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.

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.

Ferial Lombard, MD

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.

Thaimy Del Prado, MD

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.

Marnelle B. Chery, MD

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.

Gail Brooks, MD

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.

Haleema Wahla, MD

Dr. Haleema Wahla attended California State University, Sacramento where she received a B.A. in Biological Sciences and a medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine. Mental health has always fascinated Dr. Wahla, and she nurtured that fascination by participating in mentorship programs during her MSA, enrolling in various related courses during her undergrad career.

Born and raised in sunny Northern California, she hopes to rid the stigma of mental illnesses through her work as a physician. It was important to Dr. Wahla to join a residency program with a diverse patient population so that she can understand her patient’s unique struggles.

Margarita Torres, BS HSA

A Miami native an a highly experienced healthcare administration professional with over 20 years of expertise in clinical operations, credentialing, and compliance, Margarita currently serves as the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Family Medicine Residency Coordinator at the Community Health Center of South Florida. In this role, Margarita oversees comprehensive credentialing and accreditation processes in alignment with ACGME and HRSA standards, supporting medical residents, faculty, and program leadership.

With a strong foundation in healthcare operations gained through progressive roles at the University of Miami, Margarita has built a reputation for accuracy, regulatory knowledge, and effective cross-functional collaboration. Her experience spans credentialing management, licensure tracking, contract administration, grant reporting support, project management and continuous process improvement.

Margarita holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from Barry University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Administration. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt methodologies and is a longstanding member of the Association of Family Medicine Administration (AFMA).

Driven by a commitment to operational excellence and compliance, Margarita brings exceptional organizational, analytical, and communication skills to every aspect of her work in healthcare education and administration.

Americo Padilla, MD