FSPM&R Hall of Fame
The Florida Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, founded 1962, established its Hall of Fame in 2024 to honor FSPMR members who, over the years, demonstrated Sustained Commitment, Membership & Involvement with the Society. While honorees enjoyed successful professional paths, the FSPMR Hall of Fame Legacy Award has to do with the honorees’ contributions to the Society. These honorees are “the shoulders on which we stand.”
The following were the first to be inducted into FSPMR’s Hall of Fame,
September 21, 2024, Hyatt Regency Orlando
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Introduction to Dr Justine Vaughen by her “Little” Brother, Daniel R Vaughen.
Justine was the oldest of three siblings, that included my older brother and me. Growing up, she was our trailblazer and model. She set a high academic achievement standard for us in high school and college. Again, as a trailblazer, she graduated from medical school, at a time when women faced great challenges in entering male dominated professions.
I found her to be empathetic and caring in her interaction with me, as a pesky kid brother, introducing me to and preparing me for the challenges I would face, growing up. She spent time with me playing cards and in other games. She has continued to be an inspiring, supportive and encouraging presence for me for all of my 83 years.
She also extended the same nurturing care to her family: husband Dr. Richard M. Fry, and their two daughters, Martha Morrow, and Amanda Fry, plus their grandchildren and now a great grandchild, all undiminished by meeting the heavy demands of an ongoing active and busy medical practice.
Continuing to blaze a trail as a Physiatrist in Florida, she cared for patients in private practice in Orlando and Gainesville, and at the VA. At the same time, she was active in her community, helping to organize and build Altrusa House, in Gainesville, a day care center for seniors, and engaging with other civic and charitable activities and causes. She even helped build a supportive community in her neighborhood, where neighbors now get together regularly, and look after each other.
Retirement only gave her another opportunity for service to others. From healing our bodies, she has turned to healing our spirits. She has created stunning photographs that show us, through her eyes, the mystic beauty and wonder of plants, flowers, small creatures, and the human face, that, but for her photographs, we might otherwise have missed. Many of her creations have been exhibited in public places and private homes.
I congratulate and thank you for inducting Dr. Justine Vaughen Fry into the FSPMR Hall of Fame, in recognition of the contribution she has made to her family, her profession, and her community.
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Introduction to Dr Rodolfo Eichberg by his son, Amadeo Eichberg
First of all, thank you to the Florida Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for nominating my Dad to receive such a prestigious honor. My mother Yvette, along with my brother Matias and his family, are all here to celebrate this big day for Dr. Rodolfo Eichberg.
Growing up a doctor’s son was not difficult as we lived well but there were trade-offs. I recall many weekends where we were at fun events like Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer games and his pager would go off in the middle of the game. Invariably he would leave wherever we were and attend to his patients. His patients had high priority which was something that I always admired.
Talking about 1980s pagers and beepers, that kind of dates my Dad. He is 87 years old and proud of every single one of those years as he should be.
As for his career, it is a very storied one. The Cliff Notes version is this:
His medical journey started in Argentina where he was raised. Rodolfo graduated from the University of Buenos Aires Medical School. After graduating, he saw more opportunities in the United States.
As luck would have it he found an excellent opportunity with New York University Medical School with Dr. Howard Rusk who is recognized as one of the Pioneers of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. So my Dad learned from the best. It was there that he chose the difficult path of Rehabilitation medicine. I admire everyone in this room that practices this type of medicine.
After New York, he decided to enter private practice and he was offered an excellent opportunity in Tampa in 1975. Rodolfo loved Tampa right away. Moreover, there were not many rehab centers back then so he got most of the referrals. This kept him super busy and allowed him to enjoy success in the medical field.
My Dad took a detour to be a professor at Louisiana State University Medical School but he ended up missing Tampa. So he returned 2 years later and was welcomed back with open arms. Rodolfo retired in 2015.
Just 2 of his many highlights that I would point out:
Rodolfo Eichberg played an integral part in getting the Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center up and running in the 1980s. I remember being a teenager and attending the ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a beautiful facility with a spectacular view of Tampa Bay.
The other highlight I would like to point out is that he served as Ringside Physician for big time nationally televised boxing events. I remember him waking up the knocked out boxers with smelling salts. It would be a disservice not to mention that he is one of the few doctors in the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. Now with the FSPMR Hall of Fame honor he is a member of the impressive Venn diagram of doctors who are in both.
Nothing more left to say but to introduce my father, someone I respect, revere and love - Dr Rodolfo David Eichberg.
Dr Anthony Dorto with his Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Anthony Dorto, M.D., has been in private practice since 1985 until his retirement in 2021. He initially became a radiology technologist then turned around and went to Lincoln College School of Chiropractic. He got a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from 1965 to 1969 and was in private practice in Fort Myers, Florida as a practicing chiropractor from 1971 to 1976.
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He attended and graduated from Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochicalco (C.E.U.X.) Medical School from 1976 to 1979 and then participated in a Fifth Pathway program at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, from January 1st, 1980 to December 31st 1981. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York on July 25th, 1984.
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He did a surgical internship at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center from December 8th, 1980 to December 8th, 1981 and then participated in a residency training program at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation from April 1st, 1982 to March 31st, 1985. He got licensed in the state of Florida and had an active practice for 36 years.
