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University of Medicine and Health Sciences Presents “Pathways to Practicing Medicine in Puerto Rico”


The recording of “Pathways to Practicing Medicine in Puerto Rico” is now live on the UMHS St. Kitts YouTube Live Events & Webinars page

“When you’re looking at medical schools look at results. I compared the UMHS Match results to other schools and it was clear that UMHS prepares students to Match into competitive specialty programs – including all the hospitals in Puerto Rico & prestigious hospitals in the US like the Mayo Clinic.”

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences, (UMHS), a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has published the recording of a recent panel discussion, “Pathways to Practicing Medicine in Puerto Rico.” The event was hosted by Earl Mainer, UMHS senior associate director of admissions for the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico, and featured a diverse panel of students, alumni, and practicing physicians to share their experiences, including: Andy Adler, a current UMHS student from Puerto Rico; Dr. Carlos Villanueva Soto, a recent graduate who placed into a highly competitive internal medicine residency at the University of Puerto Rico; Dr. Anelyn Martinez Rodriguez, a 2019 UMHS graduate and current psychiatry resident at San Juan VA Medical Center: and Dr. Eric Adler, a UMHS parent and an esteemed doctor in private practice in Puerto Rico. The panelists addressed common questions from prospective students and their families when evaluating an international medical school – including what it was like to move to St. Kitts, advice for matching into top residency programs, and what it’s like to practice medicine in Puerto Rico. A recording of the event has been posted to the UMHS YouTube Live Events & Webinars page.

“It is extremely challenging to get accepted to medical school in Puerto Rico because there are only four medical schools, so you may need to look beyond Puerto Rico to discover a pathway to achieving your dreams,” said Mainer. “UMHS has been gaining momentum in Puerto Rico as students and their families look for the best options for earning an MD. UMHS was founded by pioneers in medical education to help people get the best training and become medical doctors.”

The discussion began with an introduction to the panelists and a description of their journey to medical school. As a nontraditional student, Andy Adler described how UMHS fostered his academic success through its Accelerated Review Program (ARP), a one-semester preparatory program designed to prepare students for the academic rigors of medical school. Andy credited the ARP program with helping to sharpen his study skills and improving his academic performance in his Basic Science classes.

When asked about why he chose UMHS over other medical schools, Dr. Carlos Villanueva Soto said, “What attracted me to UMHS was the Match list. When you’re looking at medical schools you need to look at results. So I compared the UMHS Match results to other international medical schools and chose to apply because it was clear that UMHS prepares students to Match into competitive specialty programs – including all of the hospitals in Puerto Rico and prestigious hospitals in the US like the Mayo Clinic.”

Offering a unique perspective as the father of a UMHS student and a renowned plastic surgeon who offers medical students elective training at his Adler Medical Plaza, Dr. Adler shared his experience of working with UMHS students.

“I’ve worked with students from Mt. Sinai in New York, from UPR and Ponce in Puerto Rico, and it is very clear that UMHS cares about the students learning the material,” said Dr. Adler. “I can tell you that the UMHS students that have worked in my clinic have demonstrated solid foundational knowledge and have presented themselves to the patients in a very mature way, which really impressed me.”

The discussion also addressed questions about moving to St. Kitts for medical school. Dr. Anelyn Martinez Rodriguez talked about the adjustment of going to an English-speaking school as someone whose primary language is Spanish. She described how UMHS provides a very supportive, family-like atmosphere and made her feel at home.

The talk was the latest in a series of livestream events featuring UMHS students, faculty, and alumni sharing their expertise on topics targeted toward current and prospective medical students and healthcare professionals. Past events include:


  • “Medical Speciality Spotlight: What is an Anesthesiologist?”


“Alzheimer’s Disease & Exploring Research in Medical School”

“Rural Medicine: Making a Difference in Underserved Areas”

“Non-Traditional Medical Student Livestream: A Student’s Perspective”

“UMHS Women in Medicine: A Conversation About the First Year of Residency,”

“Cardiology: A Discussion About Cardiac Care & Careers in Cardiology,”

“Black Women in Medicine: A Conversation About the Black Experience”

Links to view all past discussions may be found by visiting the UMHS live events and webinars page.

About UMHS

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), is a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada. UMHS was founded in 2007 by medical education pioneers Warren and Robert Ross to deliver a highly personalized school experience. Graduates of UMHS earn a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) and qualify to practice medicine throughout the United States and Canada. Students begin their Basic Science studies in St. Kitts, West Indies, and complete their clinical training in the United States. With an unprecedented 96% student retention rate, the vast majority of students that begin their medical studies at UMHS go on to obtain residencies.

For more information, visit https://www.umhs-sk.org/.

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Exploitable Vulnerabilities That Expose Healthcare Facilities Surged Nearly 60% Since 2022, New Research Report Finds


“As the healthcare industry continues to digitize, cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, putting the privacy and safety of patients at risk,” said Kiran Chinnagangannagari, CTO of Securin.

