Physician Leadership

Joseph T. McGinn, Jr., M.D., is a thoracic surgeon and the chief of cardiac surgery at Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, a part of Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. McGinn is a pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and is known for developing a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting procedure known as “The McGinn Technique” as an alternative to open-heart surgery. He has since performed more than 1,500 of these procedures and trained hundreds of doctors worldwide.

Dr. McGinn joined Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute from Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C., where he served as the Francis Robicsek, M.D., Ph.D. Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and professor of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. Previously, he was the medical director of The Heart Institute of New York and chairman of the department of surgery at Staten Island University Hospital.

Dr. McGinn has been recognized with numerous professional awards, most recently the Irish America Healthcare and Life Sciences 50 (2018) and New York Magazine Best Doctors in New York (1998 to 2015). He has also been recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in medicine and is the recipient of the Samuel L. Koontz Award for Clinical Excellence.

Dr. McGinn earned his medical degree from State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine, where he also completed a general surgery residency and research fellowships. He completed residency training in cardiothoracic surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He is board-certified in thoracic surgery, surgical critical care and surgery.

Dr. Jonathan Fialkow is a Board-Certified Cardiologist at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute where he is also Deputy Director of the Institute. He is chief of cardiology at Baptist Hospital. Dr. Fialkow founded in 2007 and led Heartwell, LLP, the largest single-specialty Cardiology group in Florida up to its acquisition by Baptist Health in 2018.

Presently, he leads the Cardiology service line at Baptist Health where he is instrumental in developing Clinical Programs, the use of technology to enhance patient access and disease management, and new payment models for specialty care. Dr. Fialkow is and has been Principal Investigator in numerous seminal clinical trials, mostly around Lipidology and CV prevention. He is a certified Lipidologist by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology.

Dr. Fialkow is the Chief Population Health Officer at Baptist Health South Florida where he lead the development and implementation of data-driven determinants and workflows to improve patient care, quality , decrease cost and waste and enhance the provider experience. The confluence of cardiovascular knowledge and experience and population-related deliverables affords Dr. Fialkow a unique perspective on the dynamic opportunities in health care including latest technological advancements and their role in care delivery.

Percy Aitken, M.D., FACC, is a cardiologist at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. He specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart and blood vessels and has more than 25 years of experience in his field. He has collaborated in numerous clinical research trials in cardiovascular disease that has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Aitken is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.

Ian del Conde M.D., FACC, FSVM, is a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

In addition to being a cardiologist with a large practice, he has additional training in diseases that affect the arterial and venous systems. He leads several clinical programs within the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, including the Vascular Medicine Program, the Hypertension Clinic, and the Venous Thrombosis program. Dr. del Conde has authored numerous articles and book chapters that have been published in peer-reviewed periodicals, and has been an invited speaker to numerous national and international medical meetings.

His clinical research focuses on developing new diagnostic tools and therapies to advance the care of patients with cardiovascular disease. Dr. del Conde completed internal medicine residency training at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

He completed fellowship training in cardiology and vascular medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Elliott Elias, M.D. M.P.H, is a cardiologist who specializes in pre-procedural, intra-procedural, and post-procedural imaging for trans-catheter structural intervention. Dr. Elias has special training and expertise within valvular heart disease using multi-modality imaging (Cardiac CT, and echocardiography) to minimize risk and provide high-quality outcomes.

He is an integral part of the Heart Valve Team that collaborates for the planned treatment of both surgical and trans-catheter intervention of complex valvular heart disease. He is fellowship trained in Interventional Echocardiography — a new subspecialty within echocardiography that focuses on 3-D/4-D imaging for the planning and guidance of trans-catheter structural heart procedures such as TAVR, TMVR, MitraClip, left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder devices, and transcatheter paravalvular leaks.

Dr. Elias has published numerous articles, abstracts and textbook chapters in peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Theodore Feldman, M.D., FACC, FACP, is a cardiologist who has more than 35 years of experience in his field. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. He has been the principal investigator on over 70 cardiovascular clinical research studies. He has given more than 100 lectures on clinical and preventive cardiology at national and international conferences and published countless articles in peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Dr. Feldman’s extensive teaching experience includes serving as a course director for educational symposiums presented by Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and attended by cardiovascular specialists. Dr. Feldman has served as a member of several executive committees for Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. As a experience clinician, educator, and researcher, Dr. Feldman assures patients receive the highest quality cardiovascular care.

