This Membership Dinner will honor the legacy of Tapan Padhya, MD, with special guest speaker Karen Clay, president and founder of the Michael Phillips Foundation. Karen has received numerous recognitions and awards for her outstanding work in healthcare advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Join us as she shares her and her son’s incredible story. Co-Sponsored by Tampa General Hospital and USF Credit Union. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND TO RSVP.

Hillsborough County Health Care Plan (HCHCP) Targeted for Defunding

Contact your Board of County Commissioners to encourage them to preserve the HCHCP and its dedicated funding!

Support medicine's voice this election year

It's an election year, and your support of HILLPAC is more important than ever. HILLPAC meets with candidates and contributes to pro-medicine leaders who understand healthcare issues and support policies that benefit patients and physicians. Please consider contributing to help ensure medicine has a strong voice in the political process. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Efforts to end school vaccine mandates hit a wall in Florida

Since the summer of 2025, Florida leaders have aimed to make the state the first to drop some of those vaccine mandates. The anti-vaccine rhetoric has often been positioned as a push for "medical freedom." Related efforts to revise laws and regulations rumbled along at the state health department and in the legislature for months. But by the end of April, the fight seemed to have stalled out. Read more. Read the HCMA's position statement on vaccines HERE.

Foundation Grants Awarded

Every swing makes a difference. Thanks to the success of the HCMA Foundation Charity Golf Classic, the HCMA Foundation Board is pleased to announce its 2026 grant recipients. The funds raised through the tournament help support organizations that are improving the health and well-being of our local community. In addition to an annual USF medical student scholarship, the 2026 grant recipients are:

As you consider your charitable giving this year, we encourage you to support these outstanding organizations and join us at the 2027 HCMA Foundation Charity Golf Classic, which will continue to make grants like these possible.

LAST CHANCE TO ADVERTISE IN THE 2026 HCMA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY!

The HCMA has partnered with E&M Consulting, Inc. for the twelfth consecutive year to produce our Annual Membership Directory. The publication will be available in both print and digital formats. E&M will manage all aspects of the project, including advertising sales and graphic design. They are a highly professional organization and consistently produce a high-quality publication.

MEMBERS ONLY ADVERTISING RATES: The directory will be mailed to every HCMA member, making this an excellent opportunity to promote your practice and gain additional exposure. To view advertising options and reserve your ad online, please CLICK HERE! If you have any questions, please contact an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 0104 or email

advertising@eandmsales.com

Children’s healthcare giant challenges Florida AHCA over Medicaid rate change

Pediatric Associates claims the Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees Florida Medicaid, incorrectly cut reimbursement rates, jeopardizing care for the patients served by the group. Read more.

WOW - is it hot out!

Navigate Tampa's extreme summer heat by checking daily National Weather Service alerts, as the local heat index frequently exceeds 105°F. Stay hydrated, utilize local cooling centers, avoid outdoor activity between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and monitor at-risk groups and pets. Resources to share with patients, family, and friends:

Key Safety Rules

Stay Hydrated: Drink water or sports drinks every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you do not feel thirsty.
Dress for the Climate: Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and use sunscreen.
Vehicle Safety: Never leave children or pets unattended in a closed vehicle, even with cracked windows.
Avoid Peak Hours: Reschedule strenuous outdoor tasks or exercises to the early morning or late evening.
Check on Vulnerable Neighbors: Monitor the elderly, young children, and those without air conditioning.

Emergency Cooling Centers

During extreme heat waves and heat advisories (heat index of 105°F to 110°F), the City of Tampa opens emergency cooling stations, typically operating between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM. City centers include:
Barksdale Adult Activity Center – 1801 N. Lincoln Avenue
George Bartholomew Center – 8608 N. 12th Street
Ragan Park Center – 1200 E. Lake Avenue
Kate Jackson Community Center – 821 S. Rome Avenue

Recognizing Heat Illness

Always seek medical attention or dial 911 immediately if you spot signs of severe heat illness.
Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, cold/pale/clammy skin, fast pulse, nausea, or dizziness.
Heat Stroke (Emergency): Body temperature above 103°F, hot/red/dry skin, no sweating, rapid/strong pulse, confusion, or unconsciousness.

About 30% of adults report seeking health information and advice from social media or chatbots

Fierce Healthcare recently reported, “Roughly three in ten adults self-reported turning to social media (31%) or AI chatbots (29%) at least onthly for health information and advice,” a recent poll found. The KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust found that “among those who used social media for healthcare advice, the three most frequently cited reasons for its usage were: wanting to learn from people who have the same health condition or share similar experiences (36%), wanting immediate information or support (35%) and not having a regular” healthcare professional “or not being able to afford the cost of seeing a” healthcare professional (17%). Read more.

