KEY WEST, FL – SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 - Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown welcomes Amy Smart, PA-C, primary care physician assistant, effective September 17, 2026.  Smart is a graduate of University of Florida where she earned a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. She joins Courtney Bonner, D.O., board-certified internal medicine physician.
 
Smart focuses on preventive medicine and sustainable lifestyle choices to help patients improve their overall health and longevity. Her goal is that patients feel heard, respected and empowered to take ownership of their health and well-being.
 
Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown offers general medical care for patients 18 years of age and older, including disease diagnosis and management, preventive medicine, annual wellness visits for men and women, and treatment for hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders and infectious diseases.  The office is located at 3224 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, and is open 7 days per week. Appointments may be requested at (305)293-4073. 

​KEY WEST, FL, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 - While falls are a significant health concern that can affect anyone, regardless of age, they are most often perceived as an inevitable part of the aging process. Despite one out of every four people aged 65 and older experiencing at least one fall each year, healthcare providers say these incidents are frequently preventable.
 
“Falls can have serious life-changing consequences, including hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and a long-term loss of independence,” says Amanda Meyer, PA-C, ATC, orthopedic physician assistant and certified athletic trainer with Keys Medical Group Orthopedics. “It is important that patients and their families understand they do not have to wait for a fall to occur before trying to prevent them from happening at all. By proactively assessing one’s risk factors and making simple changes in and outside the home, we can significantly reduce the likelihood of falls and fall injuries.”
 
Understanding Your Risk: The Fall Risk Assessment
A critical first step in prevention is a fall risk assessment. Healthcare providers recommend that adults 65 and over undergo an evaluation at least once a year. This check-up allows medical professionals to identify individual risk factors that otherwise may go unnoticed.
 
During an assessment, a provider may review current medications, evaluate walking and balance, and discuss any previous falls or near-misses. Identifying these factors early allows for personalized recommendations, such as adjustments to medication regimens, physical therapy referrals, or the use of assistive devices, all of which can help a patient stay safe.
 
Actionable Steps to Prevent Falls
While some factors may be outside an individual’s control, most falls can be prevented by focusing on changes like:

• Staying Active: Exercises that improve leg strength and balance, such as Tai Chi or specific physical therapy routines, are effective ways to prevent falls.
• Managing Your Environment: Hazards in the home are common culprits. Strategies include removing throw rugs, improving lighting, installing grab bars in bathrooms, and keeping walkways clear of clutter.
• Getting Screened: Schedule annual eye exams to ensure prescriptions are up to date and have feet checked to identify pain or footwear issues that impact stability.
• Reviewing Medications With A Professional: Consult with a doctor or pharmacist to review all medications, as some can cause dizziness or drowsiness, increasing fall risk.

“Older adults are encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider about their fall risk as soon as possible,” adds Meyer. “Taking small steps today can make a profound difference in protecting one’s health and independence.”
 
If you’re 65 or older, talk to your healthcare provider about having a comprehensive fall risk assessment.
 
Keys Medical Group Orthopedics is located at 1111 12th Street, Suite 201, Key West, FL. KeysMedicalGroup.com.
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology – Mammography, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission - Echocardiography. The hospital is recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 4 Star quality rating. 

​KEY WEST, FL - AUGUST 28, 2026 – Keys Medical Group Psychiatry welcomes Amanda DeBoer, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, effective September 1, 2026.
 
DeBoer is a graduate of Milwaukee School of Engineering where she earned her Masters of Science in Nursing specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health. She will provide diagnostic evaluation, individualized treatment plans, individual and family psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, family support services, crisis intervention and referrals to community resources.   
 
DeBoer joins Lynda Woods, licensed clinical social worker, at Keys Medical Group Psychiatry at 1200 Kennedy Drive, Suite 1041, First Floor in Key West. Appointments may be requested at 305-293-1299 or online at KeysMedicalGroup.com.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice offering primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, otolaryngology, psychiatry and pulmonology 

KEY WEST, FL - JULY 31, 2026 - Keys Medical Group Orthopedics welcomes Joshua Fiore, DScPAS, MS, PA-C, orthopedic physician assistant, effective August 3, 2026.  A graduate of Northeastern University Physician Assistant Program, Fiore also earned a Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, in Boston, MA.
 
Fiore provides diagnosis and management of orthopedic conditions, fracture and acute injury care, casting, splinting, joint injections, aspirations, sports medicine and treatment of degenerative joint disease and arthritis. His approach to patient care is shaped by a passion for movement and physical endurance. Outside of medicine, Fiore is an accomplished professional ultramarathon and obstacle course racer who made history as the inaugural Spartan Race Ultra World Champion in 2017 and has earned multiple podium finishes in eminent endurance events. 
 
Fiore joins Christopher Bensen, M.D., FAAOS, and Aldo Beretta, M.D., board-certified orthopedic surgeons, and Amanda Meyer, PA-C, ATC, in Keys Medical Group Orthopedics at 1111 12th Street, Suite 201, Key West, FL. Appointments may be requested at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling 305-295-3477. 

