About
Dr. Marlene MD
'Life Stories'
Childhood
Dr. Marlene was born in Philadelphia, last century. She grew up and received her education in the city of Philadelphia. Her entire adulthood and career are spent in southeast Florida. How did this happen?
She is a middle child, growing up in Northeast Philly. Within walking distance of her childhood home were her elementary school, middle school, and high school.
A large extended family with cousins galore lived near of her childhood home.
From her undergraduate school at the University of Pennsylvania to medical school at The Medical College of Pennsylvania, now Drexel Medical School, Philadelphia was the center of Marlene’s education.
Liberty Bell
The city of Philadelphia boasts the Liberty Bell. Her father grew up in Philadelphia. He would ding the Liberty bell as he walked to elementary school every day. The Liberty Bell returned his attention by blessing his daughter with liberty. Liberty to push open many doors.
After moving to Florida, she still frequented Philly for family gatherings. With her husband Gordon by her side, they visited the Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom and liberty.
Imagine centuries ago, the bell tolling to tell the news. Hear ye, Hear ye! Gather round. Hear the news of the town!
Pharmacy Couple
Marlene’s parents met while attending pharmacy college, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They both graduated, receiving a pharmacy degree.
Her Dad graduated in June 1948. As his yearbook was being printed, he was asked if he was sure he was going to marry his betrothed. The answer, yes! The editor was going to put a remark about the upcoming marriage in the yearbook and did not want him to regret it years later.
They married in August 1948. Her Dad started working with his father at Boring Drugstore. Her Mom graduated a year later, in June 1949. Dad put on a cap and gown, to match his wife’s attire for her graduation picture. So sweet!
Marlene’s Mom graduated from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, June 1949. Dad graduated in 1948 but Dad had to get into the act by putting on a graduation gown and cap.
Pharmacy Roots
Health and healing are integral parts of her life, environmental and genetic. Her paternal grandfather, father, uncle, and mother all have pharmacy degrees.
Marlene has fond memories of her grandfather’s pharmacy. The soda fountain, high bar stools, hand-dipped ice cream, Marlene’s favorite food!
Marlene’s parents raised their family and had a pharmacy in Northeast Philly. Another store to roam around in, with greeting cards, candy, and vitamins. Many Hershey chocolate kisses were eaten. A local favorite.
Years later, her grandchildren asked Marlene where she learned about coins and coin wrappers? How to wrap present?. Many skills including healthcare compassion were learned in the pharmacy.
Marlene’s parents in Northwood Drugs,
Northeast Philadelphia, circa 1973
Family Medicine
In the healthcare industry, there were no snow days. A snowy Philly winter sent Dr. Marlene to southeast Florida.
She established her family medicine practice, Lifetime Family Medicine, in Coral Springs in 1982. During her over 30 years in private practice, she cared for her patients in multiple settings, outpatient, inpatient, nursing home, and home visits.
She chaired and was active on many hospital committees. She had hospital privileges at Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center in Coral Springs, Florida Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida, and University Hospital and Medical Center, Tamarac, Florida.
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family physicians with continued active membership.
Hurricane Andrew
As a Family Practitioner, she volunteered to assist and educate in the community. August 1992, the category
5 hurricane, Hurricane Andrew, made landfall in
Homestead, Florida, just an hour drive south of her
office. Broward County Medical Association along with the Salvation Army set up a medical clinic in the
storm-torn city.
The medical clinic, patient triage, and patient care tent
needed to be set up. Using her pharmacy experience,
she helped set up the pharmacy.
Wounds cleaned, bandages applied, and medications from antibiotics to diabetic medications were dispensed. The rewards- smiles, thank you, and a big reminder of the reason she chose medicine as a career.
Broward County Medical Association
Salvation Army Medical Clinic Staff
identification badge
Hurricane Andrew, August 1992
Education with a Smile
Dr. Marlene, at heart, is an educator. She enjoys engaging and educating audences on various topics. She has given professional speeches about patient-physician communication, burn-out in healthcare, and teaching nutrition.
The community topics include heart disease, women’s wellness, and nutrition.
February is Heart Month, to raise awareness of heart disease.
Her yearly February talks are about heart disease as she raises funds for The American Heart Association.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Marlene actively participates in different events in October related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of breast cancer.
Cookbook Fundraiser
Dr. Marlene is a firm believer in screening mammograms as part of preventive medicine and wellness. The Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund provided screening mammograms to the local community. She found out that funds were insufficient to achieve this mission.
So was born a cookbook as a fundraiser, “Recipes for Life”, published in 2009. The team from Coral Springs Medical Center coordinated the recipes, ads, marketing, and sales. This fundraiser was a phenomenal success. It revitalized and publicized The Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund. The fund continues to support women’s health and wellness.
Recipes for Life Cookbook dedication page honoring Dr. Marlene for supporting the fundraiser
Delicious & Nutritious
After retiring from clinical medicine in 2015, Dr. Marlene has discovered Culinary Medicine, the combination of the art of food and cooking and the science of nutrition and medicine.
Dr. Marlene, through the generosity of the Dean, audited the Applied Nutrition Course at the Culinary Arts program, Johnson and Wales University, North Miami, Florida. Train and car twice a week with classes starting early am. No need to pack snacks as the students and professors dined together on the classwork. Their homemade granola recipe is a stable food in her household.
Dr. Marlene agrees that poor nutrition contributes to many chronic diseases. She often quotes Hippocrates, who said over 2000 years ago, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Research this century has proven his words to be true.
Presentation Skills in 2021-2022
Communication in healthcare is my passion. the precious patient-physician relationship, and the educator-student relationship. I enjoy sharing my medical knowledge with the community.
Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership club for adults, entered my life in 2016. My speaking skills have soared in the year 2021 with the assistance of Toastmasters International.
As an HIV Prevention Certified Provider, I am the presenter of the continuing education program on HIV/AIDS for Alan Lowell Seminars for hearing healthcare professionals. It is a 2-hour program. The video editing made this a successful project for Alan Lowell Seminar in 2021.
The year 2022 brought a second project titled “Ethics and Implicit Bias” for Alan Lowell Seminars.
Dr. Marlene is the presenter of the HIV/AIDS education program in 2021 and Ethics and Implicit Bias educational program in 2022 for Alan Lowell Seminars, Port Orange, Florida.
"The Good Listening Project" Listener Poet, Jenny Heland,
spoke to me on March 30, 2021
This physician was passionate about nutrition. “Thirty years in primary care has taught me a lot about life,” she said. “People don’t take seriously what they put into their bodies. You are what you eat!” She told me that seventy percent of all disease was related to diet and nutrition. “It empowers patients to tell them they have control,” she said. She had a personal reason that drove her passion for nutrition as well. Five years ago, she had a brain tumor removed. The tumor was benign, but recovering from the surgery was a challenge. Over the course of a year, she was able to recover with nutrition, exercise for both body and mind (memory challenges), and by consciously focusing her brain to remember and work. “It’s amazing what happens when we put good stuff into our systems. You also have to learn to find the positive in any picture, and keep a sense of humor,” she said.
Education Nutrition
Wellness
Health
Consultant
Dr. Marlene MD
Engaging, Entertaining, Educating
- Former Adjunct Assistant Educator, Keiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine, West Palm Beach, Florida. 2019-2023
- Taught nutrition seminar at the graduate school level
- Articles and poems published in TLC Chronicles, quarterly magazine for Keiser University
- Contributing author of nutrition chapter in a medical textbook, publication in 2021
- Professional speaker and storyteller
She gives community lectures in-person and online on medical topics with a nutrition twist.
Dr. Marlene believes, “You are what you eat!”
Communication
Author
Poet
Speaker
Grandmotherhood
It is not what you say, but how you say it!
- President, Sailfish Toastmasters 2020-2021
- Secretary. Sailfish Toastmasters 2021-2022
- Writer & pundit for the Sunshiner, magazine of Toastmasters District 47 with articles & poems about public speaking
- Freelance writer of column “Be Well” Deerfield Beach magazine & Lighthouse Point magazine, Florida
- Author of poetry book, Serenity View: Peoms Images of the blue Ridge Mountains, published April 2021.
As George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has occurred”.
Home cook
Gardening
Games & Puzzles
Reading
Grandma
Having more fun in Florida sun...
- Feeding the family & garden
- Food and recipe experimentation
- Harvesting cherry tomatoes & fresh basil from the garden
- Orchid care and companionship
- Mah Jongg online & in-person
- Joy of grandparenting
- More joy of grandchildren
Keep smiling. Laughter is good medicine.
May your mind, body, and soul stay productive.
Dr. Marlene says, “Have a blessed day!”
Healthcare & Nutrition Educator,
Storyteller, & Author
Celebrating Spoken Word, Poetry, & Storytelling
Edutainment = Educate + Entertainment
I have combined all of my passions and talents, bringing you Spoken Word Edutainment.
Edutainment, educate, and entertain. This was the challenge I accepted to do a Spoken Word poem and storytelling about the Heart and heart disease. The research was very interesting. The audience at The Meridian agreed I met the challenge. Great edutainment!
“Your Heart is Your Home Story” is, an original poem about the history of the heart shape, St. Valentine, and the human heart.
SHARING...
I.R., President of the Women’s Club at Boca Delray Country Club
Dr. Marlene is a gifted speaker with a wonderful ability to make every audience member feel comfortable. Our third monthly program, "Family, Food, & Fun" was a great success, Dr. Marlene's programs are very informative, with her warm smile, humorous stories, and interactive question-and-answer time. Thanks, Dr. Marlene, for a fun afternoon. We are looking forward to next month's Educational Moments program, "Free Your Mind."
Chiropractic Student
Thank you for bestowing your knowledge upon us this semester.
Chiropractic Student
I absolutely enjoy your class and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from you. You have an amazing gift of warming up the room and making folks feel comfortable.
Dr. G.P., D.C.,DABCO, Assistant Professor, Keiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine
Marlene, how thoughtful of you…to send me an interesting article as well...I am of course going to miss our conversations about our families, your AAFP journals with highlighted articles, seeing you so animated and excited about your latest literary creations, and so much else. But what I will miss the most is a wonderful human being that has dedicated her life to serving others. You have taught me much.