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UCF Pegasus Health, the outpatient medical facility where College of Medicine physicians are treating

patients, opened November 7 and is now providing services including internal, family and geriatric medicine, cardiology, sports medicine, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology and infectious disease.

Dean’s Aesculapian Society members had the opportunity to get a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the center before it was completed. They took tours, interacted with physicians and staff, and learned about the state-of-the-art practice from Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine.

As a convenience to patients, the facility offers on-site lab services and will soon offer on-site radiology.

Pegasus Health doesn’t resemble most doctors’ offices. Its décor is cozy and soothing—almost spa-like. Physicians meet with patients in small “living rooms” to discuss wellness goals and test results. Each examination room has a sitting area where the doctor and patient can sit and communicate eye-to-eye. The staff has received Ritz Carlton-based hospitality training and schedules follow-up appointments for patients while they are in the exam room.

“UCF Pegasus Health brings a new dimension to local health care,” Dr. German explained. “We are focused on preventative, personalized

UCF Pegasus Health Now Accepting Patients

and evidence-based care using the latest in technology and patient safety standards. Every day at the medical school we witness the expertise of our clinical faculty members. Now our colleagues are taking that dedication to our community.”

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Several thousand people visited the College of Medicine’s (COM) Community Open

House to get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at where UCF is training the next generation of doctors.

Central Florida residents took tours of the college’s high-tech classrooms, labs and library, and enjoyed sports on the Tavistock Green. They also met doctors from UCF Pegasus Health, the COM’s new outpatient medical facility.

Thousands Visit College of Medicine’s Community Open House “The Community Open House was delightful,” said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine. “It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to see the medical school that belongs to us all.”

Other open house events included interactive educational experiences, bounce houses for children, soccer, caricature artists and animal balloon crafters. Orlando Repertory Theatre’s

singing ensemble, Power Chords, performed, and the Big Red Bus from Florida’s Blood Centers was on hand. The UCF cheerleaders and Knightro attended and the Orlando Fire Department brought a fire engine for children to enjoy.

The event’s principal sponsor was Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. Additional major sponsors included the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and OUC—The Reliable One.

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Meet Some of Our UCF Pegasus Health Physicians

Dr. Abdo Asmar is a board-certified internist who received his fellowship training in clinical nephrology at the University of Florida. He specializes in caring for patients with kidney disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones and disorders of electrolyte and mineral metabolism.

Dr. Asmar received his medical degree at Kaunas Medical University in Kaunas, Lithuania. He did his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, where he was named chief resident. He was also active in medical education and was honored with multiple teaching awards.

Dr. Asmar served as Cook County Hospital’s director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program Recruitment Committee and is associate firm chief for the Categorical Medicine Residency Program.

“Kidney diseases and hypertension are among the most common chronic medical problems,” he said. “My emphasis is providing outstanding care while involving patients in their own health care decisions. I take pride in providing individualized care based on the patient’s unique needs.”

Dr. Leonardo Oliveira is board-certified in internal medicine and sports medicine.

An exercise and sports enthusiast, Dr. Oliveira received his medical degree from Universidade Federal Fluminense in Brazil. Before coming to UCF Pegasus Health, Dr. Oliveira completed his residency with distinction at the Cleveland Clinic, having participated in the Clinical Scholars Program, where he also completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. While there, he served as the team physician for John Carroll Uni-versity and Bedford High School, and provided medical coverage at running events such as the Cleveland Marathon.

Dr. Oliveira’s research interests are wellness and disease prevention, running injuries, exercise per-formance, stress fractures, hypertension in adults and athletes, use of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and shockwave therapy.

As an internal medicine and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Oliveira said he hopes to care for a variety of UCF Pegasus Health patients, including people with acute and chronic illnesses and injuries as well as athletes, physically active individuals and others interested in improving their overall health.

“Medicine is the combination of knowledge of the human body and the art of communicating as you care for patients’ lives,” Dr. Oliveira said.

