Westchase - Vol. 1, Issue 9, November 2012

By Marcy Sanford

Dr. Amy Creech-Gionis and all ofthe professional, caring staff at DentalWellness of Westchase are committedto providing outstanding dental carefor their patients in a tranquil atmos-phere. “We take care of the wholefamily, from patients who are at easewith going to the dentist to those whoexperience high anxiety at the thoughtof a dental visit,” says Dr. Amy. “Wepride ourselves in offering a calm, re-laxing atmosphere for both adults andchildren. For our patients who have a

phobia about dental care, we offerdental sedation and also work witheach individual to make sure they arecomfortable and relaxed during theirdental visits.” Dr. Amy has been prac-ticing in the Tampa area for the past17 years and just recently opened anoffice in Westchase in the LexingtonProfessional Park at 11321 Country-way Boulevard.

Dr. Amy, a native Floridian, at-tended Stetson University, graduatingwith her Bachelors of Science degreewith a major in Biology and minor inChemistry. Upon graduation she went

on to attend the University of FloridaCollege of Dentistry and graduated inthe top 10% of her class. Dr. Amybegan practicing dentistry in Tampa in1995, and currently lives in theWestchase area with her college sweet-heart and husband of 15 years, Steve,and their four children.

“Preventing dental problems iseasy,” says Dr. Amy. “Regular clean-ings can help people maintain theiroverall health in addition to their oralhealth and can save them money in

The Business & Dining Magazine Directly Mailed To 16,000 Homes In Westchase & Surrounding AreasThis Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To:

Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn RidgeForest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops • Twin Branch Acres

Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ECRWSSPostal Customer

Dated MaterialPlease Rush!

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Thanksgiving Contest............3

Community News Briefs........4

Venus & Mars Day Spa..........6

Napa Flair..........................8-9

Dan Royster Auto...........10-11

Medical Center of Trinity.....14-16

Grout Tech.....................18-19

Vol. 1, Issue 9, November 2012

Neighborhood NewsNeighborhood News ®

W E S T C H A S E A R E A

& Lifestyles

See “Dental Wellness” on page 24.

By Alexis Selby

Representing the desire to escapeto the beach and have an out-of-worldand relaxing experience, Planet BeachWestchase offers customers a place torelieve the stresses of their day whileinvigorating their mind, body andspirit.

The original Planet Beach wasfounded in1994 by Stephen Smith,who opened his first location with thehopes of bringing his community aplace where they could go to feel bet-ter about themselves, and his commit-ment to providing superior customer

care and unique spa services, is a majorreason why his business has continuedto thrive for the past 18 years. In2005, Stephen had a self-described“moment of inspiration” and decidedto expand Planet Beach into a fullservice day spa and made all the spaservices extremely affordable.

Planet Beach Westchase, whichhas been open since 2006, is locallyowned and is part of the nationwidechain that is sweeping not only thecountry, but also the world – with wellover 300 franchise units in 36 statesand six foreign countries. This locationholds strong the same values and dedi-

cation to quality service that has al-lowed the Planet Beach franchise tobecome what it is today – a state-of-the-art spa that is changing the waythe world rejuvenates!

What is a Contempo Spa As the World’s first, if not only

Contempo Spa, Planet beach puts aunique and innovative spin on tradi-tional day spas. At a Contempo Spa,customers pay a low monthly member-ship fee for unlimited, fully automated,push-button spa and UV services in aprivate room without the need of anattendant. “At the touch of a buttonour members enjoy a private spa expe-rience at a fraction of the cost and infar less time than at a day spa,” saysBlakley, the spa director for PlanetBeach Westchase. All the services youreceive at Planet Beach are performedby a machine – giving you full privacy See “Planet Beach” on page 22.

Smile WithConfidence at

Planet Beach Westchase offers a widevariety of skin care products.

2 NOVEMBER 2012 Westchase Area Neighborhood NewsFor Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

Happy Thanksgiving To anExtraordinary Community!

By Alexis Selby

As the holidays quickly approach,bringing along with it a whirlwind offestivities and celebrations, I wouldlike to take this opportunity to wish allour readers and advertisers a wonder-ful Thanksgiving from all of us here atthe Westchase Area Neighborhood News& Lifestyles. From our dedicated ad-vertisers to our loyal readers, it is youwe have to thank for our continuedsuccess and growth over this past year.It is all of us, together, that makes ourcommunity strong – from our localbusiness owners to all the other hard-working employees that call this areahome.

To so many, Thanksgiving is notjust about getting together and cele-brating with family and friends over adelicious meal of turkey, mashed pota-toes and pumpkin pie, but also signi-fies a time to reflect on the past yearand give thanks for blessings – includ-ing the joyous opportunity to beunited for such an occasion.

This Thanksgiving, I would liketo take the opportunity to say howgrateful I am to be part of such an ex-traordinary community that has sowarmly welcomed me into their heartsand their homes with open arms. Thispast year, and the many years I havebeen writing for the NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles, I have had thechance to meet so many of our won-derful local business owners and let metell you, they have left an impressionon me that will last a lifetime. They aresome of the most dedicated, honestand hard-working people I have ever

met, who, no matter how busy, willstill find time and money to supportlocal school programs, athletics pro-grams and many other great charities.It has been a real pleasure getting toknow the people in this communityand I look forward to many great yearsto come!

This Thanksgiving, as millions ofpeople across the country come to-gether with their closest friends andfamily, I ask you to think about themany things in life that you have to bethankful for. I would also like to askyou, for those who wish to participate,to please write to me and let me knowwhat you are appreciative of this year. Ithoroughly enjoy hearing from you,my readers, and this gives me a greatopportunity to connect with you andget to know you on a more personallevel.

To submit an entry please writeto the Westchase Area Neighbor-hood News & Lifestyles, 220 S.Safford Ave., Tarpon Springs, Fl.34689 or email us at [email protected]. Please includeyour name, address and a brief sum-mary of what you have to be thank-ful for this year. To participate inthe contest associated with the en-tries, please have all submissions inby Thursday, November 8, as wewill be doing a random drawing onFriday November 9, in which thewinners will receive gift certificatesto some great local businesses andwill be featured in next monthspublication.