Alvaro Gomez, M.D., FACC, is an interventional cardiologist who has more than 25 years of experience in his field. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of cardiovascular diseases as well as congenital and structural heart conditions through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting. Dr. Gomez also specializes in cardio-oncology. His clinical interests include nuclear cardiac stress testing and the prevention and management of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and valvular heart disease. Dr. Gomez has conducted numerous clinical research trials on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and published articles in various peer-reviewed medical journals. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Michael McDermott, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and the chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute. He is a world-renowned leader in neurosciences and has clinical expertise in the field of meningioma surgery and Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

Dr. McDermott is widely known for advancing neurosurgical techniques and is an expert in the treatment of a wide variety of neurological disorders. He is the world’s leading expert in meningioma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults.*

Dr. McDermott joined Baptist Health South Florida from UCSF Medical Center, where he served as co-director of the Gamma Knife radiosurgery and skull base surgery programs, vice chairman of clinical programs from 2001-2012 and held the Wolfe Family Endowed Professor in Meningioma Research.

Throughout his career, Dr. McDermott’s research has generated more than 400 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to his clinical and research leadership, he is an accomplished educator. As residency program director at UCSF Medical Center for seven years, he trained young surgeons from around the world. Dr. McDermott has been recognized with several professional awards and numerous visiting professor invitations.

*From 2010 to present, according to Expertscape.com.

Socrates Kakoulides, M.D., is a cardiologist specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. He has distinctive training and expertise in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology — advanced tests utilized in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of patients with heart disease.

Dr. Kakoulides publishes articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and is an invited speaker at cardiology symposiums. He has extensive experience training medical students, cardiology residents and fellows.

Karl Lembcke, M.D., FACC, is a cardiologist at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. He specializes in in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and defects of the heart and circulatory system. He has special interest and expertise in echocardiography, with emphasis in transesophageal echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. Dr. Lembcke has been involved in many clinical research studies to improve the detection and treatment of heart disease.

In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, he is a member of the American Heart Association. He is fluent in four languages: English, Spanish, German and French.

John Morytko, M.D., FACC, is a cardiologist at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute who has has more than 25 years of experience in his field. He specializes in in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and defects of the heart and circulatory system. He treats such conditions as heart attack, heart failure, heart murmur and hypertension. Dr. Morytko has been involved in clinical research studies to improve the efficacy and safety of treatments for heart disease. In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, he is a member of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Mario Pascual, M.D., is an electrophysiologist with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. He focuses on the heart’s electrical system and specializes in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias. He has conducted several clinical research studies to improve the efficacy of treatments such as cardiac resynchronization therapies. Dr. Pascual is fluent in English and Spanish.

Ramon Quesada, M.D., FACC, FACP, FSCAI, FCCP, has more than 25 years of experience as an interventional cardiologist. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of cardiovascular diseases as well as congenital and structural heart conditions through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting, and transcatheter vales repairs and replacements.

Dr. Quesada has been a clinical research national site investigator on research trials for coronary interventions and structural heart repairs. He has been a leader in developing minimally invasive techniques to treat structural heart disease, including left atrial appendage closure, patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defects, perivalvular leak repair, aortic valve replacement, mitral, tricuspid valve repairs, and left ventricular pseudoaneurysm closure. He is one of a few interventional cardiologists in the United States who uses the transracial approach for coronary interventions, performing more than 5,000 cases with this less-invasive approach.

Dr. Quesada was the first physician in Florida to perform a percutaneous mitral valve repair. He has published extensively in medical journals and other scientific literature and serves on the editorial board of Cardiac Interventions Today, and cardiovascular revascularization medicine (CRM). He has lectured nationally and internationally and has trained physicians from around the world on interventional cardiology techniques.

Dr. Quesada is fluent in English and Spanish.

Tarak Rambhatla, M.D., is a clinical cardiologist. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiovascular disease including critical care cardiology, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.

He completed his cardiology training in New York City, where under the direction of world renowned Echocardiographer Itzhak Kronzon, he mastered the utilization of echocardiography in assessment of hemodynamics and valvular heart disease, using both transesophageal and transthoracic echo. His other interest includes heart rhythm disorders, particularly early detection and management of atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia that leads to heart failure and strokes, and affects more than 2 million Americans. He has given lectures both nationally and internationally on this topic.

