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AdventHealth Wesley Chapel unveils advanced stroke intervention technology, bringing lifesaving thrombectomy care to Pasco County. Aug 18, 2026, 11:21 ET WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - What if physicians could remove a blood clot from someone's brain without open surgery - dramatically improving a patient's chance of recovery from a devastating stroke? AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has unveiled its new biplane neurointerventional suite offering patients one of the region's newest and most advanced technologies for treating severe strokes. The suite is purpose-built to perform a range of minimally invasive procedures, including mechanical thrombectomy - a procedure that allows physicians to remove blood clots from the brain and restore blood flow for patients experiencing the most severe types of ischemic stroke. When done quickly, it can improve recovery and reduce the risk of long-term disability. "Time is brain," said Dr. Jason Maljaar, medical director of neurology at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. "When bloodflow to the brain is blocked, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Having the ability to provide advanced stroke intervention on our campus means patients can receive critical treatment faster, which can lead to better outcomes and improved recovery." Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States and Florida and more than 80,000 Floridians were hospitalized due to a stroke in 2023, according to the Florida Department of Health. As a Primary Stroke Center, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel continues to strengthen its stroke program through investments in advanced technology, specialized physicians and evidence-based care. The new biplane suite is another key step in the hospital's ongoing pursuit of Comprehensive Stroke Center designation, expanding its ability to care for some of the most complex stroke patients in the region. This means reducing the need for transfers and keeping patients closer to their families during treatment. "This is an exciting step forward for our hospital and the communities we serve," Dr. Maljaar said. "We're now able to offer the highest level of stroke care available, including the interventions needed to restore blood flow to the brain, right here at Wesley Chapel." Beyond stroke treatment, the new suite expands access to other neurovascular procedures, including: * Treatment of brain aneurysms through minimally invasive coil embolization * Diagnostic cerebral angiograms, often described as a "heart catheterization for the brain" * Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization for select patients with chronic subdural hematomas * Additional elective and emergency neurovascular interventions The biplane suite strengthens AdventHealth Wesley Chapel's growing neuroscience program and further advances its ability to deliver comprehensive, high-acuity care in Pasco County. SOURCE AdventHealth West Florida Division

Health & wellness (8/21/26): hospital hosts Girl Scouts. August 17, 2026 By justin St. Joseph's Hospital-North hosts Girl Scouts LUTZ - Girl Scout Troop 24402 from Spring Hill recently visited St. Joseph's Hospital-North to learn about the use of robotics in surgery. The troop donned surgical gear, toured a St. Joseph's Hospital-North operating room and got hands-on experience with a surgical robot. The classic table game, "Operation," was used in their learning. Jennifer Downing, the hospital's surgical services director, and surgical team members Lisa Lockhart, Louis Garcia and Lauren Hale led the demonstration. They described the various roles of team members assisting the surgeon during procedures. Marissa Davis, a representative from the robot's manufacturer, also participated and provided insight. St. Joseph's Hospital-North has three robots that are guided by specially-trained surgeons. Robotic surgeries are minimally invasive and can provide patients with smaller incisions, less pain and faster recoveries. The robots provide St. Joseph's Hospital-North surgeons with improved dexterity, vision and surgical access compared to conventional minimally invasive surgery or traditional open surgery. Hospital leader tapped to lead Polk market DAVENPORT - AdventHealth named veteran health care leader Mike Murrill president and CEO of AdventHealth Polk Market, which includes AdventHealth Heart of Florida and AdventHealth Lake Wales. Murrill previously served as president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Connerton in Pasco County and provided executive oversight and support for AdventHealth Dade City. Since joining AdventHealth's West Florida Division, he has led strategic growth initiatives, operational improvements and team member engagement efforts while advancing AdventHealth's mission throughout the region. Murrill succeeds Tim Clark, who has accepted a new role as regional CEO for the Tampa Bay Metro Region within AdventHealth's West Florida Division. BayCare named among Companies That Care CLEARWATER - Great Place To Work and PEOPLE magazine have named BayCare Health System to the 2026 PEOPLE Companies That Care list. BayCare ranked No. 21 nationally, marking its sixth appearance on the list. "This recognition belongs to BayCare's team members, who are our greatest asset," said Stephanie Conners, BayCare president and CEO. "Every day, they make a difference in the way they care for our patients, support one another and strengthen our communities." The rankings were based on employee survey