The Department of Humanities, Health, and Society aims to:
- Graduate clinically skilled physicians who understand and include non-biological factors in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
- Transform primary care and health care delivery through a household-centered approach to health
- Improve the health outcomes of local underserved populations.
We are committed to addressing local communities' health and socioeconomic needs through the award-winning Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP).
The department's core faculty provide services across a spectrum of inpatient, outpatient, and neighborhood settings in South Florida, including FIU Health, local hospitals, mobile health centers, and households. The department's organizational structure promotes teamwork to prepare physicians to practice in the 21st century with three interrelated divisions.
Divisions
Education
HHS supports the HWCOM social accountability mission with educational programs for learners of all ages, including premedical pipeline programs, interprofessional student education, residency training, and faculty development.
Non-biological factors have the most critical impacts on health and the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease experience. The effect of non-biologic factors on health is a primary focus of the Medicine and Society strand of the HWCOM curriculum.
Medicine and Society
The Medicine and Society curriculum highlights ethics, cultural understanding, interprofessional teamwork, and the social determinants of health to prepare learners to be socially accountable, think ethically and critically, and incorporate the non-biological factors in the care of patients and communities.
Medicine and Society include integrated classroom, clinical, and household-based interprofessional activities to educate and train future health professionals. An innovative curricular feature of Medicine and Society is NeighborhoodHELP, where learners receive hands-on experience caring for and delivering services to underserved households.
NeighborhoodHELP
The Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) is the platform for HWCOM's community-engaged mission emphasizing social accountability and interprofessional household-centered care.
Through this program, medical students are immersed in the community as members of interprofessional teams, including nursing, social work students, education, and law students, available per each household's identified needs. During household visits —which continue over three years—students take comprehensive patient and household histories and develop care plans to improve household members' health and quality of life. NeighborhoodHELP mobile health centers provide a broad range of integrated primary, preventive, and behavioral health services and chronic disease management. The Linda Fenner 3D Mobile Mammography Center provides breast health screenings for uninsured and underserved women throughout Miami-Dade County.
Unique to NeighborhoodHELP is a long-term engagement model that builds mutual trust with the target communities. An Outreach Team from the Division of Research, Policy, and Community Development is the vehicle by which NeighborhoodHELP establishes and maintains relationships with the neighborhoods and households served. Outreach workers serve as FIU ambassadors to the community and are the first contact with each neighborhood and household. Outreach workers recruit households for the program, facilitate communication between households and student teams, and broker services for households through an extended network of community organizations.
Humanities, Health, and Society Innovations
We prepare future physicians to collaborate in interprofessional teams to identify and help manage the social determinants of health that can improve health outcomes. Through NeighborhoodHELP, we leverage an extended network of academic and community partnerships to address the health and socioeconomic needs of the community.
We are working to demonstrate the impact of addressing the social determinants of health as an integral component of health care delivery. In recognition of the impact that social determinants of health have at the household level, we describe our approach to care as "household-centered care." This approach addresses and manages the social determinants that impact the health of the members of a household.
HWCOM has been recognized for the department’s innovative approach and programs. Examples are as follows:
- The Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Engagement— The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) selected Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine as one of three national finalists for the award. We were honored to be a finalist for this prestigious recognition. The award is presented annually to an AAMC-member medical school or teaching hospital with a long-standing, significant institutional commitment to partnering with the community it serves to identify and address community needs.
- Beyond Flexner Award — Beyond Flexner Alliance Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Award for Excellence in Social Mission in Health Professions Education – Honored the Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) for Program Excellence in April 2020. The award recognized NeighborhoodHELP for demonstrating national leadership in integrating social accountability and interprofessional education through a service-learning experience in underserved communities.
- The 2018 George E. Thibault, MD NEXUS Award — The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education honored NeighborhoodHELP with the 2018 George E. Thibault, MD NEXUS Award. The award recognizes exemplary interprofessional, team-based practice in the United States. The Nexus award celebrates those who are thinking and acting differently through innovation to connect higher education and health care. The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education recognizes an educational institution, health system, clinic, and/or community organization for extraordinary contributions to transform care delivery, improve health outcomes, and decrease costs.
- Institute of Medicine Report — NeighborhoodHELP is featured in the Institute of Medicine Report: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. A framework for educating health professionals to address the social determinants of health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2016.
- Healthy People 2020— NeighborhoodHELP was recognized on the Healthy People 2020 national website as an example of a local program for stories in Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators? NeighborhoodHELP Engages Underserved Communities to Increase Health Care Access. Healthy People In Action. Stories From the Field.
- Aspire-to-Excellence —The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) has twice recognized HWCOM's unique approach to medical education, which focuses on social accountability and the social determinants of health. In 2019, HWCOM became the first recipient of AMEE’s ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award for Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education. In 2016, HWCOM received the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award in Social Accountability.
- American Medical Association Accelerating Change Consortium — In November 2015, HWCOM was selected as one of 20 U.S. schools to join the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. Together with an original group of 11 schools created in 2013, this national initiative is working to reshape how future physicians are trained and improve health outcomes. As a consortium member, HWCOM shares the transformation strategies of NeighborhoodHELP, including how the program integrates the social determinants of health and interprofessional practice in medical education and healthcare delivery.
- Association of American Medical Colleges Core EPA Pilot— HWCOM is one of ten schools participating in a pilot to develop curricula, assessments, and processes to entrust students to perform professional activities including interprofessional collaboration and informed consent.
- Sapphire Award — NeighborhoodHELP and its mobile health center services were selected as the only winner in the program category of the Florida Blue Foundation's prestigious Sapphire Awards in April 2014. The winning individuals, programs and organizations were selected from more than 100 nominees across the state. Winners were honored for excellence and innovation in nonprofit community health that resulted in a significant, positive impact on health-related outcomes for Florida's at-risk people and communities.
Faculty and staff
Shweta Akhouri, M.D.
Assistant Professor
(305) 348-9171
sakhouri@fiu.edu
AHC2 587Talina Almonor
Program Specialist
305-919-4181
talmonor@fiu.edu
AC1 234Frank W. J. Anderson, M.D., M.P.H
Professor, Department Chair
305-348-9898
fwja@fiu.edu
AHC2 596Frederick W. Anderson, M.D.
Associate Professor; Medical Director
305-348-4840
fwanders@fiu.edu
AHC2 554BTiffany Berkshire, D.O, M.P.H, M.B.A
Assistant Professor
305-348-6536
tberkshi@fiu.edu
AHC2 555Prasad Bhargav Bhoite
Data Scientist
305-348-9138
pbhoite@fiu.edu
AHC1 440Fadoua Belmekki
Manager Patient Client Access
305-348-8452
fbelmekk@fiu.edu
AHC1 435Julia C. Bisschops, M.D., M.Sc
Assistant Professor
305-348-2742
jbisscho@fiu.edu
AHC2 584Shandi R. Brito, MHSA, MMS, PA-C
Instructor
sbrito@fiu.edu
Green Library 475David R. Brown, M.D.
Professor, Chief of the Division of Family and Community [...]
305-348-1476
drbrown@fiu.edu
AHC2 593Catherine B. Busatto, MSPA, PA-C
Physician Assistant
305-348-5614
cbusatto@fiu.edu
Green Library 475Carolina Cardenas
Senior Coordinator Administrative Services
305-348-7673
cacarden@fiu.edu
AHC1 441Myrtha JB. Cherenfant
Program Specialist
305-919-4193
myrjeanb@fiu.edu
AC1 234Rachel Clarke, Ph.D, CHES
NeighborhoodHELP Program Evaluator, Assistant Professor
305-348-9984
rclarke@fiu.edu
AHC2 589AValeria De Los Angeles Raventos
Associate Director Academic Support Services
305-348-2362
vbalmace@fiu.edu
AHC1 442Gabriella Del Rosario Gonzalez
Temporary Program Manager
gabgonza@fiu.eduJaime Franco
Assistant Professor
francoj@fiu.eduHansel Frias
Program Coordinator
305-919-4594
hfrias@fiu.edu
AC1 234Nana Aisha Garba, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
Assistant Course Director for Community Engaged Physician Course; Associate Professor
305-348-7922
ngarba@fiu.edu
AHC2 589BDollie Denise Florence Green, M.D.
