MEDICAL PEOPLE & NEWS
PEACE RIVER CENTER
Kirsten Pindar has been named Peace River Center’s director of victim services. Pindar attended school in Albany, New York, where she studied law and psychology with a concentration in counseling. During college, she became a certified rape crisis counselor. Following graduation, Pindar worked with individuals with HIV and AIDS, as well as those with disabilities, behavior challenges, mental health and substance use issues, as well as individuals who had experienced domestic violence and sexual assault. In her new role, Pindar oversees program operations, outreach and awareness activities, and works alongside staff to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
WATSON CLINIC
Charlotte D. Elenberger, M.D., joined the Radiology Department at Watson Clinic Main, 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland and the Watson Clinic Women’s Center, 1400 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland. Her areas of expertise include breast and body imaging. Elenberger received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, North Carolina. She completed her radiology residency and a fellowship in breast and body imaging at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. She is board-certified in radiology by the American Board of Radiology and is a member of the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging.
Jessica Cuzzone, APRN, is a registered nurse practitioner who works alongside board-certified otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery specialists Serge Jean, M.D., Ph.D., and Pranay Patel, M.D., from both Watson Clinic Highlands, 2300 E. County Road 540A, south Lakeland, and the Watson Clinic Bella Vista Building, 1755 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland. Cuzzone received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of South Florida in Tampa and her Master of Science degree in nursing from Chamberlain University in Chicago. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Physician assistant Jessica Jeffries, P.A., joined the team of board-certified dermatologist Luke Miller, M.D., from Watson Clinic Highlands, 2300 E. County Road 540A, south Lakeland. Jeffries received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and international studies from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, and her Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from South University in Savannah, Georgia. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and American Academy of Physician Associates.
Registered nurse practitioner Neena Jinoy, APRN, is a Watson Clinic provider who treats patients with nephrology-related issues exclusively from Lakeland Regional Health in Lakeland. Jinoy received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from St. James College of Nursing in Kerala, India, and her Master of Science degree in nursing with a specialization in family nurse practitioner from South University in Tampa. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Certified physician assistant Dawn Durrell, PA, serves patients of board-certified otolaryngology specialists Pranay Patel, M.D., and Serge Jean, M.D., Ph.D., from the Watson Clinic Bella Vista Building, 1755 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland. Durrell received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern University in Lakeland and her Master of Medical Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in Orlando. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.
Certified physician assistant Elizabeth Swengros, PA, treats patients of board-certified family medicine specialists James Hardigan, D.O., Pharm.D., and Sharareh Mazaheri, M.D., from Watson Clinic Main, 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland. Her areas of expertise include adult primary care, preventive medicine, chronic disease management and women’s health concerns. Swengros received her Bachelor of Science degree in family and child sciences from Florida State University in Tallahassee and her Master of Science degree in physician assistant practice from the Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.
Kayla Hester, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, assists patients of board-certified otolaryngologist and facial plastic & reconstructive surgeon Raam S. Lakhani, M.D., from the Watson Clinic Bella Vista, 1755 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive ENT services and allergy treatments. Hester received both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in nursing from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Physician assistant Jasie Behrens, PA, works alongside board-certified dermatology specialist William J. Roth, M.D., Ph.D., from Watson Clinic Bella Vista, 1755 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland. Behrens received her Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida in Gainesville and her Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from South University in Tampa. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.
Seth Brown, M.D. joined the radiology department at Watson Clinic Main, 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland. Brown received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of medicine in Cincinnati. He performed an internal medicine internship at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. He completed a radiology residency and an interventional radiology fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is a member of the American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiologic Society of North America and the Society of Interventional Radiology. He is board-certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology.
Urgent Care specialist Hasan Suleiman, M.D. joined the team at Watson Clinic Urgent Care Main, 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland. His areas of expertise include comprehensive urgent care services, including laceration repair, abscess treatment and other minor in-office procedures. Suleiman received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Miramar. He completed his family medicine residency at Wayne State University in Rochester, Michigan. Suleiman is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
WATSON CLINIC FOUNDATION
The Watson Clinic Foundation’s Arts in Medicine program received a $4,120 grant from the GiveWell Community Foundation, a charitable organization that addresses community needs throughout Polk County. The grant was presented in response to an application submitted as part of the organization’s 2021 Impact Polk competition and was distributed from the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation. The Watson Clinic Foundation’s AIM program offers all forms of the expressive arts — including creative activities such as watercolor painting, origami, and mosaics — for cancer patients, caregivers and family members at the Watson Clinic Cancer & Research Center in Lakeland.
LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH
Mario John, M.D., joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in total joint replacement and adult hip and knee reconstruction, including primary, complex primary and revision hip and knee joint replacement, seeing patients at the Grasslands Campus and the LRH Medical Center. John completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and a fellowship in adult reconstruction surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Jason Abraham, PA-C, joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a physician assistant, seeing patients in the orthopedics practice at Grasslands and the LRH Medical Center. Abraham earned his Master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of South Florida.
Joshua Williams, PA-C, joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a physician assistant surgical first assistant, caring for surgery patients at the LRH Medical Center. Williams earned his Physician Assistant Studies degree from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His surgical experience includes general/vascular, OB/GYN, thoracic and orthopedics.
Sowsan Rasheid, M.D., FACS, joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a colorectal surgeon seeing patients at the North Campus/Hollis Cancer Center. Rasheid earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa. She completed her residency in general surgery at the University of South Florida and completed her fellowship in colorectal surgery at the University of South Florida and the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital. In addition, Rasheid served as associate professor of surgery at the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine and the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine.
Laurence H. Brenner, M.D. joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a hand surgeon. He will see patients at the Grasslands Campus and the LRH Medical Center. Brenner is a fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity surgeon with more than 40 years of experience. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his fellowship in hand surgery at the Connecticut Combined Hand Surgery Service in Hartford, Connecticut. Brenner also completed plastic surgery training at the Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand.
Melissa Blackburn, D.O., joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a pediatrician seeing patients at the Winter Haven location. Blackburn earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. She completed her residency in pediatrics through the University of Florida at Orlando Health/Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Blackburn is board eligible with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Marlee Reardon, D.O., joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as an obstetrician and gynecologist seeing patients at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children. Reardon earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program in Columbus, Ohio.
Muhammad Ghabra, M.D., joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as a hospitalist seeing patients at the LRH Medical Center. Ghabra earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University in Detroit. Ghabra is certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Brooke Starr, APRN, joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group as an advanced practice registered nurse caring for trauma patients at the LRH Medical Center. Starr earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and her Master of Science degree in adult gerontology acute care from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Local appointments and hires in medical community
