Coral Gables, Fla. – August 9, 2019 – Baptist Health South Florida, the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida, today named Dawn White as its new Vice President of Government and Community Relations. She will assume her new role on September 3, 2019.

White will provide strategic and operational leadership for government and community relations across the four counties served by Baptist Health – Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach – as well as for State of Florida and Federal levels. White will succeed Phillis Oeters who will be retiring from Baptist Health at the end of the year after 30 years of dedicated service. She will report to Alex Villoch, Chief Executive Officer for the Baptist Health South Florida Foundation.

White is an accomplished government affairs executive with experience developing and implementing comprehensive government relations strategies and policies to protect and promote business interests. For the past 23 years she worked for American Airlines, where she was Director of State and Local Government Affairs, responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the company’s governmental priorities and policies in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. She joined the airline in the early days of its Miami hub and was the first and only one to hold this position in Miami.

White represented American Airlines as a member of the boards of several organizations, including the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development agency, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Dawn is a highly capable leader and has deep experience in governmental relations at all levels,” Villoch said. “We’re thrilled that she’s joining our team, and confident that we’ll benefit from her ability to navigate the intricacies of state and local government.”

Joe Natoli, Baptist Health’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, said White is joining Baptist Health at a perfect time. “Dawn is a supremely talented leader who will play a vital role in Baptist Health’s efforts to bring high-quality, compassionate healthcare to the communities that we serve.”

Prior to her work at American Airlines, White served as Director of Government Relations at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Director of State Intergovernmental Affairs at Miami-Dade County, Executive Director of the Dade County Legislative Delegation, and Legislative Aide to former State Representative Mike Abrams.

Born and raised in Miami, White graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. She lives with her family in Parkland, Florida.

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.

MARATHON, FL – August 5, 2019 – Fishermen’s Community Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Laboratory Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Fishermen’s underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review, during which a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with Laboratory standards spanning several areas. The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys healthcare organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Fishermen’s Community Hospital for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”

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About Fishermen’s Community Hospital
Fishermen’s Community Hospital 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.

About The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

MIAMI – August 7, 2019 – South Miami Hospital attained Magnet Recognition for the fourth time, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. The designation is the nation’s highest form of recognition for nursing excellence and a benchmark for the quality of care patients receive.

Receiving Magnet Recognition for the fourth time is a great achievement for South Miami Hospital, as it proudly continues to be a part of the global community of Magnet-Recognized organizations. Just 8 percent of U.S. healthcare organizations out of over 6,300 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet Recognition.

“Magnet Recognition is an incredible honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Bill Duquette, chief executive officer at South Miami Hospital. “To earn Magnet Recognition a fourth time is a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our repeated achievement drives our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the healthcare needs of the people we serve.”

The Magnet model provides a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.

To achieve initial Magnet Recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

“We’re a better organization today because of the Magnet Recognition we first achieved fifteen years ago,” said Paul Mungo, MSN, MSM/HS, RN, NE-BC, chief nursing officer & vice president at South Miami Hospital.  “Magnet Recognition raised the bar for patient care and inspired every member of our team to achieve excellence every day. South Miami Hospital excelled in five categories recognized by the ANCC as exemplar. It is this commitment to providing our community with high-quality care that helped us become a Magnet-Recognized organization.”

Healthcare organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its last recognition in 2014.

About South Miami Hospital
South Miami Hospital 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.

About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program
The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.

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MIAMI – August 5, 2019 — Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, the state’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, welcomes medical oncologist and clinical researcher Bruno Bastos, M.D., to its multidisciplinary team of cancer care specialists. Dr. Bastos specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary cancer, which includes the prostate, bladder, kidney, ureter and urethra. He has expertise in the use of the most advanced systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy, both in the adjuvant and metastatic setting.

Dr. Bastos is triple board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, medical hematology and medical oncology and he earned his medical degree at Universidade Federal da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He also completed a fellowship in developmental therapeutics in the medical oncology division at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Bastos treated patients and conducted research at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston.

“We are pleased that Dr. Bastos is bringing his tremendous talents to Miami Cancer Institute,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “He has extensive experience in providing outstanding patient treatment and is actively involved in groundbreaking clinical research to discover new ways to treat cancer and improve patient outcomes.”

