Lee Memorial Health System is honoring a group of Pioneering Physicians this evening for their dedication and service. These early doctors came to southwest Florida in the 1950’s and 60’s by way of a 2-lane highway or flights into Page Field in Fort Myers, and often brought new medical skills and specialties with them. Lee Memorial media producer Mark Johnson interviewed more than 20 of them and has put together a video, which will be shown for the first time at tonight’s event in Fort Myers. He told WGCU’s Mike Kiniry it was a different world in those days…

A sweeping proposal to provide health care coverage and education alternatives for children with autism and other disabilities is headed for the House floor. Margie Menzel reports.

The North Naples Center for Women’s Health is closing at the end of June. The non-profit center’s director says the reason is a lack of clients. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Stuck at home caring for sick adults, hundreds of Palm Beach County
middle school kids are losing out on childhood and endangering their
education. There's a program to help them...it's the only one like it in
the entire country. Rick Stone reports on the "Caregiving Youth
Project”.

Lee Memorial Health System holds a presentation on Sanibel Thursday night about the state of health care in southwest Florida. Wendy Humphrey reports.

The Florida State University College of Medicine’s new rural health campus is officially open for business. FSU officials are in Immokalee this evening for the grand opening. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

Charlotte County has launched a discount card program to help residents cope with the high cost of prescription drugs. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Hope Hospice in Fort Myers now offers a program aimed at helping seniors live independently at home. It’s only the second of its kind in Florida. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

Roughly 450 out of every 100-thousand women in Guatemala die during child birth every year – compared to only 12 of every 100-thousand in the United States. Experts blame the high number on the lack of access to sterile supplies. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports on a group of southwest Florida women who hope to improve the lives of Guatemalan women - and in turn make it less likely that they’ll leave their own country to seek a better life.

Mental health advocates gathered in Tallahassee yesterday - pushing a bill to force health insurance providers to include mental illness in their coverage. Tom Flanigan has more.