Category Archives: Wellington Health

Wellington Health

Retina Group Ophthalmologist Dr. Kevin T. Kelly Protects Patients’ Vision

Retina Group Ophthalmologist Dr. Kevin T. Kelly Protects Patients’ Vision

Story by Deborah Welky • Photo by Abner Pedraza

It wasn’t so long ago when a diagnosis of macular degeneration — a common eye problem in seniors — meant almost certain blindness.

“The prognosis was pretty grim unless it was caught really early,” recalled Dr. Kevin T. Kelly, an ophthalmologist partner with the Retina Group of Florida. “We had laser, but most patients don’t even notice that their vision is being affected until it’s near the center of vision.”

But by then, it used to be too late. “Once the blood vessel burst, and it bled or scarred, it was over,” Kelly said.

Fast forward to 2017, and this fairly common condition can be treated with medication — and the expertise of ophthalmologists trained in retinal care. “You think your vision is lost but, after we dry up the blood vessel, the macula is preserved and the patient is able to see,” Kelly said.

Kelly practices at the Wellington office of the Retina Group of Florida, which is located on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center.

A New Jersey native, Kelly completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, earning degrees in chemical engineering and biology. He continued on to medical school at Rutgers, and completed his medical internship at Staten Island Hospital. He completed a residency in ophthalmology at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. That was followed by a two-year fellowship in retina care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“Many fellowships are only six months, but all the ophthalmologists in our practice have completed their residency and done two-year fellowships in retinal surgery,” Kelly explained.

Those ophthalmologists include Dr. Darin Goldman and Dr. Eduardo Uchiyama, who work with Kelly at the Wellington office. Kelly sees patients in Wellington four days a week, and can be found at the Stuart location of the Retina Group of Florida on Thursdays. Other offices are located in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, Plantation and the main office in Fort Lauderdale. Surgeries are done on the retina equipment at Broward Health Imperial Point.

The practice continues to grow. This is due largely to an aging population, as well as a growing prevalence of diabetes, which is known to cause vision problems.

“I opened my office in 2007, and began working with Retina Group in 2009. We see patients with diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, macular degeneration and uveitis, an inflammation of the eye sometimes associated with autoimmune diseases,” Kelly said. “We focus exclusively on the retina and even cater to other ophthalmologists when they encounter a tough problem.”

In the case of eye emergencies, the Retina Group is available around the clock.

“What makes us unique is we’re available 24/7,” Kelly noted. “Someone is taking the call.”

The Retina Group gets referrals from across Florida and the nation, especially for those patients who live in Florida only part of the year.

“I have one patient who I’ve been working with for 10 years, keeping his macular degeneration in check,” Kelly said. “Since 2007, there are new medications to treat it. Today, rather than being blind, his vision is 20/25. The point is, you still have a chance.”

The Wellington office of the Retina Group of Florida is located at 1397 Medical Park Blvd., Suite 240, on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center. To make an appointment, call (561) 784-3788 or visit www.retinagroupflorida.com.

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Wellington Health

Chiropractor Dr. Randy Laurich Offers His Patients A Comprehensive Wellness Program

Chiropractor Dr. Randy Laurich Offers His Patients A Comprehensive Wellness Program

Story by Deborah Welky • Photo by Abner Pedraza

If you’ve been feeling under the weather of late and want to know why, perhaps it’s time to put your New Year’s resolutions into action with a visit to the Wellness Experience.

The Wellness Experience, owned and operated by chiropractor Dr. Randy Laurich, is “home base” for people who want to feel better and improve their quality of life. What makes Laurich’s practice unique is the number of professionals that he has assembled. They work individually and as a team in an effort to provide clients with the most comprehensive wellness program available.

“We have multiple providers playing a similar role — to help achieve the best quality of life for our patients with the most overall functional improvement,” Laurich said. “Everyone in the practice does something a little bit different. We have two acupuncturists, two chiropractors, an esthetician, two massage therapists and one nutritionist. We individualize each program to help assist each person in their healing.”

The team includes Laurich and chiropractor Dr. Tori Cunnea, acupuncturists Caroline Blanke-Pena and Dr. Howard Stoller, esthetician Dawn Snow, massage therapists Ortavia Taylor and Mikaela Martling, and nutritionist Tracy Mastandrea.

