Dr. Marrero, past President of Steward’s Good Samaritan Medical Center in Massachusetts, will now oversee five newly acquired South Florida hospitals

September 14 2021 –  Steward Health Care today announced Marisela Marrero, M.D., will become Steward’s first Regional President for the South Florida Region. Dr. Marrero will oversee the five hospitals Steward acquired from Tenet Healthcare Corporation last month, including North Shore Medical Center, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital, Palmetto General Hospital in Miami-Dade County, and Florida Medical Center in Broward County. Dr. Marrero will lead the hospitals’ efforts to respond to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, as well as to expand high-quality, physician-led healthcare to the diverse communities of South Florida. In addition to her regional role, Dr. Marrero has served as the new President of Hialeah Hospital since August.

“Dr. Marrero has a firmly established and impressive track record as a clinician and visionary administrator that makes her uniquely qualified to lead Steward’s South Florida Region,” said Sanjay Shetty, M.D., Steward’s President of North America. “She has a strong understanding of how to deliver exceptional community-based, value driven care particularly within underserved, diverse communities. I’m confident that Dr. Marrero will seamlessly partner with our team members and community partners to lead this important region to new heights during these challenging times.”

Dr. Marrero is a Harvard-trained (Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital), board certified emergency room physician, who most recently served as President of Good Samaritan Medical Center, one of Steward’s largest and most successful Massachusetts hospitals. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Marrero has dedicated her career to engaging and partnering with Latino communities to provide vital health information and care, regularly appearing on Spanish-language media to provide expertise on many important healthcare topics.

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead these outstanding medical teams across the greater Miami region as we address the unique health care needs of the communities and the ongoing COVID-19 surge,” said Marisela Marrero, M.D., Steward Regional President for South Florida. “I look forward to partnering with our skilled and compassionate providers and community stakeholders to increase investments in our facilities and clinical services in the months and years ahead.”

In her concurrent role as President of Hialeah Hospital, Dr. Marrero will also lead a team of more than 900 employees directing care at the 378-bed acute care hospital, which has been part of the Hialeah community since 1951.

About Steward Health Care:

Steward Health Care’s physician-led business model was built to unlock access to the highest-quality care at a sustainable cost, committed to providing personalized, ongoing medical services that positively impact patients’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 

Founded in 2010 by CEO Ralph de la Torre, M.D., who grew up in Florida and is the son of Cuban immigrants, Steward Health Care is the largest physician-led health care network with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 health care professionals caring for 12.3 million patients a year through its global network of hospitals, urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and behavioral health services.  

Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates 44 hospitals around the world, including 39 across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah, as well as five internationally within Malta and Colombia.  

For more information, please visit www.steward.org. 



September 14, 2021 — The Glioblastoma Research Organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raising awareness and funds for cutting-edge research to find a cure for rare malignant fast-growing tumors affecting the brain or spine, is pleased to announce Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Ph.D.; Michael E. Ivan, MD; and Ricardo Jorge Komotar, MD, FAANS, FACS as members of its medical advisory board. These esteemed doctors will be counseling the organization on opportunities for maximizing the impact of its research globally.

Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Ph.D., leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists and physicians at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) to develop immunotherapy for recurrent/refractory pediatric brain tumors, along with imaging tools to monitor the fate of therapeutically administered NK cells and other cell therapy products. The overall goal of her research is to understand the role of the RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST), a negative regulator of neuronal differentiation, in cerebellar development and medulloblastoma pathogenesis.

She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and a master’s degree in biochemistry and Bachelor of Science in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Bombay in India. Dr. Gopalakrishnan completed her post-doctoral fellowship on molecular genetics and biochemistry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Michael E. Ivan, M.D., Co-Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Brain Tumor Initiative at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is specializing in complex brain tumor, skull base tumor, and epilepsy surgery. Dr. Ivan serves as a Neuro-Oncology Site Disease Group Leader, Director of Research for the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative within Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is the Principal Investigator of the Ivan Brain Tumor Lab. He is also the Chief of Cranial Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, and Co-Director of Neurosurgery at Jackson South Medical Center.

Dr. Ivan was recently part of the first skull base team in Florida to implant an auditory brainstem implant to restore hearing loss after acoustic neuroma resection. He also specializes in minimally invasive surgery such as Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), minimal port access surgery, and endoscopic neurosurgery, allowing patients to have little to no incision and go home after one day.

Dr. Ivan earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Cornell University and holds a Doctor of Medicine and master’s degree from Rutgers University. He attended New Jersey Medical School and then completed his neurological surgery training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). After residency, he moved to Miami and completed a fellowship in Surgical Neuro-oncology at the University of Miami.

