The 2019 Resident of the Year

The 2019 Resident of the Year Awards Ceremony

 

Resident Award Speakers

Richard Smith, MD

Richard Smith, MD

Emergency Medicine

Dr. Richard Smith attended St George’s University Medical School where he earned his medical degree.  He completed his residency in New York Medical College, where he did rotations at Metropolitan Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, and Westchester Medical Center. Dr. Smith works in Albany, NY and specializes in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Smith is affiliated with Albany Memorial Hospital, Bassett Medical Center and Samaritan Hospital.

Dr. Smith is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. He has been in practice for 26 years. He is currently an Attending Emergency Room Urgent Care Physician at US Acute Care Solutions, Albany Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital al in New York.  Dr. Smith’s 26 year work tenure has all been as in the emergency room (ER) departments of hospitals where he has had to oversee cases involving cardiac distress, trauma, fractures, lacerations and other As an Emergency Room Physician he is specially trained to make urgent life-saving decisions to treat patients during an emergency medical crisis.  Dr. Smith is ABEM certified and also has BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification.

Barry Poplaw, MD

Barry Poplaw, MD

Emergency Medicine

Dr. Barry Poplaw is an Emergency Medicine Physician in Miami Beach, FL. Dr. Poplaw completed Medical School at St George’s University. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and an Attending Physician in Mount Sinai Emergency Medicine department.  As an emergency medicine specialist in Miami Beach, FL, Dr. Barry Poplaw treats a wide range of acute conditions or injuries in an emergency room.

Dr. Poplaw founded All Sea Medical LLC, in January 2017, the International solutions to maritime seafarer’s medical exams. They are approved to do most maritime certifications with locations throughout United States, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa. He is Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) Certified.

His experience includes Vice President of Medical Affairs at Schumacher Clinical Partner. He is Board certified and residency trained in Emergency Medicine. He has experience as Medical Director, Assistant Medical Director and Regional Director.

Medical Director Trainer including interviewing, selecting, and mentoring. Interim Medical director and new medical director training.

Juan Paramo, MD

Juan Paramo, MD

Surgical Oncology

Dr. Juan Paramo is an attending surgeon in Surgical Oncology at the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center. Board certified in general surgery; Dr. Paramo specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma and sarcoma. He is also an expert in performing operations to treat complex cancer cases including head and neck surgery, endocrine surgery, skin and soft tissue tumor surgery and minimally invasive surgery.  He is one of the few surgeons in South Florida certified in the “hidden scar” surgical techniques for breast cancer.

Dr. Paramo is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of the International College of Surgeons, and Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology. He is the Chair of the Cancer Committee at the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as a Governor of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Paramo is the Florida State Chair to the Commission on Cancer and past-President of the South Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

Actively engaged in teaching, Dr. Paramo is Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at both the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and at NOVA Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Paramo has authored numerous publications on breast cancer, endocrine surgery, melanoma, thyroid and gastrointestinal cancers.  He is also fluent in Spanish.

Nilda M. Gonzalez, MHSA

Nilda M. Gonzalez, MHSA

Surgeon

Nilda Gonzalez is the Director for the Graduate Medical Education Program at the University of Miami.  She obtained a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Puerto Rico and is TAGME certified.

Mrs. Nilda M. Gonzalez is the institutional coordinator for Jackson Memorial/Jackson Health System, the sponsoring institution of 92 ACGME training programs.  JHS is in the top 25 institutions with most number of programs and residents in the nation and the highest number of programs in the State of Florida. She oversees, coordinate and track progress of GME office accreditation and continuous improvement initiatives related to the residency/fellowship training program and institutional accreditation.  Develops and conducts educational activities directed to the professional development of program coordinators, chief residents, faculty and program directors including the review, discussion and implementation of new accreditation requirements.

She is the Co-Chair of GMEC Wellness Committee, Jackson Memorial Hospital and Co-Chair of the Program Coordinators Executive Committee for University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Gonzalez was a member of the National Board for Certification of Training Administrators of Graduate Medical Education (TAGME) taskforce that developed the tools for the certification of graduate medical education training administration. Most recently, she led a workshop at the 2019 ACGME Coordinator Forum Pre-Conference: No Need to Reinvent the Wheel! Sharing Program Best Practices.

And the Dentist of the Year is…

Russell Hamarnah, D.M.D

Russell Hamarnah, D.M.D

Dentist

The “2019 Dentist of the Year” recipient is Dr. Russell Hamarnah, a deserving Dentist whose dedication, hard work, and passionate commitment in providing the paramount of care to his patients helped him earn this award.

