CEO Offers Complimentary Virtual Urgent Care Visits for All South Florida Residents

MIAMI – September 16, 2019 – In a letter published in all the major local newspapers, Brian E. Keeley, President & CEO of Baptist Health South Florida, invited all area residents to experience Baptist Health’s Care On Demand urgent care service for free.

“This is just one of many ways Baptist Health is making affordable healthcare easier and more convenient for you,” Mr. Keeley wrote. “To celebrate this milestone in digital health, we are offering a FREE online urgent care visit to everyone who lives in South Florida. We want you to experience a better way to get better!”

People who want to take advantage of the offer can use the code FREEURGENTCARE when launching the app for their first virtual visit, added Mr. Keeley.

Baptist Health, the largest not-for-profit health system in South Florida, pioneered the concept of urgent care centers in the region and today has 25 such centers from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County. Care On Demand is a natural extension of Baptist Health’s urgent care network, allowing patients with non-life-threatening illness or injury to bypass busy emergency rooms and get 24/7 online access to its trusted doctors and specialists.

“Virtual medicine is growing in popularity because it’s convenient, accessible and affordable,” said Dr. David Mishkin, medical director of Baptist Health Care On Demand. “We see it as the future of healthcare, and we aim to be a leader in that space.”

Baptist Health Care On Demand is easy to use. Patients download the free Care On Demand app on their iPhone, laptop or computer, provide a bit of personal information, and then request a virtual visit that immediately connects them with a physician or other expert of their choice. Consultations typically last 10 to 15 minutes and, if prescription medicines are needed, they can be sent directly to the nearest pharmacy.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI – September 16, 2019 – Baptist Health International, a part of Baptist Health South Florida, has named Rogelio E. Ribas, M.D., corporate vice president. His responsibilities include developing and overseeing the implementation of Baptist Health International’s strategic plan, including growth initiatives, resource allocation, long-range planning and leadership development.

“Dr. Ribas’ wealth of experience and considerable knowledge of Baptist Health and the international healthcare market position him well for this new role,” said Joe Natoli, chief administrative officer of Baptist Health. “We are deeply committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality services for international patients and physicians. Dr. Ribas will undoubtedly continue the positive momentum at Baptist Health International.”

Dr. Ribas joined Baptist Health International in 2011 as director of international healthcare partnerships and insurance development and was promoted to assistant vice president in 2013. Prior to being named corporate vice president, Dr. Ribas served as interim leader of Baptist Health International, responsible for developing physician relations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, catastrophic patient case reviews, insurance collaborations, patient support services and air ambulance transfers. In this new role, he will lead business development and manage relationships with international insurers, physicians, governments and potential partners, as well as oversee international consulting services, marketing and public relations, and a team of 11 in-country managers across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“I have been part of Baptist Health for many years and I’m very excited to take on this role and help strengthen the brand internationally,” said Dr. Ribas. “I look forward to continuing expanding our network of physicians, outpatient diagnostics and surgical center services in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Dr. Ribas has nearly 30 years of healthcare administration experience, including direct oversight of healthcare operations, HMO experience in utilization review and administration with United Healthcare and the development of strong physician networks. Additionally, he has worked with private domestic and international companies to develop and implement growth strategies and has brought several organizations to Joint Commission Accreditation status. Dr. Ribas has been a board member of national and state nonprofit associations in the ancillary field.

Dr. Ribas received both his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the Escuela Autónoma de Ciencias Médicas in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Baptist Health International
Baptist Health International is one of the largest hospital-based international programs in the United States, with more than 12,000 international patient visits at Baptist Health South Florida facilities from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County. Baptist Health International is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality services for international physicians and their patients, including hospital admissions, outpatient medical exams, medical second opinions and physician consultations, as well as concierge services.

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Media Contact:
Joeli Prieto
Baptist Health International
786-467-5460
[email protected]

MIAMI ― September 14, 2019 ― Orthopedic hand surgeon Sonya Khurana, M.D., has joined Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, a part of Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Khurana specializes in diagnosing and treating problems of the hand, wrist and forearm, including fractures, nerve and tendon problems, sports injuries, congenital limb problems, joint instability, degenerative conditions of the wrist and elbow and small joint replacement.

