Carol Colleran, who serves as the Executive Vice President of Public Policy and National Affairs at the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, is recognized for "her pioneering clinical work and her broad efforts in raising awareness of the need for age-specific treatment." An effort that "has impacted treatment, attitudes, policy, intervention and education."

And Colleran has been among the first to recognize the unique challenges confronting the newly aging Baby Boom generation and the need to develop Baby Boomer-specific substance abuse treatment programs.

The Johnson Institute recognized Colleran’s work at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where she was a 2008 America Honors Recovery honoree. The awards luncheon honors Americans who have used their addiction recovery experience to enhance healing for others afflicted and affected by alcohol and other drug addiction. Colleran has been in recovery for more than 25 years.

James A. Farrell, a partner in Shutts & Bowen’s West Palm Beach Office, was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Farrell, who heads the firm’s health care law practice, is Board Certified in Health Law by The Florida Bar and a Past-Chair of the Bar’s Health Law Certification Committee. He recently began a three-year term as member of the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.

The Florida Heart Research Institute (FHRI) is proud to announce that their free Cardiovascular Risk Factor Screening Program was named Best Nonprofit Program at the annual South Florida Business Journal’s Excellence in Health Care Awards luncheon.

The free screening program was recognized for the important service it provides to underserved and uninsured residents of South Florida because it identifies those at risk for heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes before they suffer a life threatening event. Florida Heart’s program is unique because of their vision to link those needing follow up medical care to nearby clinics that will treat on a sliding fee scale based upon ability to pay. The program increases access to care for the uninsured, cuts down on ER visits, reduces uncompensated care and decreases health disparities.

Each participant receives printed clinical results, educational literature on heart health, and culturally sensitive one-on-one counseling by physician-trained health educators. "It has been an honor to work in this capacity helping to educate people how simple lifestyle changes can actually stop, prevent and even reverse the onset of disease if they follow the proper corrective steps", says Tori Gabriel, FHRI’s Director of Education & Prevention and program creator. "Our goal is to teach empowerment and to help people understand that it’s always better to be proactive to prevent disease than reactive and treat disease."