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I am a passionate and dynamic individual who seamlessly integrates an active lifestyle with a fulfilling professional career as a doctor. I am dedicated to promoting health and well-being, and believe I embody the principles that I advocate by staying active and adventurous in my personal life. As an example, I find inspiration in the great outdoors. Hiking is a favorite pastime, offering the perfect escape from a busy schedule. Exploring nature’s beauty through trails and scenic routes fuels my sense of adventure and keeps me grounded. Professionally, I thrive in my role as a doctor, where i find joy in making a difference in people’s lives. I am known for my compassionate and empathetic approach. I take pride in providing care and empowering patients to lead healthier lives. I deeply value the opportunities to share knowledge, give back to the community, and collaborate with colleagues. I bring the same energy, curiosity, and generosity that define every aspect of my life.

Dr. Jason Hechtman is an expert in functional and integrative medicine, specializing in performance optimization, longevity, and ageless living.

Through personalized concierge care, he works with athletes, professionals, and high-performers to help them achieve peak physical and mental performance.  

Dr. Hechtman’s approach blends advanced diagnostics, hormone optimization, recovery strategies, and lifestyle medicine to target the root causes of fatigue, imbalance, and underperformance. His goal is to extend health span, enhance vitality, and empower clients to thrive at every stage of life.

Whether optimizing recovery, boosting energy, or enhancing focus, Dr. Hechtman creates individualized protocols to support the highest level of performance and well-being.

Dr. Jason Hechtman is an expert in functional and integrative medicine, specializing in performance optimization, longevity, and ageless living.

Through personalized concierge care, he works with athletes, professionals, and high-performers to help them achieve peak physical and mental performance.  

Dr. Hechtman’s approach blends advanced diagnostics, hormone optimization, recovery strategies, and lifestyle medicine to target the root causes of fatigue, imbalance, and underperformance. His goal is to extend health span, enhance vitality, and empower clients to thrive at every stage of life.

Whether optimizing recovery, boosting energy, or enhancing focus, Dr. Hechtman creates individualized protocols to support the highest level of performance and well-being.

Dr. Jason Hechtman is an expert in functional and integrative medicine, specializing in performance optimization, longevity, and ageless living.

Through personalized concierge care, he works with athletes, professionals, and high-performers to help them achieve peak physical and mental performance.  

Dr. Hechtman’s approach blends advanced diagnostics, hormone optimization, recovery strategies, and lifestyle medicine to target the root causes of fatigue, imbalance, and underperformance. His goal is to extend health span, enhance vitality, and empower clients to thrive at every stage of life.

Whether optimizing recovery, boosting energy, or enhancing focus, Dr. Hechtman creates individualized protocols to support the highest level of performance and well-being.

Leon Poveda, MD, is a board-certified family physician at Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington in Wellington, Florida. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua at León. He completed his residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. 

As a family physician, Dr. Poveda focuses on care for the whole body, whether acute and in need of urgent care or chronic. He delivers numerous medical treatments for patients of all ages, and his expertise includes treating specific issues, such as chronic disease, sports injuries, mental health conditions, and weight loss. He also provides routine check-ups to help patients create a healthy plan for preventing illnesses as they age.

At Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington, Dr. Poveda offers direct primary care, which is a plan specifically geared toward meeting every health care need a patient may have, both physically and mentally, at an affordable price. Becoming a member of the practice through a monthly subscription gives the patient quick appointment scheduling, unlimited and untimed visits, wholesale pricing for prescriptions, and direct access to Dr. Poveda. Overall, he treats the patients’ needs and desires with over-the-top care that makes them feel well cared for, important, and like family.

Dr. Poveda welcomes patients to Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington and looks forward to establishing a relationship that helps him treat and meet their health care needs. 

I often tell people nursing is what I was made to do and I am still grateful for this amazing career 16 years later. My career began in the Chicagoland area working as an RN in a busy urban community hospital. My passion has always been in patient education and helping people learn and adapt to a lifestyle of health and wellness. I have nearly 8 years of Emergency nursing experience along with experience in Orthopedic Surgery, Primary Care, and Aesthetics as a nurse practitioner. My goal is to work with patients to achieve realistic outcomes, enhancing their wellness and beauty from the inside out.

Deanna is a South Florida native, born and raised in Miami. She graduated from the University of Miami with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2002, and received her Master of Science in Nursing in 2013, from Florida Atlantic University. Deanna was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society, FAU chapter, in 2013, and is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and women's health, with 11 years of experience, working at the bedside as a registered nurse, and 10 years of experience as a nurse practitioner. This does not include her time volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes throughout high school, and working as a nurse’s aid throughout college. Deanna has also volunteered overseas with non-governmental organizations while in grad school, to provide primary care in rural villages of Guatemala. She has had a lifelong passion for healthcare, and enjoys helping her patients feel great inside and out.

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. 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.

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.