Page 31 - SFHN March 2018

SALUTE TO PHYSICIANS

SOUTH BROWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Fernando E. Pedraza Taborda, MD
Elkin Bejarano, MD
Dr. Fernando Pedraza Taborda is the board-certified med-
Dr. Elkin Bejarano is a board-certified family physician ical director for Memorial Healthcare System’s Adult
that provides continuous and comprehensive care to Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Program. His patients
patients, always delivered with a message of the importance include those with hypertension, acute and chronic kidney
of a healthy lifestyle in preventing further medical problems. disease, end-stage kidney disease, kidney stones, glomeru-
Patients most often come to him with a variety of issues, lonephritis, and cystic diseases of the kidneys. He also eval-
including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, respirato- uates and manages transplant candidates, recipients, and
ry problems, hypothyroidism, and osteoarthritis. “The time donors throughout the different stages of renal transplanta-
spent with patients is precious to me,” said Dr. Bejarano, tion.“I dedicate my energy and expertise to helping patients
who can speak Spanish, French, and English. “I like listen-
ing to their stories, getting to know them, and creating a rap- in an integral way,” said Dr. Pedraza. “The bonds of trust
and friendship that form extend to families and loved ones
port. Each patient comes through our doors having had that are part of the healing process.” Dr. Pedraza completed
unique experiences, and very often they involve inspirational stories of struggle and sur- a fellowship in nephrology and hypertension at the University of Miami/Jackson
vival.” Dr. Bejarano knew from an early age that he wanted to relieve pain and comfort peo- Memorial Medical Center. Prior to joining Memorial, he served as transplant nephrolo-
ple. He pursued that plan through medical school at Rosario University in Colombia and a gist at the Miami Transplant Institute.
family medicine internship and residency at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York.
Priyanka Gosain, MD
Helen-Valentine N. Chukwu, DO, MS
Dr. Priyanka Gosain is a board-certified cardiologist spe-
Dr. Helen-Valentine Chukwu is a board-eligible internal cializing in advanced heart failure and transplant at the
medicine physician that focuses on patient-centered pri- Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute (MCVI). She is a
mary care. She joined Memorial Healthcare System in 2016. part of a multi-disciplinary team that provides care to the
Prior to joining the Memorial Physician Group, Dr. most acutely ill patients. “Making a real connection with
Chukwu practiced as an osteopathic internist at Unity patients and families is what I enjoy most,” said Dr. Gosain,
Health Care, Parkside Health Center, and at the Department whose writing on managing patient preferences has been
of Corrections in Washington, DC. Her experience also published in the Journal of the American College of
includes stints as a clinical associate professor at Still School Cardiology and the Annals of Internal Medicine. “We tailor
of Osteopathic Medicine, a general practitioner at Censeo therapies to the individual and share the decision-making
Health, and chief/internal medicine resident physician at process to ensure a patient’s ideals and beliefs remain central
Memorial Hospital in York, PA. to all treatment plans.” Dr. Gosain is also actively involved
A 2007 graduate of the University of Medicine and in clinical research examining risk stratification as it relates
Dentistry at the New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Chukwu completed an to treatment protocol for patients with heart failure. She is a graduate of Lady Hardinge
osteopathic medicine internship at St. Luke’s Hospital (Allentown, Pennsylvania) fol- Medical College whose internship and residency were completed at Cook County
lowed by the aforementioned residency at Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. She is a Hospital. Her fellowships in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and trans-
member of the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic plant cardiology were at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the University of South
Internists, and the American Medical Association. Florida’s College of Medicine.

JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MEMORIAL PEMBROKE 24/7
CARE CENTER
Jill Whitehouse, MD, FACS, FAAP
Gustavo A. Gonzalez, MD
Dr. Jill Whitehouse is a fellowship-trained, board-certified
pediatric general surgeon and vice chief of pediatric general For more than 20 years, Dr. Gustavo Gonzalez has prac-
surgery at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. She specializes ticed acute ambulatory care and served patients in Broward
in minimally invasive surgery, thoracoscopic lung surgery to and Miami-Dade counties. He is a board-certified family
treat congenital lung diseases, neonatal surgery, and proce- practitioner for Memorial Healthcare System and medical
dures to treat ovarian disease. director at its 24/7 Care Center in Pembroke Pines. “I’m
“Each surgical case is as unique as the child we are treat- passionate about providing the highest quality care to both
ing,” said Dr. Whitehouse. “I devote a lot of time to getting adults and children and we’re able to do it in a setting that
to know my patients and their families so, together, we can enables them to be seen in shorter time frames than traditional hospital emergency
explore all the possible treatment options to find the best rooms,” said Dr. Gonzalez. A decorated U.S. Army physician, Dr. Gonzalez was a family
fit.” Dr. Whitehouse earned a bachelors degree at Albion practice resident at Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Walter Reed Army Medical
College and her medical degree from Wayne State Center. Prior to that, he completed a general surgery residency at Baltimore’s Union
University. She then completed a general surgery residency, pediatric surgery research fel-
lowship, and pediatric surgery fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Memorial Hospital and earned his medical degree in 1984 at the Universidad Central del
Este in the Dominican Republic.
“The most rewarding part of being a pediatric surgeon is greeting the families in the
waiting room, giving them the thumbs-up, and seeing them smile,” said Dr. Whitehouse.
MEMORIAL URGENT CARE CENTER
Steven L. Singer, MD
Marc Shapiro, DO
While still a resident at the University of Miami’s Jackson
Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Steven Singer noticed there Dr. Marc Shapiro’s medical focus is on acute urgent care
were no ear, nose, and throat physicians that focused exclu- and emergency cases, both at stand-alone centers and more
sively on the treatment of children. Seeing an underserved traditional ERs. He has been actively involved in the devel-
audience in his hometown and already enjoying the work he opment of the Memorial Healthcare System’s capabilities in
did with kids, the UCLA School of Medicine graduate made this area, including its newest center at 16620 Sheridan
a choice to specialize in pediatric otolaryngology. Street in Pembroke Pines. “With urgent care, I appreciate
“For 15 years, I was the only fellowship-trained pediatric that you can often see the difference made in a patient’s life
ENT in Broward County,” said the board-certified Dr. Singer. immediately,” said Dr. Shapiro. A graduate of the
“I love the variety involved in my practice, whether I’m in Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Shapiro enjoys having Memorial’s net-
the operating room or in the office interacting with fami- work and resources available to patients after having spent the first 12 years of his career
lies.” Dr. Singer was the chief of surgery at Joe DiMaggio practicing office-based medicine. In that role, he primarily dealt with infectious diseases,
Children’s Hospital for nine years and maintains a position on its Executive Board. He metabolic and circulatory problems, and critical care.
completed a Pediatric Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery fellowship at Le Bonheur/ Dr. Shapiro completed an internal medicine internship at Florida Medical Center
St. Jude’s Medical Center and considers endoscopic sinus surgery a specialty. South and was a resident at Bryn Mawr Hospital. A bi-lingual (English-Spanish) speaker,
he is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine.

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