Panel will establish standards for pediatric cardiac procedures
The Agency for Health Care Administration today announced the cardiology specialists and cardiac surgeons who will serve on the new Pediatric Cardiology Technical Advisory Panel (Panel). The Panel will fulfill the responsibilities outlined in Chapter 2017-151, Laws of Florida, signed by Governor Scott earlier this year. The Panel will develop procedures and standards for measuring the quality and outcomes of pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the state and make recommendations to the Agency on specific regulatory guidelines. Panel members include representatives from each of the state’s ten existing pediatric cardiology surgery programs, as nominated by the Chief Executive Officers of those hospitals, and three additional at-large members appointed by the Agency’s Secretary Justin Senior.
The Panel members are:
William Blanchard, MD – Retired. Formerly Sacred Heart and Nemours Children’s Clinic – Pensacola
Mark Bleiweis, MD – University of Florida Health Shands Hospital – Gainesville
Eric Ceithaml, MD – Wolfson Children’s Hospital – Jacksonville
Eric Eason, MD – Golisano Children’s Hospital SWFL – Fort Myers
Kristine Gulesreian, MD – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital – Miami
Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD – Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital – St. Petersburg
Stephen Langley, MD – St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital – Tampa
Jorge McCormack, MD MBA – Mednax Medical Group / Pediatric Cardiology Associates – St. Petersburg
David Nykanen, MD – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children – Orlando
Frank Pigula, MD – Florida Hospital for Children – Orlando
Eliot Rosenkranz, MD – University of Miami Holtz Children’s Hospital – Miami
Frank Scholl, MD – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital – Hollywood
Peter Wearden, MD – Nemours Children’s Hospital – Orlando
The Panel will convene in the fall and meet as needed to form their recommendations. The Agency has launched a dedicated webpage to make available information about the Panel’s work, member appointments, and meeting information. Under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, all Panel meetings will be open to the public. Members of the public may also send questions and information to the Panel through the website.
