Dr. Martha Tapia — Why This Former NYC Cop Should Be Your Therapist! 

Psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Dr. Martha Tapia, who has an office in the Medallion Corporate Park north of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, can help children, adults, couples and families with a variety of issues, from PTSD to chronic pain, with her unique combination of experience and, she says, her faith in God. 

Martha Tapia, Ph.D., and her Community Family Counseling provides family counseling to help with a variety of mental and emotional issues for children, adults, couples and families. She also is a certified clinical hypnotherapist who can help people dealing with post-traumatic stress, anger and depression. She approaches every case she handles holding firm to her deep commitment to her Christian faith. She brings her own unique background and training to her job and has helped many people in the three years she has worked as a therapist, since moving to Florida from New York in 2016. 

When I say unique, I’m guessing that most psychotherapists in our area probably were not working as a New York City police officer when 9/11 changed life in the United State forever. But, Martha was at Ground Zero the day after the towers fell, only two years after joining the police academy. 

“I missed the last police van to go to Ground Zero that day, so they kept me patrolling on Staten Island until the next morning,” she says. 

“The things I saw and smelled those days,” she says. “No one should have to see that. The body bags, the devastation. There’s no doubt that I had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) myself after what I saw and went through because of 9/11.” 

Like so many who worked at Ground Zero, Martha developed major health issues, including severe asthma, which she was diagnosed with in 2005, only three+ years later. She was pregnant with her daughter Marlene when she had issues with the pregnancy, especially great difficulty breathing. Marlene also has been diagnosed with asthma. 

“A lot of the kids of those first responders are having health issues, too,” she says. “But that’s not something that most people talk about.” 

“Breathing that air and eating food with white ashes that we would just wipe off, eat and keep working — we were all poisoning ourselves. Many of my fellow officers and firefighters lost their lives to the cancers and illnesses we were all dealing with.” 

Martha did end up retiring from the police force, but not until 2008, while working at Precinct 50 in The Bronx, after trying to arrest a suspect and having multiple people end up on top of her, herniating two of the discs in her back. 

“They put me on medication for my back, but it reacted with the asthma medication I was taking and I got more sick from it,” she says. “I went into a deep depression because I didn’t know how I would be able to take care of my kids. I just knew I had to survive for them.” 

With her early retirement, Martha went on to become a leader of a Girl Scout troop and went back to church, where she became a volunteer in the women’s group. “I couldn’t just be retired,” she says. “I had to stay busy.” 

Two years later, she met and married her husband John Bevilacqua, who worked for a labor union, but when he retired in 2016, they did their research and ended up buying a house in Wesley Chapel. 

Martha and John have seven children and a grandson (named Zion) and granddaughter (Antonella) between them — Martha’s sons Matthew and Adam and her daughter Marlene. She also raised her niece Keren and nephew Phillip. Her other nephew Geovanny, who is a autistic, but high-functioning and in his 40s, and John’s daughter Madison also live with them. 

More Trauma & A Life Change 

“I understood what happened to me after 9/11,” Martha says. “What I didn’t know is how that trauma affected my older son Matthew. He was only 8 years old at the time and he had a panic attack because he was so worried about me. He was diagnosed with anxiety, so we put him in counseling, but eventually, they said he was fine.” 

Unfortunately, Matthew’s anxiety resurfaced in high school and got even worse with each move the family made and worst of all when the family moved to Florida when he was in his 20s. 

Dr. Martha can provide both traditional psychotherapy (above) and hypnotherapy (below) to help adults, children & couples. 

“Matthew was having panic attacks all the time — he was afraid of dying —and all anyone did was put him on medication, which made him sick. I knew I had to find another way.” 

That different way came in the form of Dr. Henry Castellanos, a Bible-based “Theo-Therapist” who was preaching at Martha’s Spanish-speaking church in Zephyrhills. Dr. Castellanos, an expert in what is known as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) therapy, is from Puerto Rico and he teaches EMDR therapy at the Ecotheos International University Bible College & Seminary he owns in Toa Baja, PR. 

“Once I learned about how EMDR therapy works from Dr. Castellanos and he tried it with Matthew, I saw how effective it was and I knew I needed to find out more.” 

