Pulmonologist Ruben D. Penaranda, MD, has been named chief of staff for Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Penaranda succeeds outgoing chief of staff Percy W. Aitken, MD.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Penaranda served a two-year term as vice chief of staff at Doctors Hospital. He also has held the role of secretary-treasurer. In addition to serving as a member of the board of directors, Dr. Penaranda is the director of Respiratory Services and director of Critical Care at Doctors Hospital.
Dr. Penaranda is Board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed residencies and fellowships in pulmonary and critical care medicine and neurological intensive care at the University of Miami – Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Maryland – Baltimore Veterans Administration Hospital. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Physicians.
Joining Dr. Penaranda as officers on the Doctors Hospital medical executive committee is infectious disease specialist Richard L. Levine, MD, who was elected vice chief of staff, and anesthesiologist José J. Dávila, MD, who was elected secretary-treasurer.
Dr. Levine is Board-certified in infectious disease. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College in New York. He completed his residency at the University of Massachusetts – Berkshire Medical Center and a fellowship in infectious disease at the University of Miami – Jackson Memorial Hospital. He has received numerous honors, including recognition on such prestigious lists as Castle Connolly Top Doctors Florida and U.S. News & World Report Top Infectious Disease Doctors.
In addition to serving on the medical executive committee, Dr. Dávila serves as medical director of Anesthesiology at Doctors Hospital. He earned his medical degree at Columbia University. He completed his residency at Temple University Hospital and a CYA-3 fellowship in pediatric anesthesia at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. He is Board-certified in anesthesiology and is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology.
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Doctors Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties.
