As part of Easterseals professional development program, five early childhood educators from the Lily Preschool attended the Child Development Associate course July 29-31, in Orlando. The CDA course consisted of 30 hours of lecture and study hall, teaching techniques, skills and tools for individuals on their way to becoming early childhood teachers.

The course also included math, language and literature. At the completion of the course, attendees were certified to teach preschool classes throughout the United States.

The Lily Preschool at Easterseals Happiness House provides inclusive early childhood education for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. This inclusive model of education makes it possible to address the needs of students with disabilities as well as those typically developing children in a collaborative setting.

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Dr. Washington Hill, an obstetrician and gynecologist with CenterPlace Health, in Sarasota, has received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the National Medical Association for exceptional work in medical service.

He accepted the award July 31 at the NMA’s Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, the nation’s foremost forum on medical science and African American health.

CenterPlace Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides high-quality, low-cost health care to those in and around Sarasota County.

Hill is currently the Senior OB, GYN, MFN at CenterPlace Health and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is also the founding director of Maternal-Fetal Health Medicine at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

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As its current marketing and communications professional prepares to retire, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has hired a new marketing and communications director, Beth Graves.

Graves will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing plans that will enhance WBTT’s reach while maintaining its stellar reputation.

Prior to coming to WBTT, Graves accumulated experience in the nonprofit, arts and private sectors. She was the marketing manager for John Cannon Homes, worked seven years with the Circus Arts Conservatory as its marketing manager, was marketing coordinator for the Certified Collectibles Group and was marketing manager for the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

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As its longtime chief financial officer embarks on his retirement, All Faiths Food Bank has hired Timothy Taylor as its new CFO.

Taylor brings extensive professional experience in finance, logistics, operations and business analytics to his role with the area’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization.

He will be responsible for providing leadership for the financial reporting and operations of the organization, including managing all day-to-day financial and accounting functions, recording and reporting for the organization, in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and other regulatory requirements.

Before coming to All Faiths, Taylor was director of finance, HR & IT for Sun Bulb Co. – Better-Gro (Arcadia), CFO/COO of Premier Beauty Supply, Inc. (Lincolnshire, Ill.), controller for Wurth Baer Supply Co. (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and, most recently, senior director of finance & HR at Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity.

He earned a bachelor’s in finance from Northern Illinois University and a master’s in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.

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Dr. Matthew Pacana recently joined the staff at Coastal Orthopedics, based in Bradenton. He is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle injuries and disorders.

Pacana treats patients of all ages with various conditions, including foot and ankle arthritis, tendonitis, ankle instability, athletic injuries, bunions and fractures. He has a special interest in ankle replacement, minimally invasive techniques and arthroscopy.

After attending medical school at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Pacana finished his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He went on to complete his foot and ankle fellowship at the University of Texas Houston.

Pacana will be performing surgeries at Coastal Orthopedics’ outpatient surgery center. He will also be credentialed at HCA Florida Blake Hospital, HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Coastal Orthopedics is a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, pain management and physical therapy services.

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Community Eye Center Port Charlotte has hired ophthalmologist Boris Ovodenko, M.D., who has 15 years of experience in advanced cataract surgery, including toric, extended depth of focus and multifocal implant technology as well as comprehensive eye care.

Ovodenko graduated summa cum laude from Johns Hopkins University in just three years and completed his medical degree at the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine.

After completing an internship at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., he went on to complete a Glaucoma Research Fellowship and ophthalmology residency at the prestigious New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Ovodenko dedicated five years to training the next generation of eye surgeons at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

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Nancy’s Concierge and Home Watch Services, of Venice, has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the sixth year.

The NHWA was formed in 2009 to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for home watch throughout the United States and Canada.

Nancy Scott, owner of Nancy’s Concierge and Home Watch Services, operated her own professional organizing company in Pennsylvania for 10 years. She also worked in the hospitality industry.

Nancy’s Concierge and Home Watch Services serves Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Nokomis and Osprey.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Teachers earn preschool certification, Dr. Hill receives Service Award