Melissa Ruiz
Melissa Ruiz, ARNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Doris Ison and Martin Luther King Clinicia Campesina Health Centers.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Miami Dade College, she went on to obtain a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Miami. She is also nationally certfied as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Ruiz has over a decade of obstetrics and gynecology experience. She previously worked at Jackson Health System in the Labor and Delivery unit, and at Miami Dade College as part of the nursing faculty.
Ruiz is a member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and Sigma Tetha Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Born in Panama and immigrated to Florida, Ruiz is focused on providing culturally sensitive and high-quality healthcare to the South Florida community.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places with her husband and children.
Dr. Cheryl Holder
Dr. Cheryl L. Holder is a family medicine physician at the Doris Ison Health Center and a Core Faculty member of The Brodes H. Hartley Teaching Health Center.
Dr. Holder is a graduate of Princeton University and George Washington University School of Medicine. She is also is a National Health Service Corp Scholar, Internist, and HIV Specialist. She previously served as Medical Director at a local community health center in Miami. Additionally, Dr. Holder is a member of the National Institutes of Health and Center for Disease Control and Prevention review panels. She has dedicated her career to improving health of underserved populations.
In 2009, she joined Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’ faculty, where she taught about the social determinants of health, diversity, and the health impact of climate change. She also was the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Community Initiatives.
Dr. Holder’s leadership roles include organizations such as president of Florida State Medical Association, Founder and Co-Chair of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and Co-chair of Miami Dade Heat Health Task Force. In spare time, she holds a strong passion for addressing climate change and delivered a TED Talk titled “The Link Between Climate Change, Health and Poverty” that gained more than 300,000 views.
Dr. Cindy Cork
Dr. Cindy Cork attended Florida International University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. In 1998, she graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Over the past two decades, she has worked with clinics in underserved populations, prisons, and colleges, in addition to having her own private practice. She has also served as an FDA sub-investigator for a surgical procedure to correct presbyopia (the need for reading glasses after age 40). She is a former instructor at Miami Dade College and Broward College in South Florida, and the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska. She currently contracts with Miami Lighthouse For The Blind and travels around the state of Florida providing disadvantaged children with much-needed exams and eyewear.
Dr. Cork was born and raised on the island of Jamaica and moved to South Florida with her family at the age of 14. Her passion for philanthropy is expressed in the donation of her time, giving the gift of sight to poverty-stricken people in developing countries in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and especially her native Jamaica. In Alaska, she provided free eye care services to the women and children who were victims of domestic violence.
She is an active member of the Juneau Mendenhall Flying Lions Club and the National Optometric Association. She is a contributing author of several Amazon best-selling books and is published in the Journal of Chromatography.
Dr. Cork enjoys educating others about healthy living and is a frequent lecturer at the Annual International Integrative Healthcare and Holistic Iridology Congress. She also teaches an online Anatomy course with the goal of helping people understand how their bodies function so they can be an active participant in their own health.
Dr. Mithun Mathew
Dr. Mithun Mathew earned his undergraduate degree and medical degree at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. He grew up in India and moved to Florida with his family as a teenager.
He is passionate about building long lasting relationships with his patients and giving back to the community. He is excited to work and train at CHI. It gives him an opportunity to give back to the South Florida community that welcomed him and gave him the opportunity to pursue his dreams.
During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and pickle ball. He also likes to travel and spend time with his friends and family.
Dr. Jamal Nawaz
Dr. Jamal Nawaz attended Fullerton College for two years before deciding to go to medical school at Universidad Iberoamericana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Raised in Southern California, psychiatry has always been a fascinating subject for Dr. Nawaz. He sees psychiatry as the intersection of medicine where the soul connects with the mind and the body.
In his spare time, he enjoys basketball, comedy shows, concerts, video games and spending time with his family.
Dr. Ferial Lombard
Dr. Ferial Lombard earned a medical degree from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Most recently she graduated from the Transitional Year Program at Hackensack University Medical Center – Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey.
Dr. Lombard always knew that she wanted to be a psychiatrist. From my early adolescence, she was captivated by the workings of the human mind, which led her to choose psychiatry. She wholeheartedly believes that psychiatric well-being is the key to unlocking happiness and vitality in our lives. Mental well-being forms the cornerstone for individuals to construct fulfilling and purposeful lives.
Aside from medicine, Dr. Lombard is passionate about animal rights and welfare. She owns two loving and mischievous cats. In her free time, she enjoys solving jigsaw puzzles and exploring new places and trying new restaurants with family and friends.
Dr. Thaimy Del Prado
Dr. Thaimy Del Prado attended medical school at St. Georges University and earned her undergraduate degree from Florida International University.
Dr. Del Prado was exposed to medicine from a young age as both of her parents are physicians. She always felt a passion for psychiatry. At a young age, she had first-hand experience with obsessive compulsive disorder and cherishes the impact her psychiatrist had on influencing her life for the better. It was through this experience that she learned that her true calling in life was to help others.
Born in Cuba, and raised in Miami, FL, Dr. Del Prado hopes to influence and make a real change in her patient’s lives. She works hard to improve their quality of life through mental health care.
Dr. Marnelle B. Chery
Dr. Marnelle B. Chery earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the American University of Antigua and completed her undergraduate studies at The University of South Florida.
While completing her clinical rotations, she became fascinated with the intricate complexities of the human mind and the impact that mental health has on individuals. The ability to form meaningful connections with patients and help them navigate their emotional well-being inspired Dr. Chery to dedicate her career to this field.
As a first-generation Haitian American, Dr. Chery embraces her cultural heritage and understands the unique challenges faced by immigrant communities. This has fueled her determination to bridge gaps in mental healthcare and advocate for equitable access to treatment for all individuals.
Born in the vibrant city of Miami, Dr. Chery cherishes her work to help patients live their best lives.
Dr. Gail Brooks
Dr. Gail Brooks obtained her medical degree from American University of Antigua College of Medicine and her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Merced, in biological sciences.
Her passion for psychiatry started at a young age when she saw the effects that mental health had on patients and their families. She was fascinated with how psychiatrists were able to heal the mind. Dr. Brooks made it her life goal to help others.
Originally from Manteca, California in the Central Valley, Dr. Brooks enjoyed living in Antigua for medical school and is excited about now living in South Florida. She loves that it is a perfect mix between her home state of California and island living in Antigua. Dr. Brooks is very excited to call South Florida and CHI her new home as a resident.
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