Associate Professor
305-348-7975
dogreen@fiu.edu
AHC2 558Alialy Guillaume
Program Manager
305-348-6150
alguilla@fiu.edu
AHC1 438Suzanne Caroline Hadeed-Garcia, MHSc, PA-C, RT(N)(CT)
Director of Clinical Education; and Assistant Professor
305-348-1951
shadeedg@fiu.edu
MARC 238BZeidan Hammad
Associate Professor
305-348-2449
zhammad@fiu.edu
AHC2 554Zipporah Hayes
Program Specialist
305-919-4594
zhayes@fiu.edu
AC1 234Annette C. Hungler
Program Manager
ahungler@fiu.eduSamuel Hyppolite
Program Manager
305-919-4192
shyppoli@fiu.edu
AC1 234Viviana Alejandra Jacobs
Coordinator Administrative Services
305-348-4339
vijacobs@fiu.edu
AHC1 439Kerland Jacques
Coordinator of Administrative Services
305-919-4182
jacquesk@fiu.edu
AC1 240Emmet Marie Kiliddjian
Chief Administrative Officer
305-348-7740
ekiliddj@fiu.edu
AHC1 439Sophia Lacroix
Assistant Director of Academic Support Services
305-919-4181
slacroix@fiu.edu
KCC 320Onelia G. Lage, M.D.
Professor, Chief of Education and Faculty Development
305-348-4823
olage@fiu.edu
AHC2 590Liana Perez Loughlin
Assistant Professor
305-348-0669
lperezlo@fiu.eduLaura Malespin, MBA
Assistant Director of Finance
305-348-9552
osornol@fiu.edu
AHC2-557BYuriy Maltsev
Paramedic
305-919-4193
ymaltsev@fiu.eduMaria Teresa Martinez
Breast Health Navigator
305-919-4193
mtmartin@fiu.eduIleana C. Molina
Manager Administrative Services
305-348-0669
imolina@fiu.edu
AHC2 584Ingrid Patrice Moss
Program Manager
305-919-4180
imoss@fiu.edu
KCC 324Nancy Napolitano
Program Manager
305-919-4184
nnapolit@fiu.edu
KCC 320Lorraine Amorosi Nowakowski
Clinical Director Operations
305-348-2940
lnowakow@fiu.edu
AHC2 559Virama Oller
Program Director
305-919-4181
violle@fiu.edu
KCC 324Beatrice Ortiz
Sr. Administrative Assistant
305-348-5481
beortiz@fiu.eduAlina M. Perez-Stable
Director Academic Support Services
305-348-0627
apstable@fiu.edu
AHC1 437Silvia M. Pereiro
Senior Executive Assistant
305-348-4554
spereiro@fiu.edu
AHC2 595Maryse Anne Pedoussaut, MD
Associate Professor
305-348-7865
mpedouss@fiu.edu
AHC2 554CJimmy Pertil
Program SpecialistStephanie Pineda
Program Specialist
305-348-4748
spineda@fiu.edu
AHC1 449Andres L. Rodriguez, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Services, Office of Student Affairs; [...]
305-348-9062
androdri@fiu.edu
AHC2 374Paulina Saldarriaga
Program CoordinatorGregory William Schneider, M.D.
Associate Professor
305-348-9166
gschneid@fiu.edu
AHC2 587Sheela Rajiv Shah
Assistant Pofessor
305-919-4193
shshah@fiu.eduMaria Stevens, M.D.
Assistant Professor; Director of Clinical Skills
305-348-6062
masteven@fiu.edu
AHC 473Sarah Stumbar, M.D., MPH
Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Associate Professor
305-348-7973
sstumbar@fiu.edu
AHC2 483Jessica L. Vallejo
Sr. Coordinator of Administrative Services
305-348-8388
jevallej@fiu.eduAnna Jessica Virani
Assistant Professor
305-348-1195
avirani@fiu.edu
AHC2 585Lizzeth Alarcon
Assistant Professor
lalarcon@fiu.eduMichelle Benavides
Patient Client Access Representative
mibenavi@fiu.eduTracy Cassagnol, M.D.
Assistant Professor
tcassagn@fiu.edu
AHC 464Tessa Haspil-Corgan, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-1340
thaspilc@fiu.edu
AHC2 555Lea Sacca, Ph.D., MPH
Postdoctoral Associate
profile@fiu.eduJerae Sharee Evans
Program Specialist
jeevans@fiu.eduFarel Sterlin
Program Specialist
fsterlin@fiu.eduLatonya Shyrika Francis
Program Specialist
lafranci@fiu.eduVanessa Rodriguez
Program specialist
vrodrigu@fiu.eduNataly Pazo
Patient Client Access Rep
npazo@fiu.eduAntoinette Menendez
Program Coordinator
antmenen@fiu.eduChristopher Noble Clark
Data Analyst II
chrclark@fiu.eduLaToya M. Haynes, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C
Assistant Director of Didactic Education and Associate Professor
305-348-9431
lhaynes@fiu.edu
MARC 253