OUR CONTRIBUTORS
D.M. Deupree, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist
managing diseases of the vitreous and retina. He received his M.D. from the
American University of the Caribbean in 1983 and was a Harvard Research Fellow
on a National Eye Institute grant in Boston with a focus on diabetic eye disease.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American
College of Surgeons and is founder of The Macula Center.
Gerald E. Trimble, MD, is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology specializing
in Pain Management. He received his M.D. from USF College of Medicine
and served a transitional internship at Michigan State University and Edward W.
Sparrow Hospital. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at USF, where he
served as Chief Resident and was awarded a Fellowship in Pain Management. He is
a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiologists.
Neal M. Solar, DMD, knew in the 7th grade that he wanted to be a dentist and has
never wavered from that passion. He loves what he does and feels privileged to be
able to care for his patient’s dental health. Dr. Solar earned his D.M.D. at University
of Florida College of Dentistry and is committed to continuing education to stay
abreast of the latest in dental healthcare. He is a member of the American Dental
Association and the Florida Dental Association.
Richard V. Abdo, MD, is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who treats all
musculoskeletal conditions. He offers the most current expertise and techniques
in foot and ankle treatment and sports medicine. Dr. Abdo graduated from Brown
University with Honors, and earned his M.D., Cum Laude, from SUNY Upstate
Medical Center. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Chief
of Orthopaedic Surgery at Morton Plant Hospital.
Michael R. Piazza, MD, established himself as the area’s first Fellowship-trained
Orthopaedic Spine surgeon in 1989. In 1990, he joined Dr. George Morris and
formed Orthopaedic Specialties of Tampa Bay, P.A., a practice that has grown to
include seven orthopaedic surgeons with two office locations. Dr. Piazza has served
as chairman of the Spine Section of Morton Plant Hospital and has been selected
for inclusion in the Best Doctors in America® program on multiple occasions.
Michael Tolentino, MD, is a Board- Certified Ophthalmologist fellowship trained in
the treatment of all medical and surgical retinal disease and laser surgery. He has
spent extensive time in the laboratory and helped develop anti-VEGF medications.
In addition, he has been the principal investigator in over 120 retinal clinical trials
helping obtain approval for drugs such as Lucentis. He is a partner at The Macula
Center and Director and Founder of Blue Ocean Clinical Research.
Rick Sponaugle, MD, is an Integrative Medicine physician who approaches
healing on an intracellular level using biochemistry and detoxification protocols. He
specializes in treating brain and neurological disorders derived from Neurological
Lyme disease, Mold Toxicity, Industrial Toxicity, Gut Toxicity, and additional stealth
infections that attack the brain and neurological system. Dr. Sponaugle is Board
Certified in Anesthesiology and Addiction Medicine.
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