responses and company data. Companies also submit essays about their efforts to support employees, communities and the environment. Organizations must be Great Place To Work Certified and have at least 10 U.S. employees to be considered. BayCare names CFO for physician, ambulatory division CLEARWATER - BayCare has named Erin Gerner the vice president and chief financial officer of its physician and ambulatory division. Gerner is a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of health care finance experience. She previously spent eight years as chief financial officer of PeaceHealth Ambulatory Services in Vancouver, Washington. She also spent 13 years at INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City. "Erin brings years of health care industry experience, with expertise in the ambulatory care setting," said Janice Polo, BayCare's chief financial officer. "Her strong work ethic, collaborative approach and commitment to our values make her a great addition to the finance team." St. Joseph's Hospital-North offers support for mothers LUTZ - St. Joseph's Hospital-North will offer free support groups and classes for mothers during September. The programs focus on breastfeeding and newborn care and are open to participants regardless of where they delivered or plan to deliver their babies. Events will be held in classrooms at the hospital, 4211 Van Dyke Road. The schedule includes: * Breastfeeding Support Group - Breastfeeding mothers can receive guidance from certified breastfeeding consultants and support from other mothers. Babies and an optional support person are welcome. The group meets Thursdays in September from 11 a.m. to noon. * Understanding Breastfeeding - Expectant mothers and an optional support person can learn about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, returning to work and when to contact a health care provider or lactation consultant. The class meets Sept. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. * Understanding Your Newborn - Expectant mothers and an optional support person can learn about feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness, cues and communication. The class meets Sept. 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. Quick Hits * NeckWise Land O' Lakes recorded 2,328 patient visits and 154 new patients during its first year, according to co-founder Dr. Matt Morris. The upper cervical chiropractic clinic serves patients from Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Lutz and the northern Tampa Bay area. * AdventHealth Heart of Florida collected more than 100 backpacks and more than 2,500 school-supply items for students at Loughman Oaks Elementary School in Davenport.

New heart rhythm procedure helps DeLand woman return to her morning walks. AdventHealth Daytona Beach says the procedure was the first AFib ablation using Abbott's Volt system in an ambulatory surgical setting in Central Florida. Published date: August 07, 2026 | Estimated read time: 2 minutes | * Sheri Hensley DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Every morning, Regina Ryan laces up her shoes for a three-mile walk. But atrial fibrillation, or A-fib - an irregular heartbeat that can throw the heart out of sync - made that routine unpredictable. The 65-year-old retired nurse from DeLand said her condition caused a racing heartbeat that started waking her from sleep and bringing on anxiety about when the next episode would hit. "I just wanted to keep walking without feeling like my heart is beating out of my chest," Ryan said. Her cardiologist referred her to Dr. Marvin Lu, medical director of electrophysiology at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, to treat her irregular heart rhythm using a procedure called ablation. Ryan's case also marked a milestone. Lu said her procedure was the first A-fib ablation with Abbott's Volt pulse field ablation system in an ambulatory surgical setting in Central Florida. Volt works by sending short electrical pulses through a catheter to target the heart tissue causing the irregular rhythm, Lu said. He said Volt is different from older ablation methods that use heat or cold to create scar tissue. "Think of it like writing with a fine-point pen instead of a marker," Lu said. "When you're working inside the heart, precision is absolutely critical." Alinx Thermidor, executive director of ambulatory services at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, said the ambulatory surgery center gives select patients a same-day option for care that does not require an overnight hospital stay. "In the right case, that means patients can have the procedure, recover and head home the same day," Thermidor said. "It is a good fit for people who do not need inpatient care but still need advanced cardiac treatment." AdventHealth Daytona Beach's surgery center was built for outpatient heart care, with cardiology clinics, imaging, cardiac rehabilitation and procedures all in one place. "For heart patients, that kind of coordination can make the whole process smoother," Lu said. "It means testing, treatment and recovery can happen within the same medical setting." Less than three weeks after her surgery, Ryan resumed her morning routine and is back to walking three miles a day. As a faith-based, not-for-profit health system, AdventHealth said it reinvests resources into care and services like the new Volt procedure to support local patients and families. For Ryan, that meant another option for advanced heart care and a quicker return to the routine that starts her day. 12 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.