Health-ISAC, Finite State, and Securin, Inc., released today a joint research report targeting medical devices, software applications, and healthcare systems. The research found that 993 vulnerabilities–a 59% year-over-year increase from 2022–lurk within 966 medical products and devices, and attackers could exploit them to target a healthcare facility.

Of the 993 vulnerabilities, 160 are weaponized and 101 are trending in the wild. Additionally, Advanced Persistent Threat Groups are exploiting seven, and four are associated with ransomware.

“Healthcare organizations must prioritize cybersecurity measures, employ robust cybersecurity practices, conduct regular risk assessments, and stay updated on the latest security threats and technologies to proactively protect against cyber threats,” said Phil Englert, Health-ISAC’s VP of Medical Device Security. “Health-ISAC focuses on enhancing cyber resilience within the global healthcare sector by facilitating collaboration, sharing threat intelligence, developing and sharing best practices and providing resources and support to its members to build resilience within member organizations and the healthcare community as a whole.”

Software and firmware that power connected medical products and devices paramount to human health and safety are increasingly at risk due to high numbers of critical and high-rated vulnerabilities. In fact, 43 vulnerabilities–a 437% year-over-year increase from 2022–have been categorized as RCE/PE exploits, making them dangerous and attractive to hackers. These results highlight a growing need to strengthen software supply chain security by securing connected medical products and devices.

“Our research unveils a disturbing year-over-year increase in firmware vulnerabilities within connected medical products and devices, underscoring an urgent need for robust software supply chain security,” said Larry Pesce, Director of Product Security Research and Analysis at Finite State. “The rise of weaponized exploits demands immediate, collective action to safeguard not only our technological integrity but, ultimately, patient safety.”

Healthcare, a critical infrastructure classified by the US Government, continues to be a prime target for cyberattacks, posing potential consequences ranging from network disruptions to compromised medical equipment, which could lead to fatal outcomes.

“As the healthcare industry continues to digitize, cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, putting the privacy and safety of patients at risk,” said Kiran Chinnagangannagari, CTO of Securin. “It is important to understand and address these risks head on, to protect patients’ data and well-being.”

Read our research report to see the survey’s full findings.

About Finite State

Finite State empowers organizations to gain control of application and product security for their connected devices and software supply chains. Across the software supply chain lifecycle, Finite State is the single pane of glass for customers that provides continuous visibility into software supply chain risk.

Backed by a team of seasoned experts, Finite State’s platform arms customers with the automation to scale risk mitigation and 2B+ data points to deliver actionable SBOM’s and insights, critical vulnerability data and the remediation guidance necessary to mitigate AppSec and product risk to protect the connected attack surface.

About Health-ISAC

Health-ISAC — a non-profit, private sector, member-driven organization — plays an essential role in providing situational awareness around cyber and physical security threats to the Healthcare Sector so that companies can detect, mitigate, and respond to ensure operational resilience. Health-ISAC connects thousands of healthcare security professionals worldwide to share peer insights, real-time alerts, and best practices in a trusted, collaborative environment. As the go-to source for timely, actionable, and relevant information, Health-ISAC is a force-multiplier that enables healthcare organizations of all sizes to enhance situation awareness, develop effective mitigation strategies and proactively defend against threats every single day.

About Securin

Securin is a leading provider of tech-enabled cybersecurity services, helping customers gain resilience against emerging threats. Our products and services are powered by accurate vulnerability intelligence, human expertise, and automation, enabling enterprises to make critical security decisions to manage their expanding attack surfaces.

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Unitek Learning Employee Wins CECU Leadership Award for Commitment to Education


Unitek Learning is the parent company of several distinguished learning institutions: Unitek College, Unitek EMT, Unitek Training Healthcare, Eagle Gate College, Provo College, and Brookline College.

She is a leader at her institution and a powerful voice for the advancement of career schools for the state of Nevada.

Unitek Learning is thrilled to announce that Marilyn Lim-Carreon, the Unitek College Campus Director in Reno, has been selected as the 2023 CECU Leadership Award winner. The primary mission of the Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is to serve postsecondary career education to schools, staff, and students. CECU is a voluntary membership organization that serves as a national voice for the postsecondary education sector. Currently, more than 1,100 campuses and affiliate members throughout North America are represented by this group.

“We are so thrilled that Marilyn has received this award from CECU. It’s an honor and a privilege,” said Janis Paulson, Chief Executive Officer at Unitek Learning. “CECU is one of the nation’s largest associations representing private, postsecondary colleges. Together, we can help equip future generations with the career skills they need to succeed, from allied healthcare to nursing and beyond.”

On June 22, 2023, Marilyn Lim-Carreon received the CECU Leadership Award. As the Vice-Chair of the Nevada Association for Career Colleges (NACC), Marilyn advocates for the entire state of Nevada on behalf of every private, post-secondary school. This award honored her leadership and tireless commitment to the advancement of career education.

