Erica Warkus, M.D., Ph.D. –
Erica Warkus is an emergency medicine (EM) resident physician at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She is a National Merit Scholar and a former U.S. Student Fulbright Researcher to Indonesia. She graduated with her M.D., Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine in 2020, in the height of COVID-19 pandemic. For her Ph.D. dissertation project, she designed and validated a stem cell-based model that used in vitro embryonic morphogenesis to screen for teratogens, which are chemicals that cause birth defects. During the last few months of medical school, she founded a non-profit organization, Kūpuna & Kōkua, which provided free meals, as well as facilitating deliveries of groceries and other necessities to the elderly of Hawaii, who were most at risk for severe disease from COVID-19 for the duration of the pandemic. Currently, she is the principal investigator on two prospective clinical research projects, serves as a resident member of two hospital committees and is the 2020-21 Graduate Medical Education Committee representative for her residency program. In addition to inherently loving the chaos and fast-paced nature of the emergency department, she chose EM as her specialty because she wanted to care for patients in their time of need regardless of their insurance or ability to pay. In her free time, she still enjoys writing, dancing (West Coast swing, country two-step, zouk and salsa), diving, skating and archery/bowhunting. She firmly believes that the strength of EM is the ability to adapt new and old techniques, devices and decision tools to provide rapid assessments, accurate diagnoses and efficient patient care. The best way to earn respect as a relatively new, “Jack-of-all-trades” or “cowboy medicine” specialty is to publish high quality, prospective clinical research that is widely relevant and demonstrates the unique strengths of EM.
Nick Caputo B.S.E., NRP –
Nick is a second year medical student at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSUKPCOM) in Clearwater, Florida. He graduated from The University of Iowa with a bachelors of science in biomedical engineering. He also completed the paramedic education program from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and is a nationally registered paramedic. While in medical school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic he continues to work as a paramedic for Manatee County EMS. He is interested in emergency medicine, specifically EMS. Nick is currently working on multiple research projects including the Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Research Initiative, and ‘E’ For Emergent: An Analysis of the Use of Prehospital Red Lights and Sirens (RLS) and Time to Antibiotic Administration in Sepsis Alert Patients. Outside of his interests in medicine he enjoys playing guitar, listening to podcasts/music, cooking, and spending time outside with activities such as Kayaking.
Yusif Addae, M.D., MBA, FACOG – Vice-Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Addae is a Board-certified Obstetrician Gynecologist in private practice in Sarasota. Originally from Ghana, Dr Addae obtained his medical education at the University of Istanbul, Turkey under full scholarship, his internship and residency at the Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan, is Assistant Professor of OBGYN & Emergency Medicine at the Florida State University School of Medicine. He holds an executive MBA degree from the University of South Florida, Masters Public Health also from the University of South Florida and Certified in Public Health Practice with a focus on quality care for underserved communities. He is the Vice-Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the President of the Gulf Coast Medical Society, (the regional branch of the National Medical Association in Sarasota, Manatee, & Charlotte Counties) and the President and CEO of Partners for Compassionate Services- a 501c3 non-for-profit organization that support and provide medical and other health related services to underserved communities worldwide. Dr. Addae has great interest in community involvement and advocacy with a passion for, and commitment to education, mentorship, and empowerment of the youth, especially the girl child. As the president of Gulf Coast Medical Society, Dr Addae works with community partners such as FSU, USF, FGCU, DOH, SMH, MMH, Blake & Doctors Hospitals to increase cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of their workforce. Dr Addae has been at the forefront of the community COVID-19 vaccination activities by collaborating with other partners to get “Shot in arms” in churches, foodbanks, homeless shelters, as well as providing trusted healthcare providers to speak on health-related topics especially regarding COVID-19 in the community. As the spokesperson for GCMS, Dr.. Addae has spoken at many public forums including to Sarasota and Manatee County governments on health issues including COVID response and mitigation in the community. Through the Partners for Compassionate Services, Dr. Addae organizes yearly medical mission trips to Ghana where he has provided screening and care of chronic disease and surgical care to over 5000 people in underserved communities, had helped built clinics and provide medical supplies to local health centers for the past six years. Dr. Addae is the recent recipient of the PHYSICIAN EXCEL AWARD of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System – An award given by the Sarasota Memorial Board to Physicians who are recognized as Role Models of Excellence, Superior in performance, Leaders who consistently demonstrate a collaborative team approach in their work and strengthen the quality of patient care and the image of the hospital in our community. He is Married to his beautiful wife, Patience, has two sons ( Kofi & Kwaku ) and a daughter ( Samira) who attend Pineview Elementary.
