Jeff Hamilton is a creative guy. After working 24 years as a decorator at Walt Disney World - even after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at age 30 - he decided that he would put his creative juices to good use in the struggle to fight the debilitating disease.

After retiring in 2006 due to affects of MS, Hamilton, now 49 and living in St. Cloud, wasn’t sure what to do with his time. His creative solution: build a colony of ANTS. The ANTS (A Natural Tough Self-starter) is a support group for MS patients that started with 3 members and one location. Now it has over 200 between their two locations in Osceola and Dr. Phillips. And last year, their Walk MS team netted the second highest fundraising amount in all of Orlando.

“I know I’m not in the position to find the cure, but I know this mouth can raise a dollar or two for the National MS Society, and my goal in life is find every dollar I can,” says Hamilton. “I know the MS Society is going to be the one to find the cure for us, and we’ve got to find a cure for the future.”

Hamilton recognizes that the economy is still suffering, but he’s not letting that detract from his enthusiasm for this year’s Walk MS Orlando 2011 on March 19 at Thornton Park at Lake Eola. “The ANTS’ goal for this year is to raise $10,000,” says Hamilton, determined to be the top fundraiser. “And to beat XL106.7’s team, last year’s top Walk MS fundraiser. A little friendly competition is always good for fundraising.”

Using his creative Disney World background, Hamilton continuously thinks of encouraging events and opportunities for his ANT colonies. He recently fundraised enough money to host a holiday party for the ANT members. “Some of our members might be down in the dumps. They don’t have company holiday parties to look forward to,” Hamilton says. “The holiday party probably made their year, and that’s what our group tries to do.”

Hamilton’s compassion is equally evident at the Walk MS events. “It’s a friends and family event, where you are with your wife, your children, nephews, nieces, friends - but it’s all about money.  You don’t need to have MS or know someone who has it to participate.  We’ve all got to raise funds for those people who have the education to find the cure for this disease. And when you have MS, your whole family has it, they are all affected by it.”

It’s that same energy that keeps Hamilton looking forward to the day when a cure will be found for MS. “You hear about cancer, diabetes and a lot of other diseases. These are bad too.   But I don’t think people know what MS is all about and how it affects lives. We need to teach and find the cure,” he said.

There’s no doubt Hamilton will continue to raise money for a cure. In fact, the MS Society recognized him as this year’s Sally Buegeleisen Memorial Impact Award winner for his development of the ANTs support group that is now one of the most successful support groups in the area.

Hamilton shares his compassionate secret that keeps the ANT colonies moving. “The MS Society has let me grow, they’ve taught me so much,” he explained. “I have heart and desire that the MS Society has instilled in me.”

For more information on the MS Society call: 1-888-950-9080, visit www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/FLC/index.aspx, or look on Facebook for Walk MS Mid Florida.

The Osceola ANTS Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets at 6 p.m. on the 3^rd Thursday of each month at the KUA building, 1701 W Carroll St. in Kissimmee. The Orange ANTS Multiple Sclerosis Support group meets at 6 p.m. on the 1^st Monday of every month at the Dr. Phillips Hospital, 9400 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. For more information, call 407-891-2327.

Article by Megan Mills

Maybe you’ve heard it referred to as the town that time forgot. Perhaps you’ve called it the nightmare before Christmas. Or maybe you’ve heard of it by its real name: Bithlo. Whatever you want to call it, many residents of the small community find themselves without a job, devoid of transportation and, almost unanimously, without any form of healthcare. But that’s all about to change this summer.

In just a few short months, the first health clinic to ever open its doors in Bithlo will open thanks to Community Healthcare Centers. After closing on a piece of land located just off SR 50 in Bithlo on December 15, work began almost immediately on the next step to bring the center to residents.

“Our number one goal is to provide affordable healthcare to the community because it’s just the right thing to do,” says Pete Clark, director of government and community relations for Community Healthcare Centers. “At first we’ll have a solo practitioner there, and it will be very much like a typical doctor’s office. As we move forward we’ll continue to add more services and fill more needs of the community.”