“In the seventh grade, I did a paper on chiropractic and, from that point forward, I knew I wanted to pursue it,” Laurich said. “I even got my twin sister involved. Today she’s a chiropractor in Boulder, Colorado. It’s kind of in the family now.”

There are about 150 different techniques used in the field of chiropractic healing, and Laurich has studied them all. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Laurich attended college in Ohio. He graduated from the Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1998 and worked at a chiropractic office in Coral Springs before opening his own practice in Boca Raton in 2001.

By 2006, Dr. Laurich had established his multi-discipline office in Wellington, and he is looking to move to a larger facility in the near future.

Upon a first meeting with a client, Laurich assesses his or her needs and creates a unique healing program. “This is a place for people to come who want to feel better and improve their quality of life,” he said.

For those who may be a bit shy about chiropractic services, it’s good to know that the practice has evolved just as the broader field of medicine has evolved.

“It’s kind of neat, because we use a lot of computerized technology to help evaluate the spine, and it gives us an opportunity to also adjust the spine,” Laurich said. “There’s no reason to be fearful. It’s a really gentle technique using gentle force that helps the body to heal itself. The fact that we use today’s technology is important.”

The ProAdjuster and DRX Machine analyze, adjust, decompress and provide relief to the spine. Cold laser therapy uses low levels of light to stimulate healing without heating up the tissue, relieving chronic pain and inflammation that often results from sports injuries or arthritis. Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the surface of the skin, altering various biochemical and physiological conditions to the benefit of patients.

Massage therapy is employed to reduce anxiety and stress, relax muscles, rehabilitate injuries, reduce pain and promote overall health. Fitness is the goal, and the team at the Wellness Experience believes that working out should be enjoyable — for muscles, heart and mind. They can connect you with a trainer able to meet your particular fitness needs.

Everyone has heard “you are what you eat,” but if the confusing world of food labels has you wondering if there’s anything out there that’s both tasty and good for you, nutritionists at the Wellness Experience will help demystify your next trip to the grocery store.

The Wellness Experience is currently located in Kobosko’s Crossing at 9180 Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 333-5351 or visit www.wellness-experience.com.

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Wellington Health

Dr. Andrea Bayer And The Staff At Seasons Women’s Care Treat Patients In All Stages Of Their Lives

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Dr. Andrea Bayer And The Staff At Seasons Women’s Care Treat Patients In All Stages Of Their Lives

By Jason Stromberg

Dr. Andrea Bayer came up with the name of Seasons Women’s Care for her practice because it reflects how she and her associates care for women through all the seasons of their lives. The practice includes two other doctors, Dr. Sarah Knowlton and Dr. Jessica Clark.

Bayer, Knowlton and Clark practice obstetrics and gynecology on the campus of the Wellington Regional Medical Center. Each doctor also practices at Palms West Hospital, where Bayer recently received a plaque honoring her 20 years of service.

Bayer enjoys her work caring for patients. “It’s an opportunity to help other women. I’m a mother. I’ve had babies. I can relate to a lot of conditions that we see,” Bayer said. “It’s great to be able to help women with all the different issues that affect them throughout their lives.”

Seasons Women’s Care offers a personal approach, especially when working with pregnant women.

“It can be a lot of fun. You are bringing new life into the world,” Bayer said, adding that she has now been at it long enough to have brought infants into the world for adults she delivered. “It’s really nice.”

The doctors at Seasons Women’s Care aren’t taking care of only the baby, but also the patient.

“It can be very stressful. You have the life of the mother and the baby in your care,” said Bayer, former chair of Wellington Regional’s ob/gyn department. “It’s two patients we are taking care of. Babies come whenever they want to come. We can work 24 to 48 hours straight, doing deliveries during the middle of the night. We are always available for our patients.”

Bayer said that it is very common for a baby to be delivered in the early morning hours. However, many deliveries nowadays are planned.

“There are different reasons for inducing patients with medication to help deliver a baby,” Bayer said. “It could be because the baby is really big, or for personal and medical reasons, or social reasons.”

Bayer, Knowlton and Clark understand the needs of women throughout every stage of their lives. Not only do they handle medical issues, they also cope with each patients’ emotional changes.