If you miss the deadline, pleasedon’t let that deter you from sending

in a submission, as I would greatly ap-preciate still reading what you have tobe thankful for.

Finally, I would like to concludeby saying how grateful our entireNeighborhood News & Lifestylesteam is for all of our readers and foryour continued support over the pastyear. We wish you a prosperous andbountiful Thanksgiving and many joy-ous years to come!

As Henri J. M. Nouwen oncesaid, “Gratitude goes beyond the"mine" and "thine" and claims thetruth that all of life is a pure gift. Inthe past I always thought of gratitudeas a spontaneous response to theawareness of gifts received, but now Irealize that gratitude can also be livedas a discipline. The discipline of grati-tude is the explicit effort to acknowl-edge that all I am and have is given tome as a gift of love, a gift to be cele-brated with joy.”

NOVEMBER 2012 3Westchase Area Neighborhood News For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

Neighborhood News& Lifestyles

Directly mailed once a month to 16,000households in zip codes 33626 & 34677

220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432Advertising E-mail:

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[email protected]© 2012 Westchase Neighborhood News is published by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.

Nothing that appears in Westchase NeighborhoodNews may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, with-out permission. Opinions expressed by Westchase Neighbor-hood News writers are their own and do not reflect thepublisher’s opinion.

The management of Westchase Neighborhood Newsis always happy to accept outside editorial submissionsto the paper. Please call for outside editorial submissionand advertisement deadlines.

Westchase Neighborhood News will consider previ-ously non-published outside editorial submissions if theyare double spaced, typed and less than 500 words.Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right to editand/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makesno guarantees regarding publication dates. Westchase Neigh-borhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Westchase Neighborhood News reserves the right toedit and/or reject any advertising. Westchase NeighborhoodNews is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond theactual cost of the advertising space itself, not for the validityof any claims made by its advertisers.

Westchase Neighborhood News & Lifestyles is pub-lished by ADS 2 Publications, Inc.

PublisherTim SelbyGeneral ManagerMatt Selby Advertising SalesHannah DalegowskiJim O’ReillyKen BurkeAccounting ManagerDoreen SelbyBilling AssistantTina O’ReillyMarketing & DevelopmentAshley Knoblach

EditorAlexis SelbyCorrespondentsKim ThomasJulie KanehlKatie ThomasJeff BerlinickeMarcy SanfordLenay RuhlArt DirectorTony SicaGraphic ArtistsDat X. DoTony Sica

From The Editor Alexis Selby


Community News Briefs The Cheval Cares 5k Run is aGreat Success

Early on September 29th, theCheval Athletic Club was bustling withpeople, as hundreds came out to showtheir support and take part in the firstannual Cheval Cares 5k Run/Walk,which benefitted the Pediatric CancerFoundation.

The race featured participants ofall levels and ages, including very com-petitive runners, as well as leisurelywalkers and baby strollers, who allcame together to join in for this specialcause.

The course featured a beautifullayout, which winded through theneighborhoods of Cheval and took par-ticipants in a nice, easy loop, leadingthem back to the club house for thegrand finish.

Following the race, participantsand their families joined in the fun andfestivities at the family-friendly afterparty, which was held at the AthleticClub pool deck and playground andwas complete with music, awards, food,raffles, face painting, and plenty of ac-tivities for the kids.

Awards were given to the overall

top 10 maleand top 10female fin-ishers and allchildren par-ticipating re-ceivedribbons.

Withmore than50 sponsors,donors andvendors,over 250runners andwalkers, nearly 60 volunteers, 30 in-credible committee members, and 35donated raffle items, the race was ahuge success and raised over $12,000for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation!“What an awesome day we had for ourfirst ever Cheval Cares 5k,” says aspokesperson for the Cheval Cares 5krace. “We are so grateful for the gen-erosity of friends, residents and mem-bers in the surrounding community forhelping us create a new successful spe-cial event that will hopefully grow intoan annual tradition at the Cheval Ath-letic Club!”

Pediatric Cancer FoundationThe Pediatric Cancer Foundation

(PCF), a Tampa-based non-profit or-ganization dedicated to funding child-hood cancer research. By partneringwith leading doctors, scientists and hos-pitals nationwide, PCF is working tofind more targeted, less toxic therapiesfor children battling cancer.

Worldwide more than 160,000children are diagnosed each year andsadly, cancer is the leading cause ofdeath by disease in kids under age 15 inthe United States. Despite this, pediatriccancer research is vastly and consistentlyunderfunded and accounts for only 3.8percent of all cancer research dollars al-lotted by the federal government. PCFrelies on funding from sponsors, busi-nesses and individuals from around thecommunity to make this necessary cut-ting-edge research possible. Thanks toCheval Cares 5k and other events like it,this wonderful organization is anotherstep closer to finding a cure to this hor-rible disease.

For more information on the Pe-diatric Cancer Foundation please visitwww.FasterCure.org.

Cougar Calendar Kick-OffParty is Huge Success!

On Wed., Sept. 26, RestaurantRow at International Mall was the play-

ground for the Cougars of Florida asthey kicked off their 2013 charity calen-dar sales. Zen Bistro hosted the fabulousparty as these beautiful ladies gatheredtogether to raise funds for QuantumLeap Farm; (quantumleapfarm.org) anationally recognized equestrian pro-gram serving injured and disabled chil-dren and adults, as well as militaryservice members and their families.

This high-energy, dedicated groupsmiled, signed calendars, and posed forphotographs with the enthusiasticcrowd at Zen Bistro before headingacross the “street” to the Blue Martiniwhere they were met by another eagercrowd; also anxious to get their handson the beautiful calendar.

“We are so thankful to everyonewho purchased a calendar and especiallyto those who donated a calendar to asoldier,” said Kathleen Slaven, founderof the charity calendar program, refer-ring to the Cougars, Soldiers and Smilesprogram. “All in all the evening was ahuge success and we look forward toselling out all our calendars!”

All profits from the Cougars ofFlorida calendar sales will be donatedto Quantum Leap Farm. Calendarscan be ordered online atwww.CougarsOfFlorida.com whereyou can also look for upcoming salesevents.