Dr. Abdo Asmar

Dr. Leonardo Oliveira

Dr. Maria Cannarozzi

Dr. Mariana DangioloDr. Mariana Dangiolo is a board-certified family physician with subspecialty certification in geriatric medicine. As a bilingual doctor, she has dedicated part of her career to serving American Indian and Latino populations.

Dr. Dangiolo received her medical degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Argentina. She had her residency training in family medicine at the renowned Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota. She completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and served as geriatrician at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

Dr. Dangiolo has served as a medical director for the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley and as a leader for the Diabetes National Collaborative for the Indian Health Center. She is active in the American Academy of Family Physicians, Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, American Geriatrics Society, Physicians for a National Health Plan and the Florida Medical Association.

“I entered into family medicine because I couldn’t give up anything in the field of health care,” she said. “Family medicine allows me to contribute to improving the quality of life of a whole community, while taking care of my patients and their families socially, emotionally and physically.”

Dr. Maria Cannarozzi is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. Her clinical interests include wellness and healthy weight management, adolescent medicine, school performance and women’s health.

Dr. Cannarozzi received her medical degree at the University of South Florida College of Medicine after achieving a B.S.N. at the University of Central Florida and her O.D. at the University of Houston College of Optometry.

Dr. Cannarozzi currently serves on national committees for the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners. She also serves on the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) as

a regional member of the statewide Governor’s Advisory Council and as a judge for national medical student and resident abstract competitions for the ACP.

“For me, clinical practice is a very personal enterprise, one in which I am privileged to have a very significant relationship with each of my patients,” Dr. Cannarozzi said. “Each person has a story and a life about which I must be aware in order to fully provide medical care, counsel and partnership. The societal or population perspective of medicine is always brought to a personal level for me, as I care for each patient individually and uniquely, I hope. At least that is my goal.”

Dr. Stephen BermanDr. Stephen Berman is a board-certified neurologist with a special interest in the neurodegenerative diseases of aging. His clinical research has focused on Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, neuropathy and muscular dystrophy.

Dr. Berman began his medical career at the University of Illinois, where he earned a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. He continued his training at the Johns Hopkins-affiliated Greater Baltimore Medical Center, then participated in the Neurology Residency & Molecular Genetics Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Berman served as Visiting Scholar at Harvard Biological Laboratories and practiced in neuro-oncology and geriatric neurodegenerative disease at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was also chief of neurology service at one of Dartmouth Medical School’s two major teaching hospitals, the White River Junction VA Medical Center.

“I believe that the most important part of my job is to listen carefully to each patient’s needs and concerns,” Dr. Berman said. “Though I can use a large array of sophisticated and modern diagnostic and treatment methods, understanding what is bothering each patient is where it all starts.”

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While visiting the College of Medicine, Dr. Kirch—president and CEO of the Association of

American Medical Colleges (AAMC)—met with faculty members, administrators and students and toured the new state-of-the-art medical education building. He stated he was impressed by “what has happened at the College of Medicine in just a few years,” and remarked that the COM is “an incredibly innovative and energized place, a model of where medical education is headed.”

Dr. Kirch told students they should be appreciative of their medical school and their curriculum because “18,000-plus students started medical school this year and few, if any, have a more student-centered program than you do. Your program is as innovative as I see anywhere in the country.”

He also praised the anatomy lab which he had just visited. “I don’t know of another anatomy lab in the country that is set up like yours, or that has a volunteer faculty member donating full-body CAT scans of cadavers,” he told the students. “That is phenomenal. People here are handing you gifts all day long.

They are providing you with an extraordinary experience.”

Dr. Kirch explained how the AAMC—which represents all 134 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools along with nearly 400 major teaching hospitals—is revising the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) so it also reflects social and behavioral competencies.

