By Barbara R. Fallon

Newly installed president of DCMA, Carmel Barrau M.D., FACP, first Haitian-American to be appointed to the Board of Medicine of Florida, is a strong proponent of organized medicine. He explains why.

“As physicians we are trained and practice within the clinical quality guidelines of patient care delivery. However, we need to be participating members in medical associations in order to confer among peers, keep abreast of technology, learn about the business side of medicine (finance, legal, AI, practice models and other pragmatic decisions to weigh) and be proactive in political issues relating to health care,” he said.

Dr. Barrau is Co-founder of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University, where he also chairs the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College and also is a board member of the FIU Foundation. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from State University School of Medicine Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and received numerous commendations throughout his career. He has been an active voice in the Miami Mecca of health care for the past 30 years serving as a leader and advisor in patient care, peer review, and medical education.

As he assumes his role he said, “As active DCMA members we have opportunities to expand our skills and advocacy for our profession, our specialties and ultimately provide the best health care for our patients.”

Neighborhood Partnership

Dr. Barrau practices in an area he considers underserved and is familiar with the issues of treating patients from underserved areas. He realizes that poor lifestyle choices in nutrition, exercise, social and cultural issues, and substance misuse are pivotal causes of diseases such as stroke, high cholesterol, and COPD – in addition to non-compliance with a care plan.

“A young mother may bring her child into the ER frequently for dangerous asthma attacks and be labeled a frequent flyer or an uncaring mother. However, she may be working two jobs to put food on the table for her family and the ER route is the only health care available to her in off hours,” he explained. “That’s a social issue that impacts the delivery of care for her child. Providers of care need to advocate not only for quality but for access so that our patients can comply with a care plan,” he explained.

One of the successful paths he outlined to make inroads to access and cultural empathy is programs sponsored by medical schools and universities (like Florida International University) to assign medical, nursing and other health students a practical experience. Through the Neighborhood Partnership Program, medical students are assigned to follow a family in an underserved area to directly see the impact of socio-cultural and financial issues on the delivery of medical care with inadequate access to care. The practical real-life exposure offers an appreciation of how social and political issues have a profound impact on their clinical prognosis and teaches them the value of advocating for their patients.

According to Dr. Barrau, having an appreciation and respect for religious taboos or cultural traditions can be an important step to establishing trust in modern medicine. “This integration of students is a vital exposure for the next generation of health providers to go beyond band-aid solutions,” he explained.

Education and Communication

As a testament to his beliefs, Dr. Barrau practices what he preaches. He gathered a readership publishing health information columns in the Miami Times and producing ethnic-related radio shows dealing with common health topics and promoting preventive medicine. He practices in underserved communities and promotes health screenings and preventive care.

Inclusive Recruitment and Peer Support

Other areas of interest which he pledges that DCMA will augment are recruiting and recognizing the importance of physician diversity to address health disparities, accessibility, and affordability. He believes the inclusivity of both male and female physicians from multiple cultures and ancestries serves to provide an enhanced understanding of the many non-medical issues that impact health care compliance.

Finally, an awareness of the prevalence of increasing stress on health providers, further aggravated by the pandemic, is front and center for the DCMA leader. Programs to bolster mental health and wellbeing among colleagues are ongoing to help avoid burnout and all negative consequences of stress on physicians. “We need to take time to recharge regularly with peers and family in order to be able to best help our patients,” Dr. Barrau emphasized.

According to Dr. Barrau, another goal is to support and reinforce professional credentials and ethical standards of patient care.

“We doctors don’t work in silos and certainly appreciate the value of other clinicians in a team environment of care giving. However, for the sake of continuity and standards of care, we must advocate for credentialed skills before supporting non-physician utilization of some levels of clinical technology,” he stressed. “For example, a week-long course in cardio-thoracic care does not equal the knowledge gained from the years of medical training and experience a physician completes in order to assess and deliver appropriate care, and our patients deserve the best in life-saving care.”

Dr. Barrau encourages peers to get involved with their time and energy. “The Dade County Medical Association provides opportunities for physicians and medical students to learn, share, volunteer, and advocate for our profession and our patients. It is never too early or too late to join,” he summarized.

For more information, visit www.miamimed.com or call (305) 324-8717.