Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Medical Center Campus recently entered into a collaborative agreement with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).

Medical Center Campus president, Dr. Anita Kaplan, will signed the agreement along with APHL’s Eva Perlman, senior director of professional development. This agreement will facilitate further collaboration between the two organizations in bringing scientists and healthcare workers from developing countries to train at MDC to better fight the spread of AIDS and other diseases.

Last fall, the college’s School of Health Sciences trained 12 biologists from Mozambique to use new techniques to help tackle the AIDS epidemic in their homeland. Their three month training program at MDC culminated with a special graduation ceremony and dinner in December. The students in this program hold bachelor’s degrees in biology and related science disciplines and work professionally at hospitals within the Mozambique Ministry of Health. More of these programs are envisioned thanks to the agreement between MDC and APHL.



The Martin Memorial Emergency Center at St. Lucie West, an off-site emergency department that is scheduled to open in fall 2009, will meet the critical medical services shortage currently facing residents of west Port St. Lucie by bringing them timely emergency care. The center will be located at the health system’s current facility at St. Lucie West and Martin Memorial recently held a groundbreaking ceremony initiating the renovations for the project.

Martin Memorial’s St. Lucie West facility will be renovated to meet state standards for emergency departments. The facility already features ancillary services such as CT and MRI capability, as well as other diagnostic technologies, which will make the transition more convenient and less expensive.

The 9,100-square foot emergency center will feature 12 beds and provide a wide range of care.



Hector Rodriguez-Cortes, M.D., a physician at Broward Health Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, recently passed the Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care boards. He continues to be actively involved in the development of the Barbara Ziegler Pediatric Palliative Care Program at Chris Evert Children’s Hospital.

Rodriguez-Cortes earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico and his medical training at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. After graduating, he completed his residency in pediatrics at the University Children’s Hospital in Puerto Rico. His fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology was conducted at the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Dr. Rodriguez-Cortes is also board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology and oncology.



Information technology expert and globally experienced business executive Shubho Chatterjee, Ph.D., has been named chief information officer of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital at Douglas Gardens (MJHH). Dr. Chatterjee brings an accomplished educational and business background to MJHH, including management positions with multiple Fortune 500 companies and companies with operations on numerous continents.

Most recently he served as chief information officer and vice president of New York city-based Inventurus Knowledge Solutions. He has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed journal publications and earned numerous awards, including the International Data Group’s Cache Innovation Award, Quest Diagnostics’ Marketing Innovation Award and Bell Laboratories’ Advanced Technologies Excellence Award.



Florida Medical Center, is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Robin Simon to the staff.

Dr. Simon received her medical degree from Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa and interned with Oakland General Hospital in Michigan. Her fellowship in post-traumatic reconstruction and limb reconstruction was completed at Texas Orthopedic Hospital in Houston, TX. She completed her residency with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to joining Florida Medical Center, Dr. Simon spent 10 years in clinical practice in Hollywood and Aventura, FL.