The goal, he said, is not just to choose medical students based on their grade in organic chemistry but also on patient’s personal concerns, including questions like: “How will you communicate with my family when I’m in a coma?” The AAMC is also working on ways to test preprofessional attributes for medical students, including integrity, empathy skills, and how students reason through ethical dilemmas.

He urged the UCF doctors-in-training to be leaders in issues such as health care reform and increasing the number of residency programs. “Physician leadership has been in short supply,” he said. “Be active change agents. Become a voice.”

“An Incredibly Innovative and Energized Place”

Shirley Scott—a Dean’s Aesculapian Society member and veteran teacher of coping with death and dying—has

donated 120 copies of the book One Breath Apart to the UCF College of Medicine to help medical students cope with death and dying issues they begin facing as early as their first year in medical school. Scott chose to donate 120 copies in anticipation of the COM’s goal of admitting 120 students every year.

The book One Breath Apart, is a collection of poems, drawings and essays from medical students at the University of Massachusetts. The book chronicles the students’ feelings about their first anatomy lab dissections and how they coped with the reality of death, dying and their first patients, the cadavers.

“As they entered their first human dissection experience, I wanted the UCF medical students to understand that a lot of others who came before them shared the feelings they were experiencing,” she said.

During the medical school’s first three years, Ms. Scott has provided many opportunities for students to learn about death and dying. She has been a speaker at the young medical school’s first two send-off ceremonies, where students say thank-you and good-bye to their first patients, often called “silent teachers.”

Developing a personal philosophy about death and dying is an ongoing process for everyone that starts in childhood, perhaps with the death of a family pet, Ms. Scott said. That process continues throughout a person’s

life depending on individual experience. The development process is heightened for doctors, she said, because they must make sense of death and dying in everything they do.

Anatomy lab invokes a variety of unique feelings in medical students. Some have never seen a dead body before. All are nervous about how they’ll react. Students who have lost beloved family members like

grandparents often relive their grief. Those with terminally ill family

members see the future in stark reality. All must come

to terms with the fact that “death is not optional,” Ms. Scott said.

Her gift was made so that when the College

of Medicine is at full enrollment, each of its new

120 first-year students will be able to check out the book from

the Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, where the works will be housed.

“Coming to terms with death and dying is a long process for everyone, but especially for doctors who will all face patients who die suddenly or aren’t going to live despite the doctor’s best efforts,” Ms. Scott said. “I hope this book helps in that learning process because it includes real students talking about real feelings.”

“Coming to terms with death and dying is a long process for everyone, but especially for doctors who will all face patients who die suddenly or aren’t going to live despite the doctor’s best efforts.”

Real Words, Real FeelingsDEAN’S AESCULAPIAN SOCIETY MEMBER’S GIFT:

N E W A N D R E N E W I N G A E S C U L A P I A N S

since August 2011.

Norman D. Diebel, M.D.

Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, PA

The Honorable Conrad Santiago

Shirley A. Scott, R.N., M.S., C.T.

Future of Simulation in Medical EducationJANUARY 26, 2012 • 6:00 P.M.

This is an exclusive event for Aesculapians only.

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

The Rod of Aesculapius

[as-kah-LAY-pee-uhs] is

an ancient Greek symbol

associated with healing the

sick. It consists of the familiar

serpent entwined around a

staff. Aesculapius, the son of Apollo, was a

practitioner of medicine in ancient Greek

mythology. He was instructed in medicine by

the centaur Chiron. Today, the serpent-and-

rod motif is commonly used to symbolize

the practice and profession of medicine.

The Dean’s Aesculapian Society

is a special group of people who

demonstrate strong dedication

to and support of the UCF

College of Medicine through their

personal involvement and annual

contributions to the Dean’s Fund for

Medical Excellence. Aesculapians

participate in the life of the

college as true insiders, receiving

invitations to distinguished lectures

and private tours, as well as

Aesculapian-only events.