“There are patient’s moms whom I have known for 20-plus years,” Bayer said. “It kind of makes you feel like part of the family. The patients are friends now. That is a really nice part of our practice. We get to know our people.”

Women of all ages are treated at Seasons Women’s Care, where quality obstetrical and gynecological services are always offered, regardless of what stage of life a patient is in. The team’s goal is to help every woman establish a happy lifestyle and a healthy body.

“We have patients, from young children to women of all ages, who deal with many kinds of problems,” said Bayer, who is certified by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), which makes her an expert in helping women through that stage of their lives. “When it comes to women’s reproductive organs, we deal with a lot of preventive evaluations and a lot of problems that arise.”

There are other things that Bayer and her staff look for in teenage girls and older women, such as general health-related issues.

“We look for other issues that affect their general health, such as, we listen to their hearts,” Bayer said. “If they have a heart murmur, we pick it up. If they have thyroid issues, or diabetes, we check that out. Patients can come in complaining of a pain. It could be an ovarian issue, or it may be a bowel or a bladder issue, maybe an issue related to their back or hip. We are a very versatile team.”

Seasons Women’s Care Gynecology Obstetrics is located at 10115 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 300, on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center. Visit www.seasonswomenscare.com or call (561) 328-6165 for more information.

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Wellington Health

Dr. Ellis Webster Specializes In Issues Of The Ear, Nose And Throat

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Dr. Ellis Webster Specializes In Issues Of The Ear, Nose And Throat

Story by Jason Stromberg • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Dr. Ellis Webster of Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of South Florida goes the extra mile to make sure that each patient has the best possible outcome.

Webster practices with Dr. Deborah Loney at the ENTSF office on the campus of Palms West Hospital. They treat patients who have hearing loss problems, dizziness, balance disorders, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), sinus and throat infections, and head and neck cancers.

“On a daily basis, I handle patients with these conditions,” Webster said. “The most common thing would be acute, or chronic, sinusitis. Most of the patients I see have that. Sinusitis is when a patient has an infection in their sinuses, which can present with nasal congestion, pain or drainage. They could also have headaches.”

Webster looks into the nose to determine if there are anatomic deformities, polyps or mucus, and often treats patients with antibiotics and/or steroids or decongestants. “After treating a patient, I would have them return to our office in four to six weeks. If I see that they still have symptoms, I would order a CT scan. If the scan shows that they have chronic infection, or polyps, I would perform sinus surgery.”

Webster earned his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1991. He completed his residency at the University of Iowa. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

Practicing in South Florida since 1996, Webster joined the ENTSF team in 2006. The firm has been caring for patients since 1963. Currently, there are 42 physicians across 30 offices in South Florida.

Webster was enthusiastic to join the ENTSF team. It was a relief to be part of a large, established group that could deal with the business aspects of the practice and negotiate with insurance companies.

“Giving up the autonomy of having my own practice was difficult at first, but I was encouraged by the benefit of more collaboration and less competition,” he explained.

It has allowed Webster the ability to spend more time with his patients. “I am able to maintain my own care center without having to worry about the business side of things,” he said. “Now, I can devote all of my time to taking care of patients.”

Webster and Loney practice together in the Loxahatchee office. “His outlook is good, he’s knowledgeable and he’s helpful to everybody,” Loney said of Webster, whom she has known professionally for more than 20 years. “It’s a pleasure working with him. We have a similar approach to treating patients.”

Webster likes showing patients their CT scan because what is bothering them is right there on display. “In that way, patients become involved in the decision-making process,” he said. “I explain the benefits of the medical or surgical treatment and what I recommend.”

Webster relies on his many years of experience when working with his patients. “I also describe the risks of the treatment options and whether the chance of risk is low,” he said. “They want to know that you have done this before. I’m very careful. I’ll treat them like a member of my family. That’s the calming influence.”

Patients who walk into his office may have difficulty swallowing, persistent throat pain, a lump in the neck that doesn’t go away or may be suffering from hoarseness. Those could be signs of cancer. These patients may be suffering from mouth cancer, tongue cancer, laryngeal cancer, thyroid cancer or cancer of the salivary glands.

