Thrivent Financial Promises Christian Values While Helping People Prosper

The Thrivent Financial Tampa Bay office team: includes (l.-r.) Tanya L. Boutot, Michael Joeckel, Pam Hansen and Jerry Hansen.

Personal financial management and investing are often primarily thought of as a way to enhance the financial interests of the individual. But, investors who put their money and faith in the hands of the associates of Thrivent Financial can grow their community’s assets as well as their own.

Working out of the Tampa Bay office of Thrivent, located in Forest Hills, less than 30 minutes south of most of New Tampa, financial associates Pam Hansen and Michael Joeckel help investors connect their faith and finances.

Hansen and Joeckel possess a combined 50 years of financial planning experience and are registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Their areas of expertise include retirement income planning, estate strategies, life insurance and long-term care insurance.

“The reason some folks might be familiar with us is because we have our roots in the Lutheran faith,” says Joeckel.

Thrivent began in 1902, when it was chartered as a fraternal benefit society called Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL). The aim in those pre-Social Security days was to provide mutual security to counter the financial risks individuals faced. AAL combined with a similar organization, the Lutheran Brotherhood (LB), in 2001 to form Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

In 2013, the company expanded its membership base to include all Christians. Today, there are about 2.5 million member-owners of Thrivent Financial and it is ranked number 318 on the Fortune 500 list for 2016. As of 2015, Thrivent reported having more than $109 billion in assets under management/advisement.

Joeckel, who is a designated Fraternal Insurance Counselor (FIC), which is conferred by the Fraternal Field Managers Association (FFMA), has passed FINRA exams for Uniform Securities Agent, Investment Company/Variable Products Limited Representative, and General Securities Representative. He says Thrivent is not a church and is first and foremost a financial services organization, much like other institutions such as banks, credit unions and brokerage houses.

“We’re not selling Christianity, but we offer services based on Christian principles,” he says.

Thrivent is classified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a not-for-profit fraternal benefits society, giving it a tax-exempt status. Prospective clients qualify as members by affirming they are Christian, as part of the application process.

According to Joeckel, there is no inquiry or judgment as to an applicant’s specific Christian affiliation or beliefs in meeting the IRS’ fraternal standard. “There is no litmus test,” says Joeckel, who moved to Tampa Palms from Connecticut last year.

In cases of mixed-religion families, non-Christian family members can be sponsored and benefits are payable to them just as with other financial service companies, according to Joeckel. “At the end of the day, we’re a fraternal financial services company,” he says. “We’re trying to be the best Christian company we can be.”

As representatives of a Christian financial services organization, Joeckel says Thrivent associates follow Biblical principles such as living within your means and using debt wisely when working with clients to help them manage their finances, protect their assets, create financial security and plan a financial legacy.

Joeckel considers his relationship with his clients to be a process of leading them to “greener pastures.” He says some clients may begin their relationship with Thrivent just surviving or struggling financially but through financial planning and management they often can achieve financial security and even surplus, allowing them to “live generously” and give back to their communities and provide a legacy to their beneficiaries.

“We are equipped in this office to handle people in all strata of life,” says Joeckel. “We’ll take your $100,000 account, but we’ll also take your $1,000 account. We pride ourselves on being a valuable resource to our clients.”

Thrivent’s door also is open to people who are unsure about the financial road map they may already be using to guide them on their fiscal journey, says Hansen, who has earned the following industry designations through continuing education courses at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania: Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP). She also has earned her FIC designation from FFMA and passed FINRA exams for Uniform Securities Agent, Investment Company/Variable Products Limited Representative, and General Securities Representative.

“Second opinions are free,” she says. “If you’re working with someone we can provide a second opinion and do an analysis of where you’re at.”

Establishing a professional relationship with Thrivent begins with a lengthy, introductory conversation with a financial associate who, according to Joeckel, will ask plenty of questions, such as, “If you had to, could you live the next five years on what you have so far?”

Asking questions and examining financial facts — ranging from pay stubs to budget sheets — will reveal how effectively people are progressing toward their goals.

“We help you determine whether your actions will help you reach your intentions.” Joeckel says.

Taking time to understand a client’s situation is important, and Joeckel says he is committed to doing that, as an initial consultation will typically last two hours.

