August 2022 - Page 2 of 2

A Message From The President and CEO

August 2, 2022/in Blog

Time flies when you’re having fun! It seems like the school year just wrapped up and here we are already starting to look at heading back to school. As always, we want to be your one-stop shop for healthcare for the whole family. Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) has discounted school and sports physicals. School and sports physicals without an EKG are just $40 and $50 with an EKG. Schedule it today, along with your child’s dental exam and cleaning. Don’t forget about vision too. Make sure you have their eyes checked and glasses made with us before the school bell rings again.

Did you Know CHI is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations for ages 6 months old and up. Your entire family should be protected by getting everyone vaccinated and boosted. This is year three of the pandemic and we are not out of the woods yet. Yes, things are improving, but we must remain vigilant. It is critical that we keep up to date with our vaccinations because it’s simple—they save lives.

This time of year, we are also getting ready to celebrate National Health Center Week! It is an exciting time when we highlight the important work that community health centers like CHI do to keep our communities healthy. Check out our rundown of events and recognition at chisouthfl.org/NationalHealthCenterWeek. I hope you all will join us on August 9th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the health fair at our Martin Luther King Jr. Clinica Campesina Health Center, 810 W. Mowry Dr., Homestead, FL 33030. It’s free and promises to be both fun and beneficial. We will have health screenings for the whole family, and we have a host of resources there such as housing assistance, home buying assistance, financial assistance and more. You can also enjoy food, games and more! Plus, the first 100 school-age children will receive a backpack with school supplies.

Until then, treat yourselves well. Focus on your mental and physical health. It’s your ticket to success and greater happiness in life. If you ever need mental health assistance, there’s a new Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to help anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Just dial 9-8-8 to reach a national hotline that will connect you with a trained mental health professional. We are so proud to serve as your medical home.

Yours Truly,

Blake Hall

CHI Celebrates Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center Class of 2022 and Incoming Residents

August 2, 2022/in Blog

Class of new residents stands together after their white coat ceremony at the Doris Ison Health Center.

June was an eventful month at the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center as the Class of 2022 graduated on June 11, 2022, after years of dedicated service to CHI and its patients.

Three family medicine and five psychiatry residents walked proudly across the auditorium to mark the end of their residency at CHI and the beginning of their remarkable journey as physicians.

The graduation ceremony was live streamed on CHI’s YouTube channel so family and friends could tune in for the special occasion.

Keynote speaker Dr. Cheryl L. Holder is a founding member of the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

“Medicine is a gift that we fortunate physicians practice with gratitude,” said Dr. Holder. “We need a community—that feeling of fellowship with others in sharing common attitudes and goals.”

Graduating psychiatry resident, Olaoacha Okwuadigbo, MD addressed her fellow graduates with a piece of advice from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Today we graduate and take a big step into the great responsibility of applying our training,” said Dr. Okwuadigbo. “Dr. King said ‘Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.’”

Teaching Health Center graduates for the class of 2022.

On June 19, 2022, CHI welcomed 12 incoming medical residents with an intimate white coat ceremony. It was CHI’s 8th white coat ceremony, live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook and presented by Dr. St. Anthony Amofah, CHI’s Chief Medical Officer.

CHI’s CEO and President Blake Hall addressed the families and new residents.

“You will spend time and learn from our leaders,” said Hall. “I’m excited about being a participant in your journey.”

Dr. Elizabeth Philippe, Chief of Family Medicine, Associate Director of Medical Education, and Program Director for Family Medicine, described the symbolism behind the white coat and how it represents the medical profession.

“You come here to serve people in need,” said Dr. Philippe. “The white coat reminds us of our duty. It’s a powerful symbol of compassion, trust and humanism.”

Dr. Philipe joined Hall to present six family medicine residents with their white coats. Dr. Moises A. Riveron, joined in to present seven psychiatry residents with their white coats.

“This is a program that is designed and intended for people who have a heart for community health,” said Dr. Amofah, as he directly addressed the residents. “You will get comfortable with the types of patients you see, the difference you get to make in their lives and how good you feel about the impact you make.”