He is a published author in several renowned scientific journals, including the International Journal of Cardiology and JACC EP. He is also the lead author for the upcoming Echocardiography Companion, a Board Review Preparation Book for Clinicians. He is an active member of several professional societies, including the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography, Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, and Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Marcus St. John, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, is an interventional cardiologist with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and is the Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Baptist Hospital. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of cardiovascular diseases through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting. In addition to interventional cardiology, his clinical interests include general and preventive cardiovascular medicine. Dr. St. John has conducted clinical research studies and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles on cardiology. He has lectured extensively throughout the Caribbean and the U.S. on heart disease and preventive cardiovascular medicine.

Juan Viles-Gonzalez, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FEHRA, FHRS, is a cardiologist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. He has distinctive training and expertise in cardiac electrophysiology, making him uniquely qualified to assess the heart's electrical system and activity and diagnose and treat abnormal heartbeats, or arrhythmias. Dr. Viles-Gonzalez conducts clinical research in his specialty to increase the efficacy of treatments and improve patient outcomes. He is widely published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks and is an invited speaker at national and international cardiology conferences. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Journal and as a reviewer for several other medical publications. Dr. Viles-Gonzalez has extensive teaching and mentoring experience and has been honored with several teaching awards. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Pascual De Santis, M.D., is an endocrinologist with Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties integrated within Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the endocrine system – the complex network of hormone-secreting glands in the human body. Several conditions can be caused by an under or overproduction of hormones, an inability to process certain hormones or other problems relating to the endocrine system. Diabetes and thyroid disorders are two of the most common conditions he treats. He also specializes in pituitary diseases and adrenal disorders.

He obtained his medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina in Caracas, Venezuela. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. His post-doctoral training includes two fellowships – one in clinical pharmacology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and one in endocrinology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

He has authored several scientific articles in his specialty and has presented posters and abstracts at numerous national and international meetings. Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is also a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Juan-Carlos Verdeja, M.D., FACS, is a general surgeon and chairman of the operating committee for Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida.

Dr. Verdeja is chief of surgery and founding president of the medical staff at West Kendall Baptist Hospital. Dr. Verdeja has been in surgical practice for more than two decades and specializes in general, laparoscopic and oncologic surgery.

Dr. Verdeja graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was chief resident of the department of surgery. Dr. Verdeja is director of laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and is an associate professor in the school's department of surgery as well as at Nova Southeastern University's College of Allied Health. Dr. Verdeja is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He lectures nationally and internationally and is published in more than 50 medical journals.

Dr. Verdeja has been instrumental in the development of advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques and devices.

Soni Chousleb, M.D., is a general surgeon and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in surgery with an interest in minimally invasive and robotic procedures. Dr. Chousleb received his medical degree from Anahuac University School of Medicine in Mexico City. He was a research fellow at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple School of Medicine, in Pittsburgh, and then completed a general surgery residency at New York Hospital Queens, Weill Cornell Medical College, in Flushing, N.Y. Following his residency, Dr. Chousleb completed a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic and foregut surgery at Boston Medical Center. He is Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, and has performed research on microsurgery and laparoscopic surgery, critical ischemia of the lower limbs and gastric bypass complications. He is an associate professor at Florida International University’s Wertheim School of Medicine and is fluent in English and Spanish.

Anthony Gonzalez, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, is chief of surgery at Baptist Hospital of Miami and medical director of bariatric surgery at South Miami Hospital. He is also a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Gonzalez is a general surgeon with a specialty in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. He has presented at national and international medical conferences on bariatric, abdominal, colon and robotic surgery. Dr. Gonzalez is founding program director of Baptist Health's MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. He has published in medical journals, including the official journal of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Hernia and the Journal of Obesity Surgery. Dr. Gonzalez is a senior member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gonzalez is a graduate of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He is an associate professor of surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and a voluntary assistant professor of surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Jorge Rabaza, M.D., FACS, is a general surgeon and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in bariatric surgery, including revisional surgery. Dr. Rabaza graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He is a clinical assistant professor of surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and a voluntary instructor of surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Rupa Seetharamaiah, M.D., is a Board-certified general surgeon and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. She specializes in weight-loss surgery and has extensive training in robotic and laparoscopic surgery for minimally invasive and bariatric procedures, including the Da Vinci Surgical System and the SPIDER Surgical System. Dr. Seetharamaiah received her medical degree from the University of Mysore in Mysore, India, and completed her residency at the University of Mississippi. She then completed a fellowship in the Advanced Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery program at Baptist Health. She is a member of the American Board of Surgery, American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American Medical Association, Florida State Medical Association, and the James D. Hardy Society. Dr. Seetharamaiah is an assistant professor of surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

