We are excited to provide some updates from HCA Aventura for this amazing Fall season.

HCA Florida Aventura was recently recognized as being #12 on the list of top 15 major teaching hospitals in the United States by Fortune Magazine/PINC AI, as well as an Everest Award. Our hospital (one of the top 250 in the US by Healthgrades) continues its efforts in supporting the GME programs and resident education, with the creation of an in-house state-of-the-art high fidelity Simulation center, to be completed in 2024. Our trauma center was recognized by the American College of Surgeons as a level II trauma center in June 2022 with NO Deficiencies.

We wanted to welcome our newest faculty members since the last update: Dr. Alexandra Calderon, Dr. Abhishek Roka (CDEM), and Dr. Alexander Scumpia. Dr. Roka is dual fellowship trained in Global Health and Emergency Ultrasound. This adds to our already robust, fellowship trained faculty that include Ultrasound (3), Medical Toxicology, Medical Simulation, Critical Care, Sports Medicine, Neuro Critical Care, Palliative Care, Wilderness Medicine, Austere Medicine and EMS, providing our residents with excellent education.

Additionally, our faculty hold numerous national positions and awards. Dr. Pennardt, who is currently the CMO at FEMA, has been awarded The Secretary’s Meritorious Silver Medal by the Department of Homeland Security for his efforts in the FEMA Peer Support Program.  Dr. Todd Slesinger, our Program Director, was elected President-Elect of FCEP in 2023. Dr. William Jaquis is the Past President of ACEP.

Dr. Jessica Cook, was recently recognized for her dedication and expertise and was promoted to Simulation Division Director for the entire HCA East Florida Division.  Congratulations!

Our PGY-1 class kicked off their first year in Bonita Springs, at SBS23, for a weekend of education, bonding and wellness. They hit the ground running and have been excelling in the department and throughout the hospital on their rotations.

Class of 2026 at SBS23

Our residents and faculty continue to publish and present scholarly activity, with our current total of 163 PubMed ID papers since the inception of the program in 2016, with 23 in the 2022-23 academic year!

Some research highlights: Residents Dr. Kristina Hart and Dr. Elise Clark with faculty member Dr. Erin Marra, won first place for their poster on the effect of language spoken and CT utilization in the emergency department at the 2023 EIM National Conference.

Dr. Erin Marra and resident Dr. Glenn Goodwin published a timely article entitled: A national analysis of ED presentations for early pregnancy and complications: Implications for post-Roe America in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Alison Clark, Dr. Peyton Lampley and Dr. Vu Tran published an article in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine that outlines a novel way to diagnose tension hydrothorax via ultrasound.

Chief-Resident Dr. Towsend Reeves alongside faculty member Dr. Laurence Dubensky won first place at the AAEM 2023 Scientific Assembly EUS Poster Competition.

Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2023: 

 Allison Clark, MD

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Ultrasound Fellowship

 Kevin Fan, MD

Locums, Florida

 Glenn Goodwin, DO

HCA Florida Aventura, Aventura FL (Academic)

Lara Goldstein, MD

Memorial Healthcare, Hollywood, FL (Academic)

Iman Isayli, DO

HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, Coral Gables, FL

Peyton Lampley, DO

HCA Florida Northside, St. Petersburg, FL

Charles Latimore, MD

HCA Florida Westside Hospital, Plantation, FL

Bruno Moraes, DO

HCA Florida University Hospital, Davie, FL

Umar Rashid, DO

Oschner Health System, New Orleans, LA

Rodney Owen, MD

Ojai Valley COmmunity Hospital, Ojai, CA

Kody Sacks-Moynihan, MD

Methodist Hospital, Sacramento, CA

Matthew Sorensen DO

University of Alabama at Birmingham – Anesthesia Critical Care Fellowship

Class of 2023

Congratulations to the Incoming Class of 2026:

Taylor N. Craig, MD

Medical School of Wisconsin

 Akua Graf, MD

University of Illinois of Chicago College of Medicine

 SouhilJaafil, MD

St. George’s University School of Medicine

 Petar H. Jen, DO

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Kiveum Kim, DO

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn

 Harjeev S. Lahill, MD

St. George’s University School of Medicine

 Benjamin T. Leicht, DO

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Kashan Mahmood, DO

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn

 Adam D. Pearl, MD

Wayne State University School of Medicine

 TargolTarahomi, DO

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Janell Wright, DO

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine New York

 Henry Yelkin, DO

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Follow us on Instagram: @aventuraemergencymed

Starting the new academic year!