The health center will also offer eye exams to the residents of Bithlo, another first for the community. During her campaign running for State Representative of District 33, which encompasses Bithlo, Dr. Alice Sterling, an optometrist by trade, was exposed to the needs of the community at a meeting in nearby Christmas.  Right from the start, she wanted to help. After meeting with Tim McKinney, executive vice president of United Global Outreach (UGO), a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the community of Bithlo a better place to live through education, food and outreach efforts, she had a plan in mind, and in motion.

“I’ve always been involved in community service and this struck me as the next place where I could be of some help,” says Sterling, recounting her meeting with McKinney. After losing her bid to win the State Representative seat in the Primary Election, Sterling immediately contacted McKinney to follow through on her promise to help the community. She and a colleague began offering free eye exams to children in the East Orange Academy, a Bithlo-area private school founded by UGO in 2009. To date, they have seen more than 20 children. If corrected lenses were required following the exam, Sterling arranged for them to be donated by VisionQuest.

“For Bithlo to finally have a permanent medical facility of its own with a full time doctor, followed soon by a dentist and pharmacy access, is amazing in and of itself; but, to me, the crown jewel to all of this is the optical presence and resources Dr. Alice Sterling is bringing to bare,” says McKinney.

But more than helping just a few dozen children, she wants to help the entire community, along with the Central Florida Society of Optometric Physicians (CFSOP), which has been active in community eye care service for years. Sterling is currently heading the group’s efforts to move their equipment to Bithlo and staff the center with a volunteer optometrist.

“We have equipment, which is the expensive part,” she says. “As far as volunteer doctors go, I have had commitments from many optometrists in the East Orange and East Seminole areas already.” When the center opens, the immediate goal is to staff the center and be doing eye exams two days a week for residents. She also hopes to continue the partnership with VisionQuest to offer eyeglasses to those in need.

As far as her efforts are concerned, Sterling is just trying to help. “I have a particular skill I can give,” she says. “I can help make routine eye care happen in Bithlo, so that’s what I want to do.”

“The need and ability to see is so fundamental, yet without that every other aspect of life is made so much more challenging,” says McKinney. “Dr. Sterling’s selfless commitment to honor a personal promise she made to the Bithlo community to make eye care available and accessible is an inspiration and encouragement to me, personally.”

Clarke agrees: “It’s a statement to her personally to take on the responsibility,” he says. “The most important things we can do is to make sure a child is healthy and they can hear and see. It’s fundamental, and we’re glad to help Alice in any way we can.”

Sterling says that she has already begun to see a change in Bithlo as the community is starting to come together and get excited about the possibility of having the resources that much of the rest of East Orange County takes for granted in their own communities.

“The people of Bithlo are good people who want to be productive,” she says. “They are learning to find their voice and they are ready for the next step.”

Article by Corey Gehrold

In April of 2009 the “medical city” in Lake Nona was born when its first tenant, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute officially opened their doors. Now, more than a year and a half later, the groundbreaking research taking place within the institute’s walls continues to flourish, breaking barriers and gaining national recognition along the way. But, have you ever wondered who Sanford-Burnham is and what they’re working on?

Who is Sanford-Burnham?

Sanford-Burnham is an independent, not-for-profit biomedical research institute with operations in La Jolla and Santa Barbara, California and right here in Lake Nona, FL. Their state-of-the-art research facility is integral to the emerging life sciences hub developing in the area located just northeast of Narcoossee Road and SR 417.

The newest Sanford-Burnham location is home to the Diabetes and Obesity Research Center as well as various other life science program components all focusing on research relevant to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Currently, the Lake Nona area facility employs 18 principal investigators and 167 total staff (including 117 scientific staff). At capacity, the Institute will employ more than 300 scientists and support personnel.

Sanford-Burnham is also home to the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, one of four comprehensive centers for chemical biology and drug discovery in the nation. The robotic technology housed there is unmatched in the non-profit research world.

What Are They Working On Now?

