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 The University of Miami Health System has filled two critical roles in its mission to advance health care in South Florida.

Michael Barron, M.D., professor of clinical anesthesiology, has been named the permanent chief medical officer (CMO) of the University of Miami Health System, a position he has filled since he was named interim chief in May. Gustavo Fernandez, M.D., M.B.A., has been named chief medical officer of The Lennar Foundation Medical Center, the University of Miami Health System’s new state-of-the-art facility, which opened on the University’s Coral Gables campus December 5.
 
Barron has a strong history of leadership roles, including most recently as CMO of the University of Miami Medical Group – a position he will continue to fill – medical director of perioperative services at Jackson Memorial Hospital, cardiothoracic anesthesiology division chief for 17 years, and an organizational leader of the University-wide transformation initiative that focuses on process improvement.
 
In this role, Barron brings a focused approach to innovate new methods that keep pace with the technological advances taking place in medicine. As CMO of the entire health system, he will continue to work closely with staff, department leaders and physicians as the University of Miami Health System is transformed into a single academic medical center that provides a value-based model at each of its facilities.
 
Similarly, Fernandez is not only a veteran faculty member of the Miller School of Medicine, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology since 2001, he has demonstrated immense success on the business side of medical care, taking on increasingly demanding administrative roles that have earned him statewide peer recognition and awards.
As chief medical officer, Fernandez will oversee all medical services at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center, manage regulatory requirements and work to improve numerous processes that directly impact the patient experience – such as reducing patient wait times, promoting quality and managing clinical services – all key elements of care at that facility as the health system focuses on the human experience as a paramount element in clinical care. He starts his new position January 4.
Fernandez earned an executive M.B.A. degree with a specialization in Health Sector Management and Policy from the University of Miami, and has also received Six Sigma Black Belt certification, the highest level achievable in the Lean Six Sigma culture. This combined experience and education make him a perfect fit in the leadership team established at The Lennar Center, joining Ben Riestra, chief administrative officer.
“We are thrilled to make Dr. Barron a permanent member of the leadership team for the health care enterprise and to add Dr. Fernandez to the leadership team at The Lennar Center,” said Thinh Tran, M.D., M.B.A., chief clinical officer and chief operating officer of UHealth. “With those two key positions filled, we are poised to make great strides to meet the needs of both our caregivers and our patients, paving the way for future success as we build the University of Miami Health System ambulatory enterprise.”