Brittany O. Venegas, DMSc, PA-C, represented UF Health during the dedicated Advanced Practice Provider Breakout Session at the Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
Venegas presented two sessions, “ICU Liberation” and “Dysphagia After Cardiac Surgery,” highlighting multidisciplinary initiatives designed to reduce ICU length of stay, strengthen patient safety, and optimize outcomes for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.
The presentations also addressed a new protocolized approach for identifying patients who may benefit from dedicated speech-language pathology swallowing evaluations following certain cardiac surgical procedures.
The APP Breakout Session provided an opportunity to share emerging evidence, discuss best practices, and foster collaborative approaches among advanced practice providers. Venegas’ presentations reflected UF Health’s continued commitment to evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the delivery of high-quality perioperative care.
