Breast Health 101, The Foundation of Lifelong Health

First Physicians Group | July 2026

SMH HealthCasts with FPG Internist, Karen Hamad, MD

The Foundation of Lifelong Health

HealthCasts Season 8, Episode 12 with FPG Internist, Karen Hamad, MD

Strong primary care relationships improve prevention, help manage chronic conditions and provide continuity of care through every stage of life—especially in today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Karen Hamad, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer for SMH’s First Physicians Group Primary Care, explains why having a primary care physician is one of the most important investments you can make in your long-term health.

Breast Health 101: What You Need To Know

Did you know that, outside of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer for women by far? It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Early detection through yearly screenings and mammograms can make all the difference.

“Early detection gives women a much better chance of surviving breast cancer,” said Sarah Kimball, MD, First Physicians Group breast cancer surgeon with Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. “When it’s discovered in those early stages, breast cancer can be highly treatable.”

Know Your Normal, Risk, and When to Get Screened

(VIDEO) Novel Screening for Pancreatic Cancer

SMH’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute is enrolling patients in a research study evaluating LINFU (Low-Intensity Non-Focused Ultrasound), an emerging screening technology designed to help doctors identify precancerous changes in people at high risk for pancreatic cancer, but who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. Kenneth Meredith, MD, chief of gastrointestinal oncology at SMH’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute and principal investigator of the local study, says the screening represents an important step forward in pancreatic cancer research.

Hear More from Dr. Meredith

Sign Before Delivery: 3 Reasons to Find a Pediatrician Before the Baby Comes

Choosing a pediatrician before your baby is born might seem early—but it’s one of the smartest steps you can take to prepare for your child’s health. Having a trusted provider in place helps reduce stress, allows time to find the right fit for your family, and ensures your baby gets the best care from day one. We spoke with FPG Pediatrician Ronald D. Laracuente, MD, about why early pediatrician selection matters more than you might think.

“It’s never too early,” says Dr. Laracuente.