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The Brodes H. Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center continues to carry on its legacy of training the next generation of health care providers in South Florida.
“As the first teaching health center in Florida, we are committed to continue building better clinicians with diverse experiences ready to provide high-quality service,” said Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Academic Officer at CHI.
In 2014, CHI made headlines for becoming the first Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) designated teaching health center in Florida. Currently, the Brodes H. Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center at Community Health of South Florida Inc. has a total of 27 residents training in the following areas: family medicine and psychiatry.
“Our residents are constantly working in an always-busy environment. They are provided real-life settings in which they have to utilize their skills to provide the best services to the South Florida community,” said Dr. Amofah.
CHI leadership voted to name the program after their CEO, Brodes H. Hartley Jr., for his dedication to teaching, mentoring, and training the next generation of health care professionals. Hartley had the idea to create the teaching health center at CHI in response to nationwide forecasts of physician shortages.
“During CHI’s 50th anniversary, I especially want to recognize Colonel Hartley’s dedication and devotion to our future generation of health care providers,” said Dr. Amofah. “Without his legacy, we wouldn’t be what we are today.”
Faculty members took Hartley’s vision and ran with it, enhancing the program year by year. While residents will graduate with CHI as their official training site, they also rotate through local hospitals and
with local specialists. Larkin Community Hospital, Jackson South and Jackson North Medical Centers serve as affiliated hospitals. As of 2020, residents have provided medical services to more than 10,000 patients across CHI and its affiliated hospitals.
“Our residents work with a variety of patients. They learn to work with a lot of challenges including non-compliant patients who seek treatment late,” said Dr. Amofah.
The Teaching Health Center at CHI provides residents a community-based setting.
Residents experience beneficial partnerships in the community such as HIV/AIDS and school-based programs as well as have an opportunity to conduct public-based research.
“We help our residents build character. They learn to excel in public speaking as well as provide proactive risk assessment measures that will make an impact in the community,” said Dr. Amofah.
Resident, Dr. Katina Richardson, will graduate in 2023. She said, CHI felt like a great fit and it was ultimately her first choice.
“I was initially drawn to CHI because the program fell in line with my values and goals,” said Dr. Richardson. “CHI provides healthcare in a way that is accessible and easy to navigate. CHI understands that it is essential to keep our communities healthy.”
Dr. Jean Mandat graduated from the program in 2018. He believes it is a privilege for any potential physician to receive their training at CHI.
“During the course of my training at CHI, I met some of the most intelligent, dependable, supportive approachable co-residents, attending physicians and non-clinical staff,” said Dr. Mandat. “All the experiences that I went through and the lives that were touched during my training at CHI, has served to build character. It has been the foundation for my path into independent medical practice.”
As CHI positions itself as one of the top teaching health centers, the competition grows more challenging each year as future providers learn about the value of the programs.
“We want to keep attracting the best residents of the entire country,” said Dr. Amofah. “I am certain that our Teaching Health Center will continue to make many accomplishments in the community.”
Looking ahead to the future, CHI’s vision is that The Brodes H. Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center becomes one of the nation’s premier teaching institutions. It is committed to achieving this by offering unique training experiences, creating knowledgeable and compassionate physicians.