Dr. Khurana received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Penn., where she was the recipient of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Medical Student Scholarship and the Frank and Louise Groff Foundation Scholarship. She then worked as an orthopedic trauma clinic research fellow at New York University/Hospital for Joint Diseases. She went on to complete an orthopedic surgery residency at the New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., where she was recognized with numerous honors, including the American Journal of Orthopedics Resident Writer’s Award and the Hand Rehabilitation Foundation Snowmass Grant. Dr. Khurana received another Hand Rehabilitation Foundation Snowmass Grant as an upper extremity surgery fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Khurana’s research on fractures of the ulna, radius and humerus has been published in a variety of professional journals, she has authored textbook chapters on the emergency care of elbow dislocations and nerve blocks of the hand and has presented at industry conferences regarding fracture protocols and repairs.

“Dr. Khurana is an excellent addition to our team,” said John Uribe., M.D., chief medical executive, Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute. “Her arrival enhances our existing hand orthopedics service at the Institute and offers the community preeminent expertise in hand surgery.”

Dr. Khurana will see patients at the Miami HEAT Sports Medicine Center on the campus of Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. The new Center brings most of the Institute’s orthopedic specialties under one roof and includes a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center.

About Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute
Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute offers comprehensive services for athletes and non-athletes ― from physical and cognitive evaluation to rehabilitation and surgical reconstruction. The Institute is the sports medicine provider for the Miami Dolphins, Miami HEAT, Florida Panthers, Florida International University athletics, Orange Bowl, Miami Open Tennis, Miami Marathon and Half Marathon and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Coral Gables, Fla. – September 12, 2019 – Baptist Health South Florida announced the appointment of venture development leader Mark Coticchia as corporate vice president for innovation, a role that will build on three decades of medical innovation at the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida.

In the newly created role, Coticchia will report to Joe Natoli, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, and Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder and medical director of Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Dr. Katzen led the launch of Innovation Institute Miami two years ago as a resource for the entrepreneurial spirit and intellectual talent at Baptist Health.

“Mark brings 35 years of experience in early-stage venture development – sourcing, vetting and investing in new technologies and companies through an international network of talent, capital and technology. His efforts have helped generate new revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars and added to the reputations of organizations as great places for smart and creative people to work,” Natoli said.

“So many great medical ideas never leave the room because most people neither have the know-how nor the resources to bring their ideas to fruition. Mark Coticchia will be instrumental in helping us to drive improvements in patient health by following through on the process of innovation, from concept to clinical trial to a final product. It’s our goal to turn ideas into technological advancements that allow physicians and surgeons to treat patients with the latest tools, devices and protocols available,” Dr. Katzen said.

Coticchia arrives from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where he was vice president and chief innovation officer, responsible for driving intellectual and clinical assets through new ventures, corporate partnerships, product development and technology commercialization. He oversaw the Henry Ford Innovation Institute, the Davidson Center for Digital Health, and Henry Ford’s global programs.

Previously, Coticchia had leading roles in institutional, venture development, and technology-based economic development with Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University. His venture development experiences include serving as chief executive officer at Redwind Innovations and senior director at Redleaf Group, an early-stage venture firm.

Coticchia received his Master of Science in industrial engineering and Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is an author, speaker and guest lecturer at conferences and universities worldwide.

Coticchia and Dr. Katzen will work together to further develop Innovation Institute Miami and identify and create venture-ready opportunities. Dr. Katzen has long been a leader in innovation from early efforts interventional radiology more than 30 years ago, when he pioneered minimally invasive procedures at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI – September 5, 2019 — In light of the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas, Baptist Health South Florida would like to share its deepest sympathy for the Bahamian people.

Baptist Health is taking immediate action to provide support as aid efforts begin. Rose Rahming, Baptist Health’s local representative in the Bahamas, is assisting with the coordination of relief efforts from the National Emergency Operations Centre as well as the Baptist Health International office in Nassau.