Among Dr. Bastos’ many leadership roles in the cancer research field is an appointment by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research Scientific Advisory Council. His extensive teaching experience includes serving as clinical assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Bastos is an active member of several professional organizations. He also serves as an editorial reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed medical journals, is widely published in those medical journals and delivers invited lectures at national and international scientific symposiums.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute is a next-generation cancer treatment destination known for its leading 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 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. Heralded nationally as one of the “hybrid” cancer centers of the future, Miami Cancer Institute combines high-quality community-based cancer care with the best of an academic cancer center, including innovative clinical trials tied to research and genomics and disease-specific surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists who are experts in their fields. For more information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

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Baptist Hospital Continues to be the Highest-ranked Hospital in Miami-Dade County

MIAMI – July 30, 2019 – Baptist Health South Florida is once again the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News & World Report with 32 high-performing awards in 14 types of care. Baptist Hospital continues to be the highest-ranked hospital in Miami-Dade County, and Boca Raton Regional Hospital is once again the highest-ranked hospital in Palm Beach County.

Six Baptist Health hospitals—Baptist Hospital, Bethesda Hospital East, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Doctors Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital—earned a total of 32 high-performing honors in 14 types of care, including: Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, Urology, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement and Lung Cancer Surgery.

Baptist Hospital is recognized as having one of the country’s Top 50 orthopedic programs. Baptist Health’s Centers of Excellence – Miami Cancer Institute, Lynn Cancer Institute, Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, Lynn Heart & Vascular Institute, Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and Baptist Health Neuroscience Center – were all recognized as high-performing in their respective area of expertise.

“It is an honor to again be recognized for the dedication and high-quality work of our physicians, nurses and staff members who continuously strive to deliver the best care to each patient they encounter,” said Brian E. Keeley, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health. “We’re proud to be named among the best hospitals in our region and in the nation for carrying out our mission of providing excellent service and compassionate care to the communities we serve.”

The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, now in their 30^th year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or for common elective procedures.

For the 2019-20 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 165 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.

“For 30 years, U.S. News has strived to make hospital quality more transparent to healthcare consumers nationwide,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “By providing the most comprehensive data available on nearly every hospital across the United States, we give patients, families and physicians information to support their search for the best care across a range of procedures, conditions and specialties.”

The U.S. News Best Hospitals methodologies in most areas of care are based largely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators.

Best Hospitals was produced by U.S. News with RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 over 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.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and Civic, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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MIAMI – July 29, 2019 – Interventional physiatrist Caitlin Cicone, D.O., has joined Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high-quality medical care to patients of all ages, as part of Baptist Health Neuroscience Center’s Spine Care Program. Dr. Cicone specializes in the non-surgical management of spinal disorders and pain. She has extensive training in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures that help decrease a patient’s pain and improve daily function and quality of life. She sees patients at 8950 North Kendall Drive Suite 410W, in Miami, and 13101 South Dixie Highway, Suite 400, in Pinecrest.

Dr. Cicone is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She earned her medical degree at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Mich. She completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a fellowship in interventional spine and sports medicine at OSS Health in York, Pa. During her fellowship, Dr. Cicone kept student athletes healthy as a team physician for college and high school athletic programs.

Dr. Cicone serves as an editorial reviewer for peer-reviewed medical journals about pain management, publishes in scientific journals and presents at academic symposiums. She is a member of several professional societies, including the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Osteopathic Association.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cicone to Baptist Health Medical Group,” said Bernie Fernandez Jr., M.D., chief executive officer of Baptist Health Medical Group. “She will be a valued member of our multidisciplinary team of experts who collaborate to provide patients with a holistic, multidimensional approach to care.”

Ronald Tolchin, D.O., medical director of the spine care program added, “Back pain is an extremely common ailment and one of the top reasons individuals visit their physicians. Dr. Cicone is highly skilled in a variety of nonsurgical pain-relieving interventions that help patients with back pain return to their normal routines.”

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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 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 – July 24, 2019 – Great Place to Work and PEOPLE have honored Baptist Health South Florida as one of PEOPLE’s “50 Companies That Care”. The third annual list will be featured in the August 3, 2019 issue of PEOPLE, which hits newsstands nationwide on Wednesday, July 24. Baptist Health earned the #21 spot on the list.