By Alexis Selby

Venus & Mars Day Spa, a beauti-ful spa located in the heart ofWestchase near the intersection of RaceTrack Road and Countryway Blvd., isoffering some great specials and pack-ages this holiday season.

Stop on by any day during themonth of November and purchase a$100 gift card for the amazing price of$75! Nothing says “I Love You” likegiving your spouse or loved one a dayof pampering, relaxation and rejuvena-tion. Gift cards make for a great giftand allow recipients to pick their fa-vorite spa services.

Venus & Mars offers a lengthy listof amazing treatments for both menand women, including peels, facials,aromatherapy, massages, body treat-ments, waxing, manicures, pedicuresand much more.

If you are looking for additionalgreat gift ideas, spa packages are an-other way to go. Venus & Mars offers agreat selection of affordable packagesthat are specifically designed with com-fort and relaxation in mind. Just intime for fall, the Pumpkin Bash RetreatPackage features four hours of ultimaterelaxation and includes a pumpkinbody scrub, pumpkin facial, spa mani-cure and spa pedicure. If you love

chocolate, then you will adore theChocolate Indulgence Package – threeand a half hours of deliciously sweetpampering. This package includes achocolate body scrub, chocolate mas-sage, chocolate manicure and chocolatepedicure.

Whether you are looking for a giftidea for a loved one or friend or justwant to treat yourself to a gift fromyou, Venus & Mars Day Spa has justwhat you need – a beautiful and cleanfacility, friendly and knowledgeablestaff and a vast array of wonderful spaservices designed to pamper and relaxyour mind, body and spirit.

For even more great savings go

online to their website, where newclients can print out a coupon to save$10 off their first spa treatment.

Venus & Mars Day Spa is lo-cated at 11614 Countryway Blvd. inTampa. Hours are Mon. 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.; Tues. – Fri. 9:00 a.m. –7:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00p.m. They are closed on Sun. Formore information or to schedule anappointment for one of their exqui-site spa services please call (813)814-9104, email [email protected], visit www.Venu-sAndMarsDaySpa.com or find themon Facebook.

The Perfect Gift ThisHoliday Season


LuAnn and her husbandKen opened Napa Flair a littleover a year ago, bringing awhole new concept to theWestchase area. “We lived inNapa for many years and there,you find this type of winebar/store everywhere,” saysLuAnn. “When we moved backto the area two years ago, weknew that we wanted to be ableto bring a bit of the Napa experi-ence to Tampa. We have enjoyedgetting to know our customersand helping them find newwines that they enjoy.”

To help educate and allowcustomers to experience differentwines, Napa Flair offers wine tastingsevery Friday night from 5 p.m. – 8:30p.m., where they feature five differentwines for you to try. As their namewould suggest, they do carry winesfrom Napa, in addition to wines fromSonoma and Oregon and various re-gions throughout the world. LuAnnhas access to many distributors so if youhave a special wine you are looking for,they can help you find it. They alsooffer discounts on special order casesand mixed cases.

While the wine tastings on Fridaysare very popular, you can explore newwines any day of the week at Napa Flair.Every day they offer three glasses of

wine from any of the bottles open atthe bar for only $10. Or, if you talk toLuAnn and tell her what you like, shecan help you find a bottle that you willreally enjoy – like she did for me withthe bottle of Belle Glos Pinot Noir shesuggested.

Napa Flair has special eventsthroughout the week, such as live musicon Saturday nights. They have evenhosted corporate events, birthday par-ties and bridal showers. LuAnn willwork with you to make sure your eventis fun, educational and entertaining foryour entire group.

One of the things LuAnn and Kenhave enjoyed most about owning NapaFlair is getting to know their customers

By Marcy Sanford

If you really want to impress thisholiday season, visit LuAnn Shapiro atNapa Flair, located at11967 SheldonRoad in Tampa. Whether you need agreat bottle of wine to compliment thefood you are serving or a unique gift forsomeone special, LuAnn can help youfind it – making the holidays less stress-ful on you. Or, if you need to take abreak during the holiday rush, NapaFlair’s wine bar is a relaxing, tranquil,cozy place to catch up with friends anddiscover new wines.

When you walk into Napa Flair,you feel like you’ve taken a trip to theWest Coast. The warm inviting atmos-phere and comfortable bar are likenothing else in the area. And if you loveyour cushy seat or the art on the wall,you’re in luck because all the furniture

and art work in Napa Flair is for saletoo. This means each time you visit, notonly can you experience a new wine butyou can also check out all the beautifulnew items in the store.

LuAnn, a graduate of the CulinaryInstitute of America, has an advancedwine degree, a vivacious personality anda desire to educate people about greatwines. She is an Advanced CertifiedWine Specialist and is trained in pairingwines with food. LuAnn says, “I enjoyhelping people find a new wine theywill love. If a customer comes in andtells me what food they plan to serve, Ican help them pick out wines that willcompliment it perfectly. We specialize incarrying wines that you can not find atmost grocery or liquor stores and withmore than 325 different wines startingat $7.99 we have something for every-one.”

Wine Has Never Had So Much Flair

Ken and LuAnn, owners of Napa Flair, willhappily assist you in finding a delicious wine.


and helping to expand their wine hori-zons. On the day I was there, shequickly and efficiently helped a womanput together a beautiful gift basket ofwines from all around the world.LuAnn knows just the right questionsto ask to help guide you to your new fa-vorite bottle of wine.

If you are looking for a great wineto pair with Thanksgiving dinner,LuAnn suggests that you try a PinotNoir, a full-bodied Chardonnay or asparkling wine. LuAnn says, “You wanta wine that is not too heavy so it willcompliment your turkey.”

Whatever you are celebrating thisseason, if you want some libations to

make the event extra special, turn toNapa Flair for help. One perfect holidaychoice is Sparkling wine. Napa Flair hasa great selection in all price ranges andif you want to add a little extra pizzazz,they also carry Wild Hibiscus Flowersthat you can add to your drink. The ed-ible, 100% natural flowers add a beauti-ful decorative touch to any libation.

In addition to their extensive selec-tion of wines, Napa Flair carries manyproducts to help you with your party –beautiful wine glasses, unique appetizerplates, gourmet olive oils and balsamicvinegars, in addition to specialty saltsand one-of-a-kind serving pieces.Whether you need a tasty accompani-ment to your food, a beautiful way toserve your drinks or a great hostess gift,Napa Wine has it all.

Napa Flair is located at 11967Sheldon Road in Tampa. Free valetparking is available every night at theentrance of the shopping center. Forthe best one-on-one friendly, knowl-edgeable service, visit Napa FlairTues. – Thurs. 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. orFri. – Sat. 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Formore information please call (813)449- 1831. LuAnnn is constantlyposting information about newwines on Napa Flairs’ Facebookpage. You can also sign up for weeklynew product emails at their websitewww.NapaFlair.com.


Dan Royster Auto, LLC – Offering the Best inEvery Aspect of Automotive Service!

By Jeff Berlinicke

Committed to excellence, DanRoyster Auto, LLC. offers service onEuropean and Japanese imports, in-cluding Porsche, BMW, MercedesBenz and Mini Cooper. Located inOldsmar, Dan Royster Auto, LLC. hasbuilt a solid reputation in the commu-nity for offering quality customer serv-ice in a friendly atmosphere. Withcompetitive rates, no hidden fees andan extremely clean facility you can ex-pect only the very best in both auto-motive and customer services. At DanRoyster Auto, the highly trained pro-fessional staff offers expert advice andservice knowledge to help guide youevery step of the way.

Owner Dan Royster prides himselfin providing honest prices, exceptionalpersonal service and one-on-one atten-tion to all of his customers. Dan, whohas lived in the Tampa Bay area formore than 50 years, has over 30 yearsof experience working on import carsand is expertly trained to tackle eventhe most difficult problem. He discov-

ered his love for automobiles at ayoung age, and started repairing vehi-cles as a kid, working on VW Beetles.Since then he has gone on to be aPorsche and BMW factory-trainedtechnician, working on everythingfrom vintage to late model automo-biles. Dan has been serving import au-tomobile owners for so long that hehas formed lasting bonds with severalgenerations of customers.

Dan Royster Auto strives to set it-self apart from your typical automotivegarage. It starts in the air-conditionedreception area, where the Wi-Fihookup and office desk allow people tocatch up on their work or social life.There’s also a large-screen televisionand plush chairs so you can sit backand relax as you pass the time watchingyour favorite show.

Go through the first set of doorsand there’s a well-furnished receptiondesk that could easily be found in anydoctor’s office. A walk into the workarea shows how meticulous Dan andhis assistant Wojtek Rydzik are aboutkeeping the workplace clean and acces-

sible. At Dan Royster Auto they dealwith a wide variety of customers, andunderstand that each expects nothingbut the best.

“We moved here eight monthsago,” says Dan. “Since then, we’veworked hard to update our facility, andby keeping it clean, we have made itinto a place where people can feelcomfortable.”

The shop deals only in foreigncars, and Dan says he considers himselfan expert when it comes to Porscheand BMW. Almost all of the equip-ment is brand new and the 4,500square-foot shop has been described asthe Taj Mahal of Auto Mechanics byneighboring businesses.

“I have come across every autoproblem you can imagine and we havealways gotten it taken care of,” saysWojtek. “Everything we do is for theconvenience of our customers, andwith only two people – Dan and I – wecan offer one-on-one service. We don’thave 50 employees like a lot of places.”

At Dan Royster Auto the pricesare competitive and in many cases Dan

is able to offer same-day service. Al-though appointments are a good idea,Dan understands that automotiveemergencies happen, which is why heand Wojtek are more than happy totake walk-ins and tow-ins. Dan RoysterAuto offers a new touchless tirechanger with a matching electronic tire

NOVEMBER 2012 11For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.comWestchase Area Neighborhood News

balancer ensur-ing scratch freerims, and pro-viding the ex-ceptional serviceyou would notnormally find ata typical tireshop. Dan saysit is all aboutquality, so hedoesn’t simplyuse whatever hehas in stock, hegoes above andbeyond to get the best for your car. AtDan Royster Auto they offer free esti-mates for all customers, so come intoday to see what luxury service is allabout!

At Dan Royster Auto keepingyour car safe and secure is of utmostimportance. Dan says their security issecond to none, and with a lock boxon the outside and numerous methodsof security, all precautions are taken forthe safety of your car. “We have secu-rity on the outside and inside,” saysWojtek. “Our customers have nothingto worry about.”

If you are looking for an honestmechanic with extensive knowledge re-garding your European or Japanese im-port you’ve come to the right place.

Whether your car needs minor mainte-nance, tires, air-conditioning or exten-sive mechanical work, you can trust theprofessionals at Dan Royster Auto, whofor over 30 years have been expertly di-agnosing problems and fixing importcars. At Dan Royster Auto, LLC. theywill give you the personal attention andexceptional customer service you willcome to expect and enjoy.

Dan Royster Auto is located at400 Douglas Road East, Suite E inOldsmar. The shop is open Mon. –Fri. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and althoughthe shop closes at 6 p.m. to ensurecustomer satisfaction Dan will stayopen later if you call ahead. Formore information or to set an ap-pointment please call (813) 818-0750 or visit www.DraAuto.com.


By Kim Thomas

Since opening in February 2012,Medical Center of Trinity continues toexceed its patients’ expectations with alevel of care that rivals the very besthospitals in the nation. Located on SR54 in Trinity, where it is perfectly situ-ated to handle the growing healthcareneeds of Pasco, Hillsborough andPinellas Counties, the 400,000-sq.-ft.hospital is masterfully planned to pro-vide patients with the best medical carepossible, including unprecedentedcomfort in private rooms that easily ac-commodate friends and family and thelatest medical equipment and surgicaltechniques for the best possible medicaltreatment.

A well-cared-for hospital staff is vi-tally important to the overall quality ofpatient care – something that Medical

Center of Trinity’s CEO,Leigh Massengill knows first-hand from her years of experi-ence as a registered nurse.Massengill’s experience showsin her dedication to the physi-cians at Medical Center of Trin-ity and to their patients. Physicians’needs were anticipated in the planningof the hospital and the doctors andmedical staff have everything they needto provide excellence in medical care.

