April Community and Membership Meeting

Following a short initial announcement, Engage Estero’s President Allan Bowditch introduced the first speaker, Dr. Mark Bloomston, M.D., Medical Director of the Florida Center for Pancreatic Diseases at Lee Health.

Dr Bloomston is one of the United States’ leading surgeons dedicated to managing complex GI cancers and disorders of the liver, pancreas, and biliary tree. He is a Fort Myers native and returned to Southwest Florida in 2015 after an academic career at Ohio State University.

Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Bloomston pointed out that pancreatic cancer is indiscriminate and is not specific to men or women, or ethnicity. There is no particular risk factor associated with the disease other than smoking, which is a risk factor for many different cancer types. Many patients do not have any warning signs or symptoms, which frequently means it may not be detected until a more advanced stage is reached. It is considered to be categorized as an aggressive cancer.

Although it ranks 10 in incidence, it is the 3rd or 4th leading cause of cancer death in many countries, including the U.S. Although it has a very low 5-year survival rate (around 12% as of 2023), Dr Bloomston emphasized many advances and developments that are taking place. Consequently, it should not be regarded as a

 cancer without hope of remission. The full presentation, which is highly informative, can be viewed on Engage Estero’s YouTube link  https://youtu.be/Bh5XabfBoek

It is estimated that there would be 4,160 deaths from Pancreatic Cancer in Florida in 2025, putting the incidence 2nd in cancer deaths. This is likely to be due to the population demographics, and because many elderly patients with a variety of etiologies wish to enjoy the Florida climate.

Surgery is considered to offer the only cure for the disease. Dr Bloomston explained the criteria for undertaking the tumor’s resection. The significance of the newly approved chemotherapy option now available was also demonstrated.

For the first time, FOLFIRINOX (a new compound) vs Gemcitabine (the older standard treatment) has been shown to increase “progression-free survival.”  But more importantly, the newer drugs can help to shrink the tumor to enhance the success of surgical procedures.

Even enabling surgery to become an option where it might not have been one before chemotherapy.  This was also the case for the drug Gem/Abraxane. Indeed, neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX combined with aggressive surgical resection allows potentially curative therapy for borderline resectable and locally advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

National Pancreatic Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer of Excellence, which Dr Bloomston has established at Lee Health, is a premier healthcare facility that focuses on the multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic disease, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and improved quality of life.

Several critical new initiatives were covered. Engage Estero would like to reemphasize the valuable information covered during the presentation, which is worth examining on the YouTube link.

• The Pancreas Pap Smear- Low Intensity Non-Focused Ultrasound (LINFU) that can be used in early detection
• Irreversible electroporation- High voltage electrical impulses are delivered, which open pores in cancer cell membranes and lead to cell death.
• Histotripsy- Uses high-energy ultrasound to destroy tumors and is currently being assessed for its potential application to Pancreatic Cancer treatment that could conceivably render invasive operations unnecessary! (see photo)

Dr Bloomston reiterated that the new methods of early detection and adjuncts to resection that are now available, together with other potential initiatives, offer HOPE in a condition that has been difficult to provide long-term remission.

The Use of Drones in Medical Emergencies

Our second speaker, Brian Hurwitz, Chair of Engage Estero’s Healthcare Committee, and former Head of the Cardiac Committee, provided a fascinating insight into the use of drones in reducing the time it takes to deliver AEDs and Naram in emergencies.

Brian pointed out the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. A heart attack, or what doctors call a “myocardial infarction,” happens when a blockage interrupts blood flow to the heart. Usually, it’s because a clot has blocked a coronary artery. Clots can sometimes occur because of a substance called plaque. This substance is mainly made up of cholesterol, fat, and calcium, and it can build up on the walls of arteries over many years, blocking your arteries.

