What started as a simple fall led to a diagnosis the Weiler family wasn’t expecting – 8-year-old Patricia Weiler has Crohn’s Disease.

After the fall, Patricia’s mother, Annette, immediately took her to their dentist, who prescribed antibiotics but the swelling persisted. Patricia then saw her pediatrician who referred them to a maxillofacial surgeon who noticed abnormal tissue architecture. She performed a biopsy, which confirmed granulomatous inflammation consistent with Crohn’s disease.

She was then referred to Racha Khalaf, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a pediatric gastroenterologist.  Dr. Khalaf and her team performed several tests, including a biopsy of Patricia’s wounds.  When the test revealed several key indicators, Dr. Khalaf confirmed that Patricia has Crohn’s Disease.

Racha Khalaf, MD, USF Health assistant professor and pediatric gastroenterologist.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.  It’s a progressive condition, meaning it can get worse over time if untreated, and an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract often causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fever.   Treatment goals for Crohn’s include symptom mitigation, endoscopic improvement, and remission.

Patricia goes to the Tampa General Hospital Pediatric Day Hospital every six weeks to receive an intravenous treatment of Infliximab, commonly prescribed for a variety of autoimmune disorders.  Patricia said her favorite part of her visits are being able to play with TGH Valor Service Dogs, who are there to provide a comforting presence to children in the hospital setting, and helped young Patricia quell her fear of needles.

Dr. Khalaf and other physicians who have met Patricia commonly describe her a “wise beyond her years” in the wake of her diagnosis.  She understands this will be something that will be with her for the rest of her life and understands that she needs to make certain lifestyle changes including limiting her sun exposure, the amount of processed foods, and reducing the amount of dairy she consumes.  Patricia still participates in her favorite activities including soccer, ballet, and playing with her dog Mitch and sister Annabelle.

Patricia Weiler (right) and her sister Annabelle with their dog Mitch.

Patricia has been in remission for more than nine months and mother Annette is very thankful for all of the doctors who helped get her pointed in the right direction for care and getting her questions answered.  She is especially thankful to Dr. Khalaf and her team for finally bringing an end to the mystery of Patricia’s health.

“From the first moment I met the team, they were very assuring.  They said they would become ‘best friends’ throughout this process and that’s exactly how it has been,” Annette said.  “It was scary at first, but the reassurance is what really helped us through this.”

“It’s not a disability, it’s just something with my body that I have to keep an eye on,” Patricia said.  “I’m very thankful that we found a team that helps me and my family with my problems, and we did it before it got worse.”

Video and photos by Freddie Coleman

This year’s top stories highlight USF Health as an academic medical center.  Stories of patient gratitude, innovative research and development, and affirmation that the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is truly the fastest rising medical school in the country.

Take a look at the top USF Health stories of 2022.

1. USF Health and Weill Cornell Medicine earn funding to further develop artificial intelligence that uses voice to diagnose disease. 

2. A USF Health patient had very few answers to her condition until she met with Dr. Jolan Walter.

3. Congratulations to our USF Health physicians who made the 2022 list of the country’s top doctors. 

4. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is on the rise faster than any medical school in the country. 

5. A USF Health psychiatry expert explains how the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increased number of patients with Social Anxiety Disorder.

6.  No medical school in the country does Match Day like the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. 

7. USF Health and Tampa General Hospital neurosurgeons are the first in Tampa Bay to offer game-changing ultrasound. 

8. USF Health was awarded $3.2 million to develop blood tests designed to detect Alzheimer’s Disease. 

9. Researchers begin to unlock how gut and oral microbiomes are linked to brain health in older adults. 

Hariom Yadav, PhD, (standing) and Shalini Jain, PhD, were recently recruited to research on the gut-brain connection (gut-brain axis) in relation to cognitive function.

