CHI Welcomes Nine New Residents Ready to Make a Difference in South Florida

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(from left to right) Drs. Merin Abraham, Joseph Mitchnaider, Sherlyne Magny, Kyianna Haughton, Sulma Moredo Loo, Jose Medina-Esquilin, Nicolas Picaza, Franchezca Theis-Higuera, and Farhana Yaqoob Khan.

On June 11, the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center welcomed new family medicine and psychiatry residents. These nine residents are eager to learn from our skilled Teaching Health Center leaders and are dedicated to delivering healthcare to the South Florida community for years to come.

Psychiatry resident Dr. Sherlyne Magny shakes hands with Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah after receiving white coat.

President and CEO, Blake Hall, places white coat on family medicine resident, Dr. Franchezca Theis Higuera.

Family medicine resident, Dr. Farhana Khan, wears white coat for the first time at White Coat Ceremony.

Psychiatry resident, Dr. Nicolas Picaza, receives white coat.

President & CEO Message

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It feels like summer is flying by. I hope you are enjoying your time with your families and remembering to take precautions in the extreme heat.

We’ve had so much to celebrate this summer. On June 8, we marked the 10th Anniversary of the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center with a grand gala celebration and graduation ceremony. This was the eighth class to graduate, and it makes me emotional to see how much this program has grown since its humble beginnings in 2014. This incredible milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and talent of the Teaching Health Center clinicians and staff. Together, we are changing lives for years to come!

Soon after, we welcomed nine new residents who began training with a white coat ceremony.

As many of you prepare to send your kids back to school, CHI is here to help. Schedule your school or sports physical now with our compassionate pediatric team. Also, make an appointment with our amazing vision and dental teams to cover all the bases for your kids.

We’re excited to celebrate National Health Center Week with festivities starting August 5th. This is a time to highlight the value of community health centers across the country, including Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI). Did you know that community health centers care for 31 million people across the country? With more than 1,400 community health centers in the United States, CHI is one of the largest, helping to improve the health and well-being of medically underserved communities. We are proud to care for our community and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality healthcare, regardless of income or background. Join us in learning more about CHI, the people we serve, community health centers, and celebrating a week’s worth of events.

You can see the schedule at: chisouthfl.org/nationalhealthcenterweek

Beyond this, we all need to advocate for community health centers to ensure this valuable resource remains available for the communities we serve.

Visit hcadvocacy.org to find the latest information on how to support health centers, and call, message, or visit your congressional leaders to tell them that you support long-term funding and want to make sure that some of the most vulnerable people can get high-quality healthcare.

Yours Truly,

 

 

 

Blake Hall

Population Health Helps CHI Patients with Healthcare Management

Receiving a serious health diagnosis can be frightening and confusing. Your life has changed in the blink of an eye, and you may not know the next steps to take. This is why Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) created the Population Health department in July 2022—to support patients during challenging times.

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CHI Enhances Care for Behavioral Health Patients in South Miami-Dade

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(from left to right) CCBHC staff, Cesar Jeronimo, Dorlisa McKnight, Scarlett Ordonez, Executive Vice President and Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Jean D. Pierre, Celia Mion-Araoz, Sandra Sacasa, and Lisette Mira.

Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) is committed to providing high-quality healthcare, including behavioral health services. Access to great care is important to provide individuals with the mental health support they need. CHI continues to hold a high standard of care after receiving a $4 Million Certified Behavioral Health Clinic grant awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA). Officially launched on March 18, this grant has helped to improve the quality of services, reduce obstacles to care, and make healthcare more accessible for our patients.

“This is the gold standard for behavioral health services,” said Jean D. Pierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Behavioral Health Officer. “We are extremely excited that we are able to provide these services to the community.”

The program, located at Martin Luther King, Jr. Clinica Campesina Center and Everglades Health Center, provides a full range of mental health, substance use disorders, and primary care screening services to patients, ensuring that services are integrated and person and family-centered. Since the start of the program, the CCBHC staff, which includes therapists, psychiatrists, case management, and outreach workers, have provided services for 383 patients. An amazing accomplishment, according to CCBHC Administrator, Lisette Mira.

“The roll-out has gone really well! Patients have been open to receiving information, especially on how it impacts their care,” Mira shared. “We have been providing therapy and psychiatry services as well as attending various events in the community to get the word out about the services we offer.”

CCBHC Administrator, Lisette Mira and staff member, Cesar Jeronimo attend teen mental wellness summit.

The CCBHC program worked with the Outreach department for Mental Health Awareness Month this May, attending community events in Homestead and Florida City. The program has also prioritized having a presence within CHI health center lobbies, with the sole purpose of providing important information to patients and connecting them to behavioral health services.

Mira explains that this is a critical time because the program is still in its beginning stages. There is a focus on making sure staff are trained in up-to-date practices.

“We have additional training that is scheduled for our staff this summer to ensure that we’re meeting CCBHC criteria,” she said. “We want everyone on our team to provide care with a trauma-informed lens to a diverse population with cultural awareness training.”

Even under the pressures of meeting this gold standard, program directors are already looking to the future to improve care for patients. In December, at the 6-month mark of this program, the CCBHC team will perform progress checks on patients to guarantee that they have improved and received housing stability and primary care and were connected to appropriate care throughout the 6 months. This will make sure that patients in high-risk situations and behaviors are getting better. The program is also in the process of forming therapy support groups for patients in both Spanish and English.

“We can make a big impact in the community,” said Mira. “This staff is wonderful, and they really do have that multidisciplinary approach. We help each other ensure we provide our patients the full scope of services.”

JULIO CORONADO

Our Compassionate Team Serving You

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Julio Coronado at the Doris Ison Health Center.

Julio Coronado

Julio Coronado has been an essential part of CHI’s Environmental Department for the past 14 years, currently serving as Facilities Supervisor. He began his journey at CHI as an Environmental Worker and has since taken on responsibilities covering facilities’ logistics, including housekeeping, maintenance, and ensuring overall safety. Coronado finds great satisfaction in his role, where he embraces the opportunity to learn something new each day and values the guidance of mentors who have supported his career growth. When Coronado is away from work, he loves to stay active and spend time with his daughter. Their favorite activities include going to the movies, visiting parks, and shopping together.

Celia Mion-Araoz, LMHC, joined CHI in 2005.

Celia Mion-Araoz

Celia Mion-Araoz, LMHC, brings nearly two decades of dedicated service to CHI, where she started as a Registered Intern in 2005 and is now a mental health counselor and the Coordinator of Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement. Mion-Araoz specializes in infant mental health and earned her degrees from Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University. During her 19 years at CHI, she held several management positions by writing grants for programs like HealthySteps, funded by the Children’s Trust, which have brought in thousands of dollars that benefit behavioral health patients. She also analyzes data to improve clinical workflows and policies that enhance patient care. Outside of work, she cherishes spending time with her teenage daughter, jet skiing, and boating.

Our Compassionate Team Serving You

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Derys at the Doris Ison Health Center

Kettley Derys

Kettley Derys has been a dedicated Patient Advocate at CHI for 30 years. As an advocate, she works directly with patients to ensure that their medical needs are met. This includes providing emotional support to patients, offering transportation assistance to CHI health centers and helping them schedule their appointments. Based at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Clinica Campensia Center, Derys also travels to other CHI locations and attends OB/GYN appointments and births at Homestead Hospital. Over the past 30 years, she has enjoyed interacting with patients and helping those who are in need. Derys is passionate about helping others, especially through the COPE program that assists teenage mothers who are still in school. Derys cherishes time with her family, enjoys swimming, and loves to read.