George R. Tershakovec, M.D., FACS, is a general surgeon and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He is president-elect of the 300 physicians on the Homestead Hospital medical staff and has served in many other Baptist Health leadership roles, including president and vice president of the medical staffs of South Miami Hospital and Baptist Hospital, respectively. Dr. Tershakovec is Board-certified in general surgery and has practiced surgery in South Florida for more than 25 years. In addition to performing general, oncologic and laparoscopic procedures, his surgical interests include thyroid and parathyroid surgery using minimally invasive techniques and breast health and breast cancers. Dr. Tershakovec received his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 1980 and completed his residency at hospitals affiliated with the school. He has served on many Baptist Health committees and is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons. His community affiliations include the Kiwanis Club of Homestead/South Dade.

Education
Pennsylvania Hospital (UPHS)
Residency Program, Internal Medicine, INTRE, 2008

Universidad Del Valle Escuela de Medicina (Colombia)
Medical School, MD, 1997

Michael McDermott, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and the chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute. He is a world-renowned leader in neurosciences and has clinical expertise in the field of meningioma surgery and Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

Dr. McDermott is widely known for advancing neurosurgical techniques and is an expert in the treatment of a wide variety of neurological disorders. He is the world’s leading expert in meningioma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults.*

Dr. McDermott joined Baptist Health South Florida from UCSF Medical Center, where he served as co-director of the Gamma Knife radiosurgery and skull base surgery programs, vice chairman of clinical programs from 2001-2012 and held the Wolfe Family Endowed Professor in Meningioma Research.

Throughout his career, Dr. McDermott’s research has generated more than 400 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to his clinical and research leadership, he is an accomplished educator. As residency program director at UCSF Medical Center for seven years, he trained young surgeons from around the world. Dr. McDermott has been recognized with several professional awards and numerous visiting professor invitations.

*From 2010 to present, according to Expertscape.com.

Michael E. Gomez, M.D., FAANS, is a neurosurgeon at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute and the medical director of minimally invasive spine surgery at South Miami Hospital. Dr. Gomez specializes in spinal surgery, including minimally invasive procedures for degenerative conditions, tumors and spinal deformities. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Gomez joined Miami Neuroscience Institute from Premier Brain & Spine of Florida. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Florida Neurosurgical Society. Dr. Gomez’s approach to patient care is to help patients understand their spinal condition and the treatment options that can improve their spinal health. Whenever possible, he uses minimally invasive techniques in treating spinal disorders to reduce blood loss and post-operative pain so that patients can return to a happy and healthier life more quickly. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Gomez enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children and outdoor activities like cycling and water sports.

Vitaly Siomin, M.D., is director of cerebral vascular surgery and co-director of skull base surgery at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Siomin graduated from I.M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Academy in Russia and completed residencies at Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute in Moscow and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland. He completed fellowships at Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, Toronto Western Hospital/University of Toronto and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is Board-certified in neurological surgery. Dr. Siomin has participated in clinical and basic science research on brain cancer. He has published in medical journals, including the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, Journal of Neuro-oncology, Neoplasia and Pediatric Neurosurgery. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Justin Sporrer, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and director of functional neurosurgery at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in general neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFU) for movement disorders. Dr. Sporrer received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he received the Barrett Award for Excellence in Humanities, the Department of Physics Award and the Chapman Award in Biology. He received his medical degree from the University of Florida, earning numerous accolades, including the Academic Perfection Award and the AMA Educational Research Foundation Award. Dr. Sporrer completed an internship and residency in neurological surgery at the University of Florida. During his residency, he received the Charles “Chuck” Shank Award in Neurosurgical Excellence and the Resident Teacher Award. He also served as chief resident. In addition, Dr. Sporrer was a clinical research fellow at the UF Center for Movement Disorders. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He has lectured and presented research findings at medical meetings and published in medical journals.