“A state association is necessary to give voice to the career schools that are unrepresented in Carson City,” said Dr. Jason Altmire, President and Chief Executive Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities. “Building a new association from the ground up is difficult, but Marylin jumped right in. Thanks to her unwavering leadership, the Nevada Association of Career Colleges had an extraordinarily successful first year by every measure. Marilyn led the way to this success, and I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving of this award.”

Kelley Blanchard, Executive Vice President at Career Education Colleges and Universities, added: “The 2023 CECU Leadership Award was presented to Marilyn Lim-Carreon for her dedication and leadership with NACC. Marilyn has been a trailblazer for the organization since its inception as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. She is a leader at her institution and a powerful voice for the advancement of career schools for the state of Nevada.”

Unitek Learning is the parent company of several distinguished learning institutions: Unitek College, Unitek EMT, Unitek Training Healthcare, Eagle Gate College, Provo College, and Brookline College. Unitek programs teach the clinical practices and theory used in the field today. Equipped with a multitude of sought-after skills, Unitek graduates are prepared to excel in many of the fastest-growing careers in healthcare and nursing.

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Fusing Old-School Compassion with Cutting-Edge Dentistry


“We are excited to embark on this journey, and we look forward to serving and building lasting relationships with our patients for years to come.” ~Dr. Hedges

Dr. Jeffrey Hedges believes in dentistry’s time-honored golden rule: good hygiene begins with the way you treat people. After nine years administering dedicated care to each patient who walked in through Mortensen Family Dental’s doors, Dr. Hedges feels proud to establish his first ever private practice; where come August 7th, Hedges Dental is ready to break new ground in oral health.

For Dr. Hedges, it’s not just a core belief that “if you treat people right, good things happen.” His practice is eager to honor the kind of patient-centered services that first shaped his passion; delivering an attention to detail with personable care that allows patients of all ages to feel at ease. “Our beliefs are very simple and old fashioned. We believe in offering honest, quality dentistry at a reasonable price,” champions Dr. Hedges.

From his beginning chapter at the University of Louisville, Dr. Hedges was fascinated to explore ways to uplift communities, seeking to understand and change the world of health and wellness. Dr. Hedges followed up his Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education with a comprehensive program at U of L’s School of Dentistry. With a conviction for looking after his community, it’s no wonder Dr. Hedges prioritizes the importance of education. Creating various initiatives to raise awareness, Hedges Dental is eager to give back, making the latest oral hygiene techniques more accessible; guiding patients through a collaborative dental wellness journey.

Even back in his days as a high school coach at New Albany-Floyd County School, Dr. Hedges recognized: high-caliber care is anchored in human connection. “We are advocates for our patients, which simply means we believe in educating our patients and empowering them to make the decisions for their oral health that they are comfortable with and can afford,” says Dr. Hedges.

The camaraderie is palpable from the moment patients enter the building, where in the orthodontics office upstairs, Dr. Ahrens likewise serves the Louisville Metro area. A dear colleague and friend Dr. Hedges has known since 2000, playing college football together at the University of Louisville, Dr. Ahrens owns the dental facilities on Herr Lane that will now become a home base for Hedges Dental. It’s a next stage of friendship for the two U of L grads; where they’ll be able to share another chapter of their lives together; doing what they love most.

The camaraderie is palpable from the moment patients enter the building, where in the orthodontics office upstairs, Dr. Ahrens likewise serves the Louisville Metro area. A dear colleague and friend Dr. Hedges has known since 2000, playing college football together at the University of Louisville, Dr. Ahrens owns the dental facilities on Herr Lane that will now become a home base for Hedges Dental. It’s a next stage of friendship for the two U of L grads; where they’ll be able to share another chapter of their lives together; doing what they love most.

Centrally located between Louisville’s assorted neighborhoods, right next to Ballard High School, Hedges Dental is based right at the heart of the community. Providing exceptional care from within a powerhouse dental complex, Dr. Hedges’ new office has the benefit of fellow orthodontic and periodontal specialists all practicing under the same roof. Hedges Dental will join some of the leading experts in Louisville, alongside Derby City Oral Surgery, Nelson and Lowy, and Ahrens Orthodontics.

“After years of experience working in various dental settings, we noticed a gap in the level of care that patients were receiving. We were inspired to create a practice where patients feel valued, comfortable, and confident in their dental treatment,” explains Dr. Hedges, adding, “Our primary goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment where individuals of all ages can receive comprehensive dental services tailored to their unique needs.”

Driven to keep pace with leading advancements, innovations, and technology, Dr. Hedges shares that state-of-the-art facilities allow Hedges Dental to bring forward “cutting edge treatments that deliver optimal results;” ensuring the support of each patient’s well-being. This is an inviting space — one where every dental professional believes in the positive impact they can foster throughout the community. “We are excited to embark on this journey, and we look forward to serving and building lasting relationships with our patients for years to come,” shares Dr. Hedges.

Patients can call 502-509-1980 to make an appointment starting in August, where Hedges Dental will open their doors to a fresh era: welcoming patients at their beautiful new office. Find Hedges Dental in Suite D, located on 2015 Herr Lane, Louisville, KY 4022; making patients’ smiles brighter every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

About Hedges Dental

Providing transformative patient care to the Louisville Metro community, Hedges Dental is a new private practice, owned and operated by Dr. Jeffrey Hedges. The office is located within a hi-tech dental complex on Herr Lane, surrounded by leading dental professionals and advanced resources, all under the same roof. Infusing his expertise into an array of specialties, Dr. Hedges strives to deliver personalized services with old-school compassion and revolutionary tools of the trade — changing the way effective care can support and improve the lives of the patients he serves.

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Double Board Certification for Dr. Kirk Lozada in Facial Plastic Surgery and Head & Neck Surgery


Dr. Kirk Lozada is now double board certified in Facial Plastic Surgery and Head & Neck Surgery, providing surgical & nonsurgical treatments in PA.

Dr. Lozada is pleased to announce his acceptance as a diplomate to American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgeons (AAFPRS). Dr. Lozada is now one of the few elite surgeons in the country who is double board-certified in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Head & Neck Surgery.

Dr. Lozada underwent a rigorous, multi-year certification process through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) to become a diplomate of the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgeons (AAFPRS). He is now one of the few elite surgeons in the country double board certified in these two highly specialized fields.

He trained extensively at top institutions around Philadelphia, including the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine. Dr. Lozada brings an artistic eye to his work as a second-generation facial plastic surgeon. Patients can feel confident they are in the hands of one of the most skilled facial plastic surgeons in the region.

About Dr. Kirk Lozada

Dr. Kirk Lozada is a facial plastic surgeon and head and neck surgeon based in Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his residency at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.

After residency, Dr. Lozada returned to Philadelphia and pursued fellowship training in facial plastic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Lozada stays actively involved in education and research. He serves as editor for two major online textbooks and resources on facial plastic surgery techniques and has published extensively in medical journals.

Dr. Lozada’s father was a highly successful plastic surgeon in Honolulu and is credited with pioneering a breast augmentation technique that focused on achieving high-quality results while minimizing downtime for patients. Today, Dr. Lozada carries forward these core principles.

Giving Back

Philanthropy has played an important role throughout Dr. Lozada’s career. He has participated in numerous surgical missions to provide free cleft lip and palate surgery to those in need.

With this same humanitarian mindset, Dr. Lozada takes a compassionate approach to caring for all of his patients. He aims to make the benefits of facial plastic surgery accessible to a diverse population.

An Expert in Face & Neck Surgery

As a head and neck surgeon, Dr. Lozada is trained to provide safe and natural results to the head and neck regions. He provides customized treatment plans to help each patient achieve their unique goals.

Because of his extensive training, Dr. Lozada is able to comprehensively treat both the aesthetic and functional needs of his patients. He provides exceptional surgical care ranging from cosmetic facial procedures to facial reconstructive surgery.

Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Lozada performs facial reconstructive surgery to restore appearance and function for those who have suffered from facial trauma (such as cancer treatment), injuries, or birth defects. This includes the rebuilding and reshaping of damaged ears.

Closing large areas or defects near vital structures of the face demands the expertise of a board-certified facial plastic surgeon or head and neck surgeon. Dr. Lozada possesses extensive experience in Mohs reconstructive surgery, having dedicated a significant portion of his training under the guidance of one of the most skilled reconstructive surgeons in NYC. He has successfully performed hundreds of office-based closures, further enhancing his proficiency in this field.

Facial Cosmetic Surgery

As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Lozada focuses on aesthetics and reconstruction of the face, head, and neck. Dr. Lozada employs the most advanced techniques to achieve natural-looking results for his patients.

For patients seeking facial rejuvenation, Dr. Lozada performs advanced techniques in surgical procedures such as:

Facelift and mini-facelift

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

Brow lift

Neck lift

Facial fat grafting

Otoplasty (ear surgery)

Rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty

Patients benefit from his expertise by regaining both function and youthful vitality in their appearance.

About Lozada Facial Plastic Surgery

Dr. Kirk Lozada’s private practice provides facial plastic and reconstructive surgery to patients in the Philadelphia metro area. Patients can expect customized treatment plans and patient-centered care. Dr. Lozada and his staff offer their patients a wide breadth of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.

The state-of-the-art office is located at 1608 Walnut Street, Suite 902B in Philadelphia. Services include both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. The caring staff provides exceptional service before and after treatment.

Personalized Consultations

Dr. Lozada conducts thorough pre-treatment consultations and develops customized surgical plans tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy and goals. He takes the time to listen to patient concerns and answer all questions.

Virtual consultations are available for those unable to visit the Philadelphia office in person.

During consultations, advanced imaging technology is utilized to present simulated results. This valuable tool enables patients to gain a clearer understanding of the expected outcomes and helps them make a more informed decision about surgery. Dr. Lozada wants every patient to feel fully confident before deciding on any procedure.

Dr. Lozada’s artistic eye and surgical expertise enable him to develop treatment plans aimed at achieving the most natural-looking results. He utilizes the latest techniques and advanced equipment for optimal safety and aesthetics.