“I treat all of that,” Webster said. “I certainly get a history, including exposure to risk factors, and I examine each patient. I want to make sure that they don’t have cancer. If I see something suspicious, I set them up for a biopsy. If there’s confirmation that they have cancer, I set them up for surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, or all three. We make sure we take the appropriate steps to helping each patient live a healthier life.”

Webster practices out of the Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of South Florida office located at 12959 Palms West Drive, Suite 220, on the campus of Palms West Hospital. To make an appointment, call (561) 793-5077. For more info., visit www.entsf.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

Dr. Nadia Pierre Enjoys Helping Women Through Successful Pregnancies

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Dr. Nadia Pierre Enjoys Helping Women Through Successful Pregnancies

Story by Jason Stromberg • Photo by Abner Pedraza

For Dr. Nadia Pierre, an obstetrician and gynecologist, there is no greater feeling in the world than helping with a happy, healthy and safe delivery for a pregnant mother and her child.

“I love taking care of women who are pregnant. I feel it is one of the most enjoyable experiences that a woman will have a chance to experience,” Pierre said.

Affiliated with several hospitals in the area, including JFK Medical Center and Palms West Hospital, Pierre received her medical degree from Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. A Wellington resident, she has been in practice for 10 years.

“My day-to-day routine consists of welcoming patients to the practice,” said Pierre, who performed her high-risk obstetrics training and training in multiple gynecological procedures at SUNY Downstate Kings County Hospital in New York. “When it pertains to infertility, I perform the preliminary evaluation, but if it gets more intricate, I would then refer the patient to an infertility specialist.”

Pierre enjoys working with her patients all the way through the process.

“I felt comfortable doing pre-conceptual counseling, which is when you counsel a patient before they get pregnant,” Pierre said. “I also advise patients on family planning and birth control management. On a regular basis, I perform medical and surgical treatments of abnormal bleeding.”

Pierre’s primary task is to ensure that women are able to have a healthy, safe delivery. But before that job is completed, she must first know if the patient has any medical issues that may affect pregnancy. “There are two types of pregnancy tests that I need to perform on each patient,” Pierre said. “One is a urine pregnancy test, and the other is a little more specific. It’s done through blood.”

The urine home pregnancy test is pretty much the same test that Pierre and her staff perform in the office. The blood pregnancy test is more specific.

“The blood pregnancy test is different because it gives you an estimation on how pregnant the patient is,” Pierre said. “With the blood pregnancy test, you take the test one day and then two days later, you repeat the exam to determine if this is a normal pregnancy.”

Once the pregnancy testing has run its course, Pierre can tell the patient when to schedule an ultrasound.

Pierre tests for Beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is a hormone produced during pregnancy that shows up in the blood.

“I prefer the quantitative Beta HCG. There’s a qualitative and a quantitative test,” Pierre said. “I do the quantitative test because there’s always a number. The qualitative test is comparable to the home pregnancy test. It is either positive or negative.”

The number result from a quantitative test provides key insight into a pregnancy. “This means you know approximately when you can perform your ultrasound,” Pierre said. “You can estimate the gestation weeks of the pregnancy.”

Being an obstetrician and a gynecologist go hand-in-hand.

“Obstetric and gynecologic patients both desire a partner in their healthcare. Both practices go hand-in-hand,” Pierre said. “I enjoy what I do because it mixes medicine, surgery and the office work.”

She especially enjoys helping patients resolve their problems.

“Patients want to know the best outcome. When we tell them that there are different medical treatments available, they understand that they have a partner in their care,” Pierre said. “Just talking about all this is really awesome. There is not a day that goes by that is mundane.”

Gynecologists, experts in the female reproductive system, are also trained in obstetrics, which is specifically the care of women going through pregnancy and childbirth.

“I think once you have a good rapport with the patient, that really helps with everything else that we do,” Pierre said. “If the patient sees you have her best interest at heart, she can relate to you. The objective is to explain everything and answer her questions as thoroughly and as in-depth as possible.”

Pierre’s office is always accepting new patients and accepts a wide array of insurance carriers.