Martha asked people to hook her up with Dr. Castellanos so she could learn more about EMDR and she sat and talked about it with him at an event. “I told him I was desperate to figure out how to help my son,” she says. “He’s about to lose it and I’m afraid he’s going to end up in a mental institution.” 

Martha ended up bringing Dr. Castellanos to her house because Matthew was still in her car having a panic attack. “He said his English was not very good, so he would need someone to be the translator between him and Matthew, so of course, I agreed to be the translator.” Martha is from Ecuador, so she was fluent in Spanish and, since she had lived in New York since age 16, she also is fluent in English and her Latin accent makes everything she says in English sound better. 

She says that where eight other therapists had failed, Dr. Castellanos was able to get through to Matthew with EMDR. “We took a family cruise to Puerto Rico, so I told my husband to take the kids to the beach because I was going to take Matthew to see Dr. Castellanos again at the University. He did a few intensive sessions with him and I saw an instant change in my son. He totally healed him and Matthew has never had that type of anxiety since then.” 

In 2019, she decided that since she was retired and was looking for something to do, she would enroll online at Ecotheos University to get her degree in Christian Clinical Counseling. She also attended two one-week sessions in person at the University, where she became certified in EMDR by Dr. Lucina Artigas, the creator of what is known in EMDR as the “butterfly hug,” which is used worldwide. 

At the same time, Martha and John were opening Martha’s Grill & Bar in Dade City, but when that shut down due to Covid in 2020, she decided to fully dedicate herself to becoming a therapist. In Oct. 2021, she had earned her Ph.D. degree (graduating Summa Cum Laude) in Philosophy Counseling and Theo- Therapy Systemic Therapy. She also is certified with the International Reciprocity Board of Therapeutic Professionals (IRBO) Therapeutic Family Counselor II and has earned a Certificate of Completion as an EMDR Therapist for Children & Adolescents. 

To enhance her skills as a therapist, she also began studying how hypnotherapy also can help patients and, in 2022, she was certified as a Hypnotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist by the Institute of Hypnotherapy in Tampa. Earlier this year, she also has added ZYTO Link scan services, which uses your smartphone to scan your face and read the biometrics and emotions that help people improve their wellness while working on their negative emotions that needs to be addressed. 

“We recommend selective natural products that assist your body and lifestyle system to help your body feel healthier and have an energetic balance,” Martha says, adding that her daughter Keren Bolanos is the ZYTO Link technician, who handles the scans. 

She wasn’t planing to open a private practice, “but my husband convinced me that I could do it,” Martha says. “And, here I am!” 

Starting with counseling only for individuals, she says that she believes that God shifted her direction, “like he wanted me to do this. I wouldn’t be where I am if not for Him.” 

“I wanted to specialize in helping kids, with EMDR and Play Therapy, that’s why I got my child EMDR certification,” she says. “But somehow, my practice has evolved into nearly 80% marriage and couples therapy. The Christian base helps a lot with that, as long as both partners are still wanting to stay together. I help them find common ground.” 

With all of these tools at her disposal, Martha says she is proud to be able to help people, “one family at a time. It’s OK to feel angry. It’s OK to feel sad. It’s not OK when it lingers.” 

As for her foray into clinical hypnotherapy, Martha says that, “Sometimes, you have to go deeper with people, reach their subconscious mind and hypnotherapy is a relaxation technique. Especially as a Christian, hypnotherapy gets a bad rap, but I have used it to help so many people. It allows me to get to a deeper level with them.” And, never fear, you never lose consciousness and Dr. Martha won’t turn you into a chicken or get you to bark on command. 

“Some people do get stuck with EMDR, but hypnotherapy helps me get you un-stuck,” she says. “It’s just good to have many options to help people.” 

Martha also wanted me to mention that she is very committed to her new church — the new Paradise Community Church on Boyette Rd. She also occasionally posts on Facebook that she hosts Christian-based events at her home. She also sponsors the annual “Dance Your Dream” gala hosted by Hope Services, a not-for-profit vocational service organization in Wesley Chapel that helps people living with disabilities find jobs. “My son Adam (who is developmentally disabled) and nephew Geo (who is autistic) have enjoyed attending the gala, too, “ she says. 

I also can give a personal testimonial about Dr. Martha. Jannah had some PTSD of her own following the serious car accident we had in 2017. She had spoken with other therapists since then because driving on the highway since that day had terrorized her. 

