Jackson Health Systems

Jackson North Medical Center

The 382-bed acute care center in North Miami will serve as the College of Medicine's major public teaching hospital. FIU students will begin interacting with Jackson patients when the first class of students enters its third year of medical school.

FIU clinical faculty has already begun providing care at the hospital.

Jackson North is part of the Jackson Health System and provides a variety of services including 24-hour adult and pediatric emergency care, maternity, orthopedics, surgery, psychiatry and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Jackson Health System has been involved in graduate medical education (GME) since 1922.

Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Based in Miami Beach, the four-campus Mt. Sinai Medical Center is South Florida's largest independent, non-profit teaching hospital. It has more than 700 physicians and 955 licensed beds with a state-of-the-art cancer center, the state's largest memory disorder center and a comprehensive cardiac program. Mt. Sinai Medical Center has 160 graduate medical education (GME) physicians.

In 2008, Mt. Sinai Medical Center was named among the nation's top hospitals for geriatric care, neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" issue. It was the second consecutive year Mt. Sinai was recognized for geriatric care.

Miami Children's Hospital

With a medical staff of more than 650 physicians in more than 40 pediatric specialties and subspecialties, Miami Children's Hospital is a recognized leader in pediatric health care. It is home to Florida's only free-standing pediatric trauma center and the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States. Each year, the hospital provides training for 69 pediatric residents and 17 subspecialty fellows. The agreement between FIU and Miami Children's adds an undergraduate dimension to the already-existing educational program.

In 2009, Miami Children's was the only Florida hospital to be included in Parents magazine's listing of the nation's "Best Children's Hospitals." And last year, Miami Children's Hospital programs were ranked among the best in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Children's Hospitals" issue.

The programs that were recognized in the listing include cardiology/cardiovascular surgery, neonatology and neurology/neurosurgery.

Mercy Hospital

A 473-bed acute care hospital, Mercy is affiliated with more than 700 physicians in 27 medical specialties. Its Centers of Excellence include The Heart Center, the Miami Cancer Center, the Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute and the Orthopedic Institute. In 2007, Mercy Hospital opened a newly expanded, state-of-the-art, $25 million emergency facility.

Mercy is South Florida's only Catholic hospital and has a longstanding reputation for health care excellence. It has been recognized twice by J.D. Power and Associates for providing outstanding patient experience. Mercy is also a recipient of the prestigious Magnet award for nursing excellence and HealthGrades' Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award.

Baptist Health South Florida

Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine has signed an affiliation agreement with Baptist Health South Florida, the first FIU medical school partnership that will increase the number of medical residencies available in South Florida.

"All of South Florida's medical students will benefit from increased residency programs," said Dr. John Rock, founding dean of the Wertheim College of Medicine. "And South Florida will benefit since research shows that 70 percent of doctors remain in the communities where they do their residencies."

As part of the formal academic affiliation, Baptist Health and FIU will develop an accredited family practice residency program at West Kendall Baptist Hospital, which is currently under construction. The Wertheim College of Medicine's mission to improve health care in South Florida includes developing residency programs in the area. Baptist also will work with FIU to provide its medical students with opportunities for clinical rotations at Baptist Health.

"We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Baptist and are pleased to cement it through this agreement," Rock said. "Baptist is a leader in health care and their long tradition of healing in our community will enhance our mission of educating socially aware and responsive physicians who will practice medicine in a compassionate and comprehensive manner."