The University of Miami/HCA Florida JFK Hospital Palm Beach Regional Graduate Medical Education Consortium Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program is led by a team of compassionate healthcare professionals with extensive experience in palliative medicine. The fellows selected work closely with these leaders and faculty to gain valuable knowledge and experience in end-of-life care.

Richard S. Levene, DO, HMDC, FAAFP, FAAHPM

Richard S. Levene, DO, HMDC, FAAFP, FAAHPM

Fellowship Program Director

Director of Medical Education

Trustbridge

Affiliated Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Dr. Levene holds a Bachelor of Science\Biology and Psychology from Syracuse University and attended medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology. He was the Roxane Visiting Scholar in Hospice & Palliative Care at Northwestern Memorial Hospice and Northwestern University Medical School.

Dr. Richard S. Levene is the Director of Medical Education at Trustbridge, where he previously held the positions for VP of Medical Affairs and has been a Hospice Medical Director since 1997. He currently oversees the Medical Education Department and is the Program Director for the Fellowship Program. Dr. Levene is board certified in Family Practice and Hospice & Palliative Medicine; for which he also holds Fellow status in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Vishesh Pathak, DO

Vishesh Pathak, DO

Fellowship Assistant Program Director

Associate Medical Director

Trustbridge

Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Originally from Virginia where I went to college at Virginia Tech. I received my B.S. in Biology with a minor in surviving winters in Blacksburg, VA.  Now I like to consider myself a Florida native.  I attended medical school at NOVA Southeastern and completed my residency and training at UM/JFK. I am passionate about advocating for the elderly, palliative medicine all while debunking Hospice myths. In my spare time I enjoy reading, basketball and all things dogs.

Dr. Vanessa Perez Cardona

Dr. Vanessa Perez Cardona

Associate Medical Director

Starfish Team

I was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. Moved to the US in 2003 and have been in Florida ever since. Attended Boynton Beach High school. Then went on to do my undergrad in Biology/pre-med at Florida Atlantic University. Went to Ross University School of Medicine and graduated in 2016. Completed residency in Internal medicine residency at UM/JFK PBGME 2016-2019 and Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine fellowship 2019-2020. Now I am an associate medical director at Trustbridge.

Faustino Gonzalez, MD, FACP, FAAHPM

Faustino Gonzalez, MD, FACP, FAAHPM

Chief Medical Officer, Hospice

Trustbridge

Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Dr. Faustino Gonzalez is the Chief Medical Officer at Trustbridge. He has previously held the position of VP of Medical Affairs and has been a Hospice Medical Director since 2001. Dr. Gonzalez is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine; for which he also holds Fellow status in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez also holds Fellow status in the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Gonzalez attended Colgate University and the College of the City of New York. He attended medical school at the Universidad Central del Este in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Faculty:

Kate Brazzale, MD, HDMC, FAAFP, FAAHPM
Assistant Medical Director

Barry Miskin, MD, FACS
Assistant Medical Director

Wagas Ghumman, MD, FACC
JFK Heart Failure Medical Director
Clinical Affiliated Assitant Professor of Medicine/University of Miami

Sajid Miraz, MD
Advanced Heart Failure Attending Physician

Julie Formoso-Onofrio, MD, FAAHPM
Resident Site Coordinator
Trustbridge Gerstenberg Inpatient Care Center
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Thomas Abraham, MD
Assistant Medical Director
Trustbridge
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Daniel Mark, MD
Physician Radiation Oncologist
GenesisCare

Ramon Cuevas-Trisan, MD, AAPMR
WPM Veterans Administration Medical Center
Faculty: PM&R/Pain Management

Jose Garcia Negron, MD
WPM Veterans Administration Medical Center
Faculty: PM&R/Pain Management

Carlos Villalba, MD, FACP
Site Coordinator
Bethesda Memorial Hospital Inpatient Unit

Richard Teitzman, DO, HMDC
Assistant Medical Director
Trustbridge
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Etka Solanki, DO
Assistant Medical Director
Trustbridge
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Internal Medicine

Non Physician Faculty:

Barbara Abernathy, PhD
Program Director
Pediatric Oncology Support Team
St. Mary's Medical Center
Faculty: Pediatric Palliative Care

Maura Miller, PhD, GNP-BC, ACHPN, PMH CNS-BC
WPB Veterans Administration Medical Center
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Sandra DiScala, Pharm D, BCPS
WPB Veterans Administration Medical Center
Faculty: Hospice, Palliative Care & Extended Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Susan Koff, MSN, GNP-BC, ACHPN, CRRN (ARNP)
Palliative Care Manager
Trustbridge
Faculty: Hospice & Palliative Medicine/Wound Care

Samantha Quesada, FNP-BC
Trustbridge
Faculty: JFK Inpatient Palliative Care Team/ARNP

April Badala, MSW
Palliative Care Coordinator
JFK Medical Center
Faculty: JFK Inpatient Palliative Care Team/SW

Father Gabriel Ghanoum, PsyD
JFK Medical Center
Faculty: JFK Inpatient Palliative Care Team/SW
Spiritual Care & Bereavement, Palliative Care Education

Michelle Logan, MBA, BSN, RN
Patient Care Director

Rachael Good, RN
Starfish Care Group Manager

Teresa Hagerty, RN
Sunshine Care Group Manager