The Key Biscayne Community Foundation, in partnership with the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU Medicine), has presented the 2026 Robert Kemper Award for Professionalism in Medicine to fourth-year medical students Joel Mantilla and Rima Avellan.
The award honors the legacy of Dr. Robert Kemper, a beloved Key Biscayne physician who died from cancer in 2011 and recognizes graduating students who reflect his values of professionalism, empathy and service—and who lead with integrity among their peers.
Mantilla has long been motivated by a desire to improve how patients experience care. Before medical school, he led quality improvement initiatives at a large primary care practice and advised physicians on value-based care and population health. At FIU Medicine, he continued that work through research and leadership, earning induction into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. In 2025, he was named Florida Medical Student of the Year by the American College of Physicians.
After graduation, Mantilla will continue his training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, one of the nation’s most prestigious teaching hospitals-- a reflection of his exceptional academic and clinical achievements. He plans to pursue a career in cardiology.
Avellan, a licensed physical therapist, was drawn to medicine to better understand the human body and provide more comprehensive patient care. At FIU Medicine, she has been deeply involved in research, leadership and community engagement. She is also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
A wife, mother of three and founder of a women-only fitness bootcamp, Avellan balanced the rigors of medical school with family life and entrepreneurship—an achievement that speaks to her discipline, determination and heart for service.
She will continue her medical training in pathology at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System.
The Key Biscayne Community Foundation underwrites the award, made possible by the generosity of Dr. Kemper’s grateful patients, friends, and family, ensuring his legacy continues through future generations of compassionate physicians.
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