Washington Hill M.D., FACOG – founding Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine
Dr. Washington Hill received his M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine and completed residency at William Beaumont Army General Hospital in El Paso, Texas. After 12 years in private practice, he completed a Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He holds, academic appointments at a number of prestigious schools of medicine. Dr. Hill is the founding Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He has a strong interest in education, patient care, and clinical practice, and is a regular participant at conferences throughout the country. Recently, he completed two years in Rwanda, Africa teaching African medical students, residents, faculty and staff “Safe Motherhood”. Dr. Hill is a Senior Physician in Women’s Health at CenterPlace Health and has practiced at SMH 30 plus years and delivered babies a total of 55 years. Today, Dr. Hill is involved daily in the care of high-risk obstetrical patients including those with substance use disorders, diversity, equity and inclusion, perinatal/community education and reviewing obstetrical medical-legal issues. He says that he will retire “soon” to spend time with his friends, family and grandchildren.
Beth Crutcher –
Beth is a 30+ year PPCM survivor and PPCM advocate and Founding Vice President of the Save the Mommies non profit organization. She has been working to bring awareness ever since she was properly diagnosed 20 years ago. She is honored to be a small part of this exciting research project that will help so many women by being diagnosed earlier and having a greater chance of full recovery.
Reuben Holland, M.D., FACEP – Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor, Florida State University College of Medicine
Specialty/Field: Emergency Medicine
Residency: University of Colorado Health Science Center
Medical School: University West Virginia
Experience: University Medical Director
Areas of Interest: operations and leadership
Hobbies: Dogs, sporting clays, reef tanks, cycling, billiards.
Garrett Brown M.D. – Advisor for Cardiology
Dr. Garrett Brown obtained his medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine and continued his internal medicine training at the University of Florida, Gainesville from 2013-2016 and his cardiovascular disease training at University of Florida from 2016-2019. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Brown has been a member of the American College of Cardiology since 2016. Most recently, Dr. Brown was practicing at Tampa General Hospital, where he completed his fellowship in Interventional Cardiology. Upon completion, he will be board eligible for Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Brown enjoys traveling the world. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, seen the Serengeti’s great migration in Tanzania, swam with Great White sharks in South Africa, trekked alongside Orangutans in Borneo, and hiked with the Komodo dragons of Indonesia. He loves photography and has a hobby of drone/travel videography. Dr. Brown enjoys working out and resides in Sarasota with his wife and son.
Danielle Glaze, D.O.
Dr. Danielle Glaze is an emergency medicine (EM) resident physician at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She graduated from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) in Parker, Colorado in May 2021. While attending RVUCOM, she received additional, specialized training related to research through her participation in the Physician-Scientist Honors Track and role as the lead research coordinator on two international, clinical follow-up studies sponsored by Abbott Laboratories with principal investigator and neurosurgeon, Dr. David VanSickle. She also developed a passion for simulation-based medical education (SBME) through her creation of a student-led SBME program and was chosen to serve as the first Pre-Doctoral Simulation Fellow at RVUCOM, extending her medical school training by one year. Throughout medical school, Dr. Glaze further cultivated her interest in teaching by serving as an Ultrasound Scholar, helping to teach point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to pre-clinical students in RVUCOM’s Clinical Ultrasound course. Outside of her interests in EM, research, and teaching, Dr. Glaze enjoys spending time outdoors. Being raised on the beaches of Florida, she appreciates time spent fishing, boating, and snorkeling. She also enjoys gardening, bike riding, and spending quality time with her Labrador retriever, three cats, and supportive husband.
April Sutherland MHSc, RDMS, RVT, RCS – Volunteer Coordinator
April Sutherland is the program director of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Cardiovascular Sonography programs at Wallace State in North Alabama. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her Master of Health Science in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She has been in the sonography field since 2008 and is multi-specialty registered. Throughout her health care career, she has volunteered to instruct nurses in limited OB at pregnancy centers, as well as aided in the start-up of the Image Clear Ultrasound mobile unit in North Alabama. Apart from her work, she enjoys her time with her husband and four children and all of their various activities. She considers it a privilege to be able to help in anyway with the PPCM Research Initiative.
Heidi House – Community Consultant
Heidi is a a 39 year old PPCM survivor! I am an 8th grade English-Language Arts Teacher at Mattoon Middle School. I live in Mattoon, IL with my husband, Brodie and our 4 year old miracle son, Rueger.
Anne Dowd- Co-Director of Nursing Education & Recruitment
Anne Dowd is a seasoned obstetric APRN, currently training for her certification in midwifery. She volunteers with the PPCM Research Initiative. She also participates in nursing and patient education within the SMH OBECC.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Research Initiative 