10. Take a look at all of the USF Health physicians who made the Tampa Magazine list of Top Doctors in 2022. 

For most children, a loose tooth usually means a visit from the Tooth Fairy. But for Aubrey Romero of Parrish, it was a sign of something more serious, cancer.

Aubrey, 8,  had Odontogenic Ghost Cell Carcinoma, a very rare head and neck cancer. Less than 100 cases have been documented in the last 50 years and almost none involved children.

Matthew Mifsud, MD, a USF Health otolaryngologist, became Aubrey’s lead doctor in her treatment.

“In her case, it became a fast-growing mass in her upper jaw,” Dr. Mifsud said.

Renee Kellar with her eight-year-old daughter Aubrey Romero at their Parrish, Fla home.  Aubrey was treated by Matthew Mifsud, MD, for an Odontogenic Ghost Cell Carcinoma, a rare type of cancer. Aubrey is one of the very few identified in the pediatric population.

He knew major surgery to remove the softball-sized tumor was the only option to save Aubrey’s young life.

For Aubrey’s mother, Renée Kellar, “an infected molar turned out to be the worst news ever,” she said. “It was the hardest year of my life.”

Watch how Aubrey is doing now, more than a year after surgery.

Noah Schwartz began experiencing a heavy cough in April 2021. Within days, physicians diagnosed the 24-year-old from Jupiter, Fla., with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that invades the body’s lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system. White blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally in the nodes and can form tumors throughout the body.

In Noah’s case, the lymph nodes in his upper body were creating a large mass that pressed against his windpipe, heart and lungs.

Noah sought treatment from USF Health pulmonologist Gaetane Michaud, MD, who is director of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and a professor in the Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Michaud operated on Noah at Tampa General Hospital and placed stents in his airways so he could breathe.

Gaetane Michaud, MD, USF Health director of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.

Noah was in a medically induced coma for seven weeks as chemotherapy treatments reduced the size of the mass.

“It was just so strange waking up seven weeks later and not knowing what was going on,” Noah said.

During that time Noah’s mother, Lesli Schwartz, got to know and appreciate Dr. Michaud’s efforts to treat Noah.

“We love her; we think she’s awesome,” Lesli said.

Dr. Michaud, in turn, had high praise for Lesli’s work as an “incredible” advocate for her son.

“She was his mom, and she was watching her child go through something that is unimaginable to any parent,” Dr. Michaud said.

Noah no longer has lymphoma and is moving to California to start a career in the music industry, plans that were derailed when he became ill.

“If it wasn’t for her (Dr. Michaud), things could have been a lot worse,” Noah said.

After years of nagging headaches, Tampa resident Joel Lopez in 2008 was diagnosed with a benign meningioma brain tumor. The 59-year-old artist, with clients like the comic book giant Marvel, came under the care of USF Health Neurosurgeon Dr. Siviero Agazzi. Magnetic resonance imaging scans showed the tumor at the base of Mr. Lopez’s skull to be about the size of a baseball. Dr. Agazzi successfully treated the tumor, allowing Mr. Lopez to continue his love of art. In fact, in appreciation of Dr. Siviero’s efforts, Mr. Lopez tapped into his comic drawing talent and presented Dr. Siviero with several pieces of art comparing the neurosurgeon to famous Marvel neurosurgeon-turned-superhero Doctor Strange. He continues to see Dr. Agazzi as a larger-than-life force in his life.

“My family, we love Agazzi,” Mr. Lopez said. “I kept telling myself, when I do a character for The Avengers I trust the hero I’m creating. To me, anything Agazzi tells me, I go for it.”

The artwork created by Joel Lopez to thank USF Health neurosurgeon Dr. Siviero Agazzi for being his doctor.

​

Allen Parent sees something beautiful in faded muscle cars. A 1965 Pontiac GTO is his current rehab project.

All that had to be put on hold when the retired machinist discovered a lump on the left side of his neck in late 2018.