Dr. Mitra Shafieian joined CHI in 2015

 

Dr. Mitra Shafieian

Dr. Mitra Shafieian is a board-certified pediatric doctor at CHI’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Clinica Campesina Center. Dr. Shafieian got her start at CHI in 2015 at the Tavernier Health Center before transferring during the pandemic. She provides care to patients ages newborn to 21 years old, mostly serving the migrant population. She prides herself on being a bridge to comprehensive care for her patients when they visit CHI. It gives Dr. Shafieian great satisfaction to serve others who may be uninsured or underinsured and have nowhere else to go. She values working not only as a team but as a family with fellow staff. Dr. Shafieian grew up and studied medicine in Iran and has two loving sons whom she loves dearly. When she is not serving her community, she spends her time walking, reading and cooking.

 

Bright Futures, Generous Hearts: Teens Give Back To Their Community In A Big Way

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Ean Wells holds his favorite childhood book, “Holes,” in front of books he collected for CHI’s pediatric department.

South Florida teens, Ean Wells and Sofia Araoz have more in common than just being in high school. They also share a passion for giving back and connecting with their community in a meaningful way. Amidst the challenges of navigating college plans and balancing their studies, they took the time to create an opportunity to help those in need.

Last summer, Sofia participated in CHI’s Youth Volunteer Program. During the 6-week program, she collected gift bags for patients being treated in CHI’s Crisis Stabilization Unit. These thoughtful packages, filled with items like fidget spinners, coloring books, and puzzles aimed to provide comfort and alleviate anxiety for patients in the unit.

“We collected 19 packages for patients, and they were super grateful to receive them,” said Araoz. “They said thank you and a lot of them immediately started opening their gifts.”

Araoz, a high school senior with an interest in pursuing a career in law, was excited to take advantage of her time last summer working in the Risk Management department at the Hammocks Health Center. She learned the foundations of malpractice in the medicine field, as well as assisted staff in registering patients on MyChart, an online portal that allows patients to manage their health information in one place.

Eans Wells displays the note that young readers will see when reading one of his donated books.

“The whole experience was fulfilling. I felt like I helped a lot of people,” she said. “Patients were glad to hear about MyChart because everything is more accessible. I was happy to show them a new way of accessing their health information.”

High School Junior, Ean Wells, found his own unique way to contribute to the community by sharing his childhood passion: reading. This Spring, he generously donated 300 books to CHI’s Pediatrics department that will be delivered to several CHI health center locations.

Wells reflected on reading some of his favorite books like “Holes” and “Because of Mr. Terrupt” as a child.

“Reading was the base for my education growing up and it has helped me so much,” he said. “Giving the same opportunity to other kids to develop good reading skills, I hope they can benefit from it as well.”

Sofia Araoz delivers gift bags to the Crisis Stabilization Unit staff to hand out to patients.

Wells rallied his fellow classmates and friends at school to join his cause, effortlessly collecting additional books to donate. An assignment that he says he pulled off with ease.

“I have a lot of friends, and everyone has books from when they were kids,” he said. “Most people were willing to help!”

Wells plans to organize another book drive within his school community this Spring.

Swinging for a Cause: Golfers Experience Rare Solar Eclipse While Supporting Child Mental Health

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(From left to right) NBA legend Glen Rice, Former NBA star Jason Richardson, friend, and Ryan Katz, look to the sky as they watch the solar eclipse.

Nearly 100 golfers gathered on April 8th for CHI’s Annual Golf Tournament at the picturesque Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club. However, this was not just any ordinary day on the green. Participants were treated to an awe-inspiring partial solar eclipse! The spectacular event provided golfers with a unique opportunity to look up at the sky with special solar eclipse glasses to view the rare sight of the moon passing directly in front of the Sun. NBA All-Star legend, Glen Rice, was blown away by the celestial spectacle.

“I have never seen it like that,” he said. “I put the glasses on and it’s dark and suddenly, I spot the sun and the moon having their little intertwine. That is amazing!”

Golfers did not just observe history on this day—they also contributed to a wonderful cause of supporting children in the community. More than $100,000 was raised and will directly aid children who are facing severe mental health crises.