“We’re not product people, we’re process people,” he says, “so we’ll meet again and again.” Joeckel refers to this approach as “relationship-based” financial counseling and planning.

Sometimes the meeting topics will be about things a lot of people don’t like to discuss, but eventually will. Hansen says it is better to do so sooner, rather than later.

“Everybody wants to grow money, but we’ll also talk about what happens when you die,” she says. “We’re not averse to having those tough conversations (with you).”

Philanthropic Options, Too!

Connecting faith and finances through philanthropy is another feature of Thrivent, as its tax-exempt status allows it to direct money normally paid as taxes to the government to be distributed to charitable causes and to fund projects benefiting local communities.

According to the Thrivent website, more than $325 million has been distributed to churches and nonprofits nationwide since 2010, including more than $3 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Members participating in the Thrivent Choice Dollars program also can recommend directing funds to eligible nonprofit organizations they wish to support, giving them a say in where the company’s local money goes.

Thrivent members also can apply for $250 grants to fund projects they initiate within their local communities. And, Thrivent Builds is a partnership between Thrivent and Habitat for Humanity that undertakes projects to build and repair homes.

Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) rules prohibit testimonials on behalf of financial advisors, but ratings by industry organizations such as A.M. Best, a an insurance industry rating agency, are permitted. Thrivent is rated A++ “Superior” by A.M. Best as of June 2016 and Thrivent’s credit rating as determined by Fitch Ratings Inc., is AA+ (“Very strong”) as of May 2016. Ratings reflect the overall financial integrity and claims-paying ability of Thrivent and do not apply to the investment performance of investment products.

For more info about Thrivent Financial, you can visit Connect.Thrivent.com/tampa-bay-office, or call 443-5088. Thrivent’s Tampa Bay office is located at 1202 W. Linebaugh Ave., Suite C, in West Tampa.

Premier Heart & Vascular Doctors Keep Hearts Pumping & Blood Flowing

The Premier Heart and Vascular team: (Back row, l.-r.) Dr. Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, MD; Dr. Chetan Khamare, MD; Dr. Rajesh Lall, MD; and Dr. Vikas Soma, MD.
(Middle row) Dr. Jaime Caballero, MD; Dr. Sunil Gupta, MD; Dr. Ketul Chauhan, MD; Tracee Eger, PA-C.(Front row) Marilyn Joseph, ARNP; Andrea Harkins, PA-C; Sabrina Tedesco, PA-C; Kristina Long, PA-C; Michele Gordon, PA-C.

Over the course of a lifetime, a healthy human heart proves itself to be a reliable muscular pump, beating thousands of times a day and sending blood throughout the body via a network of veins, vessels and capillaries. When working right, most people don’t even notice this life-supporting cardiovascular system functioning.

But, when something goes wrong, such as clogged arteries, heart disease or other damage, the physicians and staff of Premier Heart & Vascular Center in the Summergate Professional Park off S.R. 56. Dr. Sunil Gupta, MD, FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), founded the practice with an objective that has remained constant throughout its 15-year existence.

“Our goal is to provide care to patients and do it promptly and do it right,’’ says Dr. Gupta, whose FACC fellowship was conferred by virtue of his cardiology training at the Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, NJ. “That’s what drives us.”

According to Dr. Ketul Chauhan, MD, FACC, another one of the physicians at Premier Heart & Vascular, patients benefit from the ability to devote the substantial resources and knowledge available within the practice to provide needed treatment.

“We’re able to take care of them from seeing them and diagnosing them to consulting with them and fixing them with interventional procedures if needed,” Dr. Chauhan says. That’s as comprehensive as it gets.” Dr. Chauhan earned his M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, and earned his FACC through Tampa General Hospital.

Premier’s physicians specialize in interventional cardiology and among the non-invasive services provided to patients are diagnostic procedures like tilt-table, treadmill and pharmacological tests; as well as Coumadin, pacemaker/defibrillator, and congestive heart failure (CHF) clinics. They also perform laser vein ablation, which treats varicose veins by sealing them.

Invasive procedures performed on an inpatient basis include angioplasty, which uses small balloons to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels, and implanting stents (small, mesh-like devices made of metal, which are placed inside of a coronary artery to support and keep it open to ensure adequate blood flow).