Mr. Parent, of Brookville, Fla., was diagnosed with squamous cell mouth cancer, a head and neck cancer, and referred for treatment to Tapan Padhya, MD, USF Health department chair of Otolaryngology, and Matthew Mifsud, MD, a USF Health head and neck surgeon and otolaryngologist.

Allen Parent near his current rehab project, a 1965 GTO.   Photo by Allison Long | USF Health

About four percent of all cancer cases diagnosed in the United States each year involve the head and neck, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. This year, head and neck cancer will affect an estimated 66,630 people.

To treat Mr. Parent’s cancer, Dr. Mifsud had to remove parts of his left mouth and jaw. He reconstructed the jaw with muscle, bone and tissues taken from Mr. Parent’s right leg. The result left him with noticeable cosmetic deformities.

“There was a big lump (of tissue) hanging,” said Mr. Parent, adding, “you catch it in zippers.”

Allen Parent before his surgery with Julia Toman, MD. Photos courtesy of Dr. Toman

Mr. Parent after his surgery Dr. Toman. Photos courtesy of Dr. Toman

Dr. Mifsud said that while many cancers and their scars can be covered up with clothing, “You can’t hide cancers of the head and neck.”

To deal with the visible loose tissue, Dr. Mifsud recommended that Mr. Parent see Julia Toman, MD, a USF Health facial plastic surgeon, in 2020 after Mr. Parent had finished his cancer treatments. She was able to repair the loose tissue and make his face appear more symmetrical.

“To be able to do procedures that allow people to be seen on the outside the way they feel on the inside really affirms people’s quality of life,” Dr. Toman said.

“They both (Drs. Mifsud and Toman) did a great job and I am appreciative for everybody that was involved,” Mr. Parent said.

Allen Parent is grateful for his treatment by Drs. Mifsud and Toman. Photo by: Allison Long | USF Health

Now that his more than two-year-journey with cancer is completed, Mr. Parent is planning trips on his beloved Harley Davidson.

“If you have cancer, it’s not the end of the world,” said Mr. Parent, 69. “The best thing to do is just look at the positive side of things cause, there’s always a brighter day ahead.”

Watch the video above to learn more about Mr. Parent’s journey.

Dr. Matthew Mifsud

Dr. Julia Toman

Greg Strachov of Citrus County, FL, has been an artist for more than 40 years, garnering numerous local, national and international awards for his watercolors.

In the fall of 2017, an MRI scan discovered a softball-sized meningioma tumor near where Mr. Strachov’s brain connects to his spinal cord. Meningiomas, while usually benign, are the most common type of brain tumor and can still cause widespread health problems for the patient. For Mr. Strachov, this included losing his ability to walk or create his art.

Greg Strachov displays some of his watercolors recently in his Citrus County, FL, home. Mr. Strachov, a renowned artist, had a softball-sized brain tumor removed by USF Health neurosurgeon Dr. Harry van Loveren after two successful surgeries.

Mr. Strachov, 69, was referred to USF Health neurosurgeon Dr. Harry van Loveren, who performed a 13-hour surgery on the tumor in January 2018. The surgery removed much of the tumor but left Mr. Strachov paralyzed on the right side with little ability to move his left eye. Over the ensuing months, Mr. Strachov underwent strenuous rehabilitation to regain movement and coordination on his right side. He even picked up a new hobby; he found restoring old hand drills helped retrain his fine motor skills.

Dr. van Loveren determined in mid-2019 that he needed to remove more of the tumor and presented the potential risks to Mr. Strachov. They agreed, and Dr. van Loveren performed the second surgery in August 2019. The operation was a success, although a small piece of the tumor remains inoperable and Mr. Strachov’s physicians will monitor its development in the years to come.

Dr. Harry van Loveren, USF Health Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery.

Mr. Strachov has been able to return to painting and other activities he loves. “Dr. van Loveren,” he says, “gave me back the ability to live.”