Raul Vasquez, M.D., director of complex spine surgery at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute, is a neurosurgeon specializing in the surgical treatment of complex spinal conditions, including tumors, degenerative spine diseases, spinal deformities, scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis and neurotrauma. He has unique expertise in minimally invasive techniques that result in less pain and complications in a quicker recovery time. Dr. Vasquez serves as an editorial reviewer for World Neurosurgery Journal and Operative Neurosurgery Journal. He is widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals and an invited speaker at national and international scientific symposiums. His extensive teaching experience includes serving as assistant professor of neurosurgery at University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Jobyna Whiting, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and director of degenerative spine surgery at Baptist Health’s Miami Neuroscience Institute. She specializes in endovascular neurosurgery, complex spine surgery and general neurosurgery. Dr. Whiting received her undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed an internship in general surgery at the University of Florida, followed by a residency in neurosurgery. During her residency, she received numerous honors, including the Charles "Chuck" Shank Award in Neurosurgical Excellence and the Sherry Apple Resident Travel Award for an outstanding resident abstract at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' annual meeting. In addition, Dr. Whiting completed a fellowship in endovascular surgery at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Baptist Health, she was in private practice in Orlando. Board-eligible, Dr. Whiting previously was an assistant professor of clinical neurosurgery at Columbia University. She is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. She has lectured and presented research findings at medical meetings and published in medical journals.

Michael Swartzon, M.D., is a sports medicine physician with a dual board certification in family and sports medicine. He cares for active people, athletes and individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. He is an important player on your health team with significant specialized training in treatment and prevention of illness and injury to help you lead a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Swartzon cares for youth athletes, “weekend warriors,” active individuals, elite athletes and nonathletes alike. He can maximize non-operative treatment, guide referrals to physical and occupational therapies and if necessary, expedite an appointment to a surgeon for treatment.

Dr. Swartzon is an associate professor for Florida International University as well as an affiliate professor for Nova Southeastern University and program director for Baptist Health’s primary care sports medicine fellowship program. He is published in several medical journals and regularly presents at national conferences focused on sports medicine research.

He has significant experience with professional athletes as a team physician for the Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, the jockeys at Gulfstream Park Racetrack and a tournament physician for the Miami Open. He is the co-medical director for the Miami Marathon & Half Marathon. Additionally, he cares for a variety of collegiate teams such as Florida International University, Barry University and St. Thomas University.

Previously, Dr. Swartzon provided medical care for El Clásico Barcelona vs Real Madrid, the World Golf Championship, the University of New Mexico Lobos basketball team, Mountain West conference championship, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, New Mexico state rodeo and the USA Track and Field Indoor Championship.

His specialties include stem cell, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and amniotic regenerative orthobiological therapy. He performs orthopedic ultrasound diagnostics and ultrasound-guided procedures. He is also a certified FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and performs physicals for pilots.

As a South Florida native, Dr. Swartzon is an avid fan of local sports teams.

John Uribe, M.D., is a dual Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida.

He specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery and minimally invasive surgical procedures for degenerative conditions of the knee, shoulder and elbow.

Dr. Uribe is the team physician for the Florida Panthers hockey team and the Miami Dolphins football team. He is chairman of the department of orthopedics for Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and is a founding member of the UHZ Sports Medicine Institute.

Dr. Uribe was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and served as chief of orthopedics at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. His research interests include minimally invasive resurfacing techniques of the knee and shoulder, as well as ligament and tendon restoration. A member of multiple professional organizations and societies, he is well-published and lectures extensively in the U.S. and abroad.

Christopher Hodgkins, M.D., is a Board certified orthopedic surgeon with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in conditions of the foot and ankle. His areas of expertise include sports injuries, tendon disorders, fractures, traumas, post-traumatic reconstructions, arthroplasty and fusion for arthritic conditions, and forefoot reconstructions including bunion and hammertoe surgery.

Dr. Hodgkins received his medical degree with honors from the University of Manchester in England. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He also completed two years of foot and ankle fellowship: in 2005 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and in 2011 at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute in Tampa. Dr. Hodgkins has published extensively in international medical journals and textbooks on sports injuries and surgical techniques. He has presented at numerous national orthopedic meetings and has won awards for such.

Dr. Hodgkins is a native of the United Kingdom. He was an avid rugby player and served as captain of his college team. While in the United States, he played with rugby teams in New York and Miami before trading in his boots for golf clubs and soccer cleats.

Charles Jordan, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in orthopedic trauma and general orthopedic surgery with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. His areas of expertise include complex fractures and musculoskeletal injuries, upper and lower extremity reconstruction and chronic post-traumatic orthopedic conditions.

Dr. Jordan earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He attended medical school at Rutgers University, where he graduated at the top of his class and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York, where he served as administrative chief resident. He then completed a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at the Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa.

Dr. Jordan has lectured nationally and internationally on orthopedic injuries. He has published his research in leading medical journals and medical textbooks on orthopedic treatments and surgical techniques.

He has served as a physician for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and New York City Public School Athletic League and is currently an assistant team physician for the Florida Panthers hockey team.

Elizabeth Anne Ouellette, M.D., MBA, is a renowned orthopedic hand surgeon specializing in the treatment of wrist fracture, ligament tear, nerve injury, joint instability and small joint replacement. She performs surgeries of all complexities. She has more than 30 years of clinical experience treating athletes and people of all ages and teaching and mentoring medical students, residents and fellows. She serves in numerous clinical and academic leadership roles.

Dr. Ouellette’s research interests include wrist instability biomechanics, nerve injury repair, skin coverage and psychological intervention for upper extremity trauma patients. She is widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals and is an invited speaker at national and international academic symposiums.

Derek Papp, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. His surgical areas of expertise include arthroscopic surgery, shoulder and elbow disorders and knee ligamentous injuries. He has a specific interest in the throwing athletes’ shoulder and elbow and especially enjoys helping athletes face the challenges that their sports present. He provides orthopedic care to athletes of all skill levels, including professional, collegiate, high school and recreational athletes.

He currently serves as a consultant for the Baltimore Orioles and formerly served as the Head Team Physician for their minor league affiliate, the Aberdeen Ironbirds. Dr. Papp also has served as a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Panthers, Florida International University athletics and Miami-Dade County Public Schools athletics. On a fun note, he served as the Major League Baseball’s venue physician in Seoul, Korea during the 2017 World Baseball Classic as well as in Mexicali, Mexico during the 2016 qualifier.

Prior to moving to South Florida, Dr. Papp served as a part-time Assistant Professor of orthopedic surgery in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he provided clinical and surgical instruction to residents. He has published numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented many scientific papers at professional symposiums. He currently serves on the editorial board of Current Orthopaedic Practice. He is an active member of several professional societies, including the Major League Baseball Team Physicians’ Association, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

Alexander van der Ven, M.D., is a fellowship-trained, Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in total joint replacement, revision replacement and reconstruction of the hip and knee, and hip arthroscopy.

Dr. van der Ven completed the Otto E. Aufranc Fellowship in Orthopedic Adult Reconstruction at New England Baptist Hospital, and served as a clinical instructor in orthopedic surgery at Tufts University.

A Massachusetts native, Dr. van der Ven earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his medical degree and MBA in healthcare management from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed several research projects at the Massachusetts General Hospital Bioengineering Laboratory in knee reconstruction, and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honors society.

Dr. van der Ven completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital. During residency, he also served as a team physician for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools sport programs. His clinical interests include degenerative, congenital and inflammatory disorders of the hip and knee, with a focus on less invasive techniques, arthroplasty longevity and early rehabilitation. He also specializes in the early treatment of hip disorders with minimally invasive techniques such as hip arthroscopy.

Dr. van der Ven has published articles in several peer-reviewed medical journals and has lectured nationally. He is currently a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

John E. Zvijac, M.D., is a fellowship-trained physician with dual Board-certification in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. From 1998 to 2014, he was head team orthopedic surgeon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is also a team physician for the Florida Panthers and Florida International University and medical director of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools high school athletics program.

Dr. Zvijac specializes in sports medicine and surgery of the shoulder, elbow and knee. He is a founding partner of UHZ Sports Medicine Institute (uhzsmi.com) and has served as both chief of surgery and chief of staff at Doctors Hospital. Dr. Zvijac is an adjunct professor in the departments of orthopedic surgery and exercise and sports sciences at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He is currently the Florida delegate for the American Orthopaedic Society for sports medicine.

Recognized as one of the "Best Doctors in America" annually for the past several years, he is the author of many articles and book chapters and has presented on a variety of sports medicine topics worldwide. Dr. Zvijac received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed a residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and a sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.