Ricardo Jorge Komotar, MD, FAANS, FACS, Co-Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Brain Tumor Initiative, is a professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, and serves as a director of several University of Miami programs including its Surgical Neuro-Oncology, the Neurosurgery Residency Program, and the Surgical Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program.

Dr. Komotar is an internationally recognized leader in the field of brain tumors and performs nearly 800 procedures for these conditions each year using innovative surgical and radiosurgical techniques, making him one of the highest volume brain tumor surgeons in the world. His research interests include clinical trial development and translational neurooncological investigations designed to pioneer new therapies for brain tumors. Dr. Komotar is also an Emmy ® nominated physician for his work on the series “Breakthrough Medicine.”

He earned a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Duke University, spending a year at Oxford University in England to focus on neuropharmacology. Dr. Komotar received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and neurosurgical residency at The Neurological Institute of New York, part of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, followed by a surgical neuro-oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to specialize in brain tumors.

About The Glioblastoma Research Organization

The Glioblastoma Research Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raising awareness and funds for cutting-edge research to find a cure for glioblastoma, a rare malignant, fast-growing tumor affecting the brain or spine. The organization was established in 2018 and, to date, has provided support to doctors and researchers through three fully funded projects, donating over $130K in the last two years. For additional information about the organization, funding and partners, please visit www.gbmresearch.org/



September 14, 2021 – IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates, a leading clinic for infertility and reproductive treatment in South Florida, is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Silvina M. Bocca to its renowned team of reproductive endocrinologists. She joins IVF FLORIDA with more than 30 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of female and male infertility, as well as IVF laboratory embryology.   

“I am excited to be joining such a respected and reputable team of physicians, nurses, and staff at IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates,” says Dr. Bocca. “I look forward to building close relationships and providing patient-centered care to each couple and individual as they build the family of their dreams.”

Dr. Bocca began her career as an embryologist at the prestigious Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine—the birthplace of modern in vitro fertilization, later becoming a certified High Complexity Laboratory Director. She then earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and remained at the school to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

“IVF FLORIDA is thrilled to have Dr. Bocca join our team,” says David Hoffman, Chief Medical Officer at IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates. “She joins us with top-notch fertility and clinical experience, and we know she will make an impact on our practice and in the lives of our patients.”

An accomplished researcher, Dr. Bocca has published several articles and abstracts in her areas of expertise—including the treatment of recurrent miscarriage, fertility preservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, and male infertility. She is subspecialty certified in Reproduction Endocrinology and Infertility and board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis as an Embryologist and High-Complexity Clinical Laboratory Director.

Dr. Bocca has been very involved in teaching and mentoring residents and medical students. Prior to joining IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates, Dr. Bocca was a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She also served as course co-director in the Masters of Clinical Embryology program.

Patients can schedule a new patient virtual physician consultation with Dr. Bocca by calling 954-247-6200 or submitting this brief form. IVF FLORIDA patients also have access to unique financing programs, such as Fertility Access, the 100% refund program for IVF, which helps make fertility treatment more affordable.

For more information or to schedule an interview with an IVF FLORIDA fertility specialist, please contact Tina Barnett at tina.barnett@ivfflorida.com.

IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates has been providing fertility treatments in South Florida since 1986. We have nine reproductive endocrinologists and six convenient locations throughout South Florida, including Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Margate, Boca Raton, Wellington, and Jupiter. For more information, call 954-247-6200 or visit ivfflorida.com.



 September 14, 2021 – PartnerCare, a portfolio company of private equity firm Shore Capital Partners, announced its affiliation with MidSouth Pain Treatment Center (MidSouth Pain). Dr. Michael E. Steuer founded MidSouth Pain in 2000 in Southaven, Mississippi. MidSouth Pain operates five clinics and three ambulatory surgery centers in Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, with two board-certified physicians, 13 mid-level providers, and over 100 highly trained supporting team members. MidSouth Pain serves over 3,000 patients per month across its broad footprint, helping them deal with chronic pain and have better lives.

“At MidSouth Pain Treatment Center, we work together to keep our patient’s pain under control,” said Dr. Steuer, Founder of MidSouth Pain. “We help patients in several ways; primarily low back pain, neck pain, and headache pain, aswell as cancer pain and rare neurological diseases that cause pain. We focus on treating the root cause of the issue and not simply prescribing medications. I appreciate that this patient outcome is shared by PartnerCare. The entire MidSouth Pain team is very excited to be partnering with an organization that will accelerate our growth trajectory of high-quality patient care across Tennessee and Mississippi.”