But, two hypnosis and EMDR sessions with Dr. Martha seems to have helped Jannah get over her panic while being a passenger in a car. Hearing how much better she’s doing made Martha very happy. 

“I just love helping people,” she says. 

Dr. Martha Tapia’s Community Family Counseling is located at 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., For appointments and more info, call (813) 803- 5968 or visit CommunityFamilyCounselor.com. 

The Glazer Children’s Museum — A Fun Place To Go With Your Kids This Summer! 

(Photos by Gary Nager)

So, with still three weeks left before the end of the sweltering summer and your younger kids have to go back to school, where can you take them for a fun day — any day — in air-conditioned comfort? 

I suggest a trip to the Glazer Children’s Museum, located in the heart of downtown Tampa’s Arts District, right near the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and the Tampa Museum of Art. 

If your kids love The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric Carle, the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa is hosting the traveling “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit” through September 8. 

I had two reasons for wanting to visit the Glazer Museum. The first was that Jannah and I were going to be babysitting our young grandchildren — 4-1/2-year-old Rosie and her 15-month-old brother Gio — for five days and there’s only so much pool, TV/screen and dining out time this Grammie and Grampa can handle without having something to do and Gio isn’t old enough yet to sit through a movie, much less Busch Gardens or (gulp) Disney. 

The second motivation was the fact that the museum was hosting a new traveling, temporary exhibit that first opened in May — the “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.” Even my sons, now both in their 30s, grew up being read, and then reading themselves, Carle’s most famous book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and when I saw the promotional photos for the exhibit, with giant versions of each page that kids can walk through, I thought the opportunity was too good to pass up — especially at only $18 per person. 

But, while Rosie enjoyed the Carle exhibit — especially standing in front of the butterfly wings of Carle’s transformed caterpillar and tromping through the tall grass like the author’s The Very Clumsy Click Beetle — Gio was too young to appreciate it and even Rosie found almost everything else at the museum to be more interesting — and fun! 


Even before you get inside, your kids will know a big, fun time awaits them! 

Your kids will love tromping through the tall grass like Carle’s The Very Clumsy Click Beetle. 

Gio thinks shopping carts are just so much fun, whether they have food in them or not! 
Something For Every Young’n! 

While I refuse to call them “littles,” there’s no doubt that if you have children from toddler age up to at least 6-8 years old and maybe as high as age 10, there truly are many things all of them will enjoy at the Glazer Children’s Museum. 

On the first floor of the Glazer Children’s Museum, there are fun activities that involve water, lights and sound. In addition to the Eric Carle exhibit, the second floor has a fun “working farm” among its many exhibits that is perfect for kids from toddlers to at least ages 6-8. But, the excitement gets even bigger when you venture up to the third floor. 

On the first floor, your journey begins with “Tugboat Tots,” where the kids get to steer a mini tugboat, “fish” off a mini-pier and play “I Spy” with an ocean mural. There also is an open play space for kids ages 3 and under that Gio loved, especially the “tasty” blocks (photo left). Rosie put on a smock and played not only with gliding boats through the water, but also with light and sound on the colorful “Light Cloud” piano, which also is on the first floor. 

But, the second level was probably both of the kids’ favorite. It started with a visit to a farm, where Rosie sat on a pig statue’s back and bottle-fed it and got to “milk” a cow statue (with fairly life-like udders), while Gio gathered tomatoes and oranges in a wheelbarrow and walked around with them. 

From there, Gio spent a lot of time checking out the “Safety Village,” where he could put groceries at the Publix supermarket in a shopping cart (he thought the empty cart, above, was super-fun, too!), sit in a fire truck at the firehouse and play with stuffed animals at the “Vet Clinic.” Rosie first checked out the Eric Carle exhibit and then flew off to the two-story-tall, fully-enclosed “Water’s Journey Climber,” where she climbed way up high (tentatively at first, but she caught on fast) and then loved the journey back down even more! 

Rosie also got very into the “Family Play Project” area, where she cut and pasted different paper and fabric swatches to create a unique artwork. 

Both kids enjoyed the “Twinkle Stars Theater,” where Rosie tried on costumes and Gio loved banging the buttons that controlled the lights and sound on the theater’s stage. 

Rosie then found the “Vet Clinic,” where she looked at pretend X-rays of some stuffed animals and then took time to properly groom them with a blow drying hose. 

Rosie also felt like a big girl while sliding down the fire pole at the firehouse and watching her skeleton move along with her on “Skelevision” at the “Hospital” sponsored by St. Joseph’s Hospital. 

Among her favorite exhibits on the second floor, though, were the “Pizza Place” — where she created and “cooked” a pizza of her own design in the oven that looks hot, but isn’t — and the “Ice Cream Parlour,” where she made a two-scoop cone for Grampa and a cup of ice cream with toppings for Grammie. 

On To Big John! 

The third level of the Glazer Children’s Museum is where you’ll find “Big John,” purported to be the “world’s largest” triceratops. The 66-million-year-old fossilized dino, which is on loan for three years from Tampa-based businessman Siddhartha Pagidipati, is the focal point of the museum’s dinosaur exhibit. Big John was reportedly reconstructed in less than a week upon his arrival to the museum. 

Gio had a blast playing with the plastic dinosaurs and popping out of a dinosaur egg, while Rosie properly matched bone shapes to a small version of Big John’s skeleton. Both kids also got a kick of weighing themselves against Big John’s 10-ton weight. 

Of course, by now, the children had to visit the cute store back on the ground floor, where we bought them a mini-copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and a transparent car filled with plastic dinosaurs. 

The museum also has a great private room for hosting kids’ birthday parties. 

Hop On The Pirate Water Taxi! 

Of course, after this three-hour romp, the kids were tired and hungry and, since we parked in the lot next to the museum, we were able to walk down to the Hillsborough River at the adjacent Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and catch a ride on the Pirate Water Taxi that took us upstream to Armature Works — only one stop away. Because we’re Florida residents, adults can stop at all 16 of the Pirate Water Taxi stops all day for $26, while children ages 2-12 can ride all day for $16 (those under age 2 ride for free). Rosie thought it was so cool that she was riding a boat since her parents were on a cruise while we were watching them! 

More About The Glazer Museum 

The 53,000-sq.-ft. Glazer Children’s Museum opened in 2010 after a $22-million capital campaign, with construction beginning in 2009. It was named in honor of the Glazer Family Foundation, which donated $5 million. The Foundation, at that time led by Edward Glazer and his brother Bryan, was founded by their father, the late Malcolm Glazer, who was the owner and president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Manchester United Football Club. 

The Glazer Children’s Museum dates back to Tampa’s original Safety Village, located in Lowry Park, which opened in 1965. According to the museum’s website, the museum’s Mission is to “create and foster engaging, impactful PLAY experiences for children and families to learn and thrive.” Its Vision is “a community that values PLAY as the foundation for the learning and development of families across generations.” 

All I can tell you is that it is a super-fun place and a great way to spend a day with your children or grandchildren. 

The Glazer Children’s Museum is located at 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza in downtown Tampa. A “Playmaker Membership” costs just $250 ($55 tax deductible) and includes 12 months of play for up to six members, access to members-only events and other discounts. For more information, including everything about memberships and donations, call (813) 443-3861 or visit GlazerMuseum.org. For the Pirate Water Taxi, visit PirateWaterTaxi.com. 


Rosie had so much fun creating and then “baking” her pretend pizza in the oven at the museum. “Don’t worry, Grandpa,” she told me. “It only looks hot. It’s not really.” 

Lavender Spa & Nails Can Make Your Nails Look Beautiful While You Shop At The Outlets! 

New Tampa residents Nidhi Dwivedi and Arvind Gupta of Financial Vision can help you with estate planning, life insurance and more. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

If you’ve never visited Lavender Spa & Nails, located at the Tampa Premium Outlets (on the south side of S.R. 56), now is the time! The nail spa’s convenient location makes it the perfect spot to get a manicure and/or pedicure in between shopping and dinner. 

Indulge in a luxurious spa experience as Lavender Spa & Nail’s highly skilled professional technicians customize your treatment to your needs, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated. The spa is now under the ownership of Chris and Gaiu (who goes by “Lee”) Alley, the same husband-and-wife team that also owns Colorful Nails on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. 

Chris, who has a background in information technology (IT), takes care of the “back end” of the business, such as managing the software at the salon and its website and marketing, while Lee oversees the day-to-day activities at the spa. The Wesley Chapel residents took over ownership of Lavender in February of this year but the previous owners and most of the staff stayed on to make for an easy transition. Most of the nail technicians have been at the spa for more than five years. 

“We weren’t really planning to open another salon, but this opportunity came along and we decided to go for it,” says Chris. “You sure can’t beat the location.” 

The revamped interior of Lavender Spa & Nails lets you know you’re in for a luxurious experience. 

Lee has made several improvements to the spa by expanding the area for facials and adding a massage room — massages will be available soon by appointment only. She also has updated the interior with an elegant new décor. Lee also has added new nail services, including the Hot Sweet Pedicure that incorporates hot steam into the luxurious Lavender Detox Pedicure (with the most luxurious pedicure products to reduce anxiety and stress with a fragrance you will love for total relaxation, leaving your feet and skin purified and replenished). 

The machine in this picture adds invigorating steam to the Hot Spa Pedicure. 

Lavender Spa & Nails also offers a wide array of other pedicures, including a paraffin spa pedicure (a high-end, eco-friendly paraffin alternative that is 100% natural, with shea butter and essential oils, that is great for dry and cracked heels), a volcano spa pedicure (with five steps of organic ingredients, including detox volcano crystals and activator, combined to create a fun, bubbling “explosion”) and the ultimate aloe spa pedicure (with natural aloe jelly that retains heat, soothes aching muscles and alleviates joint pain; the jelly also acts as a gentle exfoliant while the aromatic natural oils soften the skin and relax your mind and body; also includes hot stone massage and Eco-Fin wax in medicated boots in four different heavenly scents), to name a few. 

Manicure services include acrylic, gel, Gel- X, and dip powder nails. Spa services offered are waxing, facials and eyelash extensions. If you’re looking to treat your little ones, there are several Princess services available for ages 11 and under. 

Client Cheyenne Alderman, in her 5-star Google review (Lavender has a 4.6 overall Google rating, on nearly 600 reviews), raves about the services for younger clients. 

“Took my nieces to get their nails done for their birthdays, the staff was absolutely amazing! They were very accommodating to us, had great prices and they did a wonderful job! Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality nail salon!” 

Lee says, “What sets us apart from other salons is that we treat our staff and clients like family. Customer service is our highest priority.” With a staff of 13 highly qualified technicians, you will always be treated to high-quality services and a friendly atmosphere. 

Lavender’s nail techs can re-create pretty much any design and style of nails you want.

In her 5-star review on Google, Sydney Caplinger said, “I loved how relaxing the environment was! Everyone was so nice. Halle did my manicure and she was so nice and respectful and I showed her a picture of what I wanted for my nails and she exceeded my expectations!” Lee says, in fact, that Lavender Spa & Nails specializes in nail art. 

The spa also has a reward program — you receive a stamp with a purchase of a service over $32 and on your 10th service you receive $10 off. Seniors age 65+ and active military and veterans receive a 5% discount and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your birthday. Everyday pricing is competitive with the area, despite Lavender’s desirable (and not inexpensive) mall location. 

And finally, customer Lindsay Kendall says in her 5-star review, “This is the best nail salon experience I have ever had! The salon is gorgeous and the owner is so nice. All of the nail techs are friendly and take their time. I felt so at home and relaxed the entire time. Dolys did my full set and Nina did my pedicure. Highly recommend these ladies!” 

The next time you’re shopping at the outlet mall, give yourself a break and get the pampering you deserve at Lavender Spa & Nails located at 2398 Grand Cypress Dr., Suite 430, Lutz. The spa’s hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or more info, call (813) 300-3005 or visit LavenderSpaNails.com.


Lavender Spa & Nails features thousands of colors available in acrylic, Gel-X and dip powder. 

When you receive the new Hot Sweet Pedicure from Lavender nail tech Benny — or any of Lavender’s experience technicians — you’ll be treated to a soothing leg massage.

When you visit Lavender Spa & Nails, you’ll be treated like family by the experienced staff.

Farina Orthodontic Specialists Combines The Latest Technology With Top Patient Care 

The friendly professional staff at Farina Orthodontic Specialists is led by orthodontists (front row, l.-r.) Pedro Franco, D.M.D., Undine Davis, D.M.D. & Mark Farina, D.M.D. (Photos provided by Farina Orthodontic Specialists) 

Dr. Mark Farina, D.M.D (Doctor of Dental Medicine), of Farina Orthodontic Specialists is something of an institution in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. 

Dr. Farina has been creating beautiful smiles in our communities for nearly 30 years and continues to be at the forefront of both the latest technology and the highest possible level of patient care. 

After opening his first office on N. Habana Ave. in West Tampa in 1995, Dr. Farina opened his Tampa Palms office in the professional center next to what is now called the Shops at Amberly in 2000. 

Since then, he estimates that he has worked on more than 25,000 smiles for children and a growing number of adults. 

“They start as little people, and I see them grow up,” Dr. Farina says. “I have been invited to attend graduations, weddings and other functions. It’s great to see what a difference a great smile makes.” 

Today, Farina Orthodontic Specialists has three offices — one in South Tampa, one in Tampa Palms and the newest location in the building dubbed “The Cube” on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (between AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and the Shops at Wiregrass mall). And, two additional orthodontists who share Dr. Farina’s passion for creating beautiful smiles have joined him to serve even more patients — Undine Davis, D.M.D., and Pedro Franco, D.M.D. 

The first floor of the three-story cube is now the headquarters of Farina Orthodontic Specialists and also is home to a number of other related dental and medical specialists, including dental services such as root canals (endodontics) and maxillofacial surgery (to correct issues with teeth, gums and even jaws), as well as the office’s high-tech call center, digital lab and corporate office — all on the second floor of the building. The third floor is home to Kids SPOT, which provides pediatric therapy services, including speech, physical, occupational and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapies for children from birth to age 21 at every stage of development. 


Among the many technological advancements you’ll find at Farina Orthodontic Specialists are low-dose digital X-rays (above) and the 3D impressionless scanner (right).

“When we were starting to build the new office, my son Stefano was 18 and became part of the process,” Dr. Farina says. “I think that may have encouraged him to get involved in building projects, which he is still doing today. He looked at the cube and said, ‘Dad, it is missing a clock. People always remember a building with a clock on it!’ That’s how the (traditional round) clock became part of the building.” 

All three offices are busy places, with any number of happy patients visiting every day. 

“In fact, one of Stefano’s close friends also was a patient,” Dr. Farina says. “My wife (Lissette) and I overheard this friend tell my son, ‘I have to thank your dad. I was like a three when I first went to him. But, I got my smile fixed and now I’m like an eight, so I am going to ask (girls name) to the prom.’ These are the types of things that make me smile. I don’t ever feel like I’m working. I love what I do and take pride in the happiness and confidence we bring to so many.” 

Embracing Change 

Although some patients still either opt to (or have to) choose traditional metal braces, Dr. Farina says the motto at the office is “Embrace Change.” He and his team are always looking for innovative ways to grow and one way to accomplish this goal is with new technologies, which means more than just embracing Invisalign® clear aligners — although Dr. Farina says he is the top Invisalign® provider in the area, and one of just a few orthodontists nationwide who have reached Elite Status with Invisalign®. In fact, he says, 60-70% of the practice’s current patients are using Invisalign®. 

Dr. Franco works on a patient.

One such advancement in the orothodontic industry is the Dental Monitoring ScanBox Pro. This is a device and process that allows patients to take digital scans of their teeth (and entire mouths) every week with their phones. The images are sent to the office so the doctors can monitor the progress of these patients between scheduled appointments, especially if anything appears to not be progressing properly. At that point, they can be brought into the office as quickly as possible to correct any issues. 

“Our office was the first in the country to have this technology and we have been using it for more than four years now with great success.” 

Other technological advances include a 3D impressionless scanner that can create a digital 3D model of your teeth in minutes. An i-CAT 3D Machine takes a 3D image of not just the patient’s teeth, but also of the bones and airways in his or her head. Best of all, the process takes all of five seconds. 

An iTero 3D impressionless scanner can create a digital 3D model of your teeth in three minutes — without the need for that traditional, dreaded goop. The 3-D printers can even produce tooth aligners and retainers on site. 

Not Just For Kids Anymore 

Another trend in the orthodontic industry, according to Dr. Farina, is that 40% of the orthodontic practice’s patients are now adults, including a growing number of adult men. Some, but not all, of these adult patients are the parents of younger patients who see how effective orthodontics can be. 