Moises Lustgarten, M.D., is the director of pain management at Miami Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Lustgarten specializes in pain management. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Dr. Lustgarten joined Miami Neuroscience Institute from The Center for Pain Management of South Florida, where he served as the medical director. As a founder of the center, he helped develop a facility that provides care to thousands of inpatients and outpatients with severe chronic pain.

He has presented on pain management techniques at many professional conferences and is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Interventional Pain Physicians, Florida Society of Anesthesiologists and Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

Dr. Lustgarten’s approach to patient care is to listen to his patients, so he can understand their needs and recommend the best treatment approach for their health and lifestyle. His goal is to provide pain relief while allowing patients to perform their activities of daily living with minimal limitations.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Lustgarten enjoys spending time with his family and long-distance cycling.

Education

Jackson Memorial Hospital Fellowship Program, Hospice/Palliative Medicine, 2018

University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Fellowship Program, Geriatric Medicine, 2017

Flushing Hospital Medical Center Residency Program, Internal Medicine, 2016

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Medical School, MD, 2013

Certifications

Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine, 2017

Geriatric Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine, 2018

Hospice and Palliative Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine, 2018

Melissa Guanche, M.D., is the director of interventional spine at Miami Neuroscience Institute’s Spine Center. Dr. Guanche specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, which aims to enhance and restore the functional ability of patients with physical impairments or disabilities affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. She designs comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans that help maximize patients’ independence in activities of daily living and improve their quality of life. Dr. Guanche has published articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals and presented her clinical findings at medical conferences. She is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists and Spine Intervention Society. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Jose Andres Restrepo, M.D., is the director of outpatient rehabilitation at Baptist Hospital and a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Miami Neuroscience Institute’s Spine Center. Dr. Restrepo specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnosis, regenerative medicine, and musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Restrepo joined Miami Neuroscience Institute from Conviva Physician Group, where he served as the regional medical director of rehabilitation medicine. He was the principal investigator in a research study that demonstrated that exercise prevented falls and increased functional independence in older adults. He also served as the associate program director of the physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Restrepo enjoys interacting with his patients and believes in treating them as family members. He is passionate about helping people heal from medical conditions that impair their daily living so they can be independent again. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Restrepo enjoys spending time with his family, going to the gym, playing tennis, swimming and reading.

Jose Vazquez, M.D., is the chief of primary care at Baptist Health Medical Group, part of Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including hypertension, diabetes and respiratory conditions. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Prior to joining Baptist Health in 2016, Dr. Vazquez served as the chief of the internal medicine division at South Florida Multispecialty Associates and an associate attending physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center. At Mount Sinai Medical Center, he was named “Attending Physician of the Year.”

As chief of primary care, Dr. Vazquez is passionate about leadership and mentoring other physicians. His greatest honor is gaining the trust and respect of his patients and peers.

Dr. Vazquez’s approach to patient care is to focus on preventive care. He is also committed to listening to each patient and respecting their wishes. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Vazquez enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Lester Carrodeguas, M.D., is a family medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care, a part of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in primary care, treating a wide range of health problems, including simple to complex health concerns, including asthma and diabetes, heart disease, internal medicine, disease prevention, health-risk assessments and healthy lifestyle choices. Dr. Carrodeguas received his medical degree from the Universidad Autόnoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine, in Guadalajara, Mexico. He held post-doctoral research fellowships at The Ohio State University Hospital and Arthur James Comprehensive Cancer Institute. He completed a clinical research fellowship at The Bariatric Institute – Cleveland Clinic Florida, a general surgery internship and residency at Berkshire Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School, and a family medicine residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Hoboken University Medical Center. Dr. Carrodeguas is an assistant professor of medicine at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Kathleen Filiaggi, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician and hospitalist at Baptist Health and has extensive experience in cardiac, pulmonary and renal diagnoses. Before joining Baptist Health in 2023, Dr. Filiaggi worked as a hospitalist at Premier Medical Associates and Butler Medical Associates, both in Pennsylvania. Over the years, she’s enriched the lives of individuals and families in both hospital and primary care settings. After receiving her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, Dr. Filiaggi completed her internal medicine residency at Allegheny General Hospital. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. As a doctor of internal medicine, Dr. Filiaggi enjoys being able to take the time to listen intently and get to know patients on a meaningful level. She focuses on preventive care, meeting people where they are, and then working with them to implement a comprehensive treatment plan. When not treating patients, she enjoys running, biking, hiking, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family.