Health vs Hype

Help patients understand if health trends are real, risky, or backed by science. Listen to the new Health vs. Hype podcast from the AMA and iHeart Radio.

Highlights from the 2026 AMA Annual Meeting

On June 10th, the House of Medicine concluded its 2026 AMA Annual Meeting, where hundreds of physician and medical student delegates debated and set policy for the organization. Read more.

Physicians needed for the Hillsborough County Guardianship Examining Committee

The Hillsborough County Court, Guardianship Division, is currently seeking physicians for their Guardianship Examining Committee. The application period is open, with more information available on their website. PLEASE NOTE: for other disciplines, the deadline was December 5, 2025, but physician applications are accepted at any time. CLICK HERE. Please feel free to contact Jennifer Branch, Program Coordinator, at 813-301-7162 or email branchjl@fljud13.org if you have any questions.

Recognizing practices with 100% HCMA Membership

10-25 Physicians

Tampa Bay Surgical Group

26-50 Physicians

Over 50 Physicians

Connect with us!

Follow and connect with the HCMA on social media. Tap the icons on the left and also connect with HCMA administrative staff on LinkedIn:

Debbie Zorian, Executive Director and

Elke Lubin, Executive Assistant

Interested in sponsoring an HCMA event?

Sponsorship opportunities to consider:

Women in Medicine Social
Membership Dinners
Holiday Social
Resident Reception
Foundation Charity Golf Classic

To learn more about these upcoming events and sponsorship opportunities, contact Debbie Zorian, Executive Director, at dzorian@hcma.net or call 813- 253-0471.

From the Boards of Medicine

Volunteer Health Care Provider Program

Volunteers are vital to the Florida Department of Health's mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through community efforts.

Licensed health care professionals are responding to the needs of individuals who may not have access to quality care by volunteering their time and services. These professionals provide primary and specialty care to uninsured and underserved residents of Florida. The Volunteer Health Care Provider Program allows these professionals to establish a contract with the Florida Department of Health, which provides sovereign immunity to the participating health care provider. The number of individuals receiving care increases annually thanks to the support of local medical and dental organizations, and individuals such as yourself. Consider joining physicians, dentists, and other health care professionals to assist in volunteering your time to support Florida’s communities.

Learn more about the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program.

Physician Wellness

A message from Dr. Dike Drummond

You stare at screens all day long. EHR. Texts. Emails. Patient portal messages. Your brain is basically fried by the time dinner rolls around. So I deliberately went old school with Physicians Unchained.

I made it a real print book. Not an eBook or PDF. Not another screen. An actual hold-it-in-your-hands book. Here's the thing about that. Your brain just works differently with physical pages. Research backs this up. You retain more. You understand more. You actually apply what you read. Your brain slows down and absorbs things instead of just scanning them.

This book gives you a brand new road map for retirement.

Whether you're dreading it or already in it, and wondering what went wrong, both versions together are under $25. No markup. No games. Just the book at my cost.

Grab your copy right here and dog-ear away!

The HCMA Foundation Physician Wellness Program (PWP) provides a safe harbor for members to address difficulties, challenges, and work/family/life balance through counseling and coaching services, up to six sessions in twelve months. This complimentary and completely confidential benefit is available for all members, regardless of membership category.

The PWP relies on donations and the generosity of members in order to provide counseling and coaching services at no cost. We want to be able to continue providing this valuable benefit to all HCMA members! Please consider donating to the HCMA Foundation PWP.

Personal News

Dr. Jason Wilson and Dr. John Curran.

Advisory Board Renamed

The Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board was officially renamed to The John S. Curran, M.D. Health Care Advisory Board. On May 6, 2026, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners passed a motion directing the Health Care Services Department to prepare the amendment officially honoring Dr. Curran’s legacy. Dr. Curran was recognized for his 16 years of service as board chair and for being instrumental in creating the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan in 1991.

HCMA member, Dr. Jason Wilson and one of the longest serving members, will now serve as Chairman as Dr. Curran, a founding Board member and chairman, has transitioned out.

Gala Honors Dr. Susan Steen

Tearful yet joyful, the annual Inspire, Imagine & Hope Gala honored HCMA member, neurologist Dr. Susan Steen, for her 40-plus years advancing brain health education and leading clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

The March 27th gala, “Making Waves for a Cure,” netted $780,000 in support of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulf Coast chapter.

New Members

Joining the HCMA is easy!