Rankings represent feedback from over 4.5 million U.S. employees. PEOPLE partnered with Great Place to Work, a global people analytics and consulting firm, to analyze employees’ survey feedback on how their workplaces make a difference in their lives and communities, and to consider the generosity of each organization’s benefits, philanthropic and community support.

“Compassionate care by and for people is the cornerstone of our culture,” said Brian E. Keeley, President and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida. “We ask and listen to what is important to them, and continuously develop ways to take great care of our employees and their loved ones, which in turn has a positive effect on the patients, families and communities we are honored to serve.”

Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, adds, “Leaders’ abilities to show up with genuine care and respect is at the core of any great workplace. Employees at this year’s 50 Companies That Care are exceptionally proud of the positive impact their organizations have on their people, communities and the wider world.”

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 over 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.

About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. They recognize Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces ™ in the US. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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MIAMI – July 22, 2019 – A new, 23-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit opened July 20th at Homestead Hospital, accommodating the relocation of Baptist Hospital’s Inpatient Rehabilitation program.

Baptist Health Rehabilitation cares for children (ages 4 and up) and adults who are facing an acute or disabling injury or illness. The program includes certified rehabilitation nurses and a full complement of physical, speech, occupational and supportive therapy programs provided by licensed therapists and social workers, as well as a dietitian and licensed psychologist.

“We have a team approach and develop individualized programs for each patient, focusing on maximizing their functional and cognitive level of independence,” said Bradley Aiken, M.D., medical director of Baptist Health Rehabilitation. “More than 80 percent of our patients are able to return home after their inpatient rehabilitation stay.”

The unit treats those recovering from stroke, traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries, neurological diseases, cancer-related disabilities, spinal cord dysfunction, hip fractures, amputation and major multiple trauma. At Homestead Hospital, all rooms in the unit are private. Amenities include a touch-screen interactive virtual reality platform, adaptive aids that promote functional independence, body-weight support mobility training, pet therapy and access to a meditation garden.

Raul Rolon-Torres, M.D., is associate director of Rehabilitation, and Luis Orengo, M.D., is staff physiatrist. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 786-243-8200.

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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 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 – July 18, 2019 – Family medicine physician Rachel Vallejo, M.D., has joined Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high-quality medical care to patients of all ages, as part of Baptist Health Primary Care. Dr. Vallejo specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including simple and complex health conditions, chronic disease management, minor emergencies and the coordination of specialty care. She also focuses on wellness and prevention to help patients prevent disease, decrease disability and maintain good health. Dr. Vallejo is Board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine with added qualifications in geriatric medicine.

Before attending medical school, Dr. Vallejo earned a Master of Public Health degree at Florida International University. She earned her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. Her post-doctoral training includes a residency in family medicine at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Brooklyn, N.Y. and a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Vallejo to our Baptist Health Primary Care team,” said Bernie Fernandez Jr., M.D., CEO of Baptist Health Medical Group. “She brings extensive experience in successfully treating and improving the health outcomes of a diverse patient population.”

Dr. Vallejo is affiliated with Homestead Hospital and will see patients at 975 Baptist Way, Suite 202 in Homestead.

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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 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.

Ken and Dee Meeks continue tradition of community service and philanthropy

MIAMI, FL – July 15, 2019 – With immense gratitude, Baptist Health Foundation has announced a gift of $1 million from Ken and Dee Meeks to support the construction of a 10,000-square-foot medical office building, which will be named the Meeks Health & Wellness Center.

“We are so grateful and excited to be able to start the process of building planning and development thanks to this generous contribution,” said Rick Freeburg, CEO, Mariners Hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. Meeks have supported Mariners Hospital for nearly 20 years, with their first gift in 2000. Mr. Meeks credits Mariners Hospital for being instrumental in saving his life by transferring him to another Baptist Health facility during a heart attack.

“We just love Mariners Hospital. It’s such an integral part of this community, and with the addition of the new Health & Wellness Center, we will be able to provide even more services for our community,” said Mr. Meeks.

Ken and Dee Meeks are members of the Giving Society, Baptist Health Foundation’s Donor Recognition Program, at the President’s Circle level.

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About Baptist Health Foundation
The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation.