In a bustling neurology ward at Baptist Health Baptist Hospital in Miami, Carlos Lezcano, M.D. ’25 begins his day as a first-year resident. A Miami native and recent graduate of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Lezcano is part of a new wave of physicians training under a groundbreaking partnership between FIU and Baptist Health South Florida. Launched in 2024, this alliance is addressing Florida’s looming physician shortage while strengthening medical education and patient care.
For Lezcano, the opportunity to train in his hometown is personal. “I grew up watching my grandfather struggle with Parkinson’s disease,” he says. “It drove me to neurology and to stay in Miami to help my community.”
This partnership is more than a training ground for doctors like Lezcano. It’s a strategic response to a critical health care challenge, combining FIU’s academic excellence with Baptist Health’s clinical expertise to produce physicians who are skilled, compassionate and likely to stay in South Florida.
Through expanded graduate medical education (GME) programs, innovative clinical collaborations and a focus on community health, the FIU-Baptist Health alliance is transforming the region’s health care landscape.
Growing Health Care Crisis
Florida faces a dire physician shortage, with a projected deficit of 18,000 doctors by 2035. South Florida, with its rapidly growing and aging population, is particularly hard-hit. Twenty percent of the state’s physicians are nearing retirement, and demand for primary care and specialties like neurology, internal medicine and general surgery is outpacing supply. The result: longer wait times, strained health care systems and limited access to care, especially in poorer communities.
The FIU-Baptist Health partnership directly addresses this crisis by expanding GME programs, which are critical for training physicians who tend to practice where they train. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 57.1% of physicians who completed residency in Florida between 2013 and 2022 stayed in the state, with nearly 80% remaining if they also attended medical school locally. By focusing on local training, the partnership aims to build a sustainable health care workforce for South Florida.
New Era for Graduate Medical Education
FIU is now the official sponsoring institution for all joint FIU-Baptist Health GME programs, overseeing a suite of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)- accredited residencies and fellowships. Residents and fellows train across Baptist Health’s network, including Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital, West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Doctors Hospital. Baptist Hospital is on track to become a statutory teaching hospital, a designation that will expand its capacity for medical education, clinical research and advanced patient care.
In July 2025, the partnership launched nine residency and fellowship programs, welcoming 68 trainees from medical schools nationwide. New programs include residencies in internal medicine, neurology and general surgery, with diagnostic radiology and urology residencies set to begin in July 2026. Five existing Baptist Health programs—residencies in family medicine and interventional radiology, and fellowships in primary care sports medicine, orthopedic sports medicine and orthopedic hand surgery—have transitioned under the FIU-Baptist Health umbrella.
Over the next five years, the alliance plans to grow to approximately 350 residents and fellows, with a goal of establishing at least 24 programs targeting specialties with significant shortages.
“This is a very important investment in the growth of young physicians and the health of our community...by training other physicians, I can eventually be helping thousands of patients.”
— Dr. Diego Torres-Russotto FIU/Baptist Health Neurology Residency Program Director
“This partnership is a major step toward training more doctors for South Florida,” says Dr. Juan C. Cendan, dean of FIU Medicine and senior vice president for Health Affairs at FIU. “We’re combining Baptist Health’s high-quality clinical care with FIU’s academic standards to produce physicians who will serve our community effectively.”
Local Commitment
Lezcano’s story illustrates the partnership’s impact. He is training under Dr. Diego Torres-Russotto, chair of neurology and distinguished endowed chair in neurology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, and program director of the FIU/ Baptist Health Neurology Residency, who emphasizes the broader impact of medical education.
“This is a very important investment in the growth of young physicians and the health of our community,” Torres-Russotto says. “When I’m in my clinic, I am helping one, two or three patients at a time. But by training other physicians, I can eventually be helping thousands of patients.”
Lezcano values the opportunity to train in Miami. “Staying close to my family and community while starting my career is a privilege,” he says.
His commitment mirrors that of other residents, like Dr. Maria Jacome Llovera, who also chose neurology due to a family member’s neurological condition.
“I know firsthand what it is to deal with the complexity of a neurological disease,” she says. “I’m feeling very excited and grateful to be here. It’s a great institution that offers the best care to patients, and I’m excited for all the things I’m going to learn.”
The neurology residency, based at Baptist Hospital and Miami Neuroscience Institute, equips residents with skills to treat complex conditions like stroke, epilepsy and movement disorders, addressing a critical need in South Florida’s aging population. The General Surgery Residency, led by Dr. Christopher Senkowski, is equally focused on producing skilled, community-oriented physicians.
