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Volume 18 • Issue 2 • $5.00 August 2021
THE REGION’S MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS & PHYSICIANS
OUR 18TH YEAR SERVING THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY!

Profiles In DCMA President Installed Profiles In

Leadership Advocates to Impact Quality via Leadership Leadership

BY BARBARA R. FALLON

Some people respond to the loosening of COVID-19
restrictions by cautiously dipping a toe to test the waters
and others dive in headfirst to make up for lost time.
Judging from the enthusiastic and comprehensive list of
goals newly installed Dade County Medical Association
President Jose David Suarez, M.D., outlined at inaugural
ceremonies, he falls into the latter category!
In addition to supporting progress of past years, Dr.
Suarez plans to use the DCMA platform to further elevate
the status of the medical profession, increase morale of col-
leagues, encourage physician leadership and knowledgeable Dr. Jose David Suarez
advocacy with legislators, enhance membership recruit-
ment, support outreach programs/ funding to guide and support police dealing with Albert Boulenger
Melida Akiti
community mental health issues, and increase formal and informal communications to
provide a clear voice for physicians in communities they serve.
Melida Akiti of According to Dr. Suarez, often the medical professional is frustrated with a perceived Boulenger
antagonistic environment of regulatory agencies, government interference, insurance
Memorial barriers, politics and health disparities resulting in a suicide rate 2 to 3 times the general Looking Forward
population.
Healthcare Continued on page 18 to Creating

System Education Own Legacy

BY DANIEL CASCIATO University of Miami School at Baptist Health

As the Vice President of Ambulatory South Florida
and Community Services at Memorial of Nursing and Health Studies
Healthcare System, Melida Akiti man-
ages a network of primary care practices Unveils S.H.A.R.E.™ BY VANESSA ORR
and urgent care centers that impact the
delivery of medical care and treatments Branding campaign takes shape, In 2022, Albert ‘Bo’ Boulenger will
to residents in South Broward and revealing new name, visual identity, take over as CEO of Baptist Health
beyond. South Florida, replacing Brian E. Keeley,
Akiti says she has always been com- and social media channels for simulation who has been its CEO for the past 35
munity minded and is mission driven. years. And while Boulenger says that
Previously, she served as Chief BY ROBIN SHEAR Keeley has served as an outstanding
Administrative Officer of the Jackson mentor, he was not the first.
Mental Health Hospital, overseeing When it first opened in 2017, it was known simply as “My father was a hospital CEO, and
Ambulatory Services and Primary Health the Simulation Hospital. Now, just in time for its fourth he was also a medic in World War II and
Centers and the Correction Health anniversary this September, the five-story, 41,000- part of the Greatest Generation, and that
Services. She was drawn to the position square-foot hub for health care innovation, located at was inspiring to me,” explained
at Memorial Healthcare System because 5030 Brunson Drive, Coral Gables, FL, has a name befit- Boulenger, who has been with Baptist
she loved its mission. ting its unique stature. Health since 1985.
“The position available at Memorial The University of Miami School of Nursing and “Because my father ran a number of
was able to transform the primary care in Health Studies (SONHS) is proud to announce the large hospitals around the country, I got
light of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) launch of a branding campaign for the Simulation to observe the collaboration between
coming up—how we were able to impact Hospital Advancing Research and Education physicians, nurses and staff in this
individuals who were uninsured into (S.H.A.R.E.™). Cindy L. Munro unique ecosystem, and I knew that I
becoming insured,” she says. “That was “I am so pleased to have a brand for the hospital that wanted to be a part of such a challeng-
basically the reason why I accepted the underscores its substantial impact on our school, stu- ing, rewarding profession,” he added.
position because I saw it as transforma- dents, and community,” says Dean Cindy L. Munro. “We are at the forefront of this “Healthcare really chose me.”
tional. There were a lot of assumptions field, and the added tagline, ‘Advancing Research and Education,’ ties directly to our Boulenger, who spent part of his
made about how the ACA was going to strategic plan and mission.” youth in Tampa, received his undergrad-
be the cure-all, do-all for everyone in The marketing team for SONHS developed a brand identity to cement public recog- uate degree from the University of
regard to health care insurance.” nition for S.H.A.R.E.™, a vibrant location where on-site, mixed-reality, and virtual Florida and his master’s degree in health
Akiti notes that Memorial is an organ- simulation activities take place in a variety of customizable clinical, research, and aca- care administration from Washington
ization that believes in the mission of demic settings.
Continued on page 12 Continued on page 22 Continued on page 12