The institute is actively pursuing research on many fronts, some of which have recently made big news in the medical world including studies on obesity and diabetes.

The Couch Potato Effect

Recently, the institute unveiled a new model for studying muscle function: the couch potato mouse. These mice maintain normal activity and body weight, but they don’t have the energy to exercise.

Dr. Daniel Kelly, Dr. Christoph Zechner and their colleagues at Sanford-Burnham reported the details of what happens when muscle lacks PGC-1, a protein coactivator that muscles need to convert fuel to energy.

“Part of our interest in understanding the factors that allow muscles to exercise is the knowledge that whatever this machinery is, it becomes inactive in obesity, aging, diabetes and other chronic conditions that affect mobility,” explains Kelly, scientific director at the Lake Nona campus.

Typically, physical stimulation boosts PGC-1 activity, which switches on the genes that increase fuel storage, ultimately leading to “trained” muscle (the physical condition most people hope to attain through exercise). In obese people, PGC-1 levels drop, possibly further reducing a person’s capacity to exercise.

So, what does that mean for you exactly? In short, thanks to this study researchers have identified that PGC-1 is necessary for exercise, but not normal muscle development. The mice were not obese and still responded to insulin, meaning they aren’t at risk for diabetes despite their lifestyle habits. This study dispels the notion that cells not being able to convert fuel to energy causes insulin resistance, and thus, diabetes.

The Orexin Effect

If you’ve ever had a problem falling asleep after a huge meal it’s because our blood glucose levels directly control the amount of a hormone called orexin, which influences hunger and sleep/wake cycles. Increased levels trigger wakefulness and hunger, reduced levels induce inactivity and somnolence.

“Regulation of hunger and consciousness appear to be intimately tied to our metabolic state,” says Dr. Dev Sikder, an assistant professor in the Metabolic Signaling and Disease program at Sanford-Burnham’s Lake Nona campus. “Consistent with this theory, the cyclic waxing and waning of orexin levels appears to be perturbed in metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and even cancer. These disorders are also a consequence of physical inactivity and sleep/wake disturbances, which are directly influenced by orexin.”

Variables of orexin are already in clinical trials for narcolepsy, insomnia and even addiction. At Lake Nona, Sikder is currently studying how deregulation and intentional abuse of the metabolism-sensitive feeding and sleep switch contribute to diabetes and obesity.

The future of medicine is being studied today, right under our noses.

Article by Corey Gehrold

Currently, Florida has one of the nation’s largest uninsured populations. And, thanks to the current economy, more people than ever are deciding to forego medical insurance.

Although many uninsured individuals may be stereotyped as poor or lazy, in reality, most have jobs, and unfortunately do not qualify for government assistance. “Employees of smaller businesses may not have the option to receive health insurance through the company, or the coverage may be too expensive to afford,” says Shari Vander Wiede, director of development at Shepherd’s Hope, a local non-profit that helps the uninsured population. “Others may hold one or more part-time jobs where healthcare benefits are not available.”

In these cases, many face the tough decision of seeking medical care or paying bills.

Fortunately, free and low-cost healthcare organizations provide people the opportunity to receive services that they would otherwise be unable to obtain. Still, individuals must meet specific criteria in order qualify for assistance, as these organizations primarily serve patients who are uninsured or underinsured. The common goal is to provide basic, non-emergency medical care. “Local hospitals, as well as specialists, may also join team efforts by offering assistance to those who need diagnostic tests and specialized treatment,” says Vander Wiede.

Throughout 2010, Shepherd’s Hope served approximately 17,000 patients. Vander Wiede explains, “We are finding more people coming in who are used to having healthcare, and unfortunately have lost their jobs or cannot afford insurance.”

Since the organization does not receive state or federal funding, the budget depends primarily on philanthropy. Each year, corporations, individuals, grants and special events aid in meeting budget requirements. Out of the money raised, $0.90 of each dollar will go toward assisting patients, while the remaining $0.10 fulfill administrative costs. In addition, roughly 2,000 individuals, including licensed healthcare professionals, volunteer their time to reach out to other community members. As the mission of Shepherd’s Hope states, the staff and volunteers are “Caring people, caring for people.”

The Orange County Health Department also provides services to those in need. “Not everyone can afford health insurance or have it provided through their employer,” says Dain Weister, public information officer for the Orange County Health Department. “The health department and The Primary Care Access Network clinics have seen an increase in patients as more families have had financial problems.” Specifically, they assist with immunizations, dental care for children, prenatal care, school health, and women, infant and children services.

Although programs and services like these help, it’s not enough to assist everyone in need. Even though there may not be a definitive healthcare resource, rest assured that these groups, and many more like them, are working tirelessly to bring healthcare for all.

Article by Carol Galbicsek

If the latest recession has proved anything, it has confirmed what industries have jobs that are “recession proof.” With unemployment rising to 11.9 percent in Central Florida (up from 11.2 percent in October, 2010) and more than 180,000 Central Floridians out of work, very few sectors actually added jobs during this time. Healthcare jobs have been the exception.

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), since November of 2009 to November 2010, healthcare and education gained over 28,900 jobs in Florida.  Jobs in manufacturing, government, construction and the financial industry had double digit losses in this same time period.  What is even more significant is the BLS is also predicting the addition of 3.2 million jobs nationwide by 2018.  This increase will be driven by the aging baby boomers with U.S. Census data shows that by 2020, people age 65 and over will increase 82 percent to 5.1 million.  The healthcare industry is a safe bet for a great career path without the fear of losing your job during a future recession.

Want more numbers? The current government approved healthcare reform will give access to healthcare to 30 million people that technically didn’t have it before. Continuing job creation in healthcare is eminent.

So what’s stopping you from getting into the healthcare industry? When we talk to jobseekers about the healthcare industry, their first reaction is usually that they can’t go back to school to become a nurse or a doctor. While this may true for many of the specialized jobs in healthcare, many jobs are available with degrees that only require an Associate’s Degree or medical certificate from a trade school.

A lot of healthcare jobs have been created to assist doctors and nurses to cut costs.  Years ago, the doctor would spend a lot of time with the patient to determine the illness and prescribe a remedy.  Today, that is often not the case. The result, amongst other things, is job creation.

Jobs like Medical Assistants ($23,000-$34,000), Physical Therapist Assistants ($43,000-$55,000), CT/Mammography/Ultrasound Technologists ($28,000-$57,900), Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($49,000-$71,000) and Medical Records Assistant ($20,000-31,000) all require education of two years or less. Many of the schools in Central Florida have night programs so you can still maintain an income while getting education you can immediately apply upon graduation.

Healthcare is also seeing huge growth in technology jobs.  Website developers, IT Directors, IT Support and maintenance professionals are in high demand. Electronic health records are becoming standard and the job boom created to build and maintain these systems will be major.

The aging baby boomer population is also increasing jobs in the home healthcare industry and nursing homes.  While patients at home still need to see nurses and specialist like physical therapists, the big growth jobs in are the home healthcare aids. Home healthcare aids usually get paid by the hour to spend time with a patient at their place of resident.  Some of these jobs just require a little training and pay between $11.00 and $21.00 an hour.  If you have a certified medical background and can perform basic medical procedures with your patients (taking blood, administering prescriptions) your services will be in high demand.  The BLS predicts a 49 percent increase in home healthcare jobs throughout the next decade.

Finally, healthcare jobs are just not clinical.  Hospitals, doctors offices and healthcare facilities need accountants, cooks, housekeepers, facility operators, sales professions, maintenance workers, graphic designers and administrative professionals.  Many jobseekers exclude healthcare facilities from their job searches, believe it or not.

It is almost a given that the healthcare industry in Central Florida will continue to grow.  It will continue to have jobs across varying specialties, but one thing is for certain - the more specialized you become in healthcare in any area, the better your chances will be that those skills will be in demand for years to come.

Article by Roger Lear, President of OrlandoJobs.com