Local school invests in future generations aspiring to enter medical field

St. Petersburg, FL – High school seniors will be learning about what it is really like to work in the medical field. Eighteen years ago a program was put together by Dr. Michael Riley, a graduate from St. Petersburg Catholic High School, as a way to thank his alumni for his foundation. Today, the science wing program at St. Pete Catholic High puts together 160 presentations from physicians out of a 180 day school year. Continue reading “St. Petersburg Catholic High School Using Advanced Curriculum to Give Students ‘Real Medical World Experience’” »

Lydecker Sarasota Paper

A long road back from a horrific accident

Great Healthcare and Family’s Faith Help Accident Victim Heal

by Renee Burrell at the Clearwater Gazette

Joel Lydecker and his parents honored David McKalip, M.D., brain and spine neurosurgeon with a certificate of compassion in his office at Bayfront Medical Center in St Petersburg last month. Dr. McKalip performed lifesaving surgery on Lydecker after he was in a head on collision in 2004. Continue reading “Great Healthcare and Family’s Faith Help Accident Victim Heal” »

Achieve Relief from Symptoms

Deep Brain Stimulation Successfully Helps with Symptoms from Parkinson’s

St. Petersburg, FL – If you could step in to the shoes of a person affected by Parkinson’s disease, what would you expect to see?

According to the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF), the symptoms of Parkinson’s include shaking, slowness of movement, stiffness, difficulty with balance, changes in handwriting and speech, stiff facial expression and shuffling walk. And, for more than the 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, these symptoms greatly affect their lives, work, independence and more. Continue reading “Two local Doctors collaborate to help Parkinson’s patients” »

Local Neurosurgeon Stresses Importance of Making Sure Your Surgeon Properly Selects Procedure Based on Results and Minimal Risk

St. Petersburg, FL – With back pain affecting more than 65 million Americans every year, it is no wonder it is the nation’s 9th most expensive medical condition with annual costs soaring for treatment nearing $32 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Much of this expenditure comes from medical advances and technology treatments such as laser surgery, but are they truly advanced techniques or just expensive gimmicks? Continue reading “Spine Surgery and Lasers: Advanced Technique or Expensive Gimmick?” »

Mom Shocked at Daughter’s Calm Reaction to News that She Has to have Neurosurgery on her Brain

“So, you have a benign tumor in your brain, Mom. What happens next?”

Those were words that Valerie Swidock never expected she would hear coming out of her only daughter’s mouth upon telling her that she had a tumor located in her brain. Swidock had, after all, consulted with a psychologist, her pastor and pediatrician to discuss how exactly to give 12 year old Emily the news about her mother’s health and upcoming neurosurgery. Continue reading “Mom Shocked at Daughter’s Calm Reaction to News that She Has to have Neurosurgery on her Brain” »