competitive edge back without a surgeon’s blade.

“The regenerative injection therapy at RBI helped me tremendously. It’s done wonders for my life. It prevented me from having to undergo joint replacement surgery, which I’m very happy about. � e treatment has been so good that I have sent my wife and others to get treated at RBI, even my dentist. And now I am returning to RBI to get my arthritic shoulder treated!”© FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo courtesy of Erick

Anderson/EAfoto. mkb

Repairing the Body a More Natural Way

The clinical team at Regenerative Biologics Institute has the expertise to off er the most advanced anti-aging and regenerative therapies to help patients sustain their health and quality of life. For more information about the latest in anti-aging and regenerative therapies, and about achieving optimal health in a more natural way, call or visit RBI in Vero Beach at:

3730 Seventh Ter., Suite 302A

(772) 492-6973

Heal and Repair “Eddie played in the NFL for nine years, and all of that activity on his knees resulted in signi� cant pain, tissue damage and arthritis,” Jason discloses. “He was facing major joint replacement surgery but hoped to avoid that. He elected to undergo one of our regen-erative injection therapies instead of having surgery.

“Regenerative therapies are the only treatments available that have been shown in studies to heal and repair joints and reverse some of the degeneration that occurs with arthritis. � e goal of our regenerative therapies is to restore the joint to a healthier state, which leads to a substantial reduction in pain, increased mobility, improved quality of life and the potential to avoid surgery.”

“My father loved football and loved following running backs such as Jim Brown, Franco Harris and O.J. Simpson,” Eddie, 47, recalls. “He talked about them with such admiration and passion, and I wanted my father to talk about me the same way. I had dreams of accomplishing great things within the game of football.”

And so he did.In 1992, Eddie was recruited out

of Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia to play football at � e Ohio State University. In 1995, Eddie’s stellar play at Ohio State won him the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to college football’s most outstanding player. That recognition and his ongoing excellence on the � eld earned Eddie a position as a � rst-round pick in the 1996 NFL draft.

“I was drafted by the Houston Oilers and won Rookie of the Year in 1996,” Eddie reminisces. “I was part of the team’s move from Houston to Nashville, where we became the Tennessee Titans. I played eight seasons with Tennessee and one with the Dallas Cowboys.”

Eddie retired in 2006 as the Oilers/Titans’ all-time leading rusher and the only running back in NFL history to record 300 or more carries in eight consecutive seasons. He also played in the Super Bowl after the 1999 season (losing to the St. Louis Rams).

“My proudest moment in football has to be winning the Heisman Trophy,” Eddie re� ects. “But going to the Super Bowl with the Titans, considering all we’d gone through in the organization, was also a proud moment. � ere was a feeling we’d accomplished something. � at was a great time in my life.”

Playing football at any level puts intense pressure on the joints. As a profes-sional running back for nine years, Eddie’s knees took a relentless pounding, and the consistent wear and tear culminated in painful degenerative arthritis.

Page 8 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Brevard Health Care News | Page 9poDIatry

speCIal to FhCn

stem Cell therapy

PCPs prove pivotal in early detection and treatment of cancer

A mong medical providers, the primary care physician is the one who typically has the most face-to-face contact

with patients and develops the strongest relationships with them.

� at’s why PCPs play such a critical role in the early detection and treatment of diseases, including many cancers. By ensuring patients undergo routine screenings, PCPs help them achieve the better outcomes and longer survival rates associated with early detection.

“Working against cancer is a very personal � ght for me because my father died of lung cancer,” shares George E. Roque, MD, a board-certified internist at Atlantic Medical Group in Melbourne. “I have a personal commitment to my patients and my

community to battle cancer, and our

practice proudly p a r t n e r s w i th th e specialists at Cancer

Care Centers of Brevard in that mission.

“At our practice, we are very proac-tive in following

standard cancer screening guidelines, and because of that, we detect many cancers in their early stages. Once cancer is detected, we immediately direct those patients to an oncologist at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard so that treatment can be initiated right away.”