Premier Obstetrics & Gynecology of Palm Beach is located at 12983 Southern Blvd., Suite 201, on the campus of Palms West Hospital. For more information, call (561) 791-2888 or visit www.premierobgyntb.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

Cooper Orthodontics Provides Patients With Beautiful Smiles And Much More

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Wellington The Magazine – September 2016

Cooper Orthodontics Provides Patients With Beautiful Smiles And Much More

By Jason Stromberg

Brothers Dr. Andrew Cooper and Dr. Justin Cooper operate Cooper Orthodontics with the goal of providing patients with a beautiful smile in a friendly and enjoyable environment.

“It has been a very rewarding experience. In terms of working with my brother, it’s nice to be able to know you have someone who you can trust who provides the same level of quality care,” Justin said. “Our main message is we are a family. We run the business. We want everyone to feel like they are a part of our family practice.”

Cooper Orthodontics creates beautiful smiles at two offices, one in the Royal Palm Beach/Wellington area and one in Lake Worth.  “We enjoy what we do,” Andrew said. “The nice thing is that all of our patients have the eyes of two orthodontists on them. Cooper Orthodontics is truly a family practice, and we feel we provide patients with the best service and experience.”

Born in Philadelphia, Andrew and Justin Cooper moved to Boca Raton at the ages of 10 and 12, respectively. Although Andrew is older, they both received their undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida in 2005. Each graduated with a degree in food science and human nutrition. Andrew received his doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) in 2008 from UF, while Justin received his DMD from Harvard University in 2009.

After dental school, each specialized in orthodontics, spending an additional two years in post-graduate education. Andrew earned his certificate in orthodontics from Tufts University in 2010, while Justin graduated from the University of the Pacific in 2011 with a certificate in orthodontics and a master’s degree in dentistry.

“Customer service is 100 percent our first priority,” Justin said. “We are very fortunate that we can treat so many fun and lively kids. We want them to have a great experience visiting our dental practice. I should also mention that orthodontics isn’t just for kids anymore. Many of our patients are adults who want to improve their oral health by obtaining straighter teeth and improving their bite. In fact, we have many parents in orthodontic treatment with their children.”

Cooper Orthodontics offers free consultations, and there is a fun rewards program, where patients can get points and prizes for keeping their teeth clean, participating in contests and taking part in other activities.

“We make recommendations that we feel are in the patient’s best interests, but at the end of the day, our goal is to work with patients and make them happy,” Andrew said. “We want to work with each individual to develop a treatment plan, rather than dictating to them what they must do.”

Cooper Orthodontics offers metal braces, clear braces and Invisalign, which is a series of clear trays designed to straighten teeth. The practice is also a fully digital office, providing patients with a better experience. With new digital X-ray machines in both offices, the lowest dose of radiation is used to obtain the best diagnostic images.

Cooper Orthodontics has a digital scanner used for patients who are going to get the Invisalign treatment, which allows for a more accurate depiction of the patient’s teeth, providing better-fitting trays.

“We are able to help make sure that each patient’s private medical information is kept private, but at the same time, it is accessible to my brother and me if needed via our online software,” Justin said. “For example, if one of our patients has an emergency, we can quickly access our patient’s chart and medical history through our app, so that we can address the concerns of the patient or parent as soon as possible.”

Cooper Orthodontics also has programs to work with patients on the financial end.

“When it comes to finances, I think our office goes the extra step to make sure that cost does not get in the way of a patient achieving a beautiful smile,” Andrew said. “All of our consultations are free, we offer very low down payments, and we accept most insurance plans. We find a financial plan that works within everyone’s budget.”

The Coopers, who are in their third year of business locally, wore braces when they were younger. Andrew explained that this allows them to relate better with their patients.

“I was a very difficult case,” Andrew recalled. “Once my teeth were straightened by my orthodontist, it made me feel more confident in myself.”

The most rewarding part of the practice is the reaction of each patient when the task is complete.

“Every time we take a patient’s braces off, they are much more confident individuals,” Justin said. “They are just so happy with their smile.”

The Cooper Orthodontics office serving the Royal Palm Beach/Wellington area is located at 685 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Suite 202, in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 790-0319 or visit www.smilesbycooper.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

Dr. Jesse Skinner Joins All Paws Animal Clinic

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Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Dr. Jesse Skinner Joins All Paws Animal Clinic

All Paws Animal Clinic is proud to introduce its new associate veterinarian, Dr. Jesse Skinner.

Skinner was born and raised in Palm Beach County. A graduate of Lake Worth High School, he spent much time as a young man enjoying the area’s beautiful beaches, surfing with friends. After graduation, he decided to join the Florida Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2004. It was there that Skinner discovered his interest in medicine.

Upon returning home, Skinner combined his newfound interest in medicine with his love for animals and decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. He began pursuing this goal by working in a veterinary clinic. “I was lucky enough to work for Dr. Patty Forsythe at All Paws as an assistant, which only increased my passion for the profession,” Skinner said.

Skinner attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychobiology. He continued his education by obtaining his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from North Carolina State University, one of the nation’s most highly ranked veterinary schools.

During his tenure at North Carolina State, Skinner received an award for excellence in junior surgery, as well as the American Animal Hospital Association award for proficiency in primary care. His professional interests include surgery, geriatric care, clinical pathology, ultrasound and internal medicine.

Skinner enjoys the diversity of the veterinary medicine he can perform at All Paws Animal Clinic, as well as the client interaction. His goal is to always keep the client calm and well-informed, so that the focus can be on the pet receiving the best care. He brings a keen insight and strong diagnostic ability to All Paws. Combined with Forsythe’s extensive experience in veterinary medicine, they both look forward to providing the western communities “quality veterinary care with compassion.”

Skinner is a family man and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Nicole, and two dogs, Trouble and Namani. He also stays active still surfing, going to the gym and playing basketball. Depending on the season, he can be found rooting for Florida sports teams, such as the Dolphins, Hurricanes, Heat and Marlins.

All Paws Animal Clinic is located at 1011 N. State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 790-9225 or visit www.allpawsanimal.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

Vargas Girl Gives Patients A More Youthful Look

Dr. Patricia Allen and Dr. Damaris Vargas of Vargas Girl: Beauty by the Aesthetic Doctors.

Wellington The Magazine – June 2016                                                             Vargas Girl Gives Patients A More Youthful Look

Story by Jason Stromberg • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Girl Power is female empowerment, independence and self-sureness. The Spice Girls, the British all-female pop group, brought the phrase into the mainstream lexicon. Dr. Damaris Vargas and Dr. Patricia Allen, board-certified emergency medical doctors at Palms West Hospital, love that phrase.

Girl Power is what their new business — Vargas Girl: Beauty by the Aesthetic Doctors — is all about: a woman on a journey to look her best at any age.

Vargas and Allen give women that better look and feel through their practice, which is based on concierge aesthetic medicine.

“Every woman wants the best version of themselves,” Vargas said. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Please yourself so that you feel good. You want to feel better.”

Vargas Girl is all about glamour and beauty redefined.

“We realized that we both had intentions of branching out from emergency medicine to give treatment to those who are looking to improve their skin,” Allen said. “We’re trying to get people to feel better about their appearance.”

Vargas Girl was Vargas’ dream.

“I thought of the paintings,” said Vargas, referring to Joaquin Alberto Vargas, a famous Peruvian painter of pin-up girls. “I thought of it as a prime play on my name. Aesthetics is the image I wanted to portray.”

Aesthetic medicine is about maintaining a youthful, natural appearance. Everyone should feel good and naturally healthy in their own skin. That is their goal for every patient.

“Patient care is number one. I feel like the patients and I can take that journey together,” Vargas said. “That feeling of being more beautiful, stronger, confident. Feeling more empowered as the days go by, as you age. You can be 60 years old and start a new chapter in your life. That confidence you had in your 20s and 30s, you can carry through for the rest of your life.”

At their practice, Vargas and Allen provide services that include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, fillers, micro-needling with the MicroPen and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), which uses the patient’s own blood to stimulate and release growth factors that help to rebuild the skin.

“We are starting this business in Wellington and letting it catch on to the rest of South Florida,” Vargas said. “We are two women in South Florida who are going to empower other women.”

You feel empowered because you feel beautiful. Taking ownership of your beauty is the message that Allen is trying to send.

“In this field, the patient leaves smiling,” Allen said. “I get to leave the Vargas Girl business feeling good. It makes me feel I did something good at the end of the day.”

