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Gershwin Blyden, MD, PhD, FCP, FACP, is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist and medical director of The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, with locations in Homestead, Orlando, Lakeland, Jacksonville, Belle Glade, Tallahassee, and Hollywood, Florida. With more than 40 years of diverse experience, Dr. Blyden is an esteemed physician in his field.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in plant science from the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1967, Dr. Blyden earned a PhD in pharmacology from prestigious Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1976. Just three years later, he also earned his medical doctorate cum laude from Yale University.

In 1985, Dr. Blyden completed an internal medicine internship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. That same year, he also finished his hematology/oncology and clinical pharmacology fellowship at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. 

After graduating and completing his training, Dr. Blyden worked as an adjunct professor for the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami Shores, Florida, an associate clinical professor of hematology and oncology at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida, and as an associate professor of clinical pharmacy and director of the Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit at Florida A&M University’s Miami location.

Today, Dr. Blyden is a leader in the field of sickle cell treatment, case management, and research. He provides comprehensive care for chronic diseases, with a special emphasis on sickle cell anemia. 

Dr. Blyden offers a variety of infusion services, school individualized education program (IEP) support, transcranial Doppler ultrasounds, and more.

Dr. Kennessa Hugger is a physician serving patients across FSCDR’s North Florida locations, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Panama City. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals living with sickle cell disease, with a focus on improving health outcomes through education, prevention, and comprehensive treatment support. Dr. Hugger is committed to ensuring patients throughout North Florida have access to quality care and resources close to home.

Dr. Ronoel Penalver is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician serving patients at FSCDR’s Hollywood, Florida location. He provides comprehensive care focused on prevention, chronic disease management, and improving long-term health outcomes for individuals living with sickle cell disease.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Penalver contributes to clinical research efforts that support the advancement of treatment options and patient care. He is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care while helping expand access to innovative therapies and medical resources for the communities FSCDR serves.

About Us

The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research (FSCDR) is a renowned organization solely focused on medical care and clinical research opportunities for those living with Sickle Cell Disease. FSCDR has locations across the State of Florida. Its Flagship is in Hollywood, Florida.

As the only organization in the United States with standalone sickle cell Centers of Excellence, The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research welcomes patients from all over the world. The team of physicians, specialists, care coordinators, case managers, and social work professionals combine to provide all-inclusive care for children and adults with sickle cell disease.

Their stated mission is to tirelessly research, inform, hear, respect, treat, and support all individuals with sickle cell disease, and to make the disease a livable, non-threatening condition. In addition, they do innovative diagnostic testing, such as transcranial Doppler ultrasounds, X-rays, and medical treatments, including infusion services.

The team at The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research works with other medical and education professionals to ensure that their patients of all ages receive the care and support they need to thrive, ranging from vaccinations to medication management and social work services.

Along with school individualized educational plan (IEP) support, disability application assistance, and case management, they help patients work through the social determinants of health to ensure patients receive the proper support they need.

To schedule an appointment with The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, call or book online today.

Ms. Sutrah Joseph is a dedicated physician assistant based in Boca Raton, FL. She practices at Sasson Moulavi/Rofe Medical, and her primary supervising physician is Peter Harvey.

Ms. Joseph is skilled in evaluating and treating diverse acute and chronic conditions. She is devoted to a holistic, patient-centered approach. Patients trust her expertise because she consistently delivers top-quality care that leads to positive and lasting health outcomes.

Ms. Joseph graduated from Florida International University with a master's degree in physician assistant studies. She exhibits her passion for medicine in the care and precision she takes with patients. 

Anthony Shydohub, MD, is a Neurologist specializing in neurophysiology/epilepsy.  He received his medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean.  Dr. Shydohub completed neurology residency at the University of South Alabama. 

 Following residency, Dr. Shydohub completed his Neurophysiology Fellowship at the University of University of New Mexico.  He is trained in electromyography (EMG) and specializes in treating patients with neuromuscular diseases.

 Dr. Shydohub is accepting both new and established patients at The Neurology Institute.  He looks forward to providing you with the highest level of care possible.

Joelle Estrada, MD, is a dedicated Board Certified internal medicine physician with nearly two decades in practice. At AssociatesMD, Dr. Estrada provides patient-centered internal medicine in the Weston, Florida, office. 

Dr. Estrada was born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Paraguay. She earned her medical degree at Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Asunción, Paraguay. 

Dr. Estrada completed her three-year internal medicine residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She stays up-to-date with her medical education to make sure her patients always receive optimal care.