Mr. Strachov paints a wide variety of watercolor work, including portraits and still life, but he particularly enjoys landscapes.

“I like to paint places that remind people of a reality that they can actually visit in reality,” he says. In fact, after eventually regaining the ability to paint, his first big project was a painting of a lone desert tree in the American Southwest.

Greg Strachov stands with the first watercolor he completed following a series of surgeries to remove a brain tumor.

“It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen, and it’s a place that kept itself on my mind while I went through all of the hospitalization and all the surgeries,” he says. “That tree is perhaps me, and it’s survived a very, very difficult environment.”

A short, yet powerful “they saved my life” is how Jeremy Blythe describes the team at the Tampa General Hospital + USF Health Bariatric Center.

Weight had always been a struggle for Jeremy while growing up, but he never let being “the big guy” stand in his way of living his life, even when simple tasks like tying his shoes or putting on a belt became a challenge. Standing over 6 feet tall, Jeremy weighed 612 pounds by his thirties. After seeing his father and other family members pass away before age 60, Jeremy decided that he was not going to follow that same path. “I want a family with my wife, and I want to be able to be around a long time and be able to do things with them,” Jeremy said.

That’s when Jeremy decided to take control of his life and seek professional help from the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center, a team that came highly recommended to him. The TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center is a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Accreditation under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Within a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, patients have access to both surgical and non-surgical bariatric services, and the goal of the team approach to care is to help patients not only lose weight but improve their overall health. “When your weight gets that high, your body just can’t tolerate it and it’s not about the illness Jeremy currently had, but all of the future illnesses he was destined to get,” said Christopher DuCoin, MD, MPH, FACS, medical director and bariatric surgeon at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center.

Dr. Ashley Mooney and Dr. Christopher DuCoin worked together on Jeremy’s bariatric surgery at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center.

The robotic assisted sleeve gastrectomy was selected as the best option for Jeremy because, as Dr. DuCoin describes it, the procedure is extremely safe, even safer than gallbladder surgery, a hysterectomy, or elective knee surgery, and has quick patient recovery. Gastric bypass was considered, but it’s an intense operation that is often used for patients with Type II Diabetes and severe reflux disease. Since Jeremy did not have those comorbidities, there was no need to add any unnecessary risk to his surgery.

“When you combine laparoscopy, or small incisions, with robotic surgery, it really aids the surgeon in the visualization of the operative field, dexterity and the safety profile of the procedure,” Dr. DuCoin said.

The TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center is one of the busiest academic centers in Florida for bariatric robotic surgery. The facility is equipped with chairs, toilet seats, beds, doorframes, wheelchairs and scales that are specifically made for patients of a larger size. Even the operating table and instruments that are used for bariatric surgery are designed with the needs of that patient population in mind. Patients also have access to telehealth appointments to prevent mobility, transportation, or distance impeding a patient getting the services they need. Being a part of a large hospital also means that if a patient suddenly needs intensive care or specialized medical support during or after surgery, the infrastructure would be able to take care of them. The hospital staff and the entire system is trained to care for these patients from a holistic perspective and they not only know the safest way to transfer and move these patients, but also how to empathize.

“The team really facilitates a no-judgement atmosphere where these patients can feel welcome and are somewhere where they can come and be themselves,” said Ashley Mooney, MD, bariatric surgeon at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center.

Deciding on the best procedure for Jeremy was only the beginning of the six-month, pre-operative process. In order to be approved for surgery, Jeremy had to be cleared by the entire bariatric team after meeting their designated goals for him such as, “reaching a weight around 577 pounds, getting out of the pre-diabetic range, improving his iron and Vitamin D deficiencies, stopping his vaping habit, and consistently wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) sleep apnea machine,” said Erica Francois, DNP, APRN, bariatric nurse practitioner at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center. During this part of Jeremy’s journey, he met with nurse practitioners, nutritionists, psychologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, sleep study therapists, lab technicians, among many others who played a crucial role in Jeremy’s success in the program. This team-based care conveniently falls under one roof and not only makes having a variety of specialty appointments and accessing medical records a seamless process for patients, but it also facilitates collaboration.