Dr. Sudhagar Thangarasu appointed Designated Institutional Official
Dr. Sudhagar Thangarasu, appointed in 2025 as the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, brings a lifelong passion for teaching to his leadership role.
“Training the next generation of physicians is about more than medicine—it’s about creating a lasting impact on our community by delivering compassionate, high quality care to every patient,” Dr. Thangarasu says.
As DIO, Thangarasu bridges FIU’s academic credentials with Baptist Health’s clinical expertise, ensuring robust training programs that address regional health care needs.
“Surgery is very competitive. I wanted an eclectic group of excellent, caring surgeons who want to stay in South Florida,” he says. “I want them to be academic leaders one day, chairs of departments, the best surgeons. We have a wonderful team. The potential is tremendous.”
The Internal Medicine Residency is the largest of the programs. Led by Dr. Seema Chandra, it emphasizes patient-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing residents to meet the region’s diverse health care needs.
Program Director Dr. Seema Chandra (left foreground) leads internal medicine residents as they begin their first day of training.
Clinical Collaboration Advancing Care, Innovation
Beyond GME, the FIU-Baptist Health partnership is driving clinical innovation.
A key milestone is the joint recruitment of Dr. Makoto Hashimoto, an internationally renowned cardiac surgeon, as a professor and director of robotic cardiac surgery at FIU Medicine. Since December 2024, Hashimoto has been treating patients at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and performing surgeries at Baptist Hospital and South Miami Hospital.
His expertise in robotic and minimally invasive cardiac procedures offers patients faster recovery times and better outcomes compared to traditional open-heart surgery.
“His skills in robotic surgery will transform cardiac care here,” says Dr. Tom C. Nguyen, chief medical executive of Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at FIU Medicine.
Baptist Hospital’s path to becoming a statutory teaching hospital is another critical component of the clinical collaboration. This status will enhance opportunities for medical education, research and patient care.
“This is a significant step forward,” says Bo Boulenger, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “It will allow us to expand training, conduct innovative research and improve health outcomes for our community.”
The partnership also integrates FIU Health, the College of Medicine’s clinical faculty group practice, with the Baptist Health Medical Group as of July 2025. This move streamlines clinical operations and enhances access to primary and specialized care at the FIU Health clinic on campus.
While FIU Health supports community health initiatives, the broader clinical collaboration leverages Baptist Health’s extensive network to deliver high-quality care across South Florida.
Looking Ahead: A Pipeline of Progress
The FIU-Baptist Health alliance is strategically designed to address South Florida’s physician shortage by training doctors in high-demand specialties. The new residencies in internal medicine, neurology and general surgery target areas with significant health care gaps. For example, the Internal Medicine Residency prepares physicians to handle the complex needs of Miami’s population, while the Neurology Residency addresses the growing demand for specialists to treat aging-related conditions. The General Surgery Residency aims to produce surgeons who will stay and practice in the region, reducing the shortage of surgical expertise.
The partnership’s focus on local training is key. Physicians who train in South Florida are more likely to stay, ensuring a steady supply of doctors who understand the region’s cultural and health care needs.
“We’re building a workforce that’s invested in this community,” Chandra says. “Our residents are learning to deliver care that’s both clinically excellent and culturally competent.”
The FIU-Baptist Health partnership is already planning for the future. With a goal of establishing at least 24 GME programs, the alliance is exploring specialties like cardiology and oncology to address ongoing shortages. The Diagnostic Radiology Residency, set to launch in July 2026, will enhance the region’s capacity for advanced imaging, a critical tool in modern diagnostics.
A planned 163,000-square-foot medical center on FIU’s main campus, funded by a $160 million state appropriation and operated by Baptist Health, will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary education and clinical services, further expanding the partnership’s reach.
The alliance also supports community health through initiatives like the Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP program, which provides free primary care and behavioral health services in the community. While FIU Health plays a role in these efforts, the partnership’s broader clinical network ensures that residents across Miami-Dade County have access to quality care.
Lasting Impact
Back in the neurology ward, Lezcano reflects on his first weeks as a resident.
“Every day is a chance to learn and make a difference,” he says. His journey embodies the promise of the FIU-Baptist Health partnership: to train physicians who are skilled, compassionate and committed to their community.
As the alliance grows, with new programs in the pipeline and Baptist Hospital poised to become a statutory teaching hospital, its impact will be felt for generations. By addressing the physician shortage, advancing clinical care and fostering medical education, FIU and Baptist Health are building a healthier South Florida. For patients, physicians and the community, this partnership is a commitment to a brighter future—one where quality care is within reach for all.