Her focus is preventive care with a holistic, whole-patient approach. Dr. Estrada seeks to keep her patients healthy by combining body, mind, and soul, allowing them to enjoy the best possible quality of life. 

In her free time, Dr. Estrada’s favorite hobbies are watching her son play soccer, spending time with loved ones, and helping her children grow into happy and thoughtful people who respect others. 

Dr. Estrada is currently seeing patients in the Weston AssociatesMD office. 

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Dr. Denise Dvorquez earned her medical degree from the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador in 2007. She began her medical career as a primary care physician in the Galápagos Islands, where she served the local community for one year. Driven by a passion for public health, she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship and completed a master's degree in public health at Johns Hopkins University.

Following her graduate studies, Dr. Dvorquez returned to Ecuador to teach at her alma mater before relocating to the United States to pursue her residency in Internal Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. She is board certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and also holds certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Dr. Dvorquez has since practiced primary care in both Washington State and California, with a strong commitment to preventive care and chronic disease management. Outside of medicine, she enjoys the ocean, outdoor adventures, and camping. She values quality time with her son and loves playing soccer with him. Dr. Dvorquez is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Amanda Berg, MD, is a skilled, board-certified internist at AssociatesMD in Plantation, Florida.

Originally from Michigan, Dr. Berg completed medical school in Detroit at Wayne State University, then moved to New Orleans for her intern year at Tulane. After Hurricane Katrina, she returned to Detroit and finished her residency training at the Detroit Medical Center. Following her training, she followed the rest of her family to Florida for the sun and warm weather.

Dr. Berg is passionate about metabolic syndrome, including elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, often working closely with patients on diet and nutrition to help improve these medical conditions. She has been practicing medicine for over 10 years and feels comfortable treating many medical problems. She will go out of her way to ensure her patients always get 100% of her attention, and she treats every patient like family.

Dr. Berg lives with her three sons and husband. When not at work, you can find her traveling, exercising, and chasing her kids around.

Deborah Kuiper-Tomas, PA-C, is a Certified Physician Assistant specializing in Family Medicine, Primary Care, Geriatrics, and Dietetic Technology. Deborah also goes by Debi and sees patients at the multi-specialty medical group’s office in Davie, Florida.

Debi completed a Physician Assistant (PA) degree as well as a degree in Dietetic Technology from Miami Dade College located in Miami, Florida, followed by her Master's Degree in Medical Science from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Davie.

She has taken multiple courses in plant-based nutrition, including the T. Colin Campbell Plant-Based Nutrition Course at Cornell University certificate program. 

She is Board-Certified by The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Debi has years of experience with the geriatric population in various nursing home settings. She also has an extensive background in nutrition and diabetic education and has taught diabetes education classes in the Davie and Miami communities.

She is a big proponent of lifestyle changes and plant-based diets for the best health. She loves working with patients as a team to help them achieve the best health goals possible.

Debi also enjoys spending time with her family and playing music. You can find her vegan blog on Instagram and Facebook – @plantpoweredpa.

Danie Citerme, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a diverse clinical background in internal medicine, women’s health, behavioral health, and acute care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida A&M University.

Danie has experience providing comprehensive care in both outpatient and inpatient settings, including managing complex chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and HIV, as well as addressing acute medical needs in psychiatric populations. Her clinical approach emphasizes patient-centered, compassionate care, with a strong focus on collaboration and continuity across multidisciplinary teams.

In addition to her internal medicine experience, Danie has a background in women’s health, where she provided preventive care, contraceptive management, and gynecologic services. Her earlier career included roles in emergency, telemetry, and medical-surgical units, further strengthening her ability to care for patients with a wide range of medical needs.

Danie is bilingual in English and Haitian Creole, allowing her to effectively connect with and serve a diverse patient population. She is dedicated to building meaningful patient relationships and supporting individuals in achieving optimal health outcomes.

Languages Spoken:  English, Creole 

Laura J. Peralta, DO, is a board-certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with more than 30 years of experience. As a family medicine provider, Dr. Peralta provides outstanding patient-focused care for adolescents and adults at AssociatesMD in Weston, Florida.    

Dr. Peralta grew up in South Florida and graduated from McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida. She earned her nursing degree at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and then returned to her home state of Florida to work as an emergency room nurse before starting medical school.  

Dr. Peralta earned her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine in Davie, Florida. She’s an active member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA).    

She is currently treating patients in the Weston, Florida, office at AssociatesMD, and welcomes patients to make telemedicine appointments.