UF Health North

11/21/2025

Chantel Mitchell thought she was about to have the weekend of her life at a Nicki Minaj concert. Instead, she found herself fighting for it. When Mitchell’s face began drooping during the show, her friend called for help, a decision that saved her life. At UF Health Jacksonville, doctors confirmed she had suffered a stroke. Read the full story here: https://ufhealthjax.org/stories/2025/jacksonville-woman-survives-stroke-at-age-37

11/20/2025

Dizziness may have many common causes, including stroke, heart issues, medication side effects, not eating enough food or drinking enough water, or being out in the heat too long. It is important to seek medical attention for sudden, unexplained dizziness.

However, dizziness may not be caused by any of these problems, but may be related to the vestibular system, which is part of your brain’s balance center. It is found in both of your inner ears and is directly connected to your brain. Read our latest Health Matters Blog to learn more about treatment: https://ufhealthjax.org/stories/2025/physical-therapy-for-dizziness-in-the-hospital-setting

11/19/2025

Every second matters when a stroke happens. Help us bring life-saving care directly to patients with UF Health Jacksonville's first-ever Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit—a game-changer for Northeast Florida!
With on-board CT imaging and stroke-trained professionals, we can diagnose and treat strokes faster, improving recovery outcomes. By bringing the care to the patient, the team can begin treatment while in transit to the nearest available stroke center. This saves critical moments to reduce long-term disability from the stroke.

Give hope, spread joy when you donate today helping to transform stroke care: UFHealthJax.org/GiveToday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dKSRBpP3kY

UF Health Jacksonville is working with JFRD to accelerate stroke care with Jacksonville's first and only Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit. Now, we're treating st...

11/19/2025

Deep Brain Stimulation treatment allows for our patients to get back to doing the things they love doing most. Veteran, Christian Villarose has found new hope through DBS. He's been able to lower his medication doses and frequency which allows him to enjoy simple activities again, such as taking walks, petting his dog, and even returning to his love for golf and snowboarding. In addition to his physical recovery, he has found solace in painting.

He describes feeling about 85% normal after the surgery, a dramatic improvement compared to his life before. Visit UFHealthJax.org/dbs for more information or call 904.383.1022 to schedule an appointment.

11/18/2025

UF Health Jacksonville welcomes Dr. Matthew McGuirk!

Dr. McGuirk specializes in gallbladder, hernia, foregut and robotic surgery. He is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and helping advance the future of surgery through education.

He is a board-certified general surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Florida. He completed his residency at Westchester Medical Center in New York and a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at UPMC in Pittsburgh, where he gained expertise in robotic and advanced surgical techniques.

11/17/2025

The Center of Hope at Emmett Reed recently awarded UF Health Jacksonville’s Life’s Course program a certificate of appreciation for providing enriching community programming to the Parent Café group.

The Life’s Course team hosted a series of engaging events, including a forum on toxic stress, mindfulness sessions for resiliency, yoga, and art therapy. The activities were well attended and highly valued by participants.

The partnership came at a critical time, as the Center of Hope faced a funding gap to support its own programming. UF Health Jacksonville stepped in as a vital community partner, supporting women’s health, empowerment, and well-being.

11/14/2025

Christian Villarose struggled with Parkinsons disease for years before discovering deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a possible treatment. Dr. Daryoush Tavanaeipour of UF Health Jacksonville, speaks about seeing real-time results of Villarose's recovery after DBS treatment and how it led to renewed hope.

11/14/2025

In partnership with Duval County Public Schools, students of the UF Health Jacksonville’s Youth Education for Advancing in Health (YEAH) program attended two sessions that offered students a behind-the-scenes look at the critical roles health care professionals play in patient care.

In one session, guest speakers Dr. Jeanne Rabalais, Dr. Shane Hester and Dr. Chirag Patel shared their expertise in emergency medicine, surgery and hospital operations as hospitalists. Another session featured pharmacy professionals who highlighted the essential role pharmacists play in supporting clinical teams.

Both sessions provided practical insights and encouragement, leaving a lasting impression on participants.

11/13/2025

UF Health Jacksonville recently took center stage at the International Healthcare Symposium, hosted by the Duval County Medical Society and the University of North Florida’s Brooks College of Health, in discussions on the future of health care and digital integration.

Patrick L. Green, FACHE, senior vice president and Northeast Florida regional president, joined a panel of nonprofit health care CEOs from across the region. He shared insights from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and emphasized the region’s collaborative efforts to improve health outcomes.

Green highlighted UF Health Jacksonville’s leadership in community programs, including the Prostate Education and Screening Program and the Food Pharmacy Program. He also shared UF Health’s commitment to research and innovation as key drivers in shaping the future of health care in Northeast Florida and beyond.

Other UF Health Jacksonville speakers included Dr. Chirag Patel, Jason Hardwick, and Wes Marsh, who contributed their expertise to discussions on advancing patient care and using technology to improve health outcomes.

11/13/2025

Welcome our new team of pediatric cardiologists: Dr. Daniela Neagu, Dr. Thomas Moon Jr. and Dr. Shawyntee Mayo. Together they all bring years of experience and expertise in the care they will provide to future patients. We're grateful to have them serve with us at UF Health.

11/13/2025

Lakisha Carter's dreamy vacation quickly became a nightmare when sudden unexpected pain sent her on a search for answers. She later learned she had fibroids. Unsure of her options, she turned to Dr. Chanda Reese at UF Health Jacksonville, who empowered her with choices to help Mrs. Carter discover the right path forward for her health. Learn more about her journey in our latest blog post: https://ufhealthjax.org/stories/2025/when-advocacy-meets-care

11/12/2025

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Chelsea Yap to UF Health Jacksonville!

Dr. Yap is a board-certified general surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine — Jacksonville. She trained right here at UF Health Jacksonville in advance GI and minimally invasive surgery.

She believes in treating every patient with respect, making sure they understand their care, and guiding them through their health journey with compassion.