Rubis Vergara Ramirez is an APRN at Community Health of South Florida’s, Inc. (CHI) South Miami Health Center. Vergara Ramirez obtained a master’s degree in 2016 from the University of Miami. She is nationally certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Vergara Ramirez enjoys working with the underserved population and has fun working with her patients. Her connection to the underserved began in her home country of Colombia where she provided care to underprivileged patients.

She has a strong devotion to the health of her patients and community. She carefully listens to the needs and complaints of her patients to help best address their concerns, while being cognizant of issues surrounding health disparities and education in underserved communities.

Vergara Ramirez is an avid dog-lover, and soap opera aficionado. In her spare time, she enjoys family trips to Disney World and visiting her family in Colombia. At heart, Vergara believes she is a lifelong student, she enjoys readings of novel practices in hopes that she can better serve her patients and community. On the weekends, she enjoys finding new recipes and attends regular Sunday service.

Patricia Philippe, APRN, has worked at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) since 2018.  She is also the Director of Education and Infection Prevention and Control. Board certified in Nursing and Infection Control, she has over 15 years of experience in preventative care. Philippe has experience in infectious diseases, research and promoting community participation in health-related issues.

Philippe obtained her master’s degree from the University of Montreal in Community Health with a concentration in Community Dental Health and Preventative Dentistry in 1997. In 2004, Philippe completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and was licensed to be an APRN in 2021. She also obtained a graduate certification in Community Health with an emphasis on Epidemiology and Anthropology in 1995.  

Before working as a nurse, she had several years of experience working as a dental hygienist in Montreal, Canada and Miami, Florida. 

Born in the island nation of Haiti, Philippe has devoted her professional journey to both research and providing exceptional care to her patients. She takes great pride in her efforts to make a positive impact in the South Florida community. 

Dr. Edwin Herrera is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician at the Doris Ison Health Center. He joined the CHI team in the Spring of 2023.

As a young boy in Bonanza, Nicaragua, Dr. Herrera developed a strong interest in Science. He attended medical school at the University of San Carlos Borromeo in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where he graduated with a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery. Thereafter, he relocated to the United States and completed a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Illinois in Rockford, Illinois.

In January 1995, he participated in an Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship at Central Texas Medical Foundation in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Herrera worked in private practice for ten years in Sylvester, Georgia. During his time there, he was highly involved with the Georgia Baptist Hospital board and community health centers.

In 1999, he completed an MBA for physician executives at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, while remaining in private practice during the program.

Towards the end of 2005, Dr. Herrera relocated to Miami to be closer to family and friends. He opened his own private practice and worked at urgent care centers in the metropolitan Miami area.

In 2019, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, he closed his practice and worked locum tenens for approximately two years. Most of the locum tenens contracts were Family Medicine and Urgent Care facilities.

He is a board-certified physician by The American Board of Family Medicine since 2000. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians Florida, the Academy of Family Physicians, and the Nicaraguan American Medical Association (NAMA). He served as the Board President for NAMA in 2010. These board relations span across 20 years.

Dr. Herrera enjoys meeting diverse patients from different cultural and social economic backgrounds. He learns a lot from his patients and is fortunate to have such experiences. As a physician, no matter which setting he practices in, he strives to provide the best care possible in a respectful and friendly atmosphere. He believes patients always come first and places importance on exceptional bedside manner.

In his spare time, he practices the advice he gives to his patients, self-care. Dr. Hererra places importance on good nutrition and physical activity. He loves tennis, jogging, spending time with loved ones and traveling.

Neybis Garcia-Leal, APRN, is a highly skilled Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in the medical field. In 1996, she obtained a General Medicine degree at the Villa Clara Institute of Medical Sciences in Cuba.

In 1998, she moved to Costa Rica where she worked as a General Practitioner and later completed a postgraduate degree in Family and Community Medicine at the University of Costa Rica. She worked for 12 years as a physician in the Costa Rican Social Security.

In 2018, Garcia-Leal moved to the United States but her passion for healthcare did not change. She pursued a Nursing degree and shortly after was certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She was able to apply the previous knowledge she gained abroad to continue helping patients in need here in America.

Born and raised in Cuba, Garcia-Leal’s childhood dream was to become a doctor. She is married with two children and spends her free time with family and friends. Her hobbies include cooking and visiting the beach.