​KEY WEST, FL, JULY 15, 2026  – Hernias continue to represent one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated five million Americans living with the condition. Hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed surgeries nationwide.
 
A hernia occurs when tissue or an organ pushes past muscle and pops out, creating a bulge. Hernias usually happen in the abdominal area or groin. The bulge can appear when a person’s body is in certain positions or when they’re doing certain physical activities like lifting, coughing or straining. While often painful, hernias that occur without pain should still be evaluated by a medical professional.
 
Surgeons conduct approximately one million hernia repair procedures in the U.S. each year. Of these, roughly 800,000 procedures are for inguinal hernias, the most common type, with the remaining surgeries addressing ventral, umbilical, and incisional hernias.
 
According to the Food and Drug Administration, between 30-65% of hernias require scheduled surgery, while 3-5% of cases will require emergency surgery because they’ve caused strangulation or bowel obstruction.
 
A hernia can become dangerous quickly if it gets trapped and cannot be pushed back into place. “The protruding tissue or organ can lose blood supply and cause tissue damage or death,” says Edgardo Montemayor, Jr., M.D., board-certified family medicine physician with Keys Medical Group Family Practice. “If either occurs, the patient may need emergency surgery. If it’s stuck out there, it can swell and compromise blood supply,” Dr. Montemayor explains.
 
Fortunately, advancements in surgical techniques have improved outcomes and expanded treatment options. Hernia repairs are typically performed using either open surgery or laparoscopic (minimally invasive) methods, with minimally invasive approaches becoming increasingly common due to reduced recovery times, and improved patient comfort.
 
The use of mesh reinforcement in hernia repair has significantly lowered recurrence rates to less than 10%, and often even lower when procedures are performed using advanced techniques.
 
Hernias disproportionately affect men, who face a lifetime risk of approximately 27% for developing an inguinal hernia, compared to about 3% for women. However, women may be more likely to experience other types, such as femoral hernias. Age is another contributing factor, with hernias occurring more frequently in individuals over the age of 50, although the condition can affect people at any stage of life.
 
“Many different factors cause hernias to develop, with the consensus being that both genetics and acquired issues may be involved,” says Dr. Montemayor. “Things that can lead to hernia include lifting heavy objects, excessive straining when using the bathroom, traumatic injury to the abdomen and weakness in the abdominal wall following surgery in the abdomen.”
 
Given the high incidence and surgical volume, hernia repair remains a routine and well-established component of the U.S. healthcare system, with consistently favorable outcomes for patients.
 
If you have a family history of hernia or are experiencing a protruding lump, pain or pressure in your abdomen or groin, be sure to talk with your primary care provider to assess the situation to determine if a hernia is present. 
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology – Mammography, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission - Echocardiography. The hospital is recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 4 Star quality rating. 

KEY WEST, Fla. – APRIL 9, 2026 – Keys Medical Group Otolaryngology – the office of Brien W. Tonkinson, M.D. – is relocating to 1111 12th Street, Suite 203, Key West, effective April 13, 2026.
 
Dr. Tonkinson is board-certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. He provides medical and surgical care of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck for pediatric and adult patients. Conditions treated include airway conditions; cancers of the head and neck; salivary disease; thyroid disease; sinusitis; nasal polyps; deviated nasal septum and obstruction; hearing loss; sleep disorders; swallowing and voice disorders; tinnitus; tonsil and adenoid infections; and vertigo and dizziness.
 
Appointments may be requested at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling 305-292-5811.

KEY WEST, Fla., January 9, 2026 – Blood work is a standard part of an annual primary care wellness visit because it gives a global picture of your health. The lab results help your provider check for certain diseases and conditions, see indicators of your heart and organ functioning, and track how medications are working.
 
Pasquale Dell’Api, D.O., board-certified family physician at Keys Medical Group Family Medicine – Big Pine Key, says annual blood tests are important for the long term health and well-being of their patients, even when they seem to be in good health.
 
“Annual blood work measures naturally-occurring chemicals in the blood to screen for abnormalities that could signal an underlying disorder, which may not show any other signs or symptoms,” said Dr. Dell’Api. “As your results are tracked over time, we can see whether the numbers are trending in the right direction or if there is a potential condition such as diabetes or cholesterol that could benefit from treatment to prevent bigger issues later.”
 
A basic metabolic blood panel measures the amounts of eight substances in the blood and a comprehensive metabolic panel adds six more measures. The lab results give indications of the function and health of your organs, including liver and kidney, blood sugar levels, acid and base balance, fluid and electrolyte balance, and nutritional deficiencies.

• Glucose, or blood sugar levels, when elevated after fasting can be a sign of Type 2 diabetes, and very high levels whether fasting or not usually indicate Type 1 diabetes.
• Calcium is essential in your blood for proper functioning of your nerves, muscles and heart.
• Billirubin levels are an indication of how well your liver is removing the waste product from the breakdown of your red blood cells.
• Total protein in your blood helps you build muscle, heal, fight infection, and stay healthy.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine levels indicate how well your kidneys are removing these waste products from the blood.
• Albumin is a protein made by your liver that transports substances through your bloodstream and keeps fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels.
• Sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride are electrolytes in your blood that control nerve and muscle function and maintain the pH balance of your blood and your water balance.
• Three liver enzymes – alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate amino transferase – are substances that allow certain bodily processes to happen.

 
A lipoprotein panel measures the levels of cholesterol in your blood. LDL, “bad” cholesterol, is the main source of buildup and blockages in the arteries and HDL, “good” cholesterol, helps decrease cholesterol blockages in the arteries. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. If your cholesterol or triglyceride levels are outside the normal range for your gender, ethnic group and age, you may be at higher risk of heart disease.
 
Dr. Dell’Api says, “Maintaining your best health takes active work and attention as you go through life. Keeping a schedule of regular checkups and blood work can help identify any shifts in status that may call for lifestyle changes, medication or both to reverse a problem or prevent it from progressing.”
 
Even if you have never been diagnosed with a chronic illness or experienced a major medical issue, an annual checkup with your doctor supports your current health and the best actions to maintain and improve your health. Family history, lifestyle, age, diet and activity level are all factors that affect your health and your primary care provider can utilize all of that information and their knowledge to help get and keep you on track.
 
If you need to find a primary care provider, visit www. https://www.lkmc.com/find-a-doctor.

KEY WEST, Fl, January 2, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center and its medical staff encourage residents to know the symptoms and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their families against measles. With outbreaks spreading in other states and people traveling over the holidays, Lower Keys residents are reminded to practice vigilance. 

Who is at Risk?
Measles is an extremely contagious respiratory virus that spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or coming into contact with droplets from an infected person. It poses the greatest risk to children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant individuals and those with compromised immune systems, and can lead to severe health issues and complications.

Watch for Symptoms
Measles typically starts with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, tiny red spots in the mouth, followed by a distinctive rash that spreads downward starting from the face to the rest of the body.

Complications and Danger
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one out of every five people infected with measles ends up needing hospital care, with complications ranging from pneumonia and brain swelling (encephalitis) to premature birth and, in rare instances, death.

 “As measles cases continue to rise throughout the country, it’s important for everyone in our community to be aware of the symptoms and take simple steps to protect themselves and those around them,” said Dr. Courtney Bonner, board certified internal medicine physician at Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown. “If you or your child develop a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash that starts on the face and spreads, stay home and call your healthcare provider before going anywhere in person.”

Protect Yourself
The CDC emphasizes that the most reliable way to protect yourself and your family from measles is to receive the recommended two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, typically given as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization series. Receiving both doses offers strong protection against the virus.

Prevent the Spread
Practicing good hygiene—like frequent hand washing and covering coughs—also helps reduce the spread of illnesses, including measles. And if you’re planning to travel to areas experiencing outbreaks, check your vaccination status and be extra cautious in crowded places.

Act Quickly
If you or a family member develops symptoms or has been exposed to someone with measles, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Call ahead before arriving at any clinic or emergency department so that appropriate precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff.

For more information on measles and vaccination recommendations, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
​
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology – Mammography, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission - Echocardiography. The hospital is recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 4 Star quality rating. 

KEY WEST, FL (DECEMBER 12, 2025) – Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology welcomes Shannon Pfingstag, CNM, DNP, FACNM, certified nurse midwife. Shannon earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Southeastern Louisiana University and is a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
 
Shannon has 30 years of experience in nurse midwifery and provides pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, gynecological examination, family planning consultation, disease prevention, menopause management, breast examination, and annual wellness care.
 
Shannon joins Stanley Santiago, M.D., and Christiaan Webb, M.D., board certified OBGYNs in Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology, at 1111 12th Street, Suite 104, Key West. Appointments may be requested at (305)293-1830.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice offering primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, otolaryngology, psychiatry and pulmonology.

KEY WEST, Fla. – Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology welcomes Grace Maliberan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C. Maliberan is a board certified family nurse practitioner with over 18 years of nursing experience in Adult Hemodialysis/Apheresis, Vascular Access, and Endoscopy. 
 
Maliberan is a graduate of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.  Maliberan believes in providing a holistic approach and delivering patient care with compassion and emotional support. She joins Orlando Lopez-Roman, M.D., who is board-certified in Gastroenterology by the Gastroenterology Board at the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Lopez-Roman is a Fellow of both the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association, a distinction held by only 1% of practicing gastroenterologists.
 
Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology is accepting new patients and most major insurances, and treats patients with GI conditions including GI bleed, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal refllux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal strictures, eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), H. pylori, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, celiac disease, diarrhea and constipation.
 
Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology is located within the multispecialty medical office at the Key West Professional Building, 1111 12th Street, Key West, Suite 210. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm. Appointments may be requested at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)294-3458.