 Dr. Russell Hamarnah is motivated about the profession of dentistry and bringing quality affordable dental care to Central Florida. As the owner of Paradise Dental of Orlando he has built a successful and well known practice in Orlando, Florida with a focus on empowering dental patients to make informed choices about their health. They have an office with a welcoming atmosphere where the entire staff is friendly and helpful. Dr. Hamarnah and his family are longtime Central Florida residents, happy to be a part of the vibrant Orlando dental community.

And the DO Physician of the Year is…

Parham Eftekhari, DO

Parham Eftekhari, DO

Nephrologist

The “2019 DO Physician of the Year” recipient is Dr. Parham Eftekhari.  Dr. Parham received this award because of his unwavering commitment to educate those around him, hard work, and clinical research efforts. His commitment to the medical community as a teacher and mentor, and the willingness to share his experience and knowledge are unparalleled.

 Dr. Eftekhari is a Nephrologist and practicing partner at Florida Kidney Physicians South-East Division Fort Lauderdale, FL. He treats conditions affecting the kidneys such as renal failure, kidney stones, or chronic kidney disease.  In the 11 years since Dr. Eftekhari graduated from NSUCOM, he has crafted a career brimming with accomplishment.

Dr. Eftekhari is Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Broward Health Medical Center and Director of their Nephrology Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residency Program. He is the current Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at Broward Health. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine & Nephrology of Broward Health’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Eftekhari has written several research articles.  Two of his articles are “The Immunoregulatory Function of Vitamin D: Implications in Chronic Kidney Disease.” and “Association of Inflammatory Mediators with Proteinuria: Results from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.”  He has dedicated a big part of his life to the fight against Synthetic Drugs and keeps doing so.  He is also on a mission to educate the community about the intrinsic dangers involved with using synthetic designer drugs, such as flakka, bath salts, and synthetic fentanyl.

And the Veterinarian of the Year is…

Mileydi Perez, DVM

Mileydi Perez, DVM

Veterinarian

The “2019 Veterinarian of the Year” recipient is Dr. Mileydi Perez.  She is a veterinarian who has exceeded expectations in providing exceptional service, knowledge and skill, while promoting the integrity of the field of veterinary medicine.  Dr. Perez, even with today’s unprecedented challenges in veterinary medicine, demonstrates an extraordinary commitment and effectiveness as an animal care provider.  She understands pets are truly a part of the family, and clients want the best care for them. Dr. Perez demonstrates all of these characteristics as a veterinarian and was a deserving winner for the Veterinarian of the Year in the state of Florida.

With over 20 years of experience, she has a commitment to her patients like no other, and their health and livelihood are of her utmost concern. As a veterinarian, she feels one of the most important responsibilities is to educate and help pet owners understand the relationship with their pets. She enjoys working in all areas of veterinary medicine but has a special interest in internal medicine. She has spent years of study and has participated in numerous courses of specialized continuing education in order to develop a solid expertise to offer her patients the high quality service they deserve. She is the owner of Miami Animal Clinic, located at 7337 SW 8th St, Miami FL 33144, where she continues doing what she loves most; helping clients who share a life and a home with their loving companion. At Miami Animal Clinic only the best veterinarians and specialists were hand selected to provide at the vanguard of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Perez is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and South Florida Veterinary Medical Association (SFVMA).

And the MD Physician of the Year is…

Gerardo Ferrer, MD

Gerardo Ferrer, MD

Psychiatrist

The “2019 MD Physician of the Year” recipient is Dr. Gerardo Ferrer, a board certified psychiatrist, an attending, and Psychiatry Residency Program Director at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at St. George’s University, Medical University of the Americas, NOVA Southeastern University, Saba University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also serves as the Chairman of Education and Training at Larkin Community Hospital as well as chair of several institutional committees.

Dr. Ferrer’s devotion to the residents, as a program director and as a scholar extends far beyond producing board eligible psychiatrists for the increasing demand of the field of mental health. He and his fellow faculty are transforming young physicians into competent, well-rounded, compassionate doctors and life-long learners with paramount academic, professional, clinical, and ethical values in psychiatry who are capable of providing exceptional care for the people with mental illness and substance use disorders. 

Dr. Ferrer has numerous recognitions for both his academic contributions and service to Miami-Dade county communities, in addition to the residency program. He has multiple published works including case reports and studies on mental health, on the subject of burnout and sleep quality, the epidemic of opioid addiction, positive and negative emotions and burnout’s influence on mood and behavior. Dr. Ferrer is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, Florida and South Florida Psychiatric Societies, and American Psychosomatic Society. He is passionate about teaching and passing his knowledge and experience to his residents.

And the Resident  Coordinator of the Year is…

Yuli Simon

Yuli Simon

Dermatology & Dermatopathology Cutaneous Surgery<br /> University of Miami School of Medicine<br />

Yuli’s greatest passion is helping others achieve their dreams. Whether personally or professionally, she enjoys meeting new people from all walks of life and learning their story. As a Senior Coordinator with eight years of experience in Fellowship and Residency Programs, she is ambitious, energetic, enthusiastic, and hard-working. She is mature and responsible in her approach to all tasks that she undertakes and considers herself a positive individual, who always strives to achieve the highest standards possible.

Yuli is responsible for update of Faculty and Residents data in ACGME, ABD, ERAS, NRMP, and New Innovations. Residents/Fellows evaluations, duty hours, procedure logs, assignments, scholarly activities, etc.

Overseeing the collection, processing and compliance of necessary documentation for the programs in all systems and other National Census Survey is also part of her responsibilities.

Her goal is to continue to advance herself professionally and strive to serve her institution by providing excellent guidance and direction in all departmental endeavors.

And the Podiatry Resident of the Year is…

Valeria Alfano, DPM

Valeria Alfano, DPM

Podiatry, Westchester General

Valeria Alfano Guerriero DPM is a Resident at Westchester General Hospital in Miami, Florida. She is a Resident in the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency (PMSR) and Reconstructive Rear foot Ankle Surgery Program. She has served as an IMC Health Podiatric Physician since December of 2018. Dr. Alfano has several residency presentations which include:  Triple Arthrodesis, Achilles Tendon Rupture and Rear Foot Pathologies and Shock Wave Therapy, and Stem Cell Regeneration. 

 Her professional memberships include: International Aesthetic Foot Society (IAFS), American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), and American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

 She has collaborated research publications “Compartment Syndrome Following the Use of Statins”, where she collaborated in the main research and writing o this case report at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida. Dr. Alfano is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.

And the MD Resident of the Year is…

Andre Coombs, MD

Andre Coombs, MD

General Surgery, Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Coombs was born and raised in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, until the age of 18 when he left for medical school. As a medical student he was involved in numerous projects on the global stage as the President of the Jamaica Medical Students’ Association within the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). As a surgical resident in Jamaica, his most memorable experiences were participating in a wide variety of trauma cases.

 He completed his Preliminary Surgical Internship year at the top of his class in the highly challenging, yet richly rewarding environment of Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center. His positive attitude, hard work and dedicated service to patients, culminated into a second year categorical position at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, where he will complete the final few months of his General Surgery residency.

 Dr. Coombs’ Certifications include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Advanced Trauma Life Support and Pediatric Life Support (ATLS), and Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

And the MD Resident of the Year is…

Suchismita Tia Paul, MD

Suchismita Tia Paul, MD

Dermatology, University of Miami/JMH

Dr. Suchismita Paul is a Chief Resident in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.   She has a Florida Department of Health, Board of Medicine Training License and is Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified.

 Dr. Paul’s recent research experience includes The Importance of the Role of Dermatologists in Hospitals; A Retrospective Chart Review of All Inpatient and Emergency Department Dermatology Consultations. Her leadership activities include her serving as Resident Member of the Council on Member Services at the AAD.

 Dr. Paul gives back to the community through the Dermatology Health Fairs in South Florida and volunteered in Grand Anse, Haiti post disaster to diagnose skin diseases to provide medical interventions for people affected by Hurricane.   She has co-published several dermatology publications. Her latest one to the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology is titles “Dermatology:  more than an outpatient specialty”.

 Dr. Paul is fluent in English, Hindi, and Bengali and her hobbies and interests are yoga, running, hiking, swimming, trying new cuisine and traveling around the world.

And the DO Resident of the Year is…

Michael Madden, DO, MA

Michael Madden, DO, MA

Orthopedic Surgery, Broward Health Medical Center

Dr. Michael Madden a Chief Resident, is currently working on a project looking at trends in small joint replacements of the hand.   He is also involved in a study about how ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have decreased the overall number of orthopedic traumas seen from motor vehicle accidents in South Florida.

 After completing his residency this year, he will complete a Hand/Microsurgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

 His Licensure and Certification include:

– Florida Osteopathic Resident In-Training Medical License,

– Candidate Member, American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)

– Candidate Member, American Association of Hand Surgery (AAHS)

– ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) ACLS

– (Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support

BLS (Basic Life Support)

PROUD SPONSORS of the 2019
FLORIDA RESIDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER