Baptist Health

Emergency Medical Services teams are among the true heroes of health care, and we’re proud to work alongside them to deliver lifesaving care to our community when it matters most. 🚑💙 This past week was Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, so we traveled to more than 130 fire rescue stations in northeast Florida and south Georgia to deliver goodies, food and messages of gratitude to the men and women who provide lifesaving care to our area. We visited with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Clay County Fire Rescue, Nassau County Fire Rescue Professionals Local 3101, Baker County Fire Rescue, Orange Park Firefighters Local 2668, St. Johns County Fire Rescue and more. After spending time with these teams and witnessing the care, compassion and dedication they bring every day, we can confidently say: you're in very good hands. ❤️

Play a critical role behind the scenes in patient care. Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville is hiring a Medical Laboratory Scientist II in Microbiology to support accurate, timely diagnostics that guide treatment decisions. Join a collaborative lab team where your expertise helps deliver answers when they matter most. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/ekzi5UHx

At Baptist Health, our team members show up for each other through every season — from the toughest moments to the proudest milestones. 💙 The oncology team on Weaver 6 recently surprised their nurse manager, Denise, with a celebration after she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. 🎉 Denise shared, “I was truly shocked and brought to tears by their love and thoughtfulness.” Moments like these are a reflection of the culture our teams create every day — one built on support, encouragement and genuine care for one another. We are so #BaptistProud of the way our team members celebrate each other, making big accomplishments feel even more meaningful and turning everyday moments into something special.

May is #NationalStrokeAwarenessMonth, and our own Dr. Matthew McKillop, medical director, electrophysiology program, recently appeared on WJCT Public Media's First Coast Connect to discuss how a common heart condition called atrial fibrillation often goes undetected. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, and Dr. McKillop discusses the warning signs many people overlook, who is most at risk, and how new technologies like smartwatches are helping diagnose Afib earlier. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ewxmjPzq

It’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, and we’re lighting Weaver Tower in yellow, white and blue to honor the men and women who are on the front lines of emergencies in our community, doing what they do best: saving lives and making a difference. 💙🤍💛 To every EMS professional showing up day and night for our community — thank you. Thank you for the calm you bring in chaotic moments, the care you give patients and families and the countless ways you make a difference every single day. We are so grateful for you. 🚑✨

🧠 🤔 For Linda, her mental health care has been a lifelong journey that began long before she even had a name for what she was experiencing. After first seeking counseling at age 12 and spending decades trying to understand her mental health, she was finally diagnosed in her 50s - depression. Even with a diagnosis and over 10 medications over the years, true relief remained out of reach. Many treatments helped partially, but none fully lifted the weight she described as feeling "like a gorilla with arms dragging on the ground." Everything changed when she was introduced to an FDA-approved nasal spray treatment for treatment-resistant depression. Unlike traditional antidepressants, this therapy works through a different pathway and can begin showing effect much more quickly - sometimes within 24 hours. ⏰ Today, after years of searching, Linda is glad to have found this treatment, which she has now been receiving for 3 years. Her experience is not just about symptom relief - it's about reclaiming her life, her energy and her ability to participate fully in the things she loves. 💬 "It gave me a life," Linda says, "instead of barely functioning, I'm able to be an active member in my community and do the things I enjoy." Her story is a powerful reminder that advances in mental health care are creating new possibilities for patients who have spent years searching for answers and hope. 🔗 To read more about Linda's story, visit: https://lnkd.in/e-rxskit

This #ClinicalTrialsDay, we’re #BaptistProud to recognize the incredible team members across Baptist Health and Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center who are helping shape the future of medicine through clinical research. 🔬💙 From research coordinators and nurses to physicians, regulatory specialists and operational teams, every clinical trial is powered by passionate people working together to bring hope, innovation and advanced care to our community. Through more than 50 active clinical research studies, the teams at Baptist Health Research Institute (BHRI) are helping expand access to the latest evidence-based treatments, preventive therapies and advanced clinical trials close to home. From stroke and neurology to structural heart, electrophysiology and endocrinology, BHRI continues to help drive innovation and improve patient outcomes across our region. At the same time, the Baptist MD Anderson Clinical Trials team is helping lead the way in advancing cancer care through groundbreaking oncology research, innovative therapies and expanded access to cutting-edge cancer clinical trials for patients throughout our community and beyond. Read more about their team on the Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center page! Clinical research is about more than studies and protocols — it’s about giving patients and families access to new possibilities, innovative therapies and compassionate, patient-centered care when they need it most. Today, we celebrate the dedication, collaboration and compassion of every team member helping move medicine forward right here in Jacksonville and far beyond. 💙🔬 And a special shoutout to the leaders helping champion and grow clinical research across our health system: -Dr. Smitha Gubbi, MBBS, CCRC, Director of Research, Baptist Health Research Institute -Dr. Andres Alvarez, MD, PhD, EMHA, Research Director, Baptist MD Anderson Clinical Trials -Dr. Brandon Chapman, MD, MBA, FACS, CPE, System Executive for Research, Baptist Health, and VP of Medical Affairs, #BaptistSouth. ---- ✨ Interested in learning more about clinical trials and research opportunities at Baptist Health? 🔬 BHRI trials: https://lnkd.in/ehbXEDTB 🎗️ Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center trials: https://lnkd.in/ekG-bfHJ

Future doctor loading… 👩⚕️💙 First grader Eden from Jacksonville Country Day School recently stepped into the role of “Chief of Staff for the Day” at Baptist Beaches after her family won a special silent auction experience hosted by our hospital president Jarret Dreicer, MHA, MS, FACHE. From touring different areas of the hospital to meeting team members along the way, Eden got a behind-the-scenes look at hospital leadership, patient care and all the moving pieces that help keep a hospital running each day. Complete with her own white coat and hospital badge, she embraced every moment with curiosity, confidence and lots of smiles. ✨ The best part? Eden already knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up — a doctor! 🩺 Eden was the BEST Chief of Staff for the Day at #BaptistBeaches, and we loved getting to show her what makes health care such a special calling. Safe to say the future of medicine is in good hands. 💙

🌧️ 😞 Life feeling grey? Get your color back again with innovative depression and anxiety treatments. Common mental health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders and mood disorders often go unrecognized. The good news? Mental health treatment has evolved, and help is available. If traditional therapy or medication hasn’t worked for you, there may be other options worth exploring. At Baptist Behavioral Health, patients who aren’t seeing improvement with medication or counseling may benefit from innovative treatment options including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), esketamine nasal spray and long-acting injectables. 🔗 Learn more about innovative treatments for anxiety and depression today: https://lnkd.in/eqr8Tpgi

Congratulations to Keith Schissler, PharmD, MBA, RPh, CPh, FABC, on being named Vice President of System Pharmacy! 💙 Dr. Schissler has been with us since 2012, when he joined Baptist Medical Center Beaches as Director of Pharmacy. In 2022, he assumed a dual role as the Vice President of Operations for Baptist Beaches, including serving as the system pharmacy executive. Since joining #BaptistHealth, Dr. Schissler has made a lasting impact through his leadership and dedication, consistently advancing excellence across both the system and hospital levels. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion! 🎉