Jack Lowey, PartnerCare’s Vice President of Business of Development, said, “I am thrilled about the second addition to our growing family of affiliates at PartnerCare. PartnerCare is fortunate to welcome Dr. Steuer and the             over one hundred stellar providers and staff at MidSouth Pain to our team. The flagship group at MidSouth Pain will become atremendous catalyst for organic and inorganic growth in the greater Memphis area.”

PartnerCare will continue to expand across the region and marketplace by investing in people and providing operational, financial, and information technology (IT) support to affiliated practices while establishing a solid corporate culture that will allow physicians to focus on clinical excellence and serving patients in their communities. PartnerCare will pursue affiliations with independent interventional pain management and musculoskeletal practices to build a premier network of healthcare team members and affiliates.

To learn more about an affiliation with PartnerCare, visit www.partnercare.com or contact Jack Lowey, Vice President of Business Development, at jlowey@partnercare.com.

About PartnerCare

PartnerCare is a leading provider of interventional pain management and musculoskeletal services headquartered in Tampa, Florida. PartnerCare blends rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, pain specialists, and therapeutic services under one roof to provide a full suite of services to each patient. For more information, please visit www.partnercare.com.

About Shore Capital Partners

Shore Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm with offices in Nashville, is focused on microcap investments within the Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Business Services, and Real Estate industries. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise, and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions, and generate value for shareholders. Shore Capital targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic growth and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has $2 billion of equity capital under management through various investment vehicles. For more information, please visit www.shorecp.com.



Health Choice Network becomes the first Safety Net Provider Network hosted by Epic offering Community Health Centers a fully integrated Enterprise Ecosystem Solution.

September 14, 2021 – Health Choice Network (HCN), the first nation-wide collaboration of health centers based in Miami, Florida with over 2.6 million unique patient lives, announces a new partnership with Epic to expand its health information technology services portfolio. This $400M investment on behalf of health centers is the largest of its kind in the health center movement.  Epic is the leading healthcare software company in the US with the most widely used and comprehensive health records system.  Through this partnership, HCN will expand our current offerings for an exclusive health center and safety-net provider “only” model. Health centers will now have a fully integrated Primary Care, Oral Health, Behavioral Health, Specialty Care, Pharmacy, and Population Health electronic health record (EHR) software to achieve better outcomes and access for patient care.

HCN understands community health center’s need to innovate, collaborate and engage in order to create more efficient workflows and enhance the quality of care within the communities they serve. With Epic, HCN health center partners will benefit from a seamless and integrated application with convenient access to a system designed to simplify and improve the overall patient care experience for outpatient healthcare delivery while integrating with our hospital, managed care, and quality improvement partners. The “Tailored to Fit” model, solution, and applications are based on the goals set by health center CEOs’ to increase quality, productivity, mobility and digital health solutions, and improve reimbursement for high-quality care.

“The HCN Board of Directors’ vision has always included an integrated model for quality health care for all.  Our partnership with Epic now allows the technology to finally catch up to the goals established over 27 years ago at Health Choice Network and our affiliated organizations and partners,” said Alejandro M. Romillo, President and CEO of Health Choice Network.

The opportunity does not stop with an EHR, the partnership provides health centers an annual set 10-year proforma and return on investment (ROI) strategy for the fully integrated platform across the Network. The model is designed around the “greater good” strategy of, the more organizations join the Network, the greater the savings. This forward-thinking collaboration is a unique opportunity for health centers and safety-net providers to be part of a major platform re-design to remove all previous barriers for adoption or conversion, one-time costs, training costs, and implementation costs, while integrating with local health care partners. 

The Network provides a platform with a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions including:

  • Access to data and clinical research studies and projects
  • Integrated time, financial, and spend management for all finance accounting transparency needs
  • The aptitude to forecast infrastructure needs to lessen the rising costs associated with backend operations versus advancing the clinical staff and care support solutions

HCN is uniquely positioned to support healthcare transformation with our health center led accountable care organizations, value-based services contracts, and annual enterprise planning investments, needed to remain at the forefront of today’s quality based and technology-driven environment. Together, we can remove barriers, reinvent workflows, and unite to improve quality and access for all.

Epic is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation.

About Health Choice Network

Health Choice Network, Inc. (HCN) is a successful nation-wide collaboration among health centers, health center-controlled networks and partners. By providing key business services in financial, managed care and billing support, strategic initiatives and the latest in health information technology, participants can improve patient outcomes through increased efficiencies and more accessible care in underserved communities. Operating in over sixteen states serving approximately 2.6 million patients, HCN is recognized as a leader in the integration of health information technology among health centers and safety net providers.