In January, Vargas Girl opened its doors at 1043 S. State Road 7, Suite 125, in the Wellington Reserve. “We aren’t sitting in our clinic waiting for people to come in,” Allen said. “It’s all appointment-based, unless we are having an event day.”

Already, there are Vargas Girl success stories.

“One of the nurses I know very well in the emergency department at Palms West Hospital had work done by us,” Allen said. “Through a combination of multiple procedures, we were able to help rejuvenate her skin.”

The nurse’s reaction didn’t surprise either doctor.

“Our nurse said she felt beautiful for the first time in many years when she looked in the mirror after the procedure,” Allen said. “I hadn’t seen her smile like that in years. That made me smile.”

Vargas and Allen trained extensively through the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.

“Our practice is based on medicine and artistic savvy,” Vargas said. “The best part is seeing the smiles, the tears that well up in each patient’s eyes when they like what they see. It can be as minimal as erasing a wrinkle. We want to make sure that our patients leave the office a better version of themselves.”

That includes men. “Our goal is to empower men,” Vargas said. “We do some procedures for men, such as taking care of balding. Anything we do for women, we do for men. We aren’t gender-specific, despite the name.”

For more information about Vargas Girl, call Dr. Damaris Vargas at (561) 292-5266 or Dr. Patricia Allen at (561) 292-5253, or visit www.facebook.com/vargasgirlaesthetic medicine.

 

 

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

May 2016 Wellington Health

Dr Michael Rathjens

Wellington Health

Dr. Michael Rathjens Provides Patients With Psychological Support

By Jason Stromberg

Dr. Michael Rathjens developed a passion for helping those in need while attending Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. The Wellington resident was drawn toward the study of psychology.

After graduating from Oglethorpe in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Rathjens completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Nova Southeastern University in 1990. He then completed his internship and residency training at the University of Miami.

“I worked for the first 10 years of my practice as the chief psychologist at a physical rehabilitation hospital in Fort Lauderdale, where I was the program director of spinal cord injuries, chronic pain, oncology and traumatic burns,” recalled Rathjens, a clinical psychologist who has been practicing for 20-plus years.

Since that time, Rathjens has moved on to provide support for patients at his own practice, located in the Lake Wellington Professional Centre.

“Biology and psychology go hand-in-hand with the psychological adjustments to people’s physical problems,” Rathjens said. “The primary focus of my private practice for the past 20 years has included helping people who have had difficulty with relationships, substance abuse and parenting, which has led to symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

Rathjens relishes the opportunity to help patients understand their feelings and solve their problems.

“Once the patient begins to focus on what he can control, or in other words, if we can put our energy on the focus on what the person has control over, that makes them feel so much better moving forward,” Rathjens said. “We answer for ourselves only. If we stay focused on what we have control over, and what is truly worth our energy, it makes it easier for us to accomplish our goals to be a better parent, or someone who can stop using substances, or can have a better relationship.”

Rathjens tells patients, regardless of what they face, not to internalize everything or blame themselves or carry guilt for things for which they’re not personally responsible.

A common issue that Rathjens deals with involves an adolescent coping with his or her parents’ divorce.

“They need to adjust to the fact that their parents are separating despite the fact that they want things to be what they once were,” he said. “This can affect school, work and social things. Typically, people need to get their perspective back.”

All of this can depend on the age of the child. “You still need to do your job, get your work done in school, and be with your friends,” Rathjens said. “These are things we can’t lose sight of. You can’t control your parents’ decisions, but you can control the way you live your life.”

Rathjens’ favorite success story is when parents apply a consistent way to help their children cope with what they are dealing with and see the improvement in each child’s life through everyone’s efforts. “It’s very rewarding. I’m very impassioned by that,” said Rathjens, who noted that married couples having trouble in their relationships make up about a third of his practice.

He also works with people who have been through traumatic situations.

“What I feel most satisfied and passionate about is when a person has had a traumatic injury and is able to regain a sense of independence,” Rathjens said. “For example, when someone is paralyzed from an automobile accident, or someone is diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, through their efforts and therapy, they are able to become independent, when they once felt that this was never going to be possible.”

The cornerstone of Rathjens’ profession is the importance of confidentiality and the respect that he holds for a person who is willing to work with him on his or her concerns.