With a commitment to providingthe most advanced medicine and surgi-cal techniques available, Medical Cen-ter of Trinity has recently purchased thevery latest da Vinci® Surgical System,enabling qualified, trained physicians tooffer patients robot-assisted surgery.

I had the privilege to meet withCEO Leigh Massengill, Marketing Di-rector Mary Sommise, the robotic sur-gery team, three surgeons who use theda Vinci® Surgical System for robot-as-sisted surgeries, as well as Victor Beck-lund, a representative of IntuitiveSurgical which is the global leader inthe rapidly emerging field of robotic-as-sisted minimally invasive surgery. It wasa very educational experience andeveryone involved was excited to sharethis technology that is literally pavingthe way of the future of medicine.

Upon my arrival, Mary Sommisegreeted me in the lobby and explainedthat everyone entering the hospital,from guests and visitors to vendors,must stop at the front desk to registerand receive a pass. I handed over mydriver’s license, which was scanned intothe security system and then I was givena badge that stated my purpose in being

there along with my photo for clearidentification. This badging system en-sures safety at Medical Center of Trinityand is just one of many ways that pa-tients’ privacy and security is ensured.

What is Robot-Assisted Surgery?The most important thing to un-

derstand about the da Vinci® SurgicalSystem is that it is not surgery by arobot! I had to smile when I toldsomeone why I was visiting the hospitaland she said, “Well, count me out.What happens if that robot messes up?”This is a big misconception! It is not arobot that is in charge of the surgery;rather, the surgeons who utilize thistype of surgery are highly trained andare simply using the da Vinci® SurgicalSystem as a high-tech tool in providingthe best possible outcome in surgery.

Robot-assisted surgeries are less in-vasive, safer and actually allow forgreater precision than the human handcan generate, as well as visual claritythat simply isn’t possible with thenaked eye. Patients may enjoy a shorterhospital stay, a much shorter recoverytime, minimal scarring and in manycases, surgeons are able to preservemore tissue than they would be able towith traditional open surgeries. Theremay be less blood loss and much lesspain with a da Vinci® robot-assistedsurgery.

The idea of surgical robotics waslittle more than a curiosity until 1999,the year Intuitive Surgical introducedthe da Vinci® Surgical System. Com-munity Hospital, now named MedicalCenter of Trinity, first acquired a daVinci® Surgical System in 2006. Withthe purchase of the very latest model,physicians have even more capabilitiesincluding Single-Site incision surgeryfor many conditions. The da Vinci®Surgical System provides advancedtechnology and procedural innovationacross cardiac, thoracic, urology, gyne-cologic, colorectal, pediatric and gen-eral surgical disciplines.

There is extensive training in-volved in this technique which involvesthe entire robot-assisted surgery team.Intuitive Surgical’s training program,named Genesis, helps to establish oper-ational excellence. The seamless intro-duction of new technologies, such asthe da Vinci® Surgical System, involvessurgeons, operation room staff andhospital administrators, all of whom aretrained with the common goal of pro-viding an excellent quality of carethrough an ongoing focus on proce-dural proficiency, operations and train-ing for a competitive advantage. “Weare fortunate to have Intuitive Surgi-cal’s Genesis program,” says CEO Mas-sengill. “It is a safety and efficiencyevaluation program that helps us to im-

Medical Center of Trinity’sRobotics Programis Surgery at its Best


ArleighAncheta, DO

LouisAstra, MD

YaserBassel, MD

KeithChisholm, MD

David DiPiazza, MD

RenukaRamappa, MD

RobertSmith, MD

Parveen Vahora, MD

plement the best practices from otherfacilities.”

Local Medical Experts ExplainRobotics in Relatable Terms

Just trying to grasp the whole pic-ture of how robotic-assisted surgeryworks could have been a very dauntingtask. Fortunately, I was able to speakwith the nurses who make up the ro-botics team at Medical Center of Trinityand three of the local physicians whoare experts in the field of robotic-as-sisted surgery who helped put this high-tech tool in layman’s terms for me.

Lori Bruney, RN, CNOR (Certi-fied Nurse Operating Room), is the ro-botics surgery coordinator at MedicalCenter of Trinity. She and her team areextremely dedicated to their patientsand supporting the physicians to makethe robotics program a complete suc-cess. Bruney says, “Robotic surgery of-fers so many more options to thephysician and is a much less invasiveprocedure for the patient.” The rest ofthe robotics team includes: Celena Dil-ley, RN, Chris Poratta, CST (CertifiedSurgical Technologist), Laura Smith,RN, CNOR, MariGrace Brenner, CST,Becky Fisher, CST, Mary Lettie, RN,CNOR and Administrative DirectorLisa Richardson, MHA, RN, CNOR,who shares, “The team component iscrucial – you have to have the rightpeople in place at the right time.”

At this time, the da Vinci® Surgi-cal System is used for robot-assistedsurgeries in the areas of gynecology,urology, general surgery, and thoracicsurgery.

Local gynecologists who aretrained to utilize the advanced daVinci® technology at Medical Centerof Trinity are: Arleigh Ancheta, DO,Renuka Ramappa, MD, Robert Smith,MD and Parveen Vahora, MD.

Urologists using the da Vinci®Surgical System are Yaser Bassel, MDand David DiPiazza, MD. KeithChisholm, MD, uses the da Vinci® sys-tem for general surgery procedures andThoracic specialist Louis Astra, MD ishelping thoracic surgery patients withthis amazing technology.

Dr. Keith Chisholm took a fewminutes out of a busy day to speak withme. He is the first general surgeon inthe area to offer robotic-assisted sur-gery. The older da Vinci® didn’t offerthis capability, but now Dr. Chisholm isable to perform robot-assisted generalsurgery procedures for gallbladder dis-ease, hiatal hernia, colon cancer, diver-ticular disease, as well as conditionsaffecting the stomach and esophaguswith excellent results. “The robot isunique in that it allows much greaterdegrees of movement than laparoscopicsurgery,” explains Dr. Chisholm.

The ‘wristed motion’ allows therobot ‘arm’ or ‘hand’ to rotate 360 de-grees – unlike the human hand – givingthe surgeon ease of access to the surgi-cal site. Dr. Chisholm visited the USFHealth Center for Advanced MedicalLearning and Simulation (CAMLS), anational leading center for surgical sim-ulation, automation, and innovationthat is right here in our backyard, inTampa. Dr. Chisholm says that excitingnew innovations are on the horizon; for

instance, elbow movement of instru-ments, which will allow surgeons evengreater dexterity.

“Another exciting program is theSingle-Site surgery capability of robot-assisted surgery,” says Dr. Chisholm.“This will allow multiple instruments tobe inserted through the same site.”While this isn’t available yet at MedicalCenter of Trinity, it is coming verysoon.

Parveen Vahora, MD, a well-known and respected gynecologist whois personally invested in the local com-munity through various organizationsincluding the Seven Springs RotaryClub, showed me first-hand how the daVinci® robot makes surgery safer forpatients and, under the skilled hands ofa trained physician, it actually providesan easier approach to surgery.

“There is a tremendous amount oftraining that is required of the surgeonand the surgical team. We are all com-mitted to continual training and learn-ing the new advances in technology tobring the best care possible to the pa-tients at Medical Center of Trinity,”says Dr. Vahora. Some of the gynecol-ogical surgical the da Vinci® system isused for include hysterectomy, sacro-colpopexy for vaginal prolapse, my-omectomies for removal of fibroids andendometriosis. “If you have to have anyof these procedures, you want to haveit at this hospital because we are sodedicated and committed to providingthe best outcome possible,” says Dr.Vahora. “This is the best hospital andthe nursing staff treat patients like roy-alty. My patients rave about how wellthey are treated, they are happy andable to go home the next day.”

“We have a dedicated team, fromsurgical support to administration, andthey make it easy for me to do surgerysafely and efficiently,” says Dr. Vahora.“With laparoscopic surgery, the sur-geon only has use of two hands withforceps-like motion, but the robot al-

lows access to four hands.” Those four“hands” replace human hands and give360-degree wristed motion rotation onthree of the hands while the fourth is a3-D high definition camera.

With the da Vinci® system, thephysician is comfortably and ergonomi-cally seated with a 3-D view of the sur-gical site, while the rest of the team isattending to the patient and monitor-ing everything that is happening. Theteam has large-screen views of the sur-gical site in 2-D, but still with high-def-inition. The surgeon is controlling thearms including the camera but the teamis very much involved.

Dr. Vahora demonstrated howwith the touch of a button the seat andcontrols automatically adjust to pre-setsetting that perfectly align the physicianfor optimal comfort and control. Shedemonstrated how clear the 3-D cam-era made everything by using one ofthe arms to pick up a penny from thetraining tool – you could clearly andeasily see Abraham Lincoln sitting inthe middle of the Lincoln Memorial onthe back of the penny, which is nearlyimpossible with the naked eye.

Dr. Vahora and the robotic surgeryteam even let me try my hand at con-trolling the robot arms and I must saythat I was floored by the ingenuity ofthis system. Using the thumbs andmiddle fingers of each hand and myfeet, I was able to move the cameracloser or farther away from the trainingtool, and learned to freeze the secondarm in place while enabling the thirdarm. This is important because the sur-geon can use a tool to gently grasp tis-sue, such as an artery or vein, and moveit securely out the way, then freeze itthere without any movement whatso-ever, like a shaky hand, and then switchto another arm to continue working.

Also amazing was the 3-D aspect,which makes a huge difference in depth

See “Medical Center” on page 16.


perception. With a 2-D view – theview a surgeon has with traditional la-paroscopic surgery – I was instructedto get as close as possible to an objecton the training tool. When I thought Iwas too close to go further, I was actu-ally about one to two inches away;while with the 3-D view, I was able toget very close, go around and behindobjects and get a realistic view of theactual depth I needed to go. This is apowerful tool in demonstrating thedifference in degrees of depth percep-tion and precision that are possiblewith the da Vinci® robot-assisted sur-gery as compared to laparoscopic sur-gery.

After a short break to absorb whatI had learned, I was able to meet DavidDiPiazza, MD, of Urology Specialistsof West Florida. Dr. DiPiazza routinelyperforms da Vinci® robotic surgeriesincluding sacrocolpopexy (for vaginalprolapse), anterior exenteration (re-moval of bladder and pelvic organs inwomen with bladder cancer), cysto-prostectomy (removal of bladder andprostate in men with cancer), pelviclymphandectomy (removal of lymphnodes), prostatectomy (removal of

prostate), partial and radical nephrec-tomy (removal of part or all of kidneydue to cancer), adrenalectomy (removalof adrenal gland), and pyeloplasty (re-construction of renal pelvis and ureter).

“I am able to get to the surgicalsite so much easier and quicker withthe da Vinci® robot,” says Dr. DiPi-azza. “Complex motions like sewingare much more difficult with laparo-scopic surgery which is in 2-D com-pared to robotic surgery.” Hecontinues to explain how additionaltraining with other experienced sur-geons using this advanced technologyhelps to fine-tune a surgeon’s tech-nique. “It’s like one professional athleteclosely watching another to learn histechnique.” Dr. DiPiazza strives toconstantly learn the fine aspects of ro-botic surgery from surgeons who haveliterally performed thousands of thesetypes of procedures.

Perhaps the best person to hearfrom though, is an actual patient. Dr.DiPiazza took me to meet Greg Cross-white, an active grandfather fromNiceville, Florida who decided to havesurgery for kidney cancer at the state-of-the-art Medical Center of Trinityunder the expert hands of Dr. DiPiazzawho performed a partial nephrectomyvia the da Vinci® Surgical System. Thecancer was removed and the kidney was

“Medical Center”Continued from page 15

saved. Mr. Crosswhite hadsurgery the day before Imet him and was alreadybeing released from thehospital. The first thing hesaid upon seeing Dr. DiPi-azza was, “Can I shakeyour hand and thankyou?” He told me that hefirst saw Dr. DiPiazzawhen he was in the areavisiting his children andexperienced pain from akidney stone.