Contact Dr. Lozada

Prospective patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Lozada and discuss their candidacy for treatment. Both in-office and virtual appointments are available. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kirk Lozada in Philadelphia, visit the contact page or call (267) 817-4600. Patients trust Dr. Lozada to provide the highest quality care and the results that they had hoped for.

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Cardiologist shares ways to protect heart health amidst anxiety, stress


A woman’s hand squeezes a heart-shaped stress ball.

“There is a clear relationship in how anxiety can bring on stress and affect cardiac vasculature.” — Purvi Parwani, MD

Nearly one in three U.S. adults experience some anxiety disorder at some time in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health — panic disorder, generalized anxiety, agoraphobia, specific phobia, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or separation anxiety. Mental health disorders such as anxiety are known to impact heart health negatively and have been linked to an increased likelihood of developing heart disease.

Purvi Parwani, MD, a cardiologist at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute and director of its Women’s Heart Health Clinic, delineates several steps you can take to safeguard heart health when facing mental health struggles, such as anxiety and stress.

“Even though living with a mental health condition like anxiety or depression is so common, there is still stigma and shame shrouding it,” Parwani says. “We as individuals and a society can empower and encourage the understanding of mental health conditions so patients can pursue the right care and be their best, healthiest selves.”

Research demonstrates that anxiety disorders and heart disease can each cause the other to develop. For instance, studies have shown those with anxiety are 26% more likely to develop heart disease, especially coronary artery disease. On the other hand, Parwani says patients can also develop higher anxiety levels after experiencing major cardiac events or diagnoses, creating obstacles in recovery.

Physical symptoms associated with chronic anxiety can impact heart health in various ways, Parwani says. Anxiety causes stress by elevating cortisol levels and activating hormonal pathways that, in turn, promote inflammation in the body. Parwani says chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, fosters plaque development, influences plaque rupture, and increases the risk of developing coronary microvasculature problems.

Many patients at the Women’s Heart Health Clinic live with small vessel disease of the heart, Parwani says, and anxiety or stress bear particularly harmful effects on sensitive microvasculature, worsening symptoms like chest pain.

“You are in a chronic state of fight or flight with anxiety,” she says. “There is a clear relationship in how anxiety can bring on stress and affect cardiac vasculature.”

Anxiety can also elevate heart rate, increase blood pressure, and affect lifestyle habits, including sleep hygiene, proper exercise, or heart-healthy diet — central pillars of cardiac health.

Parwani advises patients to work with their healthcare providers and support systems to develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and other symptoms of mental illnesses. “When it comes to anxiety, I encourage my patients to develop a plan for when they anticipate being in stress-inducing situations,” she says.

She references an analogy between the constant stream of incoming thoughts in the mind and the constant stream of traffic on the road: “Instead of getting sucked into the traffic and driving with it, we need to figure out how to observe the traffic without getting involved.”

Engaging in activities or practices that help you feel grounded and relaxed is essential for mental exercise training that helps in the long run, Parwani says — whether it be breathing exercises, mindfulness, prayer, or community service. Additionally, she says some patients find it helpful to engage in talk therapy with a professional.

Longitudinal studies have shown how those with mental health disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated for their heart health. If you or a loved one struggle with mental health, Parwani advises talking to your cardiologist and doctors openly about how you feel, both physically and mentally.

Loma Linda University International Heart Institute is here to help you or your loved ones navigate heart care through every step.

To learn more about resources offered at the International Heart Institute, visit lluh.org/heart-vascular. To schedule an interview with subject matter experts on this topic, please contact Lisa Aubry at laubry@llu.edu.

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Nufabrx® and Enventys Partners Join Forces to Transform Healthcare with HealthWear®


We’re bringing together the best of both worlds – Nufabrx’s groundbreaking HealthWear technology and our proven product launch process. This partnership is not just about creating new products, it’s about enhancing lives and making wellness an effortless part of the everyday routine.

Getting healthy has never been easier! Nufabrx® and Enventys Partners announce a partnership to bring new innovation to people faster than ever before through HealthWear®, a platform technology delivering medicine, health and wellness to consumers via clothing.

Nufabrx is the first company to deliver doses of medicine through clothing, creating an entirely new category called HealthWear®. This patented, smart-textile platform puts active ingredients directly into textile products. Knitted into the composition of HealthWear, the finished garments consistently deliver small amounts of topical treatments to the skin that are activated by body heat and/or moisture. Garments built with HealthWear technology provide a therapeutic amount of treatment even after repeated uses, wears and launderings.

“Innovation is in our DNA, so partnering with a company like Nufabrx allows us to leverage our best-of-class product development and launch capabilities to create new products using the proprietary technology of Nufabrx and bring them to market to benefit consumers,” said the founder and Chief Executive of Enventys, Louis Foreman. “Their technology will create endless opportunities.”