Baptist Health South Florida is working with the Bahamian authorities to provide a significant amount of medical supplies to the functioning hospital in the region, Princess Margaret Hospital located in Nassau. Baptist Health has also notified Bahamian authorities that we are prepared to support patient transfers for those affected by the storm.

Locally, we have partnered with South Florida-based Operation Helping Hands, which has been activated by United Way of Miami-Dade, to provide disaster relief to our Bahamian neighbors and friends in this critical time of need.

In the aftermath of a hurricane of this magnitude, financial contributions are critical to providing the most effective help to address the immediate needs of the affected areas. Operation Helping Hands ensures that the funds are used by organizations with the experience and infrastructure to deliver the immediate assistance needed. One hundred percent of the funds raised through Operation Helping Hands will go directly to those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

For over two decades, Baptist Health has cultivated close friendships with our neighbors in the Bahamas. Although the road to recovery will be long, we stand ready and committed to assist the Bahamian people in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

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About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Baptist Health International
Baptist Health International is one of the largest hospital-based international programs in the United States. Thousands of people travel to Miami each year from around the world to receive care from the renowned physicians at Baptist Health South Florida facilities. Baptist Health International is dedicated to facilitating comprehensive, high-quality services for international physicians and their patients, including hospital admissions, outpatient services and medical exams, second opinions, physician consultations and concierge services. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/International.

MIAMI – August 26, 2019 – Experts at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute are the first in Florida to perform an aortic valve replacement on a patient using a new device, the Lotus Edge. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Lotus Edge allows surgeons to reposition the new valve mechanically — and completely recapture the valve – and remove it if necessary — once it has been fully deployed.

The Institute’s team was led by Ramon Quesada, M.D., medical director of the Structural Heart and Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Programs at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, and interventional cardiologist Bernardo Lopez-Sanabria, M.D. Dr. Quesada served as a principal investigator in the clinical trials of the Lotus system prior to the approval.

In the Institute’s first “transcatheter aortic valve replacement,” or TAVR, using the Lotus Edge, Drs. Quesada and Lopez-Sanabria were assisted by Niberto Moreno, M.D., emeritus chief of cardiothoracic surgery, who also served as an investigator in the trials, and Elliott Elias, M.D., a cardiologist with a focus on interventional echocardiography at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

The patient, Rafael Ponce, 80, is recovering well after the Lotus Edge was implanted to replace his diseased aortic valve. He had been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. The Lotus Edge provides the flexibility that the other existing TAVR systems do not provide, Dr. Quesada says. Otherwise, valve replacement patients with complications may have to undergo higher risk surgeries.

“The most important factors about the Lotus Edge are that it is completely retrievable and repositionable, allowing us more options when implanting the device,” explains Dr. Quesada. “Another advantage with this device is that it seals completely, virtually eliminating paravalvular leak (PVL).”

The TAVR procedure has been in the news lately, in part because Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, 75, underwent the procedure in New York City about three months ago. Mr. Jagger is now touring with the band.

Pending more trials, the Lotus Edge which is manufactured by Boston Scientific, will be used to treat a broader range of patients. That’s because TAVR is poised to become a superior option to those heart-valve replacement candidates who are considered “low risk” for open-heart surgery. The expansion of this procedure will follow the recent release of large clinical trials that found TAVR to be more effective — compared to traditional surgery — for younger, healthier patients.

“It’s one step further in the evolution of the technology behind TAVR,” says Dr. Quesada.

Click here for downloadable images. 

About Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is the largest and most comprehensive cardiovascular facility in the region. The team of multilingual, multidisciplinary specialists pioneered the development of minimally invasive techniques used to treat aneurysms, blockages in veins and arteries and holes in the heart. The Institute leverages the power of Baptist Health’s combined resources of experts, pioneering research, compassionate caregivers and leading-edge treatments and technology.

Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI/ST. CROIX, USVI – July 31, 2019 – ProHealth Urgent Care, LLC and Baptist Health International, a part of Baptist Health South Florida, announced today a strategic partnership between the two organizations. The agreement solidifies their affiliation and licenses the Baptist Health International brand for an urgent care center in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which is expected to open during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“This partnership with ProHealth marks a significant step forward for Baptist Health International,” said Joe Natoli, chief administrative officer of Baptist Health South Florida. “We look forward to supporting the establishment and operations of a premier urgent care center to serve the people of St. Croix.”

“This urgent care center will allow us to elevate the healthcare services available to our community following the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes,” said Stuart Lewis, CEO of ProHealth. “The shared values and quality standards between our two organizations will form the foundation for our efforts to provide greater access to high-quality care for USVI residents and visitors.”

The ProHealth urgent care center, which has already received a Certificate of Need allowing the project to move forward, will seek accreditation by The Joint Commission, marking a commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The center will be connected to Baptist Health International through a secure telemedicine platform.

ProHealth and Baptist Health International extend their appreciation to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr., the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, and members of the 32nd Legislature for their professionalism and support during this process.

Baptist Health International
Baptist Health International is one of the largest hospital-based international programs in the United States with more than 12,000 international patient visits at Baptist Health South Florida facilities from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County. Baptist Health International is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality services for international physicians and their patients, including hospital admissions, outpatient medical exams, medical second opinions, and physician consultations, as well as concierge services.

ProHealth Urgent Care LLC
ProHealth Urgent Care is a new state-of-the-art ambulatory care facility that offers diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, laboratory, pharmacy and imaging services on an outpatient basis. ProHealth will be centrally located and easily accessible on St. Croix, with access to major roads and the local bus system, as well as free onsite parking. Local patients will have a convenient and efficient alternative when dealing with non-life-threatening conditions which require same-day treatment.

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Extension of multi-year partnership brings newly constructed venue and sports performance clinic to Miami Gardens

Miami Gardens, Fla. – August 21, 2019  – The Miami Dolphins announced the extension of a multi-year partnership with Baptist Health to construct a state-of-the-art training complex and sports performance clinic in Miami Gardens, Fla. The $135 million newly named Baptist Health Training Complex will open in Spring 2021.

The partnership with Baptist Health is an extension of a decades-long relationship with the Miami Dolphins, with the entity serving as the Official Sports Medicine Provider as well as the Official Wellness Provider of the Miami Dolphins. Baptist Health also is a proud partner of the Miami Dolphins Foundation working together on a series of initiatives around the health and safety of South Florida students, coaches and parents to grow youth football participation in South Florida.

“We’re excited to bring the home of the Miami Dolphins players and coaches to Miami Gardens and back to Miami-Dade County,” Miami Dolphins Chief Executive Officer Tom Garfinkel said. “The Baptist Health Training Complex will be a state-of-the-art football facility with Baptist Health providing a world-class sports performance clinic available to the public so people can have access to the same care the players get.”

The 217,200 square feet complex (125,000 sq. feet training facility and 92,200 sq. feet indoor field) is more than 50,000 square feet larger than the team’s current facility. The Baptist Health Training Complex will house an innovation hub for new technology, spatial computing and a walkthrough space, a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy area, fuel bar, dedicated recovery area including cryotherapy and isolation tanks, an athletic training room with expansive rehabilitation space, meeting rooms with direct access to the fields, a two-story weight room with a cardio deck, locker rooms, equipment space, dining hall, auditorium, an outdoor practice area with two full natural grass fields, full indoor practice facility, a lobby with a grand staircase, office area, press area, fan amenities and a broadcast area.

“We are so proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Miami Dolphins and look forward to the completion of the Baptist Health Training Complex,” said Nelson Lazo, chief executive officer, Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, part of Baptist Health. “Coming together to create a powerful health and wellness facility will greatly benefit fans and our entire community.”

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

MIAMI – August 20, 2019 — Neurosurgeon Raul A. Vasquez, M.D., is the new director of complex spine surgery at Baptist Health Neuroscience Center and a new member of Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high-quality medical care to patients of all ages. Dr. Vasquez specializes 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 earned his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, graduating summa cum laude. He completed his internship and residency in neurosurgery at University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. His postdoctoral training also includes two fellowships – one in clinical research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and the other in complex spine surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to joining Baptist Health Neuroscience Center, Dr. Vasquez was assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Lexington VA Health Care System and in Lexington, Ky.

“We are committed to ensuring our patients have access to the very best doctors, so we are pleased Dr. Vasquez is bringing his expertise to Baptist Health Neuroscience Center,” said Bernie Fernandez Jr., M.D., CEO of Baptist Health Medical Group. “Our multidisciplinary team of specialists looks forward to collaborating with him to provide patients with the most advanced, comprehensive spine care.”

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 professional memberships include the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the North American Spine Society.

Dr. Vasquez is affiliated with Baptist Hospital and South Miami Hospital and his primary office is located in South Miami at 6200 Sunset Drive, Suite 130.

About Baptist Health Neuroscience Center
Baptist Health Neuroscience Center offers comprehensive and compassionate treatment for neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. From non-surgical treatments and minimally invasive procedures to complex brain and spine surgery, the Center embraces a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Baptist Health Neuroscience Center is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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MIAMI — August 13, 2019 — Hematologist-oncologist and clinical researcher Marco Ruiz, M.D., MPH, FACP, FIDSA, has joined the Division of Hematologic Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida and the state’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. He will see patients with lymphoproliferative diseases requiring stem transplantation as part of their curative intent therapy. Because of his unique background, he has also been named Chief of HIV Oncology and HIV Stem Cell Transplantation.

Dr. Ruiz has extensive experience in the treatment of hematologic cancers in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and will develop the HIV oncology program at Miami Cancer Institute. Initially, the program will focus on hematologic malignancies and bone marrow transplantation for HIV patients. Ultimately, however, it will expand to include the treatment of all cancers in the HIV-infected population. Dr. Ruiz is board certified in five specialties: medical oncology, internal medicine, geriatric medicine, hospice & palliative medicine and infectious diseases.

“Dr. Ruiz is an exceptional addition to our multidisciplinary team of experts at Miami Cancer Institute,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “He is an innovative bone marrow transplant specialist and clinical researcher who achieves outstanding patient outcomes and offers hope to patients battling cancer and HIV.”

Dr. Ruiz earned his medical degree at the University Of San Marcos School Of Medicine in Lima, Peru. He also earned a Master of Public Health from the Nuffield Center for International Health & Development, University of Leeds in Sheffield, United Kingdom. His training also included an internship and residency in internal medicine at San Juan City Hospital in Puerto Rico. He completed fellowship trainings in hematology/oncology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, La. and in bone marrow transplantation at Ochsner Medical Center, also in New Orleans. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Ruiz was an associate member of the Malignant Hematology and Cellular Therapy/Bone Marrow Transplantation Program at Moffitt Cancer Center in Pembroke Pines.

He currently serves as associate professor of clinical medicine at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Further, Dr. Ruiz is an editorial board member for numerous scientific publications, is widely published in peer-review medical journals, and delivers invited lectures at national and international scientific symposiums. He is an active member of several professional organizations. For the American College of Physicians, he serves as a Capstone reviewer for the Physician Leadership Academy and a member of the Doctor’s Dilemma Question Development Task Force, a group that develops challenging questions for the internal medicine residency program’s national contest. He also serves on the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Medical Oncology Item-Writing Task Force, which develops comprehensive evaluations for initial certification and recertification of medical oncologists in the U.S.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute is Florida’s only next-generation cancer treatment destination, known for its personalized clinical care and research, compassionate patient experience and state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the only radiation oncology program in the world with each of the latest radiation therapies in one place. The Institute offers an impressive roster of established community oncologists and renowned cancer-fighting experts, clinical researchers and genomic scientists recruited from the nation’s top cancer centers. As Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, Miami Cancer Institute is part of a deep and functional collaboration that affords patients access to innovative treatments right here at home and ensures that the standards of care developed by our multidisciplinary disease management teams match those at MSK.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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