Dr. Farina shows a patient their X-rays.

“Many of the adults do go with Invisalign® (clear aligners),” Dr. Farina says. 

Dr. Farina says that while Farina Orthodontic Specialists may not be the least expensive option for patients, “We’re not the most expensive orthodontists, either.” He adds that the practice’s prices are competitive, and it accepts all types of insurance plans. He will also work with patients who may need a payment plan, which he says can cost as little as $149/month. 

“Your smile is for a lifetime,” Dr. Farina says. “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. When you smile, you have the power to change the energy around you, as well as how you feel and how people around you feel.” 

When Dr. Farina was young, he had a bad experience with a dentist and was determined to make his office and everything about the experience friendly and inviting. That’s why his offices don’t look or feel like a dentist’s office. 

He also says that he is very proud of his staff. Every week, he and his team have “WOW Wednesday,” where the employees nominate one of their own to be the “Wower” of the week. 

Meet The Team 
Dr. Farina poses with his three “Top Dentist” awards from Tampa Magazine. 

Dr. Farina earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Boston College in Boston, MA. He earned his D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia and did his post-graduate orthodontic training at New York University (NYU) in New York City, NY. 

He also has received advanced training in the integrated diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and has served on research teams at both NYU and Penn to help find new and better ways to solve orthodontic problems. Dr. Farina attends more than 80 hours of professional seminars each year and participates in giving seminars and webinars across the country. 

Dr. Pedro Franco was born in Cleveland, OH, but grew up in the Dominican Republic. He graduated from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, Mexico, and earned his D.M.D. degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine in San Juan. His Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics is from the Georgia School of Orthodontics, where he received the Doctor Nathaniel Glover Leadership & Professionalism Scholarship. 

Dr. Davis works on a patient.

Dr. Undine Davis graduated from Stanford University in Stanford, CA, where she was an outstanding hurdler on the school’s track team. She earned her D.M.D. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. She also earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Dental Sciences and a Specialty Certification in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville. 

All three doctors in the practice are Board-certified and Dr. Farina says that only about 25% of all dentists are Board-certified, so he is very proud of this accomplishment. He and his team also have been voted one of the Top Dentists in Tampa the last three years by Tampa Magazine. The entire practice is very active in the community and has provided mouth guards for local sports teams and sponsored numerous causes that support education, encourage leadership and save lives. 

To schedule a free virtual consultation, with Farina Orthodontic Specialists, visit FarinaSmiles.com, where you also can find additional information about the practice. New patients can call (813) 652-0074 for more information. The Tampa Palms office is located at 15303 Amberly Dr., Suite E, and the Wesley Chapel office is located at 2370 Bruce B. Downs, Suite 100. 

Just Turning 65 & Confused By Medicare? Insurance Opportunities Can Help! 

If you ‘re about to turn age 65, Shaun Fagan of Insurance Opportunities can help you navigate the tricky world of which Medicare plan will be best for your needs. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

Shaun Fagan has been a licensed insurance agent since 1986, growing his business in the Kansas City area, and specializing in helping people ages 65 and older navigate the ins and outs of Medicare. 

In 2022, after Shaun’s wife Mary retired from Verizon following a 37-year career, the couple moved to Wesley Chapel. 

Shaun says that at one point in his career, he had 500 agents working under him. But, these days, he’s looking for a simpler way of life. 

Now it’s just Shaun and Mary, but he still helps people navigate the complexities of government-provided health insurance through Medicare. 

“There is a lot of confusion about Medicare,” Shaun says. “I give people clarity to make their choices easier.” 

This is especially needed for people who are turning 65, which is typically when they become eligible for Medicare. Shawn can make all of the choices available to you simpler to understand. 

“The government doesn’t make it easy, that’s for sure,” he says. 

Many people in their early 60s wonder if they should retire or keep working to stay on their company’s heath insurance plan, or stay on their spouse’s health insurance plan. 

“When people get to that crossroads, sometimes they kind of hang in at work because they think it’s the cheaper way to go,” Shaun explains. “But they can often get better care at a better price, or equal coverage at a lower cost and have that opportunity to retire.” 

He says if you’re nearing age 65, the time to talk with him is about three to four months before your birthday so you have time to learn about your options, decide what you want to do and start the enrollment process. 