HealthWear technology is reshaping the way consumers think about their clothing. Instead of buying a garment based on color, brand or size, it’s now about the health benefit people can achieve. HealthWear offers a range of benefits, like a topical analgesic-infused compression sleeve to reduce pain, shea butter infused yoga pants and antifungal socks. This newly formed partnership allows Nufabrx & Enventys Partners to bring this new technology to stores nationwide and internationally, more quickly and in various clothing formats.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to bring innovative and beneficial products to consumers,” said Enventys Partners President and co-founder, Roy Morejon. “We’re bringing together the best of both worlds – Nufabrx’s groundbreaking HealthWear technology and our proven product launch process. This partnership is not just about creating new products, it’s about enhancing lives and making wellness an effortless part of the everyday routine.”

“Getting healthy has never been easier, just get dressed in the morning with your favorite vitamins, supplements and medications! The future of drug delivery is here today,” said Nufabrx CEO, Jordan Schindler. “We’re extremely excited to partner with a market leading innovator, Enventys Partners, to bring exciting and new game-changing HealthWear products to consumers faster than ever before!”

To learn more, or to schedule an interview with Roy Morejon, Louis Foreman or Jordan Schindler, please email Matthew.Harris@enventys.com.

About NUFABRX®

Nufabrx® is a state-of-the-art, patented platform technology called HealthWear®, created by award-winning designers and PhD scientists that infuses active ingredients into textiles. HealthWear®, pioneered by Nufabrx®, is a market category that integrates medication and textiles to create wearable clothing and simplify health and wellness for consumers. The first product line available at retailers nationwide embeds a topical analgesic pain reliever into apparel, to heal aches and pains on-the-go. The product line enables clothing to enhance patient compliance of medications simply by getting dressed in the morning. For more information, visit https://nufabrx.com/.

About Enventys Partners

Enventys Partners is the industry’s only full-service, turnkey product launch agency. They combine start-to-finish, all-encompassing product development services with digital marketing expertise to create innovative products and bring them to market. As a global leader in product development and marketing with four offices in the US and one in Asia, Enventys Partners designs, prototypes, manufactures, fulfills, crowdfunds, and markets new products and startup businesses. Enventys Partners has raised more than $500 million for clients through crowdfunding, $1 billion in product sales and has been involved in the development, prototyping, launching, and/or marketing of over 3,500 products. For more than 20 years, clients have utilized the agency’s combined services to take their consumer product from napkin sketch to production. For more information, visit https://enventyspartners.com/.

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CMI Media Group and Compas Implement Transformational AI-Driven Innovation Benefiting Pharma and Healthcare Clients and Employees


Chief Technology Officer Oleg Korenfeld said: “This is only step one for us. We continue to find opportunities to automate to increase speed in other processes and have our expert teams focus more on strategic council.”

Strategic media healthcare agencies CMI Media Group, a WPP company (NYSE: WPP), and Compas have expanded their utilization of custom AI services and support for clients as part of an ongoing focus on meaningful and impactful innovation. The companies developed and implemented AI-driven task automation bots to deliver more effective ad trafficking for clients.

This was the first in a series of processes that have been selected to introduce AI-driven task automation. CMI Media Group and Compas automated the Ad Tech services process, training bots to follow an extensive set of rules built around diverse types of campaigns and their complexities. This shifted the investment from comprehensive human data entry and communication process to one that includes automation. The result is faster launches and more accurate campaign setup.

“Modern agencies today need to be consultants first, leaning away from manual work and toward strategic consultative contributions,” explained Chief Technology Officer Oleg Korenfeld. “This is only step one for us. We continue to find opportunities to automate to increase speed in other processes and have our expert teams focus more on strategic council. The new generation of advertising employees – at every level – will have more exciting careers.”

CMI Media Group and Compas have brought many firsts to healthcare marketing as the premier healthcare-focused media buying and planning resource to the world’s game changers in pharma and life sciences. Imaginative, dedicated, scrappy and agile, CMI Media Group and Compas are often described as a 30+ year old startup with a big heart and known for creating bold opportunities. A staff of diverse, nimble, proactive and responsive cross-channel healthcare media doers allows the companies to appropriately serve clients of all sizes. With a deep focus on data, media and technology, the agencies have developed proprietary audience tools and expertise that ensure 100% media reach, precision, performance and personalization to healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers – 1-to-1, at scale. Empowered with these unique capabilities, they serve as trusted stewards of their clients’ media investment, helping clients to achieve their business goals, effectively and efficiently, by outsmarting vs. outspending their competition.