It was a minor incon-venience that ended upsaving his life after tests re-vealed that he also hadkidney cancer. Mr. Cross-white was eager to get home and wasalready able to walk. A surgery that tenyears ago would have left him with along scar along his flank and months ofrecovery is now minimally invasive andhe is able to go home the very nextday! “My pain level is low,” said Cross-white. “I am absolutely glad that Ichose this option!”

If you or a loved one is in need ofa surgery that can be performed by asurgeon utilizing the da Vinci® Surgi-cal System, you should most definitelyconsider the robotics program at Med-ical Center of Trinity. It offers surgery

with minimal blood loss and scarring. Itis much less invasive and doctors areable to save more tissue – as in Mr.Crosswhite’s case, where Dr. DiPiazzawas able to entirely remove kidney can-cer while saving the entire kidney. And,just ask a patient like Mr. Crosswhite,the best part is that your hospital staywill be much shorter and you will beback to your life much faster! “I can’twait to bounce my grandkids on myknee again,” said Mr. Crosswhite.

The Medical Center of Trinity islocated at 9330 SR 54 in Trinity,Florida. For additional information,visit MedicalCenterTrinity.com.

Dr. Parveen Vahora (standing) shows Kim Thomashow surgeons use the da Vinci® Surgical System


Grout Problems? No Problem! Grout Tech Can HelpBy Kathryn Samaltanos

Before you spend thousands ofdollars remodeling and re-tiling yourbathroom or kitchen be sure to callGrout Tech for a FREE estimate oncleaning or repairing old dingy tile andgrout. Grout Tech can breathe newlife into your existing tile work, mak-ing everything shine like new at a frac-tion of the cost. Grout Tech is afamily owned business serving Pinellasand Pasco Counties. They have overseven years of experience in the indus-try, specializing in cleaning and sealingtile and grout, re-coloring grout, re-caulking showers and tubs, and repair-ing grout and broken tiles.

Grout Tech will renew existinggrout and tile to its original beauty bycleaning and maintaining the tile andgrout lines. John Cole and his wifewere ready to re-tile their entire bath-room before calling BJ at Grout Tech.“Our bathroom tile was over 40 yearsold it was looking grungy and verydull. We called Grout Tech and weare extremely pleased with our results!We saved so much money by having

the grout in our shower resurfacedand the tile cleaned and it looks brandnew,” John shares.

BJ is happy to set your appoint-ment, come out and give you a freeestimate. She stresses, “It is importantfor me to be respectful of our cus-tomers’ time so I will always arrive atthe time we set.” In addition to alwaysarriving in a timely manner, BJ saysthat they can keep their prices low be-cause they are a family owned businessand not a franchise. She explains,“What many people don’t understandis that franchises are often forced to

charge more for their services becausethey have to maintain their franchisefees, but not with Grout Tech.” Notonly do they keep their rates competi-tive, but they will also honor any otherquote as long as it is in writing.

Because grout is a porous mate-rial, trying to remove stains is seem-ingly impossible. BJ explains, “Colorsealing grout lines is one of the manyservices we offer and it is definitely themost effective way to create a perfect,new look.” Using a step-by-stepprocess, Grout Tech begins by using acleansing product to remove all bacte-

ria and surface dirt with special ma-chinery. They will then apply a colorseal (of your choice).

Once the sealer is applied thegrout lines will be permanently pro-tected from any stains.

The color seal also guaranteesagainst cracking, chipping and peeling.In addition, they will also cosmeticallyfix or replace chipped or cracked tiles.

Carla Bartow, a satisfied cus-tomer, shares her experience, “WhenBJ came out to give us a quote, shelooked at the job and I could tell im-mediately that she knew what she was

With the help of Grout Tech, even the dirtiest and oldest of floors can be restored andrenewed to their original beauty and splendor.


talking about. We had our familyroom, kitchen and dining room re-grouted. They also re-grouted the tub,shower and base of our toilet in ourbathroom. They were fantastic! Notonly were they professional and reli-able but they also completed the jobmuch faster than we had anticipated.”

Doris Strathearn, another GroutTech success story, said that beforecalling Grout Tech her bathroom andguest bathroom shower and floorgrout had deteriorated over time andthe tiles were dull and stained. “Thetile was in good condition but it was

stained so we had Grout Tech comeout and clean them and they turnedout very well.” They were so pleasedthat they have already referred GroutTech to neighbors in their community.

Grout Tech can also remove andre-caulk around sinks, baseboards,tubs and showers serving to clean upold moldy areas and keep your drywall free from water damage. Fromold to new in just one day!

To find out more about GroutTech’s services or for a free estimatecall BJ at 727-768-6828.


at all times. Planet Beach also offers awide range of skincare and nutritionproducts. This Contempo Spa bringscustomers everything they need toachieve their total skincare, wellnessand stress relief goals. One happy cus-tomer writes, “Wow! This Salon has itall and offers the best prices inWestchase. The Contempo Spa letsme do everything – tanning, mystic,hydration station and massage. What adeal!”

Planet Beach Services Planet Beach Westchase offers a

full array of wellness and relaxationservices, including UV therapy, teethwhitening, sunless tanning and skin re-juvenation services and has lay-downand stand-up tanning beds, a Mysticspray tan room, massage beds and ahydration station for stressed out,dried skin. “We offer services that helpyou achieve total body wellness,” saysBlakley.

Customer Melissa Loughrenwrites, “It is a wonderful experience tocome to Planet Beach. It is so muchmore than a tanning salon. I love all ofthe different options there are avail-

able to choose from on each visit.Everyone is always so friendly and al-ways willing to help.”

Red Light TherapyDiscovered by NASA, this type of

light has a stronger wavelength thanother types of light so it can penetratedeeper into the skin, providing manytherapeutic benefits, including im-provement in the skin’s appearanceand structure as well as relief frompain – literally healing the body fromthe inside out. Red light therapy helpseliminate aches, pains, arthritis,eczema, and speeds the healingprocess after trauma or surgery. Thistherapy also has the ability to reducethe appearance of fine lines and wrin-kles, sun damage, and skin problems,including acne.