“Other cancers, such as prostate cancer in men and breast and cervical cancer in women, also have screening tests that detect cancer early. The key is for physicians to not just press their patients to have these tests. They need to also explain in detail why these tests are important and the benefits of the tests. The PCP is in a good position to do that.

“Our fight against cancer must be waged along with patient educa-tion,” he adds. “If we don’t get the population educated, patients will never understand the importance of cancer screening. Education begins with the PCP but must be supported in the media and by the patients’ friends, family and other health care providers.”

Dr. Roque notes that the PCPs at Atlantic Medical Group are making headway with early detection, treat-ment and patient education with the assistance of their colleagues at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard.

“Our partnership with Cancer Care Centers of Brevard has been very good for us and for the community as well,” he confirms.© FHCN staff article. mkb

To learn more, visit them online at www.CancerCareBrevard.com

A Better Way to Fight Cancer

The physicians and staff at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard believe in working together

to fi ght cancer. They provide leading-edge cancer care, from diagnosis through treatment

into recovery. To make an appointment, contact them at one of their locations:

Melbourne/Pine1430 S. Pine St.

(321) 952-0898Melbourne/Eau Gallie

2290 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 202(321) 254-4776

Melbourne/Wickham240 N. Wickham Rd.

(321) 752-4811Merritt Island

215 Cone Rd.(321) 453-7440

Palm Bay20 San Filippo Dr. S.E.

(321) 725-8300Rockledge

1048 Harvin Way(321) 636-2111

Sebastian13050 US Hwy. 1

(772) 589-1995

Making HeadwayAs their patients’ health care gatekeepers, PCPs have knowledge about personal and family histories as well as lifestyle habits. PCPs are aware if patients smoke, are physically inactive or eat an unhealthy diet. Based on these factors, PCPs can determine the patients’ risks for certain cancers and focus on prevention and early detection of those cancers. But general cancer screenings are important to overall health as well.

“We follow recognized guidelines for cancer screening, and all the cancers we screen for are important,” Dr. Roque stresses. “Colon cancer screening is one that leads the way. If we have patients with rectal bleeding, we follow that with screening tests and note any precancerous changes, so even borderline cancer can be removed.

Enhance Your

Vascular Health

The specialists at Vascular Vein Centers provide the highest level of care with long-lasting results. To schedule a vein evaluation, call or visit their Viera/Rockledge location at:

6525 Third St., Suite 208

(321) 704-8505

Samuel P. Martin, MD, FACS, is board-certifi ed in general and vascular surgery. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in New Haven, CT, and his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, NC. Dr. Martin completed

a general surgery residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, associated with Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, and a vascular fellowship at Ochsner Medical

Center (formerly Ochsner Foundation Hospital) in Jeff erson, LA. As the fi rst fellowship-trained vascular surgeon in Central Florida, Dr. Martin was also one of the founders and fi rst medical director of the Central Florida Wound Care Center. Visit them online at www. BrevardVein.com

A Silent KillerUnexplained leg pain or swelling? It could be a DVT

A deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a clot that can obstruct blood � ow in a deep vein.

It’s also a “silent killer,” according to Samuel P.

Martin, MD, founder and medical director at Vascular Vein Centers.

“It is the single largest cause of death in hospitalized patients with another admitting diagnosis,” Dr. Martin reports.

“� at’s because a clot in the leg or pelvis, which typically occurs after an abdominal, pelvic or orthopedic opera-tion, trauma or stroke, can break o� , pass through the heart and block blood � ow to the lungs. When that happens, it’s called a pulmonary embolus, or PE. A PE can cause shortness of breath and/or chest pain, and if it’s large enough, it can cause death.”

As many as 900,000 people, or one to two per 1,000, could be

affected by a DVT each year in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Up to 100,000 Americans will die as a result of a DVT with a PE, two-thirds of them in a hospital or within a few weeks of hospitalization. Half of those who develop a DVT will have long-term consequences, such as swelling, pain, discol-oration and skin changes around the ankle of the a� ected leg. One-third of those with a DVT will have a recurrence within 10 years.

“Clots in the legs occur for a variety of reasons,” Dr. Martin observes. “Some people inherit a tendency to clot, referred to as thrombophilia. Cancer, obesity, pregnancy, prolonged travel and a sedentary lifestyle also present signi� cant risks for DVT.”

A clot can be completely asymp-tomatic (“silent”) or it can cause sudden leg swelling, pain, aching or fullness and pressure in the leg. � ere can also be warmth of the leg in the area of discomfort or skin discoloration of the lower leg. People experiencing any of these signs or symptoms should consult a physician immediately.

Risks and RemediesThe risk for a DVT is significant for patients with a history of orthopedic

operations on the back, hips or knees, abdominal or pelvic procedures, and in trauma cases.

Prevention involves early mobili-zation, pneumatic compression of the legs while in the operating room and afterward, and use of blood-thinning medications, especially in those with a previous or family history of clots and in cancer patients.

“Long trips with little movement, especially with constricting garments or associated with dehydration, increases the risk for developing clots as well,” Dr. Martin warns. “Compression stock-ings, hydration and frequent movement or � exing the foot can help a great deal. � is is especially important in overweight or obese people and in pregnant women because of a higher risk for clots.

“� e risk for deep vein clots in the legs can be reduced by maintaining a good body weight, staying active and exercising regularly, not smoking, knowing your potential risk factors and discussing them with your health care provider. Wearing compression stockings helps reduce swelling and can be incor-porated into a healthy lifestyle.

“If people have signs or symptoms of a DVT, they should make an appointment with a physician, particularly a vascular specialist, and a Doppler ultrasound exam should be performed. � e diagnosis of a DVT in the leg cannot be made on physical exam alone.”

Clots in the deep veins require medical therapy, Dr. Martin empha-sizes. The provider may prescribe an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, such as Heparin or Coumadin or one of the newer

anticoagulants, such as XARELTO®, ELIQUIS® or PRADAXA® . In addit ion, people should stay active, wear compression s tockings and elevate their legs when possible.Article and photos

courtesy of Vascular

Vein Centers. mkb

Wearing compression

stockings helps reduce

swelling.

Solutions for male sexual dysfunction

S exual health is a hard topic to broach, but a third of all men could probably speak about it from experience.

Far more common than many realize, erectile dysfunction (ED) will derail the sex

lives of more than half of all men at some point in their lifetime and stands as the sexual problem most often reported by men to their doctors.

It is a problem that occurs progressively as men age but is even more common in men su� ering from hypertension and peripheral vascular and cardiovascular disease, in men who smoke or used to smoke, and as a result of prescription or illicit drugs.

Many causes may underlie the diagnosis of ED. Among the most common are vascular disease, hor-monal imbalances and prostate cancer. In many men, several factors may be at play and all must be addressed for best results.

Unfortunately, most men have a hard time talking about this problem and frequently su� er in silence or at most discuss it with their primary care physician. But most primary care physicians do not have the time and the state-of-the-art “know how” to fully evaluate and treat the patient to achieve optimal results. As a result, most men are given a prescription for pills such as VIAGRA® without so much as a discussion or expla-nation of how to take the pill correctly.

Jeremy*, 56, was treated in such a fashion after he explained to his general practitioner last spring that he was having di� culty achieving and maintaining an erection. � e pills the doctor prescribed had little or no e� ect.

After trying the pills for nearly six months, Jeremy sought help from a men’s sexual health specialist he found during an internet search. � at specialist is Boris Havkin, MD, a board-certi� ed urologist, founder of Havkin Urology in Melbourne.

“I see this a lot,” Dr. Havkin reports. “Patients treated indiscriminately without truly investigating their underlying causes, which can be vascular dysfunc-tion or a hormonal de� ciency such as low testosterone, etc., thus failing to respond.

“That’s what happened with Jeremy, whom I examined thoroughly and found to be su� ering from penile arterial insu� ciency, speci� cally a disease of the blood vessels of the penis.”

Jeremy was not alone. Dr. Havkin says the primary cause of erectile dysfunction – the one that a� ects 80 to 90 percent of all su� erers – is vascular disease. � e second most common cause is a hormone imbalance such as low testosterone or excessive estrogen levels. In a fair number of patients, both if not more factors can be the culprit.

In response to his � ndings, Dr. Havkin tailored a treatment to address Jeremy’s vascular disease. � e treatment he chose is called GAINSWave® therapy, which is regenerative in nature.

Dr. Havkin, who is a certified provider of GAINSWave therapy, emphasizes that although many treatments may be e� ective, only few reverse the under-lying cause as opposed to covering up the cause like a Band-Aid, as is the case with pills.

GAINSWave is a nonsurgical, drug-free treatment that uses pulses of low-intensity acoustic waves to repair damaged blood vessels while also stimulating the growth of new blood vessels.

Referred to clinically as low-intensity extracorpo-real shock wave therapy, or LiESWT, the GAINSWave procedure uses acoustic waves to break up the plaque and calcium that have built up inside old or damaged blood vessels, while stimulating production of growth factors and stem cells, thus leading to repair of the vessels.

� e result is an increase in blood � ow, which improves the quality of the erection and sensitivity of the penis.

GAINSWave treatments can also be used to treat Peyronie’s disease, which occurs when scar tissue builds up in the penis and causes an abnormal bend of the penis as well as pain with erection.

Each noninvasive GAINSWave treatment lasts about 30 minutes, is performed in the doctor’s office and is completely painless. This technology has been used in Europe and Israel without any detrimental side effects for 15 years, indicating complete safety. Patients typically receive treatments once or twice a week for six to 12 weeks.

Reversing the Root Cause “As a fully trained men’s sexual health specialist and uro-logic surgeon, I am prepared to administer any and all available treatments for erectile dysfunction, from oral medications to vacuum pump therapy to teaching the patients how to do penile injections and even perform-ing corrective surgery, including all forms of implants,” Dr. Havkin explains.

“However, I am especially excited to be able to o� er treatment options that can result in a reversal of the underlying factors leading to the problem. � at’s what GAINSWave does.

“Treatments such as pills and injections will help a large number of patients achieve erections when neces-sary, but they don’t reverse the underlying root cause and stop the progression of that cause.

“� at’s why a large number of patients who initially respond to oral medications, for example, will eventually stop responding, because the underlying cause has not been treated and reversed.

“GAINSWave will not only reverse those causes but will optimize the patient’s penile health. And it does this without producing any known side e� ects and without causing the patient any downtime following the procedure.”

GAINSWave is not the only tool available in the quest for regenerating sexual health. Advanced techniques such as the Priapus Shot® (P-Shot), injections of amniotic � uid and even stem cell therapy are also highly e� ective.

“Based on research,” Dr. Havkin says, “it was proved that by combining GAINSWave therapy with the Priapus Shot – an injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) derived from the patient’s own blood – further sexual improvement can be realized.

“� e combination of these therapies improves not only erectile function, but sexual performance, sensitivity and the quality of the orgasm,” Dr. Havkin notes. “All of that leads to a far more satisfactory sexual experience.”

Dr. Havkin, who is a certi� ed provider of the P-Shot, can also deliver that therapy as a stand-alone treatment, and in particularly di� cult cases, he can utilize treat-ments that include stem cells.

“Each patient is treated as an individual, with their treatments tailored to their speci� c needs,” Dr. Havkin says. “For example, with patients who are su� ering from a hormonal imbalance, we can administer hormonal replace-ment therapy that will further improve patient’s responses.

“Hormone replacement therapy is where the patient is given hormones that are biochemically identical to the ones they produce in their body but no longer produce in su� cient quantities.

“� is kind of therapy requires thorough testing and careful adjustments and monitoring, and can be delivered through advanced methods, such as testosterone pellets.”

Jeremy began receiving GAINSWave treatments in December. Within a month, he noted definitive improvement and was able to achieve and maintain an erection without pills.

“I was getting nowhere with the pills, which is why I sought out Dr. Havkin in the � rst place,” Jeremy says. “I � gured there had to be something out there that would take care of this problem, and GAINSWave was my solution.

“It’s an easy, painless treatment that you have done right there in the doctor’s o� ce, and I love the fact that there’s no side e� ects or downtime associated with it. It’s made me feel like a new man, which is why I recommend not only GAINSWave, but Dr. Havkin.

“He’s no ordinary doctor. He’s truly a specialist in this � eld and is very thorough. He takes every step necessary to learn exactly what’s behind the problem and then he o� ers you a solution that works. I recommend him to anybody.”© FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Before and after graphic courtesy of GAINSWave. mkb

* Patient’s name changed at his request

Visit them on the web at HavkinUrology.com

State-of-the-Art CareDr. Havkin and his team want their patients to feel safe, heard, comfortable and at home when they visit Havkin Urology. Dr. Havkin provides total urological care and explores each patient’s entire history to diagnose and correct any and all urological issues. To learn more about how Dr. Havkin can help you, call or visit his offi ce in Melbourne at:

3021 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.Suite 103

(321) 500-4545

The Time Is Now

Boris Havkin, MD, is a board-certifi ed urologist and proud recipient of the annual Patient Choice Award (2008-present) and Compassionate Doctor Award (2010-present). He earned his bachelor’s degree and graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College in New York in 1994 and received his medical degree from State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine in 1998. He completed his internship in general surgery at the SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse in 1999 and completed his residency in general surgery at the same school in 2000. He later completed a residency in urology at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse in 2004 and serves as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Havkin is an active contributing member of the North American and International Sexual Medicine Society.

BORIS HAVKIN, MD

Page 10 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Brevard Health Care News | Page 11

onCology

venous DIsease men’s health/urology

KAREN COWAN-OBERBECK, AUD, FAAA,

CCC-AGLENN A. OBERBECK,

BC-HAS

Advanced technology reforms confirmed cynic

If you were to scroll through the list of clients Karen Huebner accumulated during her 20-plus years working as an organizational

developer in and around Washington, DC, you’d come across some very notable names and organizations.

A number of state agencies and local police departments are on that list, but so too are the Smithsonian Institution, Secret Service and two presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

“I helped people better organize and run meetings,” says Karen, who has a PhD in organizational development. “I also helped show people how to work together better. And yes, I met both President Bush and President Clinton; their vice presidents, too.”

Karen worked for both administra-tions, not the presidents directly. She then spent the last 10 years of her career at Johns Hopkins University, where she was the nursing school’s only faculty member who wasn’t a physician or nurse.

“I was involved in educating doctors and nurses but in a more interactive, non-lecture way,” Karen says. “My job was to help them discover new ways of teaching and educating that were more hands-on.”

Karen, 73, retired about eight years ago. Shortly after, she and her husband moved to Florida, where she continued

Karen Cowan-Oberbeck, AuD, FAAA, CCC-A, completed her undergradu-ate work at the University of South Florida. She earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida and Doctor of Audiology

degree from Nova Southeastern University. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and Florida Academy of Audiology, a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists, and holds Florida teaching certifi cates in hearing-impaired K-12.

Glenn A. Oberbeck, BC-HAS, is a licensed hearing instrument specialist. His specialty areas include personal communication assistance, cerumen management, audiometrics and assistive-listening devices. He is a member of the International Hearing Society, Florida Society of Hearing Health Professionals, Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce.

For Expert Hearing Care

Contact EarCare at the following locations:

Melbourne7777 N. Wickham Rd.,

Suite 21

Merritt Island250 N. Courtenay Pkwy.,

Suite 102

Indian Harbour Beach1875D S. Patrick Dr.

(321) 216-2997For further information, please visit earcare.net

Age 50 is a good time to establish a hearing baseline. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, it may be time to be seen by an audiologist. • Do you have trouble following

the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?

• Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?

• Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?

• Do you have to strain to understand conversation?

• Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?

• Do you fi nd yourself asking people to repeat themselves?

• Do many people seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?

• Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

• Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?

When Should Your Hearing Be Evaluated?

After years of broken promises from other providers, Karen � nally has a pair of

hearing aids that work for her.

to struggle with a problem that hampered her throughout her career.

Louder, Not Better “I was born with a sensorineural hearing loss,” Karen reveals. “Because of that, there are certain sounds I don’t hear. For example, if you were to wind up a child’s musical toy and play it, there are some notes I can hear and others I can’t.

“As you might expect, that can play havoc with speech. So, ever since I was 35 or 40, I have worn hearing aids. � e problem was that hearing aids were absolutely useless. No matter how much I paid for them or what brand I got, they didn’t work for me.”

Karen says she has tried several types of hearing aides.

“Every three or four years, I’d go to the audiologist and they’d say, Oh, we have this brand-new technology that’ll � x you right up and make everything better, and I’d try them, and the result was the same,” Karen recalls.

“About the only thing new hearing aids ever did was make things louder. It didn’t bring back those sounds I was missing or make anything clearer, so there I was in the classroom with people asking questions, and I’m saying, What? What did you say?”

After years of broken promises, Karen became quite a cynic of audiologists and hearing aid manufacturers. A year ago, she brought her cynicism to EarCare, where she asked Glenn A. Oberbeck, BC-HAS, to repair her hearing aids.

“After Glenn � xed my hearing aids, he started in with, You know, we have hearing aids with new tech-

nology that will help you hear better,” Karen remembers. “And I said, Glenn, I appreciate it, but I’ve heard this story a hundred times. I’m not interested.

“To that he said, No, these really will make a di� erence for you. In fact, I’ll put them in for free, and if they don’t work, I’ll just take them back.

Karen agreed to give them a try but had no hope they were going to be any di� erent than the others.

But these were different. Released near the end of 2019, the ReSound LiNX Quattro 9 rechargeable hearing aids feature the most advanced technology in a hearing device.

“What makes these hearing aids stand out above all others is the noise cancel-lation and the ability to get great results

with speech discrimination,” Glenn enthuses. “Karen, for example, has very poor speech discrimination. With her old hearing aids, her word recognition score was 52 percent on a scale where 100 is perfect. With the ReSound LiNX Quattro 9 hearing aids, her speech discrimination is up to 88 percent.

“Another feature that makes these hearing aids special is the iPhone tech-nology. Karen can stream phone calls directly through her hearing aids, so she doesn’t have to hold the phone to her ear to hear it. She can do the same with sound generated from any electronic device, including a TV, computer or tablet. � at’s called direct audio input and it gives the wearer superior quality of sound. � ese hearing aids also work very well in crowded environments.

“For a lot of people with hearing loss, when they get into a restaurant or anywhere where there’s a crowd of people and it’s noisy, they have trouble hearing the person next to them. � ese hearing aids allow the wearer to block out ambient sounds and focus directly on what the person next to them is saying. It’s all done through an app on your phone.”

Life-Changing Sound It didn’t take long for Karen to become a believer in the ReSound LiNX Quattro 9 hearing aids. She asserts that within a week of accepting Glenn’s o� er, she was understanding speech and hearing better than ever.

A new and far more convenient world of sound has opened up to her.

“For years, the closed-caption feature on my television was my bread and butter,” Karen says. “It was the only way I could watch TV and get anything out of it. Now I can watch TV, and I don’t need the closed-captioning. I love that I can hear phone calls directly through my hearing aids. And the sound is so crisp and clear. It’s just amazing!

“� ese hearing aids have absolutely changed my life, and I thank Glenn for all he’s done for me. I was convinced there was nothing that new hearing aids could do for me, but he persuaded me to try again, and I’m so glad he did. I told him, You took a totally con� rmed cynic and turned me around. He really hung with me, and I appreciate his patience.”

Karen says she also appreciates EarCare’s “phenomenal” customer support. Even after the � tting, Glenn is available to help with even the smallest issue.

“I got a new phone recently and had to adjust the hearing aids to the new operating system. I didn’t know how to do that, so I called Glenn, and he did his magic and got everything working again. Glenn is just great,” Karen commends.

“He’s a good-natured, positive and helpful man who is always there for you, and I would recommend him and EarCare to anyone who has a hearing problem or a problem with their hearing aids. Take it from a reformed cynic, they will not steer you wrong.”© FHCN article by Roy Cummings. FHCN file photo. mkb

Page 12 | Brevard Health Care News | Winter 2021 auDIology & hearIng aIDs