An individual can experience a variety of symptoms that can be a warning of the onset of an MI. These can include chest tightness, lightheadedness, paleness, sweating, pain across the shoulders, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue. In such cases, there is usually time for someone to seek me

dical advice and to take an aspirin. A cardiac arrest, as Brian pointed out, is due to a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. Blood stops pumping to the rest of the vital organs in the body, leading to a sudden collapse. In this case:

• The heart must quickly be restored to normal rhythm.
• An automated electronic defibrillator AED analyzes the heart’s rhythm and determines if a shock is needed to restore normal function.
• The average EMS response time is 8 -10 minutes.
• For every minute defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 7-10%.

An AED is required in 5 minutes or less. The same applies to a drug addict who suffers an opioid overdose, often involving Fentanyl, in which case N

arcan is needed quickly to save the patient.

Brian summarized the work done in Sweden by the Karolinska Institute in partnership with Everdrone, a Stockholm Startup Company. In the USA, Dr. Monique Starks, a Cardiologist at Duke University School of Medicine, has been pioneering evidence-based drone research and collaborating with the Karolinska Institute on using drones to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA).

Brian also recently spoke to Gordon Folkes, head of Archer First Response Systems, who integrates drones into emergency medical services, particularly when time is critical. He uses autonomous deployment, where a drone launches from a strategically placed docking station within seconds. The drone operates independently using AI, sensors, and self-navigation to adjust the flight path to arrive at the scene of a cardiac arrest, opioid overdose, or trauma.  Manatee County has been pioneering this work in Florida. Now, Lee County is moving in the same direction, initially focusing on drones delivering Narcan for opioid overdoses in Northern Lee. Lee County is in the “proof of concept” phase and will purchase docking stations, large drones, and the technology for fully autonomous drone flights.  They are now delivering Narcan north of RSW via drone using line of sight technology. They use smaller camera-equipped drones for disasters.  In closing, Brian stressed the need for all of us to keep up to date on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique, essential in helping to save a life!

The Need for Legislation to Support “The Right to Clean Water” in Florida

Joseph Bonasia, SWFL Regional Director for Florida Right to Clean Water, delivered a passionate plea to residents to be mindful of the need to sign a petition to ensure that 900,000 signatures are provided in 2 years to enable the Florida legislature to put on the ballot the opportunity for residents to ensure we have a Constitutional Amendment Citizens’ Initiative in 2026.

Florida’s legislature preempted Orange County’s right to a clean water charter amendment, which raised considerable concern about ensuring that the public can impact environmental dangers. While the Pennsylvania Constitution places citizens’ environmental rights on par with their political rights, this is not true in Florida! One can only speculate why that is the case. However, given that our Gulf waters frequently suffer from algae blooms from red tide and blue-green algae, many rivers are contaminated with fecal bacteria, we must ensure that Florida’s environmental rights are not swept “under the carpet.”

A meeting is being held on the Fundamental Rights and Citizen Initiatives, May 3rd, 9:30-11:00 at the Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson Street, Fort Myers.  Joseph made a plea to sign the petition to ensure the public has an important say on our right to clean water in Florida!

Concluding the meeting, Allan Bowditch pointed out:

• Engage Estero is focused on improving the Quality of Life in Greater Estero.
• The recent Community Meetings, which focused on Road Safety and the Traffic Survey conducted by the Village Management in 2024, were attended by over 70 residents, and the YouTube video was watched by over 500. The village will finalize the steps to be considered and taken in the coming weeks
• The planned Community Meeting on May 23rd, 10 am at the Estero Recreational Center will provide an important update on the 100-acre “Recreation and Sports Complex” planned for Estero. This is the most significant Village investment to date.
• Meetings in the Fall will cover:
  • The planned developments for Greater Estero
  • What lies ahead in the Future of Estero?

Allan also made a plea for increased donor support to:

• Have an Emergency Fund of between $0.75M and $1M available to assist Estero residents in need when serious problems arise.
• Enhance our Junior Achievement Efforts and help students have real-life short-term experiences working in local companies.
• Continue to provide residents with accurate information and facts; we need to pay experts for their time and effort.
• Aim to achieve approx. $400,000 in funding in each of the next 3 years.