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H EALTHCARE A SSOCIATIONS... H EALTHCARE A SSOCIATIONS...

Retiring Palm Beach County Medical Society

CEO Leaves Big Shoes to Fill

BY VANESSA ORR experience,” said Wiles. “I also was will continue to explore new ways of
impressed by the fact that they were real addressing future healthcare needs.”
This December, Tenna Wiles will be champions of access to healthcare.” While Wiles is ready to enjoy “the sim-
retiring from her position as the CEO of Building on her experience with the pler things in life” at her new home in
the Palm Beach County Medical Society United Way, Wiles began broadening the Port St. Lucie, she is going to miss leading
(PBCMS) after serving in that role for 22 organization’s reach in the community the PBCMS.
years. Originally hired to develop and with the goal of improving the quality of “I think what I liked best was working
maintain resources to support physi- healthcare and increasing access. In with very bright, talented physician lead-
cians in their goal to provide high-qual- addition to doubling membership, she ers and community partners—that really
ity care in the community, she leaves was also responsible for establishing a set us apart in the work that we did,” she
behind a legacy of innovative, cutting- not-for-profit charitable organization, said, adding that she was very proud of
edge programs that will benefit South Palm Beach County Medical Society her program staff and the amount of work
Florida for years to come. Services, which supports many pro- that they accomplished.
“I think we’ve made remarkable grams, including Project Access. Tenna Wiles Wiles noted that PBCMS has just cele-
progress, and I’m proud of what we’ve “I’m very proud of Project Access, and improve the delivery of services. brated its 100-year anniversary and over
accomplished,” she says of her tenure. which is a volunteer network of physi- “Over the years, HERC has been rec- the past century, has faced many chal-
“Healthcare is a challenging world in cians and other healthcare providers ognized as national model and health lenges.
which to work, and we are lucky to have who offer pro bono services to those coalitions have now formed all over the “It came into existence after the 1918
had incredible physician leaders dedicat- who are uninsured,” Wiles explained. country,” Wiles continued, adding that pandemic and has lasted through wars,
ed to change and improvement.” “So far, it has provided more than $14.5 HERC also responds to natural disasters bioterrorism, polio, a rapidly growing
Born in Indiana, Wiles was raised in million in care to 14,000 residents of and public health emergencies. “I am community, and the Depression … and
Ft. Lauderdale and attended the Palm Beach County.” especially proud of the very active role there’s never been a more important time
University of Florida. She worked as a In 2000, PBCMS also established the that HERC is playing in responding to the for physicians to lead and shape the
respiratory therapist for 15 years, mov- Healthcare Emergency Response COVID-19 pandemic.” future of healthcare,” she said.
ing around the country before returning Coalition (HERC) in response to the During Wiles’ tenure, the Future “I am confident that we will be able to
home. She worked as a senior vice pres- anthrax scare. “The first case in America Medicine Initiative also was created to continue to navigate in the post-COVID
ident of the United Way of Palm Beach happened in Palm Beach County, and we provide a roadmap for the future of era. We have faced challenges before and
County for 11 years coordinating fund- were ill-equipped to handle it,” said healthcare in the Palm Beach community. there will be more in the future, but we
ing and community impact projects Wiles. “We worked to get funding, and “So many programs have emerged out of can count on strong physician leader-
before joining the medical society. then brought emergency response that,” said Wiles. “Each year, we hold a ship to guide us,” she added. “I know
“I liked the idea of moving to PBCMS, organizations and community organiza- summit that explores best practices, iden- that the PBCMS will continue to make a
because it offered a good blend of tions together as a coalition to establish tifies challenges, and looks at opportuni- major difference in shaping the future of
healthcare and community not-for-profit standard protocols and to coordinate ties to improve. This year’s virtual summit healthcare in this community.”

Dr. Rudolph Moise: Busy, and Poised to Get Busier

BY LOIS THOMSON Hispanic physicians – so we Medicine magazine into a journal that the seat, I never actively looked for them.
can be more inclusive. This is physicians can use as a reference. "We One was national president of the
"If you want something one of the priorities I will be don't want it to be something they just University of Miami Alumni Association
done, give it to a busy per- working on." throw into a corner. We want them to be for two years, and at that time there were
son." We often hear that Dr. Moise's plan will start able to get good information from it." 136,000 alumni all over the world. I was
phrase, and when we with making phone calls. He The third involves the fact that every happy because I made a big difference
learn what the particular ran for U.S. Congress twice, three years, physicians are required to and met a lot of wonderful people. The
person is involved in, we first in 2010 when nine can- have 120 hours of continuing medical next position was chairman of the
usually find it to be true. didates vied for an open seat education to maintain their licenses. "We Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation,
Such is the case with Dr. and he came in second. After want to offer that to them so they can raising money for the hospital. It was
Rudolph Moise, who is a being so close he tried again meet their licensing requirements." very challenging, but we did that and
primary care physician in 2012 but lost for the sec- Dr. Moise will also continue to serve were successful. Now this one. They
and founder of the Dr. Rudolph Moise ond time. However, during on the community outreach committee came to me and said, would you like to
Comprehensive Health both campaigns he raised Dr. Barbara Montford started last year for do it. I never say yes right away, I always
Center; and he's going to get even busier. more money than any other candidate by the DCMA. "She had appointed me chair say let me think about it. So here we go
Dr. Moise was inducted as president of spending time making fundraising calls of that committee, and we've been doing again. It's nice that colleagues see that
the Dade County Medical Association at to family and friends. "So I'm going to a wonderful job in the community. Some you can make a difference and ask you to
the end of June, and he is already map- use my skills as a fundraiser to call the of the police brutality that happened in serve."
ping out plans for his year of service. doctors and explain to them the impor- the past was because the police did not Along with his other service, Dr. Moise
"I'm Haitian American, the first Haitian tance of being a member of the DCMA. I recognize that somebody had a mental is a retired United States Air Force
American in 117 years who is president might go knocking on doors, too, to per- illness; they thought the person was dan- Colonel and flight surgeon, having
of the Dade County Medical Association. sonally visit and meet with them." gerous, but it was because they had a served for 21 years in the U.S. Air Force
I'm very proud of that, and I'm going to In addition, Dr. Moise will be continu- mental illness. We've been teaching Reserve. "It was a great experience, so I
take this opportunity to increase mem- ing work on three goals started by the police departments and training officers have a history of serving. Now I am using
bership with more minorities." immediate past president, Dr. Antonio how to recognize mental illness, so I'd all of my expertise to serve the commu-
He said Dade County has approximate- Mesa. One is to develop a quality rating like to continue doing this. The police nity the best that I can."
ly over 7,000 licensed physicians, and we system for physicians. "We have some departments have been great."
represent over 1,500 of them who are physicians who are doing an outstanding Dr. Moise is accustomed to being For more information, call
part of our Medical Association. "We job, and we like to recognize them based approached to accept high-ranking board (305) 324-8717 or visit
need to increase membership in all differ- on what they do. I think that's important." positions. "All the positions I've held in www.miamimed.com.
ent aspects – we need to increase African Another goal is to make Miami the past, except for the congressional
American, Haitian physicians, and

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