“We’re all on the same page, we speak the same language,” Dr. Mooney said. “All the providers meet weekly and discuss difficult patients or patients who are on the path to surgery, so the communication is incredibly effective.”

The TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center team

A critical piece of the pre-operative process for Jeremy was addressing his emotional eating habits.

“This part of the journey was important because for me, and I firmly believe that, for most people, it is a head game,” Jeremy said. “Getting your head right and dealing with the emotional side of your eating issues will make or break you. Mental health is a key factor in the success of this process.”

The Center’s Clinical Bariatric Psychologist Rebecca Chermak, PsyD, explains that receiving cake as a celebratory reward or ice cream when you have a bad day can start from great intentions in childhood, but can quickly turn into an emotional eating habit in adulthood.

“Food is the most easily accessible, readily available, and non-judgmental ways to navigate through some of life’s stressors,” Dr. Chermak said. “Even though Jeremy always had a smile on his face, he acknowledged that he was hurting on the inside and had been struggling with depression ever since he was a young boy and often used food as a way to cope.”

“Dr. Chermak is one of the best psychologists I have ever spoken with,” Jeremy said. “She doesn’t come at you from a medical standpoint as much as a human to human. Her ability to connect with and help her patients is unbelievable.”

Patients also have to understand and prepare for the lifelong commitment they’re making before going into surgery.

“You have to realize that you won’t just wake up and be ‘skinny’ – there is work involved,” Jeremy said. “You must change your eating habits: how you drink, how you eat, when you drink, when you eat. Everything changes, and you have to position yourself to be as ready as you can before going into the surgery.”

Another crucial part in the success of this lifelong commitment is the support of friends and family. Jeremy’s inspiration for changing his life was to be around as long as possible for his family. But in order for him to get to that healthier place, he was going to need their support, too. Luckily, Jeremy was surrounded by an extended family and close friends who are very supportive, especially the love of his life and wife of 10 years, Hannah.

After months of hard work and the support of family and the services offered by the Bariatric Center, Jeremy was able to achieve his goals and was approved for surgery. Jeremy said he was able to stay positive and on track to his goal by keeping his “eye on the prize.”

“In the beginning, you’re going to hate it, I won’t lie,” Jeremy said. “It’s all very difficult. What you have to continue to remind yourself of is, look at what you’re gaining. I’m going to live, hopefully, an additional 20 to 40 years because I am investing in myself. I am taking care of myself for me and my family. As you start to drop weight and feel better, it almost becomes automatic. Be patient, be kind to yourself and listen to your body.”

On January 28, 2020, Jeremy had his surgery and was in and out of the hospital in under 24 hours.

“I was excited, I was scared, I was worried, but most importantly, it was the first time in my life I didn’t feel hopeless,” Jeremy said. “I didn’t feel like I couldn’t fight the weight loss fight any longer. I had hope and to me, that is worth more than my weight in gold! That’s a lot of gold.”

Jeremy has lost 161 pounds since his surgery (Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Blythe)

Jeremy has lost 161 pounds after five months post-operation. The first 6 to 12 months after surgery is an intense, rapid-weight loss phase in which Jeremy frequently visits with dieticians and nurse practitioners at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center as a part of the post-op care program. By the second year, he will visit on an annual basis for continued long-term support. The entire medical staff at the Bariatric Center echoes the sentiment that when you become their patient, you’re their patient for life.

“They are invested with you along the entire process. Everybody there is so supportive and genuine,” Jeremy said.

“I think we all feel much more confident that Jeremy’s going to live a much longer, healthier, hopefully happier life and I think we see that every time we encounter him. It’s really why a lot of us do this because we know we are making a substantial impact in their life,” Dr. DuCoin said.

Jeremy’s goal weight is 275 pounds and he looks forward to the day that he’s able to experience canoeing, horseback riding, and kayaking for the first time because his weight has always restricted him from participating. He also looks forward to once again being able to ride roller coasters and fly on airplanes. “My current weight loss success makes me feel so happy,” Jeremy said. “I feel refreshed and ready to conquer the world and to keep fighting for a healthier body.”

To the team at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center, Jeremy says, “Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show myself that I can do this. Thank you from the bottom of my ‘no longer enlarged heart due to heavy weight’ for saving my life. You have given me purpose and you have truly done something for me that I will never, ever forget and for doing it with such compassion, poise, and confidence. You are my true miracle workers, my true heroes.”

After gaining his new lease on life, Jeremy wants to encourage others who are significantly struggling with their weight to leave their inhibitions behind, believe in themselves and give the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center a call. He believes that even though making that first step is scary, the alternative is worse.

“It’s a very humbling experience once you realize that how you have been living is no longer working for you,” Chermak said. “The amount of bravery that it takes to initially call and make that first appointment is one of the most powerful things anyone can do towards their future.”

For more information about the bariatrics services available at the TGH + USF Health Bariatric Center, email bariatriccenter@tgh.org or call (813) 844-7473. 

The 27,000-square-foot facility, on the Morsani Center’s fourth floor, offers the full spectrum of routine and complex vision care

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With the snip of a green ribbon, the grand opening of new and expanded USF Health Eye Institute was celebrated Aug. 16 by the university’s academic medical center leaders and Department of Ophthalmology faculty, staff, residents and alumni.

Occupying 27,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the USF Health Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare, the institute is the single largest clinical space for any one specialty program at USF Health – with all ophthalmology subspecialties under one roof.  Even more impressive than its size is the institute’s advanced technology and comprehensive expertise to improve treatment for complex eye diseases, trauma and other ophthalmic conditions, as well as to conduct the latest clinical research.

For the first time, the institute will also offer routine vision examinations, fittings and purchases of glasses and contact lenses.  Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery around the eye is also available.

Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and Ramesh Ayyala, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, prepare to cut the ribbon marking the grand opening of the spacious, new USF Health Eye Institute.

“Superior patient care, innovative research and excellent resident education—these are the three pillars on which we will continue to build the USF Health Eye Institute,” Ramesh Ayyala, MD, chair of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology, said before the event.

Dr. Ayyala joined USF Health in April from Tulane University, where he established one of the largest practices in the South for treating complex cases of glaucoma and corneal diseases. He also rebuilt Tulane’s ophthalmology residency program following Hurricane Katrina.

The energetic chair wasted no time putting into motion the logistics needed to relocate the institute to its new, more spacious quarters in the Morsani Center in July. The previous building on Magnolia Drive was recently purchased by Moffitt Cancer Center, which will determine its use.

Dr. Lockwood welcomes guests.

Committed to excellence in patient care, research and residency education

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, welcomed guests who packed the institute’s lobby and thanked Dr. Ayyala and his team for their commitment to making the impressive state-of-the-art space a reality.  He recognized the generosity of Dr. James “Jim” Gills, founder of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute, who along with his wife Heather endowed the James & Heather Gills Chair in Ophthalmology now held by Dr. Ayyala.

Harry van Loveren, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, led USF Health’s search to recruit a new chair for the Department of Ophthalmology.

Speakers at the event included Peter Neland, MD, PhD (left), chair of the University of Virginia Department of Ophthalmology who mentored Dr. Ayyala, speaks with Harry van Loveren, MD, chair of the USF Health Department of Neurosurgery.

“We searched nationwide only to find the best candidate in the country graduated from our own (ophthalmology residency) program in 1999,” Dr. van Loveren said of Dr. Ayyala. “We were searching for someone who could articulate a strategy for expanding our footprint in the Tampa Bay region. We found someone who had a strategy to make USF Health a destination for eye care throughout the state of Florida.”

Peter Neland, MD, PhD, a mentor to Dr. Ayyala, spoke about the trends in increasing outpatient visits and the projected growth in eye disease and vision problems. An escalating U.S. aging population, including high-risk groups like Hispanics (more likely to develop glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy), will drive more demand for ophthalmic procedures and a need for more highly trained ophthalmologists, said Dr. Neland, chair of the University of Virginia’s Department of Ophthalmology.

The lobby was decorated in USF green and gold for the celebration.

“There is no doubt that this (outpatient) institute is well positioned to strengthen patient care and train the next generation ophthalmologists” needed to treat glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other eye disorders, he said. “It will also help identify transformative new treatments and improve our understanding of eye diseases so we can make vision care better.”

“A very exciting time to be here”

Following the speaker remarks and ribbon cutting, the USF Health Eye Institute’s staff and ophthalmology residents led tours of the new facility.

Among the stops was a state-of-the-art simulation laser microsurgery suite and operating room, where residents receive one-on-one training.  They can hone their skills by performing intricate surgeries such as corneal transplants, cataract removal and retinal tear repair before treating human patients. In addition to its 46 lanes for patient examinations, the facility includes, to name just a few, rooms for visual field testing and for high-definition ocular ultrasound, which generates detailed images of the eye to help diagnose disorders and monitor disease progression.

Guests toured the new facility, which is fully equipped with the latest ophthalmic equipment and technologies to provide everything from routine eye care to diagnosis and treatment of complex eye conditions. Coming soon — a full-service optical shop.

Ophthalmology resident Christopher Donovan said that access to dedicated experts in visual electrophysiology and ocular pathology helps set the USF Health Eye Institute apart as a training site for residents.

“It’s a very exciting time to be here,” said Dr. Donovan, who led one of the tour groups. “There’s an influx of new faculty and staff and we’ll be starting some new fellowship programs… Having all this latest technology is great in terms of improving diagnosis and patient care.”

Built on a strong foundation, dream becomes a reality

During the grand opening, Dr. Ayyala thanked past Department of Ophthalmology chairs for building a strong foundation for the department. “What we are doing here today is an extension of their dreams,” he said.

Peter Pavan, MD (left), immediate past chair of the USF Health Department of Ophthalmology and still an active professor in the department, was a mentor to Dr. Ayyala when Dr. Ayyala conducted his residence here.

Among those attending the event were Vivian Oduwo and her 2-year-old son Beau Ananga. Beau was born with aniridia, the absence of an iris, a condition that made him unable to see.  Beau’s family previously traveled from Wesley Chapel to Miami for treatment, at one point weekly – but now Beau can get the treatment he needs at the expanded USF Health facility.  In late July, Dr. Ayyala performed surgery to drain the fluid from Beau’s eyes, returning their pressure to near-normal levels.

“Since coming to USF and seeing Dr. Ayyala, we have seen a significant improvement in the appearance of my son’s eyes. His eyes are much clearer and a normal size, and we’re hopeful this will make a significant improvement in his vision,” said Oduwo, adding that Beau loves spending time outdoors running and playing.

Among the grand opening attendees were Vivian Oduwo and her 2-year-old son Beau Ananga.  Dr. Ayyala operated on Beau in late July to relieve pressure in his eyes caused by congenital aniridia, an absense of the iris.

“As a mother this means my son will be able to enjoy some of the things other kids enjoy, even if not at the same level. Our family loves Dr. Ayyala because he not only gives expert advice about managing our son’s medical condition, but also advises us on how to raise a child with visual impairment. He has encouraged us to raise our son like a normal child and not focus on his disability.”

-Tina Meketa, USF Communications and Marketing contributed to this story.  Photos by Eric Younghans and Torie Doll, USF Health Communications and Marketing

With her bladder now under control, Gayle Osborne can pursue her passion for travel without trepidation

Gayle Osborne gets up close with an African lion while on safari in Zimbabwe.

It was supposed to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Gayle Osborne — walking with the lions as part of an African safari.  But that morning, when a van pulled up instead of a bus with a bathroom, she broke into a cold sweat.  What would she do if she needed to “go?”

A story that began as a “death sentence,” has now transformed into a tale of hope for Osborne after her visit with Daniel Hoffman, MD, assistant professor in the USF Health Urology.

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Twenty years after Osborne’s initial diagnosis of interstitial cystitis—an incurable condition managed only by treatment—she is looking forward to living a full life again.

Initially, Osborne’s recurring urinary tract infections (UTI), known as interstitial cystitis, landed her in a Charlotte, N.C. doctor’s office. When doctors in North Carolina led her to believe her cause was hopeless, she walked out of the doctor’s office in tears, uncertain of her next move.

A frequent traveler and an avid tennis league player, Osborne was determined the diagnosis would not take control of her life. She and her husband of 51 years, Alan, were born just 10 days apart and they both have the travel bug.

However, too many times she was met by her own body’s hardship.  “When we went on trips and I knew that there wasn’t a bathroom, I felt anxious because I just didn’t know how I was going to feel,” the 73-year-old Osborne said.  “If you’ve ever had a UTI — it’s that constant burning sensation.  I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eHVDGowWjA

After that visit in North Carolina, Osborne worked earnestly to find treatment by researching every resource she could get her hands on: newsletters, websites, advice from friends and family and other specialists.  Sadly, she always found herself at a dead end.

“I suffered, mostly in silence, because very few others could relate to my symptoms,” Osborne said.

Then, she heard about Dr. Hoffman’s expertise and emailed him. He emailed right back and she set up an appointment. During the initial visit, Dr. Hoffman told Osborne he would treat the symptoms and work to figure out how to give her relief. Listening and solving Osborne’s problem was his top priority.

“Gayle’s quality of life was crushed by her condition,” Dr. Hoffman said. “I could immediately tell that she had lost hope in finding improvement. We identified the symptoms that were truly bothering her and targeted these issues specifically, putting her back in control of her bladder.”

Osborne with USF Health urologist Dr. Daniel Hoffman | Photo by Michelle Young, USF Health Communications and Marketing

“His approach, demeanor, and treatment plan gave me immense hope. Dr. Hoffman was a godsend.  Somebody was finally listening,’” Osborne said.

Indeed, Dr. Hoffman’s approach differed from the doctors from whom she’d sought treatment from in the past.  Thanks to his compassionate assessment of directly treating the symptoms, Osborne perked up instantly.

“It’s just like when you go to a doctor and you say, ‘Hey I have a cold.’ The doctor won’t treat it with an antibiotic because it’s a virus. You tell the doctor you have a cough.  And he says ‘We’ll give you something for your cough.’ It’s the same thing with what I have, and that’s how Dr. Hoffman approached it,” Osborne added.

Osborne hiking in Knysna, South Africa

For Osborne, compassion is one of the most important traits of a top-notch physician. With tears in her eyes, she told Dr. Hoffman during that first visit, “Not one urologist I visited before you has approached this ‘death sentence’ with the knowledge, energy and hope you have given to me in the last hour. It has taken a huge burden off of my shoulders and given me a feeling that now we are on the right track!”

With her primary issues now under control, she continues to work with Dr. Hoffman on the symptoms. With the travel bug biting again, she and her husband are planning a trip to South America this fall, where they will hike Machu Picchu Mountain. And this time if a van pulls up, Osborne will hop on with a smile.

Osborne with her husband and traveling companion Alan.

Story by Shelby Kaplan and doctor-patient video by Michelle Young, USF Health Communications and Marketing; “Walking with lions” video and photos courtesy of Gayle Osborne