Do you have a nonmember colleague? Share this edition of Enews, direct them to our website, or scan the QR code to learn more about the HCMA and all of the benefits we offer!

Spotlight on Savings

Looking for an increased patient base and bottom line? Full Circle PR is a local, strategic growth firm specializing in the medical practice industry. They offer HCMA members a complimentary consultation and create a customized public relations and marketing plan that will increase their patient base and ultimately their bottom line.

From solo practitioners to medical conglomerates and hospitals, they represent nearly 300 medical practices and centers across 17 states. Full Circle PR offers a wide range of services, from marketing and public relations to reputation management and community networking. They have a proven track record of establishing new practices, increasing patient base, expanding brand awareness, boosting market share considerably, and enhancing their reputation.

Michele Krohn

President

813.887.FCPR (3277)

HCMA members save 10% on all services!

Classified Ads

For information on how to place a classified ad in Enews, contact Elke Lubin at the HCMA or complete and return this form.

The Bulletin

Share Your Story in The Bulletin

Have a memorable patient experience, an unforgettable trip, a great book or restaurant recommendation, or insights from your years in medicine? We'd love to hear from you.

The Bulletin, HCMA's quarterly digital journal, is always looking for engaging, non-technical articles written by our members. Whether it's a reflection on your career, an interesting patient case, travel experiences, community involvement, or something that simply made you think, your story may be exactly what a colleague enjoys reading.

Never written for The Bulletin before? We especially encourage first-time authors to submit! You don't need to be a professional writer, just someone with a story, experience, or perspective to share.

Edited by Dr. David Lubin, The Bulletin is emailed to HCMA members and a broad audience beyond our membership, and is also featured on the HCMA website.

Review the author guidelines and submit your article. We look forward to sharing your story!

Summer 2026 issue

Click here to read The Bulletin or download a PDF

Features...

Simple Truth

Neil Manimala, MD

You can't handle the truth!

David Lubin, MD

A Calling within A Calling

Debbie Zorian

Charity Golf Classic

Installation Dinner

...and more!

Add someone to The Bulletin email list

UPCOMING EVENTS

HCMA Resident Reception

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 6-8pm

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant

HCMA Resident Physician members are invited to unwind with colleagues and HCMA leaders. Recognizing GME members from USF, AdventHealth, St. Joseph's, and HCA Brandon. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Drop In & Ask Me Anything - via Zoom

Thursday, July 23, 2026, 6:30PM

Money questions? We’ve all got them. Join Spencer Gauta for a casual, no-pressure Zoom chat where you can ask anything, hear what others are asking, and pick up practical financial insights along the way. Drop in anytime - by registering, you will receive a reminder the day of. Register here.

Real-World Financial Advice for Medical Students

& New Physicians - Via Zoom

Thursday, August 20, 6:30PM

This 60-minute session with Spencer Gauta is built for medical students and young physicians who want to get ahead financially. Learn how to manage loans, build good habits early, and avoid costly missteps that can impact your future. Register here.

HCMA Membership Dinner

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

6:30 pm - Social, 7:30 pm - Dinner & program

The Centre Club

This Membership Dinner will honor the legacy of Tapan Padhya, MD, with special guest speaker Karen Clay, president and founder of the Michael Phillips Foundation. Karen has received numerous recognitions and awards for her outstanding work in healthcare advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Join us as she shares her and her son’s incredible story. Co-Sponsored by Tampa General Hospital and USF Credit Union. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND TO RSVP.

Women in Medicine Reception

Thursday, September 24, 2026, 6-8pm

Palma Ceia Country Club

September is Women in Medicine Month! All female physicians are welcome to join us for an evening of connection and recognition as we celebrate the incredible women who continue to shape the future of medicine. Click here for details and to RSVP.

HCMA Holiday Social

Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 6:30pm

Tampa Bay Yacht Club

Our annual year-end gathering for members and their guests to reconnect, celebrate the season, and toast the upcoming year. Watch your email for more details and to RSVP.

HCMA Foundation's 29th Charity Golf Classic

Thursday, April 22, 2027 - EARTH DAY!

Tournament Players Club - Tampa Bay

Celebrate Earth Day on the greens!! On Earth Day, your impact can extend far beyond the fairway. Join us for a day of golf, camaraderie, and giving back to our community. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and golfer registration is open. Click here for details.

Benefit Providers

The HCMA’s Benefit Provider Program provides value to physicians with members-only products, programs, and services that far exceed the cost of annual dues. Click the logos below for more information about each of our valued partners.

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Zorian, HCMA Executive Director, at 813.253.0471 or DZorian@hcma.net.