Andrew Forster, M.D., is an internal medicine physician at Baptist Health. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including simple and complex health concerns, chronic disease management, minor emergencies, urgent care and the coordination of care with specialists. A native of Liverpool, England, Dr. Forster received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Before attending medical school, he earned a Master of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of California Los Angeles. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. Dr. Forster previously worked in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, teaching in the hospital’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. He is board-certified in internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Douglas Inciarte, M.D., MMM, FAAFP is a Family Medicine physician and Program Director of the West Kendall Baptist Health Family Medicine Residency Program affiliated to Florida International University in Miami. As Program director of the Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Inciarte will lead the recruitment, training and supervision of the Resident physicians. Facilitating, mentoring and supporting their comprehensive training in Family Medicine while ensuring a safe, effective and appropriate care for patients.

Dr. Inciarte has extensive teaching experience in the ambulatory and inpatient setting, serving as Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for more than 10 years. He has strong management and leadership skills in his past roles, including a degree of Master in Medical Management from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He has served as Ambulatory Quality Medical Director and as Chair of the Ambulatory Medical directors leading strategic efforts in the operations and education in Primary care and Specialty clinics including Value-based metrics and population health within healthcare enterprise and accountable care organization in Omaha, Nebraska.

Throughout his career, he has been an active member of numerous committees and Boards that strive to improve the delivery and quality of patient care services including in the selection and education of medical students. Dr. Inciarte also has edited and published abstracts in peer-reviewed Family Medicine journals translated in the different languages. He has presented and chaired at local and regional scientific conferences during his appointments in Nebraska. As a clinician he specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including simple and complex health conditions, chronic disease management, and the coordination of care.

A passionate believer of patient centered care through teamwork he also focuses on wellness and prevention to help patients avoid disease and maintain good health of the population that he will serve.

Elise McCormack-Granja, M.D., is an internal medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care physician, a part of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. She received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, based in St. Maarten. Dr. McCormack-Granja was chief resident of internal medicine at Roger Williams Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine in Providence, R.I., where she also won resident-of-the-year honors and was named teaching attending of the year for two consecutive years. She was the clinical site director for third-year clinical rotations and an instructor at the Boston University School of Medicine. She specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of health issues, including simple and complex health concerns, internal medicine, chronic disease management, minor emergencies and urgent care, and women's health issues.

Nathalie Regalado, M.D., is a primary care physician at Baptist Health. Regalado specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including chronic disease management, minor emergencies, non-operative musculoskeletal problems, women’s health, urgent care and the coordination of specialty care. She also practices preventive medicine, helping patients take measures to prevent disease, decrease complications from existing disease and improve quality of life. Dr. Regalado earned her medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and was the recipient of the merit-based Henry King Stanford Scholarship. She completed an internship and a residency in primary care and internal medicine at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Regalado has lectured extensively to physician peers on a variety of health topics and has a special interest in the field of resistance training and its clinical effects.

Harneet Walia, M.D., is the director of Sleep Medicine and Continuous Improvement at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Dr. Walia specializes in sleep medicine.

Dr. Walia joined Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute from the Cleveland Clinic, where she served as the medical director of Continuous Improvement and the North Olmsted Sleep Laboratory at the Neurological Institute. She also served as an associate professor of Family Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She has led multiple teams and projects resulting in improved process efficiencies and eliminating waste.

Dr. Walia has led numerous clinical trials and real-world research projects on sleep-disordered breathing and health outcomes, ranging from patient-reported outcomes to cardiovascular disorders. She and her colleagues demonstrated that improving sleep disorders can improve patients’ quality of life, depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms. Her research has also shown that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with recalcitrant blood pressure and that treatment can improve blood pressure in those with sleep apnea.

Her research has been published in a number of high impact peer-reviewed publications, including CHEST, the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sleep and Breathing, the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, Journal of Clinical Medicine, the Journal of Sleep Research and the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.

In 2020, she was the recipient of the Gidwani Mid-Career Scholarship award by the Women’s Professional Staff Association at Cleveland Clinic. This award enabled her to pursue coursework at Harvard Medical School, which helped hone her leadership skills to better serve her institution and team.

Dr. Walia believes in a strong patient-physician partnership while keeping the patient care central to the relationship. She prioritizes open communication with her patients so that they understand their treatment options.

When she is not treating patients, Dr. Walia enjoys running outdoors, dancing, reading and spending time with her family.