Pacemaker implantation as well as heart valve repairs and replacements also are performed.

There are seven physicians who are part of the Premier Heart & Vascular team, treating patients at five clinics in the Tampa Bay area, from Carrollwood to Lakeland. An additional clinic in Dade City is closed because it is in the process of being relocated.

Dr. Gupta says Premier has grown by performing work that promotes a good reputation in the local cardiology community, which brings in more patients and qualified professionals to treat them.

“Because of our reputation, we are able to attract good people to work for us —physicians, physician assistants and other staff members,” he says.

All of the doctors are Board-certified cardiologists, with advanced training in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease.

A Variety Of Sub-Specialties

Each physician also brings unique knowledge and skills that emphasize particular aspects of the field, such as Dr. Chetan Khamare, MD, FACC, who has a focus on congestive heart failure. Dr. Khamare received his M.D. degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, and earned his FACC through his work at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown.

When there are structural problems with a patient’s heart, such as a defective valve, Dr. Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, MD, FACC, contributes his expertise of the emerging field of structural heart disease. Dr. Marmagkiolis graduated with his M.D. degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine in Thessaloniki, Greece, and achieved his FACC through the Montreal Heart Institute of the University of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Supporting the body’s natural cardiovascular system with technology such as stents and pacemakers requires a deft hand and the training required to implant devices. Dr. Chauhan performs device implants, as does Dr. Vikas Soma, MD, FACC, whose M.D. degree was awarded by Santiago University of Technology School of Medicine in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Dr. Soma’s FACC was achieved through his fellowship training at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York, NY.

One of the ways that cardiac health is evaluated is through stress tests conducted using nuclear isotopes. Besides earning his medical degree from the University of Debrecen Medical & Health Science Institute in Debrecen, Hungary, and his FACC fellowship training at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Dr. Rajesh Lall, MD, FACC, also is Board-certified in nuclear cardiology.

Also supporting Premier Heart & Vascular’s nuclear cardiology program is Dr. Jaime Caballero, MD, FACC, who also has received training in the proper handling of radioactive materials used in the practice’s accredited nuclear stress test lab. Dr. Caballero earned his M.D. degree from the University of Tolima School of Medicine in Ibagué, Colombia, and received his cardiac fellowship training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

It can be stressful when people find themselves needing the services of a cardiologist and Premier’s Wesley Chapel office manager, Lisa Sylvester, has the prescription for easing patients’ concerns.

“From the time they walk in the door, the greeting is important. Smiles on the faces are big,” she says. “It could be their first time at a cardiologist, so it’s important to let them know that we are here to help them.”

Dr. Gupta also recognizes that patient care begins with caring professionals.

“It’s the people,” he says. “Our defining principle is doing the right thing and that allows us to always put the patient first.”

Outstanding Reviews & More

Louis Capasso expresses his patient satisfaction by awarding Premier a five-star Google review with the comment, “Fantastic. Everything was explained to me so that I understood things,” he wrote.

Premier accepts a long list of insurance plans and is willing to add to it, according to Robbie Balbontin, RN, who as Premier’s clinical manager, coordinates the practice’s administrative operations.

“We take everything,” she says. “If we don’t take it, we’ll apply for it.” Premier also accepts Medicare and even Medicaid, which Balbontin says is not typical. “We’re one of the few cardiology practices that accepts Medicaid.”

Since starting the practice 15 years ago, Dr. Gupta has seen it grow to its current level of five locations employing 45 healthcare professionals.

“We are surprised at how fast we are able to grow,” he says. “More patients are coming to us and more doctors are joining us.”

Much of that growth is taking place at the Wesley Chapel office, which opened seven years ago. In order to accommodate the increase in patients, Premier is moving to a new 8,000-sq.-ft. building to be located across Bruce B. Downs Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel this summer.

Premier Heart & Vascular Center’s Wesley Chapel  is currently located in the Summergate Professional Park at 27424 Cashford Cir. You can learn more about Premier by visiting online at PremierHeartandVascular.com or by calling 788-1400.

Primrose Schools Provide Early Education & Character Development

(Left) Shi and Sandy Deng with their son; (Right) Penny and Matt McCallister with their three children. The Dengs own and operate the Primrose Schools of Tampa Palms and Carrollwood and the McCallisters own and operate the Primrose School of Cross Creek. (Photo: Primrose Schools)

Two Wesley Chapel families’ shared belief in the value of early childhood education has led them to dedicate their professional lives to operating their own schools in New Tampa and Carrollwood.