He adds that he also helps many people who are in a transition period, like if they have retired before age 65. 

That’s how Sheri Stephens met Shaun. 

“When I retired, I found it very overwhelming,” Sheri says. “I retired at 61, so I have a few years I have to bridge before Medicare.” 

Sheri says Shaun had already helped her sister and her husband find a better plan than what they already had, and they referred her to him. “He is so knowledgeable,” she says. “In just educating me and walking me through the different carriers and different benefits, he was able to break it down to a third-grade level, which is where I needed it to be, because there are so many conditions and rules.” 

Sheri liked that all of her conversations with Shaun were over the phone or via Zoom if he needed to show her something. 

“He was very professional, very knowledgeable and very easy to deal with.” 

Help For Businesses, Too 

Shaun also has decades of experience helping small businesses looking for health insurance for their entire company. 

“My niche is helping businesses with 20 to 50 employees, where they usually don’t have a human resources person,” he says. “They typically have an office manager but that person isn’t an insurance specialist. That’s where I can really help a business.” 

He explains that Insurance Opportunities also can provide medical, dental and vision insurance, but his specialty is Medicare. 

Shaun also says that when his business was based in Kansas City, he served clients in many states. Now, he continues to serve some of those clients, while also bringing his expertise to locals in Florida. 

“We had a large operation before,” he says, “but we whittled it down to make it more simple when we moved here. Now, it’s just my wife — who helps me with customer service and organizing my monthly Medicare educational events — and me, which is the way we want it. As we get older, simpler is better.” 

He says that since Covid, the workplace has changed so that he can work from anywhere, so he and Mary decided they didn’t want to spend another cold winter in Kansas City, which helped them decide to move to Wesley Chapel two years ago. 

“The pandemic was the prompter,” he explains. “You can work from anywhere now, so you might as well work from someplace warm.” 

They moved into the 55-and-older community of Esplanade in Wesley Chapel. 

Shaun is an avid cycler and loves that he never has to check the weather before he heads out to ride his bicycle. Although he says lately, he’s sure to head out around 6:30 a.m. before it gets too hot outside. 

He says that because he is a similar age to his clients now, he definitely can relate to the decisions they are facing. 

“I’m of that age now,” he says, “so I understand the dilemma and what people are trying to achieve. ‘Will I have enough money to do what I want to do?’ Not only do I have experience from clients. I’m also in it, too.” 

And, while he is reaching that age where some people think about retiring, he says he plans to continue working for 12 more years, so clients don’t need to worry that he won’t be available to them if they have questions in the future. 

“Medicare is confusing,” he says, “But it doesn’t have to be. In 30 minutes or an hour I’ve helped a lot of people to give them clarity, so they can make a decision about whether or not to enroll in Medicare, as well as which plan to choose.” 

Understanding The Differences 

There are four types of Medicare insurance, known as “Parts,” that include Part A through Part D. Part A provides hospital insurance; Part B provides medical insurance; Part C comprises Medicare Advantage Plans; and Part D provides prescription drug coverage. 

“Original Medicare” is managed by the federal government, while “Medicare Advantage” plans are managed through private insurance carriers and may offer additional benefits, such as coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision and wellness. 

Shaun can help you determine whether you should enroll in Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, and he works with many large insurance carriers — such as Simply Blue, Aetna, Humana, United Health Care and others — all of which offer a variety of options when it comes to out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. 

Shaun is certified through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He says that some Medicare plans vary based on the state you live in, but the plans all basically offer the same benefits and he can walk you through the specifics of all of the plans available to you. 

“We start with a no-cost, no-obligation meeting, which can be in person or a phone call,” Shaun says. 

He’s quick to point out that even if you sign up with him, there’s still no cost to you for his services. Insurance Opportunities doesn’t charge service, consultation or advisor fees — the carrier you sign up with is who pays Shaun. 

“There’s no cost to you except the 30 minutes to an hour you spend with me — so just the time,” he says. 

Shaun says for clients who want to meet face to face, he’ll come to you. He takes phone calls at all hours and typically meets with clients Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

To schedule a free consultation with Shaun Fagan of Insurance Opportunities, call him at (816) 305-3337 or visit Calendly.com/shaun-185 to set a time. You also can get more information on the website at InsOppty.com.