Spreading its Wings

“As long as you treat your patients like a member of your own family, you can’t go wrong.” Although it has been many years since Dr. Vishal Gupta first received this bit of advice, it has served him well and is a big part of the reason he believes Gastroenterology of Greater Orlando is such a success. “We’ve tried to instill that motto in all of our practice, where we... Read More

Prevention is the Best Protection

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”   Those words famously pronounced by historical icon Benjamin Franklin all those years ago still ring true today in so many ways, especially when it comes to proper skin care. With Florida’s year-round abundant sunshine drawing more folks outside to soak up the rays, it’s become more important than ever to protect... Read More

Become Part of the Family

Living just three miles away from Foundation Academy (FA) for the past 20 years, Liefke Meyers has long been an admirer of one of the premier private schools in Central Florida, which offers students from preschool through high school a Christ-centered education in a warm and welcoming environment. Through her involvement in the community, she had become aware of Foundation’s... Read More

IVF Innovators

The journey through infertility can be emotionally daunting to both individuals and couples alike. For the past 20 years, The IVF Center has been providing top-notch reproductive healthcare through its team of dedicated, empathetic, and empowering physicians and staff. Founder and Director Dr. Mark Trolice is highly regarded among his medical colleagues and patients. Dr. Trolice’s... Read More

Health Care with a Heart

Scott Cook Photography; From left: Melissa Singh, Board Member; Jerry Kassab, Board Member; Lewis Kellom, founding Board Member; Sister Ann Kendrick, Founder; Dr. Debra Andree, current President and Chief Executive Officer; and Timothy McKinney, Board Member. For over 50 years, Community Health Centers has been committed to delivering exceptional and affordable care throughout Central... Read More

Education Resource Directory

CENTRAL REGION CHARTER SCHOOLS Lake Eola Charter School 135 North Magnolia Ave., Orlando (407) 246-0900 | LECS.org Lake Eola Charter School provides instruction using best practices to develop the 5 C’s (Computation, Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Character, and Community Engagement) in our family of learners. Orange County Preparatory Academy 10250 University Blvd., Orlando (407)... Read More

The Preferred Choice

With a dedicated team of agents and a proven track record of putting clients first, Preferred Real Estate Brokers has become a leader in the field. Preferred Real Estate Brokers is Florida’s premier real estate brokerage, dedicated to providing exceptional services in this dynamic and ever-evolving real estate market. Preferred Real Estate Brokers is ranked a Top 10 brokerage... Read More

Extending Grace

Uniquely-abled students find the support they need to succeed at The First Hope. One of the first lessons we learn in life is that change is inevitable. While consistency is comfortable, change promotes growth. Unfortunately, over the last few years our boundaries of change have been challenged, and we’ve all been asked to take on more than our share. While we’ve all been affected,... Read More

Off the Beaten Path

Summer fun in an RV has never been easier with the help of the experts at Giant Recreation World. As summer sets in and folks eagerly anticipate their seasonal getaways for some much-needed R&R, many are opting for a different style of vacation this year and instead of hitting the beach, they are hitting the open road in a RV for a one-of-a-kind experience that the entire family... Read More

Ask the Expert: Fravel Brewer Orthodontics

Why are braces still a great option to straighten teeth? Every time I open my ESPN app, I get a barrage of ads from a company who wants to straighten my teeth with mail-order aligners.  This option has become a popular option for some adults, but it can often lead to disappointment when results do not live up to expectations. Aligner therapy under the supervision of an orthodontist... Read More

A Promising Approach

Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, affects millions of people worldwide and poses a significant public health challenge. As the global population ages, the burden of Alzheimer’s is expected to increase exponentially. While no cure for the disease exists, there has been growing interest in preventive testing to identify individuals at high risk of... Read More

Cool Under Pressure

With over 35 years of service to the community, Matt Thurman built Advanced Refrigeration & Air into an incredibly successful business based on integrity, innovation and top-notch service. Now he turns over the reins to the new CEO, his son John Thurman. Established in 1986 in Orlando, Advanced Refrigeration & Air is a family-owned and operated company with five locations... Read More

An Empathetic Ear

Dan Marcone’s interest in mental health is rooted in his youth. He grew up in a warm, loving home, but struggled with anxiety and depression for years without knowing how to describe those challenges.  Like any good mental-health professional will emphasize, though, nothing is quite as formative as those childhood experiences. And nothing cuts through emotional barriers, mental-health... Read More

Have You Had Your Skin Checked Lately?

With the arrival of spring, more and more Central Floridians will be eager to spend their time outdoors and enjoying the favorable weather conditions. However, all that time soaking up the sunshine is not without risk and it can ultimately lead to serious skin damage and dangerous outcomes.  Skin cancer rates are steadily rising in the United States where more than 3.6 million... Read More

Enjoying the Journey

At Giant Recreation World, it’s not just about the destination. The journey is an equally important part of the adventure. “We are a recreational dealership. We have RVs—the difference here is we are a destination dealership,” Dwayne Adams explains, “meaning people will take a trip just to get to us.” Adams is the marketing manager at Giant Recreation World, a dealer... Read More

Ready for Takeoff

Planning a family vacation, especially with little ones in tow, can be a stressful experience, but once all the reservations are made and the suitcases are packed, a feeling of anticipatory excitement takes over. The only thing left to do at that point is get on the plane and start creating lifelong memories. Of course, the path to boarding isn’t always an easy one, and obstacles... Read More

Making Mental Health a Priority

Lindsey Phillips is not unfamiliar with the affects mental health struggles can have on families. As the director of external affairs for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, she knows how difficult it can be to not only recognize that intervention may be necessary—whether it’s for a child who may be continuously acting out or a teenager who is suddenly full of angst—but... Read More

A Trusted Ally

Adopting a child can be a long and arduous process with plenty of twists and turns to navigate. But the road to adoption can prove even more difficult for same sex couples and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who are often discriminated against and faced with further obstacles and complications. Luckily, here in Central Florida is where you’ll find 26Health, an organization... Read More

Animal Instincts

There’s a tradition at Winter Park Veterinary Hospital in which every new hire to the team is asked to read a book by Dr. Spencer Johnson titled Who Moved My Cheese? A guide to preparing for change in the workplace—and learning how to embrace it—the bestseller’s theme fits in perfectly with the philosophy of a practice that has been one of Central Florida’s leading providers... Read More

The Perfect Fit

Although the patients who visit Dr. George Patounakis at Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA) Florida can be described as hopeful parents, often, “hope” is exactly what they are most in need of. Many have been told at other fertility clinics that they cannot use their own eggs or sperm to make an embryo or will not be able to carry a pregnancy, and their dreams of becoming... Read More

Building a Community All Year Long

April might mark the beginning of World Autism Month but for those whose lives have been touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), awareness and advocacy efforts aren’t limited to just one month a year. “We have to educate every day,” affirms Silvia Haas. “We have to keep educating our audience.” Haas is the chief executive officer and one of the “founding sisters”... Read More