Become an Aesculapian TodayLorraine Scholler

Assistant Director for Development407.266.1044

Lorraine.Scholler@ucf.edu

G I V E O N L I N E AT

www.med.ucf.edu/giving

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What is high blood pressure?

A person whose systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 or higher or whose

diastolic pressure is 90 or higher is considered to have high blood pressure and

should talk with a doctor about the best ways to lower it. People who have blood

pressures from 120/80 to 139/89 are considered “pre-hypertensive” and may be

at increased risk for developing high blood pressure. These people should follow

healthy lifestyle modifications and get close follow-up from their physicians.

H E A L T H T I P SBROUGHT TO YOU BY UCF PEGASUS HEALTH

THE DEAN’S AESCULAPIAN SOCIETYUCF College of MedicineHealth Sciences Campus at Lake NonaOrlando, Florida 32827-7408CO

NTA

CT

1110

CO

M237-1

/12

Dr. Leonardo Oliveira

Did you know that 60 percent of the population is physically inactive? As we get busy with life’s demands, the time to exercise seems to disappear. We have other priorities and being physically active is not one of them.

But just as we are concerned about our diet, we should also be mindful of how active we are each day. Did you know that 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic physical activity per week can reduce your risk of heart disease? The benefits don’t stop with your heart and circulation. All of the body’s organ systems respond positively to physical fitness. Regular exercise decreases your risk of colon cancer and improves your survival after breast cancer. It improves diabetes control, lung function and your mood. Exercise is so powerful that the benefits have been scientifically proven to be superior to losing weight and quitting smoking. Men and women who are physically fit live longer than people the same age who are not fit.

“But I don’t have the time to be fit and reap those benefits.” Even if you don’t have time to hit the gym, you can incorporate exercise into your day-to-day activities. For example, when you arrive at work, stop your car at the end of the parking lot and walk. Use the stairs. Use half of your lunchtime to walk around the building. Create walking meetings. Set aside 10 minutes throughout the day during your breaks and do a brisk walk around the block. These small intervals can go a long way to reaching your weekly exercise target of 150 minutes. Make it fun—choose activities that will make you move. Engage in activities in pairs or teams and set personal challenges.

Exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. It’s cost-effective and should be a fun activity that allows you to achieve wellness and fully enjoy life.

Dr. Asmar’s Tips for People with High Blood Pressure

Heart disease is America’s No. 1 killer, and high blood pressure (hypertension) is a major culprit in causing cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries, but most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. While there is no cure for the condition and most patients require drugs to achieve a target blood pressure, a healthy lifestyle is critical for the prevention and management of hypertension. Here is a brief summary of lifestyle changes that can lower your blood pressure—and your risk of heart disease.

Say no to smoking and drink alcohol only in moderation.

Aim for your target weight: For patients who are overweight, losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure.

Maintain physical activity: This is one of the most important ways to prevent or control high blood pressure and also help reduce your overall risk of heart disease. All you need is 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. Most people can safely begin a moderate exercise program on their own, but check with your doctor if you have concerns.

Stick to healthy eating habits and lose the salt: You can reduce your blood pressure with a diet that is low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. Consuming less sodium is key to keeping blood pressure at a healthy level. So check food labels and choose foods that are low in salt (sodium chloride). Most people with high blood pressure should consume no more than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams) of sodium a day.

Exercise is Medicine

Dr. Mariana Dangiolo’s specialty at UCF Pegasus Health is family medicine and geriatrics. She says older adults can make changes to start a healthier lifestyle at any age, including changes to diet and exercise habits. Dr. Dangiolo’s recommendations include:

• Get plenty of exercise and activity.• Be social and gain support.• Do everything that you love; fall in love.• Stay motivated.• Play with children and pets.

• Plant a garden.• Travel to new places.• Learn something new.• Serve your community.• Stay positive and have a good sense of humor.

Vibrance and Health at All Ages

MED.UCF.EDU