Penny and Matt McCallister operate the Primrose School on Cross Creek Blvd., about two miles east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., while Sandy and Shi Deng operate both the Primrose School of Tampa Palms, located across from Liberty Middle School, as well as the Primrose School about 20 minutes from New Tampa on Bearss Ave. in Carrollwood.

Their schools are franchises of the Marietta, GA-based Primrose Schools chain of educational child care centers. There are age-specific options ranging from full-time care and instruction for infants (from six weeks old) and toddlers, to after-school programs for elementary students ages 5 to 12, as well as pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) and kindergarten classes.

Primrose uses a uniform, research- based proprietary curriculum across all of its schools that the company has trademarked as Balanced Learning®. According to Primrose’s marketing materials, this curriculum, “balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion.”

Penny McCallister, who is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), with a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree in (specializing in pediatrics) from the University of Florida in Gainesville, says the goal is to prepare Primrose students to deal with life outside of the classroom as well as within it.

“We don’t focus only on academics here,’’ McCallister says. “We focus on character development.”

That includes teaching children basic manners, such as saying “please” and “thank you,” as well as involving them in the schools’ community projects, such as food drives for Metropolitan Ministries and the food pantry at Bay Chapel Church in New Tampa.

To Sandy Deng, there’s an important lesson about generosity to be learned through the projects.

“We want to teach the children about giving back without expecting anything in return,” she says.

Primrose School of Cross Creek teacher Nadine Box works with a preschool student.

In addition to providing an orientation for their students’ moral compasses, Primrose Schools equip them with life skills, such as resolving conflicts in a positive way, says Dominique Rock, who is the school director for the Carrollwood campus, but who also speaks as the mother of three Primrose students.

“I see a huge difference when I see my children with other children,” she says. “I want them to be academically competent, but I also want them to be good people.”

To which Matt McCallister adds, “Who children become is just as important as what they learn.”

Preparing students for academic success is based on age-appropriate instruction that combines applying educational research with a teacher’s ability to harness a child’s natural curiosity. It’s an approach that Matt expresses confidence in for its ability to educate pre-school minds.

“I think we have the best academic program there is,” says Matt, who has a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando.

Primrose teachers and staff are trained and certified in accordance with the positions they hold, such as that all of the preschool teachers have a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification (which can be awarded as an associate’s degree or as a stand-alone certificate) and maintaining qualifications required by the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF).

All staff members are certified to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Primrose provides additional professional instruction that it develops to promote quality and maintain consistency throughout its campuses.

Academic instruction is woven into all aspects of the school routine, including playful breaks from classroom learning.

“We don’t just let them go out on the playground,” says Penny. “They do a teacher-guided activity as well as have free time.”

Hannah Moody is the early preschool lead teacher at the Cross Creek campus. She says she ensures the joy of learning is ever-present. “You have to make sure the kids have fun,” says Moody. “If we’re teaching colors and numbers and the kids aren’t interested, you have to take that extra step to make it awesome.”

She says that adding awesomeness to a lesson might mean interjecting mermaids and dinosaurs into a math lesson, or employing the ultimate teaching tool: “Boxes are the greatest thing ever,” says Moody, who’s known to transform cardboard into just about anything, from castles to horses.

Providing peace of mind to parents whose children attend Primrose schools is another way the Dengs and McCallisters fulfill their obligations as caretakers and educators of other people’s children. The campuses are secure, with building access limited and staff members keeping a watchful eye on the premises, promptly asking visitors about their purpose for being there.

“Safety is first,” says Shi Deng, who also has an MBA from UCF.

Parents are informed about their kids’ activities with daily progress reports, including photographs and video clips depicting what happened that day.

According to Sandy Deng, operating Primrose schools creates substantial bonds between the students and the staff.

“It’s like a family and we love watching them grow,” says Sandy, who has an M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from UCF. She adds that one of the most rewarding aspects of running Primrose  Schools awaits her at the beginning of each day. “Every morning I get to see the children’s big, beautiful smiles,” Sandy says.

One principle that Shi Deng says is crucial to the successful operation of his schools is to fulfill his responsibilities to the employees who care for the children.

“It has to be a virtuous cycle,” says Shi. “If I treat my employees well, the employees will take care of the children.”

Shi, who is a licensed real estate Broker with Ambassador Realty Group, adds that one way he is able to create stability for his staff is to help them purchase a home by acting as their buyer’s agent and contributing his commission to the closing costs.

Buying In All The Way

As Primrose School franchisees, the Dengs and McCallisters both own their own businesses, but their commitment to the kind of education they offer also is personal, with both families’ children enrolled in Primrose schools.

Soon after the Dengs enrolled their son as an infant at a Primrose school in Orlando when they were living there, they became enthusiastic about what the franchise had to  offer.

“When our son started school there, we thought, ‘Wow, how amazing would it be if we could get into this business and help shape the younger generation and help them build a strong foundation for the future?,’’’ says Sandy.

The Dengs’ son now participates in the Explorer after-school program, while the McCallisters’ youngest child attends their preschool program and their two older, elementary school-age children attended the summer camp and occasionally attend the after-school Explorers program, as well.

The enthusiasm that the McCallisters and Dengs have for Primrose Schools is shared by parents like Dana Terrigino of Easton Park in New Tampa, who has one child in the infant program and two children participating in the after-school program at Primrose School of Cross Creek.

“Everybody who’s there has such a caring and open and friendly personality,” says Terrigino. “You can see the different aspects of their curriculum and I was just so impressed with the way that they handle the education of the children. You really feel like it’s a school.”

For more info about Primrose School of Cross Creek (10301 Cross Creek Blvd.), visit PrimroseCrossCreek.com or call 994-6800. For the Primrose School of Tampa Palms (5307 Primrose Lake Cir.), visit PrimroseTampaPalms.com or call 975-4000. To reach the Primrose School of Carrollwood (1770 W. Bearss Ave.), call 398-8607 or visit PrimroseCarrollwood.com. Also, see the ad on pg. 27.

Cabinet & Stone International Specializes In Unique Home Decor Items

Hui Yu is the president of Cabinet & Stone International, which sells and installs kitchen and bathroom cabinets, granite and marble countertops and vanities on N. 56th St.

New Tampa and Wesley Chapel homeowners considering a new look for the new year can find plenty of design options for their kitchen and bath areas at Cabinet & Stone International on N. 56th St., just south of the Hillsborough River and across the street from King High in Tampa, just south of Temple Terrace.

With 3,000 square feet of showroom space displaying cabinets, sinks and fixtures, along with a warehouse ten times as large that is filled with merchandise that’s ready to be delivered and installed, customers benefit from Cabinet & Stone’s variety and convenience.

“We provide a one-stop shop, from measuring, to design and installation and give a really quick turnaround time,” says long-time New Tampa resident Hui Yu, who runs the business with her brother, Ron. “We can do a kitchen within a week.”

Services provided begin with helping a customer develop a home-improvement vision, either online at CabinetnStoneIntl.com or at the N. 56th St. showroom, which is less than 30 minutes from most points in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Cabinet & Stone International provides one-stop shopping for upgrading kitchens and bathrooms at the company’s Temple Terrace showroom on N. 56th St.

Hands-on involvement includes a personal consultation  between a customer and a design professional, measuring the kitchen or bath and installing the purchased products. Tying all of the pieces of a remodeling project together, from a design perspective, is one of the things Hui says she enjoys about the business.

“If a customer is open to what we can do, we tell them about up-to-date trends and can give suggestions, like what paint color will go best with the cabinets they choose,” she says.

Ron agrees that there’s a lot of satisfaction in working with customers.

“I like to help the customer design the kitchen and pick out the cabinets and granite and work with them from start to finish,” he says.

Visitors to the showroom can view first-hand all of the cabinets, countertops, sinks and related hardware. There are display kitchens in the main customer service area and bathroom vanities available for viewing in an adjoining showroom.

Marble countertops are available in colors and styles ranging from Baltic Brown to Blue Barracuda. If customers want to explore more options, Cabinet & Stone design consultants can refer them to one of their local vendors to pick out a slab with just the right veining and finish to be incorporated into a functional masterpiece.

