Franchezca Theis Higuera, MD

Dr. Franchezca Theis Higuera completed medical school at the Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda in Venezuela. She has a passion for community work, and it is where she discovered the wonderful impact of primary care medicine. She witnessed firsthand how the lack of health education and access to care can deeply affect patients’ health and quality of life. As a result, she is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and entire communities to take control of their well-being. Dr. Theis Higuera believes family medicine is the path to achieving this goal.

As a physician, she is committed to building trusting relationships, guiding patients through the complexities of the healthcare system, and treating individuals and their families comprehensively. Dr. Theis Higuera’s goal is to address health disparities in communities and ensure healthcare access for everyone.

Sulma Moredo Loo, MD

Dr. Sulma Moredo Loo attended Miami Dade College and Florida International University for her undergraduate degree and Nova Southeastern University for medical school. Dr. Moredo Loo decided to pursue family medicine because she has always been interested in different areas such as pediatrics, women’s health, mental health, and procedures; all of which I found in Family Medicine. In addition, I like listening to patients and educating them about their medical conditions.

Originally from the island nation of Cuba, Dr. Moredo Loo moved to the United States when she was 15 years old.

Onyinye Anyakudo, APRN

Onyinye Anyakudo is a Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in the medical field. She obtained her associate degree in nursing from Miami Dade college in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the same college in 2014. She has over 10 years’ experience as an ICU nurse as well as 2 years’ experience as an emergency room nurse at Homestead Hospital.

Onyinye Obtained a master’s degree in nursing from Barry University as a Family Nurse practitioner in 2018 and later proceeded to Florida International University to become a Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner in 2022.

She has worked as a cardiology nurse practitioner at Baptist Hospital and as an internal medicine nurse practitioner at Homestead Hospital. She is a compassionate and an empathetic provider who places the safety of her patients as her topmost priority.

Her interest is working in the community and caring for the underserved. She is a member of the NAACP South Dade branch and has been involved in several community and religious health fairs. On her free time, she loves to exercise, read and travel.

Ayita Verna, MD

Dr. Ayita Verna is a board-certified Gynecologist and is dedicated to empowering her patients through every stage of life by providing personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based medical care. She is a compassionate and highly motivated physician who is dedicated to providing comprehensive women’s healthcare services in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

When you choose Dr Verna as your Obstetrician-Gynecologist, you are choosing a dedicated and compassionate healthcare partner who will guide you through the various stages of your life with expertise and care. She is committed to promoting the well-being and health of women at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) and beyond.

Dr. Verna completed her high school education at Miami Killian Senior High in 2010 and subsequently completed her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry in 2014 at the University of Miami.

She then completed her medical school training at West Virginia University School of Medicine followed by a rigorous residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami.

Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Verna is actively engaged in community outreach and education where she participates in local initiatives and advocates for women’s health awareness through local health fairs. She also has extensive experience in global health where she has participated in many different health related projects abroad, from Haiti to Rwanda. Dr. Verna embraces the power of cultural diversity. She understands that It’s not only learning about other cultures but being aware of these issues through the lens of different cultures.

Dr. Verna was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Port au Prince, Haiti until the age of 15. Dr. Verna has a passion for traveling with her family and collecting key chains of every country she travels to. She also has an interest in pilates, yoga, meditation and outdoor activities.

Richard Lipscomb Jr., DDS

Dr. Richard Lipscomb Jr. is the Dental Director of the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center. He is a general dentist, an international speaker, and a lecturer. Dr. Lipscomb attended Howard University School of Dentistry and Mercyhurst College. He has performed restorative procedures for more than 20 years and placed mini dental implants since 2006. During that time, he has overseen hundreds of cases and has gained the experience to train other doctors on placing mini dental implants and more. Dr. Lipscomb is a Catapult Education speaker and on the editorial advisory board for Dental Products Report. He has written articles and conducted several seminars.

Dr. Lipscomb’s unique dental experience includes private practice and public health service in community health centers. By delivering restorative procedures in a variety of dental environments, he has spent years working with a wide range of resin materials to suit many challenging clinical situations.

His hobbies include fishing, jogging, and the outdoors. He also enjoys attending sporting events.

Angela Rivera

Angela Rivera serves as the Program Coordinator for the ACGME-accredited Psychiatry Residency Program at Community Health of South FL, Inc. With over 25 years of experience in graduate medical education, she brings a deep understanding of academic administration and a genuine passion for supporting residents throughout their training journey.

In her role, Angela works closely with the Program Director, faculty, and residents to ensure smooth program operations and compliance with ACGME and institutional standards. She manages recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and accreditation processes, while fostering an environment of organization, communication, and care.

Beyond the administrative responsibilities, Angela truly enjoys being part of the residents’ lives during their years in training, celebrating their milestones, supporting them through challenges, and watching their professional and personal growth. Her commitment to the residents’ success and well-being is at the heart of her work, and she takes pride in helping shape the next generation of psychiatrists.

Cheryl Holder, MD

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.

Cindy Cork, MD

 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.

Mithun Mathew, MD

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.

Jamal Nawaz, MD

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.