Growing Palm Beach Medicine

Miller School at FAU
Welcomes First Residents

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University welcomed its first class of 49 residents during a luncheon and news conference at the Atlantis Golf Club.

In fulfillment of a three-year planning and approval process, the inaugural group officially began training at JFK Medical Center and the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center on June 30. Representatives from the program’s leadership team welcomed them with enthusiasm and high hopes.

“We are here to celebrate and to think about what it took to make this happen,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School, after prompting the room to give the new residents a standing ovation. “It took HCA, a for-profit corporation, the University of Miami, a private, nonprofit organization, Florida Atlantic University, a state university, as well as the wonderful West Palm Beach VA. This is the best coalition you could dream of to put together a residency program.”

Jeanette Mladenovic, M.D., senior associate dean for graduate medical education at the Miller School’s Miami and FAU campuses, explained that residencies were originally created to support the hospital staff, but this program will focus heavily on education, offering mentorship opportunities with attending physicians, training in patient safety and hospital epidemiology, and access to new tools, like handheld ultrasound, that will improve patient care.

“We believe you will be trailblazers,” Mladenovic said. “This program is the first residency class for the Miller School at FAU, the largest new residency program ever started in the country, and it is committed to education alone.”

First-year resident Jimmy Fernandez, M.D., was drawn to the program because of this focus. “This program’s approach to education differs greatly from others,” he said. “We’ll have direct contact with attending physicians who have been working in the field for 20 years, rather than learning from second- and third-year residents. It’s going to help us formulate how we’ll conduct our practice in the future.”

Research shows that physicians are more likely to stay in the area where they do their residency, and the creation of new residency programs is crucial to solving the physician shortage in Florida. In the coming years, additional UM residency programs in Palm Beach County are expected to include general surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

“We are committed to creating 200 to 300 residency positions, and we hope these residents will stay in Palm Beach County to practice medicine,” said Stuart Markowitz, M.D., professor and assistant dean for medical student affairs at FAU.

On June 16 and July 1, 365 new residents who will receive their training at Jackson Memorial Hospital were welcomed to the Miller School campus at daylong orientations. Dean Goldschmidt addressed the group, saying, “We want you to be thinking of ways to advance research and quality of care, and we’re here to support you.”