All cabinets at Cabinet & Stone are made of wood, not particle board. The fronts are all solid wood, such as oak, maple or birch, with plywood boxes. Choices range from American Classic model cabinets made of solid oak with a honey-colored stain, to the modern lines and accents of the Manhattan Espresso cabinet, constructed of maple wood and stained to a richly dark hue. Other color stains on the menu include cherry, toffee, mocha, café and several shades of white, such as French vanilla and creme de blanc.

The finishing touches to any cabinet makeover are the knobs and handles and there’s a complete selection of Jeffrey Alexander brand hardware from which to select.

By working directly with a manufacturer in China, Hui and Ron are able to maintain a high level of quality in their merchandise and keep their warehouse stocked with competitively priced inventory that they import.

“Our customers are paying less to get more,” says Hui.

A Little History…

Since initially opening its doors in a smaller storefront on nearby Hillsborough Ave. in 2004, Cabinet & Stone International has expanded considerably, drawing customers from across the state to its current showroom, as well as nationwide to its website.

“At the time that we opened this, we didn’t think it would get this big,” says Hui, who attributes much of the company’s growth to its current level of about 500 orders a month, and to satisfied customers like Carlos Curnow telling other people about their experience.

“I went to Home Depot and Lowe’s, but they (Cabinet & Stone) had the best price and I was able to pick it up quicker,” says Curnow, who bought two bath vanities for his home.

In addition to individual retail consumers, Hui and Ron also serve commercial customers, like real estate agents who need to refurbish a house before it goes on the market, developers building new homes and out-of-state decorating businesses that want to sell Cabinet & Stone’s line of products.

Marketing the company’s goods and services goes beyond word of mouth. Hui says advertising in the Neighborhood News serves her company well because she knows her ads, which frequently include special offers, are reaching people who are potential customers.

“We know that it goes to every single household,” she says.

As for promoting the company on digital platforms, visitors to Cabinet & Stone’s website can view cabinets, countertops, vanities and sinks in photographs illustrating the products from detailed close-ups to depictions of finished installations. Hui credits the website with extending her company’s reach far beyond the local market.

The Cabinet & Stone International Facebook page provides flexibility to highlight new products and recent projects, including before-and-after photographs that show how much a kitchen or bathroom’s appearance and functionality can be improved when you add the right cabinets and fixtures.

For “DIY” enthusiasts who want to install their Cabinet & Stone purchases themselves, the company’s YouTube channel — Cabinet & Stone INTL — has videos showing how to assemble everything from a spice rack to a three-drawer base cabinet.

Whether customers visit in person or online, whether their projects are big or small, Hui and Ron and their awesome staff offer the same commitment to fulfilling every customer’s needs.

“We want to be able to provide for whoever needs our unique line of cabinets with good service, quality products and competitive pricing,” Hui says.

To learn more about how Cabinet & Stone International can help with your kitchen and bath remodeling needs, call 887-5658, visit the showroom at 6606 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace or go online to CabinetnStoneIntl.com, or check out the ad on page 51.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic Serves The Community’s Health Care Needs

In the healthcare business, an ounce of prevention can be less expensive than 10cc of medicine. That approach to treating patients is one of the core principles of Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic, located in the Canterbury Professional Park, off SR 54, two miles east of I-75.

Welcoming senior citizen patients insured by Medicare Advantage plans is one way Dr. Mahmud Ahmed, M.D., fulfills his medical practice’s healthcare vision.

“The concept of Medicare Advantage plans is to provide the best possible care with the least use of medical resources — such as tests and medications — without cutting corners, which also saves money,” he says. “The idea is to keep the patient from getting sick.”

Medicare Advantage plan providers that Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic accepts are Freedom Health, Optimum HealthCare, Humana Gold Plus, CarePlus Health Plans and WellCare.

You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan from three months before your 65th birthday to three months after, during the annual election period between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 of each year, when Medicare beneficiaries can change their coverage. They also can enroll during the general enrollment period Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year, with coverage beginning July 1 of the same year, and during special enrollments based on individual circumstances.

More information about enrollment options can be found online at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Dr. Ahmed’s professional perspective was shaped by practicing medicine for 13 years in Canada, which has a substantial national health plan, after earning his M.D. degree from Dow Medical College of Karachi University in Karachi, Pakistan.

He completed his medical training at Winnipeg General Hospital and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Ahmed is Board-certified in internal medicine and specializes in cardiology.

He is happy to explain how  his clinical experience in Canada compares with medical practices in the U.S.

“Here, doctors do test after test after test,” he says. “In Canada, you do the test that provides the most information.”

Established in 2000, Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic provides primary medical care with an emphasis on providing services for senior citizens.

According to Marcus Dunmire, Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic’s office manager, taking proper care of patient health with medical screenings before a medical emergency arises or chronic health condition develops is an important part of Dr. Ahmed’s approach to medicine.

“We do offer a lot more tests (on-site) than a typical internal medicine practice would offer,” he says.

Among the tests that can be performed onsite include glucose checks, electrocardiograms (EKG), spirometry to check lung capacity and tuberculosis skin tests. The clinic also offers a non-invasive onsite colon cancer screening as an alternative to a colonoscopy.   

Other services available include school and sports physical exams, Department of Transportation physicals, flu shots, vaccinations for things like tetanus and the flu (but no children’s vaccines), anti-inflammatory injections like cortisone shots, blood tests (phlebotomy) and nebulizer treatments for respiratory distress.

Dunmire adds that the staff works hard so the patient experience goes beyond encounters with stethoscopes and tongue depressors. “The staff is a big part of the experience,” Dunmire says. “With patients, we always want them to feel important. We take pride in how we treat our patients and in making sure that whatever issues they have are taken care of here.”

And when it comes to treating illness, sooner is almost always better than later.

“So, when we have a patient who needs to see a doctor, we’re always going to try to get them in the same day,” Dunmire says.

That’s an approach to medicine appreciated by George Taber, who says he has been a patient at the Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic for eight years.

“Dr. Ahmed and his crew are all great,” the Zephyrhills resident says. “He has a very caring attitude. He doesn’t rush you in and out and you’ll have answers to your questions before you leave.”

Elaine Faria, also a resident of Zephyrhills, likewise speaks highly of the medical treatment she’s received at the clinic.

“I think they’re the best around,” she says. “It’s a triple plus. The staff is wonderful, Dr. Ahmed is wonderful and the physician assistant, Kirti is wonderful.”

Certified Physician Assistant Kirti Patel, PA-C earned her MPAS (Master Physician Assistant Studies) from Nova Southeastern University in Orlando and is Board-certified in her profession. She says an attentive ear is as important as a healing hand.

“It’s hard to treat the patient if you can’t listen to them,’’ Kirti says. “Listening to the patient’s concerns allows me to bring whatever clinical knowledge I have to help them.”

One of the reasons Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic is able to respond in a flexible and caring manner is the availability of two medical doctors and a physician assistant to accommodate its patient population.

In addition to Dr. Ahmed, Neeraj Mahajan, MD also is on the staff. He is Board-certified in family medicine and graduated from Gajra Raja Medical College of Jiwaji University in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. He completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, NY.

Mental Health Services, Too

Besides having their physical health taken care of, patients also can avail themselves of mental health counseling through Mindful Inspiration Counseling, LLC.

Erum Ahmed, LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) provides the counseling services. She earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida’s School of Behavioral Sciences in Tampa.

“It’s not just taking care of medical problems, but the whole person,” says Erum, who is Dr. Ahmed’s daughter.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic also carries out its work beyond the patients who come through its doors. The practice often holds presentations about medical issues for Wesley Chapel residents gathered in their community clubhouses and churches.

“We are glad to speak on any health issue,” says Dr. Ahmed. “The idea is to keep our community healthy.” 

The good work performed by Dr. Ahmed and his team recently received an award from Freedom Health/Optimum HealthCare for achieving high marks on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data & Information Set (HEDIS), which health plans use to measure a provider’s performance level of care and service.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic is one of three clinics operating as Healthflo Medical Clinics, Inc. The other two clinics are in Bushnell and Ridge Manor. Readers interested in a healthcare relationship with Dr. Ahmed and his team should use the name “Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic” if they do their own research online and to determine if their insurance plan is accepted.

For more information, call Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic at 994-0800 or see the ad on pg. 24. The clinic is located at 5819 Argerian Dr.