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He was the Vice President of the Southern Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation from 2005 to 2006 and then the President of the Southern Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation from 2006 to 2007. He was the Expert Medical Advisor for the Florida Department of Labor, Employment and Security from 1996 to January 2013.
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He was the Medical Director for Meadowbrook Healthcare: Workable of Aventura, Miami, Florida from 1992 to September 2004. He was the Medical Director of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center Rehabilitation Services from 1988 to January 1992. He was the Medical Director of Bon Secours Rehabilitation Hospital Villa Maria Nursing Center from 1988 to 1990.
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He was a surveyor for training programs for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (C.A.R.F.) from September 24th through 28th, 1994 and Program surveyor from 1994 to 1997.
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Dr. Dorto has received many honors and awards including Excellence in Medical Education 2005 to 2017 University of Maimi Jackson Memorial Hospital PM&R Residency training program and A True Florida Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Pioneer, Florida Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation July 20th, 2019.
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Dr. Dorto authored many articles for Pain Practice and American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He authored the “Department of Labor Guidelines for Job Categorization” Textbook: Disability Evaluation 2nd Edition. He was a contributor to the “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment” Textbook 6th Edition, American Medical Association, “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment” 5th Edition AMA Guides Impairment Calculator Software Program, and “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment” Textbook: 5th Edition, American Medical Association.
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Dr. Dorto has contributed significant guidance for the specialty of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in the State of Florida and practiced for 36 years.
Mrs Anthony (Jean) Dorto, Dr Dorto, and Dr Craig Lichtblau
Introduction to Dr Craig Lichtblau by his friend and colleague, Dr Andrew Sherman
I would like to introduce you to a special physician, who chose physiatry as a field to fulfill his ultimate aspiration to help others and make an impact in this world.
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The first time I met Dr. Craig Lichtblau it was in an unusual way. He was attending multidisciplinary spine rounds at the University of Miami. I asked myself what was a private practice physiatrist doing at an academic center when historically the two worlds of private practice and academic physicians never intermingled? Well, I later learned that Craig was aspiring to be better of course. He was determined to find a way to bridge the gap between private and academic and to enhance patient care by getting the two roles to work together. He immediately came over to me to introduce himself and offered to mentor me. As the only PM&R physician at the University of Miami, I was desperately seeking such mentorship and camaraderie – for who could understand my needs as a new PM&R physician and especially if there was none at the academic center? Through my mentorship, Craig brought me into the FSPMR, a world where only private doctors lived. He encouraged me to create relationships with the state’s private physiatrists and as I grew in stature at the University, it brought importance and respect to the field like never before and to FSPMR. Craig always recognized the importance and influence that FSPMR needed to be and could be. That is why he has assisted in the organization professionally. He was a board member for many years, was a past president, and was financially providing a safety net to fund many activities. Fast forward to today, FSPMR is one of the strongest state PM&R organizations in the country. FSPMR is fully 50% private practice and 50% academic, with each group bringing their own unique strengths to the organization and sharing ideas that ultimately enhance the field and patient care. Physiatry in Florida has never been so strong. Thank you, Craig!
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Just a few of Craig’s accolades as he has grown his own stature in his solo private PM&R practice that is second to none:
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Caring over the years for thousands of disabled, injured, and broken patients, both inpatient and outpatient. Putting their lives back together and maximizing function in Palm Beach, Martin, Broward, and Dade counties, and frankly all of Florida and the world who seek his care and expertise.
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The first PM&R physician to bring osseointegration of prosthetics to Florida and the Southeast United States. This has allowed those to walk, who previously could not use standard socket prosthetics.
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Bringing the Paley Institute to Florida, which is the number one tourist destination for orthopedic surgery (congenital deformity correction) in the world. The West Palm Beach clinic receives patients from all 50 states and over 110 countries from around the world.
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Holding certification and privileges in Abu Dhabi, Warsaw Poland, Columbia (South America), and 5 local hospitals in Palm Beach County.
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He has surgical privileges in West Palm Beach Florida, Abu Dhabi, Warsaw Poland, and Columbia South America.
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Mentoring hundreds of students and residents who aspired to go into the field of PM&R.
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He has over 7,100 admissions to a Level 1 Trauma Hospital, over 3,000 intensive care unit consultations, over 43,000 outpatients, over 6,000 consults for children medical services and continues to practice in all areas of rehabilitation medicine.
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He has 32 peer-reviewed published articles and has co-authored 3 peer-reviewed published articles. One of the co-authored articles is the largest study of congenital femoral deficiency being treated by rotationplasty in the history of the world.
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Providing expertise in the courtroom and to complex catastrophic legal cases, which brought closure to all of those involved.
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Finally, a quote from Craig’s busy practice philosophy. As physiatrists “The goal of this practice is to decrease pain and increase function. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. We attempt to turn disability to ability, illness to health, and hopelessness to hope.” And for 35 years, Craig Lichtblau has done just that for the state of Florida and the world. Join me in congratulating and naming Craig Lichtblau, M.D., into the FSPMR Hall of Fame inaugural class of 2024!