Silver Spurs celebrates 80th anniversary, releases rodeo dates
The Silver Spurs Rodeo is its 80th anniversary in 2024. As the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the Silver Spurs Rodeo’s history is intertwined with that of Osceola County, preserving the traditions of rodeo, ranching, and citrus production that define the region. Beyond entertainment, the Silver Spurs Riding Club has continually given back to the community, contributing nearly $100,000 to non-profits since 2020 alone.
The riding club has announced its dates for the 152nd Silver Spurs Rodeo, which this year includes a Thursday “Family Night” performance, with free and reduced-price tickets for younger fans.
It all starts on Feb. 10, with the annual Silver Spurs Rodeo parade through downtown St. Cloud starting at 10 a.m. That night, check out Monster Bulls at the Silver Spurs Arena at 7:30 p.m.
The 80-year celebration then takes center stage on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 16-17) at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday finale at 2 p.m.
AdventHealth Celebration performs world’s first kidney tumor procedure— here’s how
The first non-invasive histotripsy, a procedure that targets and destroys tumors using sound beams, has been performed on a kidney tumor for the first time by a surgical team at AdventHealth Celebration.
Urologist Dr. Michael McDonald performed the procedure noninvasively and without the need for needles or incisions.
“At the start of my surgical career in the 1990’s, open surgical techniques were the primary method of medical operations. However, this quickly changed with the introduction of laparoscopic surgery in the late 1990’s and robotic surgery in the early 2000’s,” McDonald said. “And the field continues to evolve. I’m excited about the potential of emerging technologies such as histotripsy to improve patient safety and outcomes.”
The technology, which is FDA-approved for use against liver tumors, is being investigated for use against kidney tumors as part of the #HOPE4KIDNEY Trial, a multi-center trial that is expected to enroll up to 68 patients. The procedure uses the Edison system, a sonic beam therapy platform created by HistoSonics.
According to AdventHealth, Current kidney therapies such as partial nephrectomy and thermal ablation are invasive and exhibit complications, such as bleeding and infection, that non-invasive histotripsy may avoid. While surgical intervention is the “gold standard” in removing kidney tumors, histotripsy offers the potential to destroy targeted tumors without damaging surrounding kidney tissue.
UCF Breaks Ground on Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at Medical City
University of Central Florida students, donors and administrators Friday celebrated breaking ground on the transformational Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion—a state-of-the-art building that will strengthen patient care by enabling UCF to graduate 150 more highly-qualified nurses each year.
The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, anticipated to open at Medical City in Lake Nona for the 202526 academic year, will help Florida address a critical nursing shortage amid a growing population. Eighty-five percent of UCF’s nursing graduates remain in Florida, the school reported.
AdventHealth and Orlando Health each contributed $5 million toward the new building and also student scholarships, support that will be critical to helping more students earn their degrees and advance to the workforce. The two hospitals also became UCF’s first Pegasus Partners, the deepest level of partnership with the university.
FLVS now offers required Personal Finance and Management course
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) announced it has launched a new Personal Finance and Money Management course for high school students enrolled in FLVS Flex, the option that allows both traditional school and homeschool students to supplement their learning with individual courses. This comprehensive course, now a graduation requirement by the state of Florida, aims to empower students with essential skills for managing their finances and making informed financial decisions.
With the course now a statewide requirement for students who entered high school as freshmen this school year, FLVS is equipping the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of managing money and planning for their financial futures. The course covers topics such as personal financial literacy and money management, including instruction on types of bank accounts, credit scores, taxes, and managing debt. Students will learn about money management using real-life scenarios and develop the skills needed to become wise consumers, savers, investors, and planners. It is available in two formats, catering to diverse student needs, with options for both regular and honors-level participation.
FLVS school affiliates and statewide district leaders said it will license the digital course to make it available to their high school students.