“You can always go for an initial consult just to see if this doctor can be helpful to you,” Rathjens said. “I practice cognitive behavioral therapy, which is problem-specific, with focused treatment goals. So, in that initial consultation, you’ll know whether the treatment that is being proposed to you is going to work.”

A comfort level between the psychologist and the patient is crucial.

“Everyone has something to work on, but not everyone needs therapy,” he said. “If you’re suffering from those issues, at least have a consultation to see what direction you should take.”

To contact Rathjens, call (561) 790-7975 or e-mail him at drrathjens@bellsouth.net.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

April 2016 Wellington Health

Health

Wellington Health

Veterinarian Dr. Kathleen Spillane Treats Animals In Need Around The Clock

Story by Jason Stromberg

Photo by Abner Pedraza (?)

Dr. Kathleen Spillane isn’t always sure what issue your pet may have when it first arrives at the Palms West Veterinary Hospital, but after a quick diagnosis, she is ready to take care of it.

The veterinarian has treated a lot of pets needing emergency medical care, and there hasn’t yet been one that she’s shied away from.

“I’d say 98 percent of the pets that we treat here at the hospital are cats and dogs,” said Spillane, 30. “We’ve had a guinea pig with a runny nose and hamsters that need their toenails trimmed. Those are the pocket pets we’ve tended to, but the majority of the pets we treat are cats and dogs.”

Open 24/7/365, Palms West Veterinary Hospital is family-owned by Dr. Ira Grossman. Spillane is one of several veterinarians on board who can be at the hospital at the crack of dawn, or there late at night, even overnight.

“We arrive in the morning, and the doctor who was on overnight tells us about the cases that are in the hospital that morning,” Spillane said. “If there is any follow-up that needs to be done, we tend to that immediately. The more common emergency patients arrive at night.”

Spillane, who graduated from veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in 2012, has been working at Palms West Veterinary Hospital for almost two years, and she loves what she does.

“I’m very thorough and understanding,” Spillane said. “This career gives me an opportunity to keep on learning for the rest of my life. I like the fact that when I’m helping these pets, I’m also helping their owners.”

Seeing animals that are in need of immediate medical attention can be overwhelming and emotional at times. The toughest part is the euthanasia process. “We get a lot of compliments here for getting people through that process,” Spillane said. “We make it as comfortable as we can for the animal, and that makes it comfortable for the owner.”

If a scheduled anesthetic procedure, a surgery or a teeth cleaning needs to be done, the pet gets dropped off at the hospital and is tended to immediately. Sometimes there are more dramatic situations where a dog arrives in a comatose state.

“You have to talk to the owner and ask, ‘Why has this happened?’” Spillane said. “The dog could be paralyzed, it could be having a seizure, or it could be severely dehydrated from a heat stroke, or a gastrointestinal upset. We make sure to get your sick dog some intravenous fluids and get it as hydrated as possible.”

There are also common cat emergencies, such as when a male cat cannot urinate. Toxins can build up in the cat, and it’s being poisoned from inside, Spillane explained.

“We feel the bladder, and if it’s hard, if the cat is awake, that can be painful. We have to give the cat a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder. They need IV fluids to flush out their system,” Spillane said.

It’s not an easy job, but it’s a rewarding one for Spillane when things are successfully taken care of. No matter what the problem is, each veterinarian does his or her best to stabilize each animal. At least one doctor and one technician are present from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m., the emergency hours. Normal hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, when two or three doctors are available.

Grossman, 63, oversees the entire practice. He runs the family-owned business with his son Glen, co-business manager with his fiancé Melissa, and Grossman’s wife, Marta, who works on Saturdays. Grossman’s two other children, Neil and Andi, are currently in veterinary school.

Grossman speaks highly of Spillane. “She’s my protégé,” he said. “She’s a great vet who performs internal medicine, surgery and critical care here. She does an excellent job and has great compassion for animals.”

For Spillane, there’s rarely a dull moment at the hospital. “I like the variety here,” she said. “You never know what’s going to walk through the door.”

Palms West Veterinary Hospital is located at 556 Folsom Road in Loxahatchee Groves. To learn more, call (561) 798-2780 or visit www.palmswestveterinary.com.

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