“The community has wanted the Children’s Crisis Center for as long as I have been at CHI, which is almost 20 years,” said CHI President and CEO, Blake Hall. “To make this finally, almost a reality, is wonderful. Construction is underway and the metal pillars should be arriving within the next month!”

The Children’s Crisis Center is scheduled to open in 2025 and will be the first of its kind in south Miami-Dade.

Click here to check out more photos from the 2024 CHI Golf Tournament

The Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center Welcomes Newest Class With 10-Year Anniversary Match Day Celebration

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(From left to right) Some of the newest Teaching Health Center residents, Dr. Sulma Moredo Loo, Dr. Magny Sherlyne, Dr. Merin Abraham, Dr. Kyiana Haughton, and Dr. Nicolas Picaza, take their first photo together at the Doris Ison Health Center.

Dr. Farhana Yaqoob Khan smiled from ear to ear as she expressed her excitement about moving to Miami and joining Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) during The Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center’s 10-Year Anniversary Match Day celebration.

“I want to be a very compassionate and competent primary care physician,” said Dr. Khan. “This is a very good opportunity to give back to the community. This is what I see myself doing in the next few years!”

Dr. Khan was one of nine new residents who were warmly received at the Doris Ison Health Center. Those who could not be in attendance joined the celebration virtually to share the joy with their new fellow residents. Family and friends also gathered in support of the accomplishments of their loved ones.

It’s a celebration! Balloons and confetti rain down on Match Day, marking the thrilling start of these new residents’ journey into healthcare.

As the names of each incoming resident echoed through the halls, the air sparkled with falling confetti, marking the joyous beginning of their journey. This year’s Match Day is a special one as it signifies a decade of commitment to shaping the future of healthcare. Since its establishment in 2014, the Teaching Health Center has been the launching pad for 94 resident physicians’ careers. They each have gained invaluable experience in providing service in a community health center setting, particularly for underserved populations. CHI President and CEO, Blake Hall, shared his excitement about continuing the legacy with this newest class.

“We’re so excited to have this amazing class join us,” he said. “It means that you are committed to the community. It means that you are committed to South Florida, and we couldn’t be happier to have you!”

Teaching Health Center faculty and leadership wanted to kick off the tenth anniversary in a big way for the incoming class.

“As a young program celebrating its 10th anniversary, we wanted to make it grand and memorable,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah.

“We eagerly look forward to making this an amazing experience with these folks!”

President & CEO Message

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National Women’s Health Week is celebrated each year beginning on Mother’s Day, this year landing on May 12. It is a week to highlight and encourage women to make their health a priority. I am so grateful for the women in my life who have nurtured and poured love into me since I was a young child. I want to take the time to honor and thank them for their selfless acts of kindness. To the women we serve here at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI): You are the backbone of your families, ensuring that your children and partners are taken care of and guiding them to their appointments. This Women’s Health Week, I want to encourage you to prioritize yourself and your health. CHI offers comprehensive care, including primary care and women’s services. Make your appointment today at chisouthfl.org/appointment-requests. We would not be here without you, and we are so thankful!

This month, we celebrate another remarkable woman, Natalie Windsor, for her appointment as CHI’s Board Chair—the first woman to hold this position in CHI’s history. Windsor has dedicated 38 years to this organization, and no one is more deserving of this role. You’ll discover more about her inspiring journey in this newsletter.

In other exciting news, we had our annual Golf Tournament at the beautiful Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club on April 8. It coincided with the solar eclipse, offering golfers an exciting chance to catch the rare sight with their own eyes! By the end of the event, about $100,000 was raised to benefit children suffering from severe mental illness. I could not be prouder of the work that the CHI team has accomplished in turning this dream into a reality. Construction is now in full swing, and it is all thanks to you and your generous donations over the years. Let us continue to build towards a brighter future for these young lives and the South Florida community!

Yours Truly,

 

 

 

Blake Hall