About CMI Media Group

CMI Media Group, a WPP company (NYSE: WPP, http://www.wpp.com), is a full-service media agency focused solely on health, wellness, and pharmaceutical marketing. CMI Media Group’s core offerings include Audience Strategy, Planning, Development, and Insights; Data and Analytics; Buying and Investment; and Direct Response and Customer Experience. As the leading media resource for the world’s top healthcare companies, CMI Media Group brings together leading technology, data, and talent to deliver seamless capabilities for clients. CMI Media Group has been recognized as a leader in DE&I, talent retention and employee development as well as one of the industry’s best places to work. To apply for a position within our teams visit https://www.cmimediagroup.com/careers

About Compas

For over 30 years Compas has been partnering with the industry’s leading media providers, as well as up-and-coming innovators – representing all channels and tactics – positioning them for success with healthcare clients and agencies. As stewards of its clients’ media investments, Compas is committed to enforcing the highest standards of buying execution, effectiveness, transparency and accountability while leveraging its clients’ collective buying power through a consortium that unlocks incremental savings. Compas is certified by the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council as a minority-owned-and-operated business and generates significant Tier 1 and Tier 2 Diverse Spend. Compas has been recognized as one of the industry’s best places to work, offering industry-leading development and retention. To apply for a position within our teams visit https://www.compas-inc.com/careers

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Accordia Health recognizes National Health Center Week Aug. 6


Accordia Health offers imaging and x-ray capabilities to its patients.

Accordia Health proudly joins the nation in celebrating National Health Center Week from Aug. 6 – 12, 2023. This annual event serves as a platform to recognize the pivotal role that health centers play in promoting accessible, high-quality healthcare services for individuals and families across the country.

National Health Center Week highlights the exceptional contributions of health centers, such as Accordia Health, in fostering healthier communities through comprehensive medical services, preventive care, and health education.

Throughout the week, Accordia Health will engage in community-centered activities to promote health and encourage proactive health management. Events include health screenings for seafood workers in South Mobile County, patient appreciation days at all locations, and recognizing board members’ contributions.

Accordia Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary care specializing in psychiatric care to children and adults in Mobile and Coosa counties.

Accordia Health is the primary care arm of AltaPointe Health. AltaPointe is one of Alabama’s most comprehensive healthcare systems that integrate primary and behavioral healthcare to promote the wellness of all people across a seven-county area.

Each year it provides more than 1 million services to 45,000 individuals living in Baldwin, Clay, Coosa, Mobile, Randolph, Talladega, and Washington Counties.

To learn more about Accordia Health’s programs and services, visit Accordia-Health.org.

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How Price Controls Could Disrupt Clinical Trials and Stifle Medical Innovation


Clinical Trials and Medical Innovation

Mid-market and emerging pharma companies can achieve their pivotal clinical trial milestones with a unified trial management system that offers a high-value solution, addressing the most pressing problems in the clinical trial development process

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes important provisions purported to lower drug spending and improve access to medications for many Americans. However, Dr. Harsha Rajasimha, Founder and CEO of Jeeva Informatics, is raising concerns, “A key driver of the IRA regarding the cost of healthcare is placing pricing controls on drugs, decreasing the investment appeal in the biopharma sector, which is especially injurious to small and emerging biopharmaceutical companies who are already struggling to raise capital.” The number of emerging biopharma companies has been consistently increasing by 4% each year for the past five years; they produced two-thirds of all new drugs in 2022. If this trend continues, emerging biopharma could account for 80% of the industry’s research and development (R&D) pipeline by 2028.(1)

The biotech funding environment has experienced significant changes, with market instability impacting investor confidence. Rising interest rates have led to a decline in the previously robust biotech IPO market. Venture capital funding, especially for early-stage biotech companies, is at its lowest level since 2019. As a result, venture capitalists are focusing more on their existing portfolios, emphasizing survival over growth.(2) By lowering future profits on new innovative drugs, it lowers the amount of money and appetite for investing in future drugs.

A white paper published by USC Schaeffer provides an illuminating analysis and dissection of the adverse impacts of the IRA on the biopharmaceutical industry and the future of drug development and discovery.(3) The IRA incorporates drug-price negotiations by granting the federal government the authority to negotiate “maximum fair prices” for particular brand-name drugs covered under Medicare Part B and Part D. This amendment modifies Medicare’s noninterference clause, permitting the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to directly negotiate with drug manufacturers through a newly established Drug Price Negotiation Program. The primary objective of this program is to reduce the cost of drugs by engaging in price negotiations with manufacturers for specific pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers that decline to engage in price negotiations are subject to sizeable penalties, including excise taxes and civil monetary sanctions that range from 65% to 95% of their product sales. While this might appear to be an effective strategy, it is problematic for the millions of people who do not benefit from current drugs/medicines and are waiting eagerly for new drug treatments that could help them.

According to the paper, certain elements of the IRA, including drug price negotiation, inflation rebates, and mandatory manufacturer discounts, are anticipated to have a substantial impact on pharmaceutical revenues. Studies suggest that by 2039, these provisions could result in a 31% reduction in profits and potentially lead to 135 fewer new drug approvals within the same timeframe. The IRA’s price-negotiation provisions are likely to discourage R&D investments in exploring new applications for existing drugs, potentially limiting the development of treatments for different diseases and impeding progress in the field. The provision assumes that the value of a drug is fixed upon launch, disregarding the evolving understanding of its effectiveness over time. New information, such as real-world clinical data and confirmatory trials, can significantly impact a drug’s perceived value.

Another key finding by USC Schaeffer is the potential reduction in generic competition, impacting the affordability of medications. Generic manufacturers typically enter the market after a brand-name drug’s patent protections expire. They offer significant price reductions, with generic entry lowering drug prices by 50% to 90%. However, the IRA’s negotiated prices for branded drugs may decrease the prices generic manufacturers can charge. This creates a disincentive for generic manufacturers to pursue the 180-day exclusivity period, which serves as a powerful financial incentive by preventing additional generic competition and allowing the first entrant to gain a substantial market share. The number of generic manufacturers has already dwindled in recent years, and with the uncertainty surrounding the extent of price reductions under the IRA, the future of generic drug manufacturing becomes uncertain as well.

Is there a better way to help reduce the cost of bringing new drugs to market while leaving in place the market forces that have so successfully fueled innovation? Once such recent force that is still in its infancy and born out of the COVID pandemic is used by the industry for greater technological solutions to improve the efficiency and efficacy of clinical trials. Much of this new technological innovation has been aggregated under the umbrella of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) or hybrid clinical trials.

The promise of this new way of running a traditional, decentralized, or hybrid trial is to radically reduce expenditures by leveraging unified technology platforms to reduce the cost associated with recruiting and engaging patients, reducing the number of staff and systems needed in a trial. It is precisely this possibility that Dr. Rajasimha seeks to pursue further, given the promise it holds for balancing the costs with the current free market structure to produce greater solutions. This is not just business-motivated for Dr. Rajasimha, who personally felt the impact of slow innovation through the experience of losing a child born with a rare congenital disorder and a brother with a chronic disease.

Dr. Rajasimha insists, “The time to adapt is now. Mid-market and emerging pharma companies can achieve their pivotal clinical trial milestones with a unified trial management system that offers a high-value solution, addressing the most pressing problems in the clinical trial development process. By dramatically improving efficiency and simplifying operational complexities, solutions like Jeeva can bridge the gap in investment capital with cost-effective solutions that execute early-stage clinical trials with minimal risk without compromising quality.”

The FDA has accelerated the trend toward DCTs by highlighting their advantages and encouraging wider industry adoption. To maximize the benefits of DCTs in improving trial efficiencies, the FDA offers detailed guidance and recommendations, such as using versatile software technology to automate and synchronize trial processes and investigative functions. Solutions like Jeeva™ eClinical Cloud, which provides a purpose-built, unified SaaS platform with all the features and functionality to enable hybrid or decentralized clinical trials, empower emerging and mid-market biopharmaceutical companies when they acquire this type of technology that dramatically improves the efficiency of clinical operations including patient recruitment and retention, patient engagement, electronic data capture, and study support for investigator sites.

Dr. Rajasimha explains, “Jeeva helps emerging biopharmaceutical sponsors to achieve their early R&D milestones with their 50% cash and 50% equity model to help early-stage, ‘cash-strapped’ biopharma companies to execute Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, which is where the REAL Innovation is occurring in developing new treatment options for patients. We don’t want this innovation cycle to slow down as a result of the IRA.”

About Jeeva Informatics

The personal experience of losing a child born with a rare congenital disorder and a brother with a chronic disease became the springboard for Dr. Harsha Rajasimha to apply his years of postdoctoral training at the NIH and FDA to accelerate therapies for rare and common conditions. Patient travel requirements and the pandemic forced the demand for decentralizing clinical trials and embracing digital technologies needed to accelerate the process of bringing new medicines or vaccines to patients who need them over three times faster. Jeeva set out to focus on mitigating risks to emerging biopharma clinical trial sponsors as true technology partners, seeking time and cost-efficient ways to execute early-stage clinical trials with minimal risk without compromise. Their reduction of the logistical burdens on patients and study teams by over 70% has resulted in their eClinical platform being selected by a joint venture of Georgetown University Medical Center and Frantz Medical Group for a major cancer trial. The Virginia-based company’s modular software-as-a-service platform is fully scalable and facilitates patient enrollment, engagement, and evidence generation in clinical trials on any browser-enabled mobile device. Visit https://jeevatrials.com/.

References

1. Masson, G. (2023, March 30). “stunning” 4% yearly rise in R&D share has emerging biopharma dominating pipeline. Fierce Biotech. fiercebiotech.com/biotech/emerging-biopharma-companies-dominate-rd-pipeline-22-iqvia-finds.

2. Recent trends in the Biotech Funding Environment. ICON plc. (n.d.). iconplc.com/insights/blog/2023/05/05/trends-in-the-biotech-funding-environment/

3. Dana Goldman, P., Joseph Grogan, J., Darius Lakdawalla, P., Barry Liden, J., Jason Shafrin, P., Kyi-Sin Than, M.,; Erin Trish, P. (2023, April 19). Mitigating the inflation reduction act’s adverse impacts on the prescription drug market. USC Schaeffer. healthpolicy.usc.edu/research/mitigating-the-inflation-reduction-acts-potential-adverse-impacts-on-the-prescription-drug-market/.