Hydration (Station/Hydro DermaFusion)

The Hydration Station, alsoknown as Station/Hydro Derma Fu-sion, enables your body to sweat outtoxins while simultaneously using lighttherapy to deliver vitamins into yourbody. It is the first revolutionary sys-tem to provide a mix of innovative fea-tures in an environment of personalrelaxation to help prepare skin forother services and products, prolong

service results, and rejuvenate skin.This station also tightens skin elasticityand can burn up to 600 calories in onesession and is perfect for those lookingto beautify their skin while relaxingtheir mind.

Hydro Massage The Hydro Massage is a comfort-

able and convenient way to experiencetotal relaxation, giving you the fullbenefits of traditional massage therapyin a fraction of the time.

You remain fully clothed in the

privacy of your own room as this med-ical grade massage table relieves stress,decreases muscle tension, increasesflexibility, breaks up toxins and re-duces fatigue through the use of apowerful wave of heated water pres-sure that targets specific areas of yourbody. Luminous Facial

Using light therapy combinedwith topical skincare products and di-etary supplements, the Luminous Fa-cial will help to give your skin abeautiful, radiant glow. This wonder-

“Planet Beach”Continued from page 1

Planet Beach Westchase happily welcomes new clients to try out oneof their many innovative spa services.


ful facial helps reduce the appearanceof fine lines, decrease the appearanceof pore size and improve the appear-ance of skin tone, texture, and clarityin addition to enhancing the appear-ance of overall healthy skin.

Planet Beach Westchase offers avariety of memberships and packages,and their helpful spa consultants willgladly work with you to find the pack-age that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Planet Beach is changing the waythe world rejuvenates, with their con-venient, affordable and self-automatedspa services that help you achieve totalskincare, wellness and stress relief.

“Spa services are an important

part of maintaining beautiful skin anda healthy lifestyle, even on a budget,”says Stephen Smith. “With a renewedmission to change the way the worldrejuvenates, we provide an affordablealternative to the lavish cost of spaswhile maintaining the highest qualityof personal care and attention.”

Planet Beach Westchase is lo-cated at 9550 W Linebaugh Ave. inTampa. Hours are Mon. – Fri. 9a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;Sun. 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. For more in-formation please call (813) 926-5300 or visitPlanetBeach.com/westchase.

the long run. Many people may notrealize that if they have dental issues itcan consequently lead to other serioushealth problems such as high bloodpressure, heart disease and diabetes.Regular dental cleanings can help yourbody stay healthy in addition to keep-

ing your smile beautiful.”Everyone at Dental Wellness of

Westchase works hard to make suretheir patients’ overall dental health isthe best it can be. Dr. Amy and herstaff are highly trained and stay up-to-date on dental advances and new tech-nologies through regular continuingeducation programs. They take plentyof time with each patient to make surethey get the best possible service andcleanings. The staff at Dental Wellness

of Westchasereally goes theextra mile tohelp you fullyunderstandhow to takeproper care ofyour teeth andgums to en-sure that yourbeautiful smilewill last a life-time.

“At Den-tal Wellness ofWestchasethey took thetime to ex-plain in detailplenty of tech-


“Dental Wellness”Continued from page 1

niques I could practice athome to prevent cavities andtooth decay,” says patientKimberly. “They were readyto see me when I showed upfor my appointment. Theyare some of the kindest, mostcaring people I've ever dealtwith. It didn't matter howmany times I called with aquestion or concern, theywere always happy to helpme.”

If you are an adult andare not happy with yoursmile, Dr. Amy can help youget the smile you want. Sheoffers adult orthodonticssuch as Invisalign and 6Month Smiles – systemsspecifically designed foradults that help to straightenteeth and perfect smiles.Both systems use clear orwhite materials that blend inwith your teeth. Dr. Amysays she has seen beautiful re-sults with patients who haveused these systems.

In addition to adult or-thodontics and regular check-ups and cleanings, Dr. Amy and herteam provide a one-stop office for all

your dental needs. If you need moreextensive services like gum disease re-

The friendly, attentive staff at Dental Wellnessof Westchase.

Dental Wellness of Westchase warmly welcomes new patients.


pair, implants, root canal orany emergency dental care,they can help you.

Dr. Amy loves what shedoes and it is evident fromthe way she talks about herpatients – “I find dentistryvery gratifying because I canimprove my patients healthand wellness in just one visit,allowing them to see immedi-ate results. We appreciate thetrust our patients put in usand are happy that we canoffer them wonderful dentalcare in a calming environ-ment. We want to make sureour patients look forward totheir dental visits.”

Every new patient atDental Wellness of Westchasereceives a thorough dentalexam. You can even seewhat’s going on inside yourmouth thanks to their state-of-the-artoral camera. If you do have any dentalproblems, Dr. Amy and her dental hy-gienist Jeannine will help you under-stand the causes and will give advice asto what you can do to prevent futureproblems from occurring. They workwith each patient to help determinewhat needs to be done to heal any is-

sues they may be having with theirteeth or gums. Dr. Amy and Jeanninemake sure the care each patient re-ceives is specific to them, ensuring thatthey will have a healthy smile withinno time.

Dental Wellness of Westchase ac-cepts most insurances and affordablepayment plans are also available.

If you have had a bad dental ex-perience in the past that has made youput off returning to the dentist, thecaring professional staff at DentalWellness of Westchase will help youchange your outlook. Dr. Amy hashad great success helping patients withhigh anxiety and phobias about dentalvisits. In addition to offering dental se-dation for high-anxiety patients shealso works with them to help easetheir fears and make them more com-fortable and confident with each visit.

If you are looking for a place tocall your dental home, look no furtherthan Dental Wellness of Westchase –

your one-stop-shop for all your dentalneeds.

Dental Wellness of Westchase islocated in the Lexington Profes-sional Park at 11321 CountrywayBoulevard in Tampa. Dr. AmyCreech-Gionis and the rest of herstaff are ready to take care of youand your dental needs Mon. – Wed.8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thurs. 7 a.m. –5 p.m. To make an appointmentwith Dr. Amy please call (813) 855-CARE (2273). For more informa-tion visit their websiteDentalWellnessOfWestchase.com ortheir Facebook Page.

Westchase - Vol. 1, Issue 9, November 2012

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Transcript of Westchase - Vol. 1, Issue 9, November 2012