Page 18 - South Florida Hospital News July 2021

The Importance From Homeless to Doctor,

of Physician Leadership White Coat Ceremony Ushers in

New Class of Residents at CHI
During the recent DCMA We also have expanded
Presidential Installation organizational opportuni-
Ceremony, I had the oppor- ties through our various Dr. Yeily Hernandez Mato knows how it feels to be vul-
tunity to rally the member- committees and delega- nerable. When she was just 18, she nearly died in a violent
ship once again around the tions that engage elected car accident. Doctors performed several surgeries to save
importance of physician officials, public health her, including facial reconstruction. Four months later, she
leadership in the community officers, and other com- was released from the hospital, left to sleep and recover in
and throughout the health- munity organizations. her mother’s car as the two of them were homeless.
care system. These are great opportuni- Her health was still a challenge and a lot of follow-up
There is a plethora of evi- ties for physicians to doctor’s visits were required. Without any money or insur-
dence that exists that docu- begin to expand their ance, Hernandez went to Community Health of South
ments the positive impact influence and connections Florida, Inc. (CHI) where doctors kept her on the path to
physicians can have when BY JOSE DAVID as well as drive reform in recovery and brought her back to good health.
placed in leadership roles. SUAREZ, MD our healthcare system. Today, the former homeless woman steps back into the
One such illustration comes I strongly believe that non-profit health center, but this time to receive her white
from a study published in we must encourage physi- coat in a special ceremony reserved for new medical resi-
2019 in Health Care Management Review cians to be proactive in the healthcare dents. Dr. Yeily Hernandez Mato is one of seven new resi- Dr. Yeily Hernandez Mato
that concludes, “Large hospital systems system in order to improve efficiencies dents who will be recognized in the white coat ceremony
led by physicians in 2015 received higher and create a better work environment so at the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center at CHI. The same place where
U.S. News & World Report ratings and we can provide high-quality service to more than a decade ago, doctors helped her heal.
bed usage rates than did hospitals led by our patients. “It’s an emotional moment for me to come back to CHI,” said Dr. Hernandez Mato.
nonphysicians, with no differences in Physicians are the best advocates for “The care team here showed me compassion and now I have the opportunity to show
financial performance. This study sug- healthcare improvements. In order to others the same compassion. I can relate to the homeless population more than most
gests that physician leaders may possess drive change and reach our objectives it people because of the journey I took to get here. A lot of them are not what other peo-
skills, qualities, or management is necessary that physicians speak with ple think they are. Just look at me.”
approaches that positively affect hospital one voice. The DCMA is happy to be the Dr. Hernandez is one of four family medicine and three psychiatry residents who
quality and the value of care delivered.” epicenter of this movement. will receive their white coats at noon in the boardroom at CHI. The new class of res-
One of my goals during the coming I call upon my colleagues to reach out idents begin their training during one of the most difficult times to work in medicine,
year is for the DCMA to create additional and see what change we can deliver during a pandemic. But they usher in new hope amid a projected doctor shortage
leadership opportunities for our physi- together. nationwide. That includes hope that community health centers like CHI can retain
cian members. We already have instruc- them to care for some of the most vulnerable populations: the uninsured, migrants,
tional opportunities through our Dr. Jose David Suarez is President, Dade homeless and indigent.
Physician Leadership Academy and a County Medical Association, Inc. “We knew we had to grow our own doctors,” said Blake Hall, CHI President. “It’s
unique partnership with Atlantis never been so hard to recruit doctors and nurses. By entrenching these young doctors
University to offer more formal educa- in our system, our communities and our programs we have an opportunity to show
tion through their mini-MBA program. them the tremendous impact that they will be making here.”

For more information, contact www.chisouthfl.org.

18 July 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News