Find a Top Family Doctor Near Me in Hialeah, FL – Book an Appointment Instantly

I was born and raised in Mexico City being the youngest of 5 children. I did all my schooling including medical school over there and then I moved to Florida where I passed my medical board exams and got married.

We then moved to Harrisburg and Philadelphia where I did my Internal Medicine training.

When I was done we moved back to Miami to rejoin with the family where I have been practicing Internal Medicine/Primary care for the last 33 years. We now have 3 children and 3 grandchildren and plan to continue practicing.

Dr. Fernando A. Laracuente is our clinical director and leading medical provider at our offices. Dr. Laracuente received a degree from Nova Southeastern University with a specialization in Exceptional Education/Special Services and Nursing Education. He received his Master’s Degree in Nursing as an Advanced Practice Nurse Practice in Family Health and a Master’s of Science in Education in Family Therapy/Marriage Counseling with a Minor in School Counseling. Recent achievements include a post-masters graduate certificate in psychiatric mental health throughout the lifespan.

Dr. Laracuente is a pioneer, as he opened a nurse-operating full functional clinic under Florida's law of autonomous practice. His practice is holistic in that he emphasizes that wellness can only be achieved through balance between our bodies and our minds. His integrated approach can be seen in his ability to manage both primary care and psychiatric conditions.

In our clinic, we treat patients of all ages, from babies to seniors. We provide both primary care and psychiatric services for people of all ages. Dr. Laracuente has attained three distinguishable National Board Certifications through the ANCC and AANP – Family Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health, respectively. He has a license in Florida and New York. 

Dr. Laracuente has been a teacher for more than 20 years. He has taught at major universities, such as Nova Southeastern University, Miami-Dade College, and Universidad del Turabo (part of the Ana G. Mendez University System). Both Miami-Dade County Public Schools and private medical clinics have used him to evaluate the abilities of children with disabilities, as well as the need for services for children and adults. He is considered one of the founders of the Master's in Child Protection at Nova Southeastern University. His research led to the development of a course that is required to get this graduate degree. 

Dr. Laracuente has served in leadership and investigative roles for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the NYC Administration for Children's Services, where he specialized in neglect, physical, and sexual abuse. He specializes in various forms of trauma as a therapist and provider.

Dr. Laracuente has extensive experience conducting psychiatric assessments required for bariatric weight loss, as well as early intervention. Additionally, he regularly conducts comprehensive developmental evaluations to assess developmental disorders in children (i.e., language delays, autism, ADHD, learning disabilities) and has become instrumental in ordering early services for these children.

At LHA, we feel that all of our patients are members of our family, and we treat you as such. We look forward to helping you achieve your health goals!

Dr. Fernando A. Laracuente

Clinic Director / Owner / Founder

Marites Montes, APRN-BC is a dedicated and highly skilled Advanced Nurse Practitioner with a passion for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care for over 25 years. With a background in nursing and advanced training, Marites has demonstrated expertise in clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of medical conditions.
Marites' journey in healthcare began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines, where she cultivated a solid foundation in nursing principles and patient care. Shortly after Marites moved to Florida where she was a Critical Care Nurse for 18 years. Motivated by a desire to make a greater impact, she pursued further education and earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner from Florida International University in Miami. 
As a strong advocate for preventive care, Marites Montes, APRN-BC emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. She works closely with patients to develop personalized wellness strategies, empowering them to take control of their health and make informed decisions about their care.
Marites is an active member of professional organizations such as the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Council, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and American Nurses Associations, to name a few, where she engages in networking, knowledge sharing, and advocacy initiatives to advance the field of nursing and healthcare.
Marites Montes, APRN-BC brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, compassionate care, and a commitment to ongoing growth to every patient encounter. Her dedication to patient well-being and continuous improvement exemplify her role as a respected healthcare professional in the field of advanced nursing practice.

Yana Gofman, D.O. is a board-certified physician with extensive experience in primary care, geriatric medicine, and preventative healthcare. She graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she ranked in the top 10% of her class and was the recipient of the prestigious A. Alvin Greber Cardiology Award. 

Dr. Gofman earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2007, where she received the Outstanding Student Award. She began her academic journey at Ferris State University, demonstrating early on a strong commitment to excellence in her studies.

Her medical training includes completing an internship and residency in osteopathic internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL, from 2011 to 2014. During this time, she gained a robust foundation in managing complex medical conditions across diverse patient populations.

Dr. Gofman has over a decade of professional experience as a primary care physician. Her clinical focus is on treating adult and geriatric patients, emphasizing personalized care and preventative medicine to enhance patient outcomes. Dr. Gofman is deeply committed to fostering long-term patient relationships and empowering individuals to achieve their best health through proactive, comprehensive care.

Dr. Gofman is fluent in both English and Russian, which enables her to effectively communicate with a diverse range of patients. Beyond her professional endeavors, she values spending time with her family, exploring travel opportunities, and enjoying the outdoors. Her multifaceted interests and dedication to patient care exemplify her holistic approach to medicine.

Nelson Calvo, APRN is originally from Havana City, Cuba. Growing up he always had a passion for medicine and in 1990 started medical School and graduated in 1996 as a general practitioner in a well-recognized institution, Hospital Calixto Garcia. Nelson then completed his residency program as a Family Physician, ending as a specialist in Urology in 2002. Shortly after, he was sent by the Cuban government to Venezuela as a primary care provider to serve as a doctor in underserved communities.

Working without resources in a community, living below the poverty standard, isolated from health facilities, without economic resources, and with an extremely low level of education, created a new challenge for Mr. Clavo. He then set a goal to reduce comorbidities and mortality associated with parasitism, and chronic/acute disease.

In 2007 he moved to America in hopes of better possibilities for his family and himself. In 2018, after many years of hard work and dedication, Nelson graduated as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and returned to the Primary Care setting again. Now with more experience, he utilized the tools he learned in medical school, residency, and life to improve and promote health in my community. As a practitioner, his goal is to continue using his extensive experience when treating patients and learning in this fast-evolving world of medicine.

Nelson Calvo, APRN is proud to be happily married with two sons, one of which has already graduated as a Medical Doctor and the other on his way to becoming a physician as well. In his free time, he likes practicing sports, dancing, and listening to music.

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.

Elisabeth Cohn-Gelwasser, MD, is a skilled and practiced Doctor of Medicine specializing in Primary Care and Internal Medicine. Dr. Cohn-Gelwasse sees patients at the multi-specialty medical group’s office in Davie, Florida. She takes time with each individual and consistently delivers high-quality, personalized care.

Dr. Cohn-Gelwasser has vast experience practicing as an internist and primary care physician. She has served the community practicing for nearly 30 years under Total Healthcare of South Florida, Inc. in Pembroke Pines.

She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and works in association with Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Memorial Hospital West, and Memorial Regional Hospital.

Dr. Cohn-Gelwasser is renowned for providing thorough medical care for treating many conditions, including, but not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, fever, and allergies.

She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine and subsequently completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

Dr. Cohn-Gelwasser is an active member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians and the American College of Physicians. She spends time as an adjunct professor at Nova College of Osteopathic Medicine, teaching medicine to future doctors.

Dr. Cohn-Gelwasser is an excellent communicator, which makes her skilled in building and strengthening relationships with diverse populations. 

She strives to make each patient’s visit a pleasant and pain-free experience. She clearly communicates with her patients and ensures they have all the information they need to make the right treatment choices. She is also flexible in working with the changing trends in medicine and the healthcare market.

Dr. Cohn-Gelwasser is an excellent communicator, which makes her skilled in building and strengthening relationships with diverse populations.

Dr. Cortti Ferrari will be joining the AssociatesMD team soon!

Dr. Maria R. Cortti Ferrari was born in Asunción, Paraguay, and earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, completing six years of rigorous training. Her clinical education included rotations at top institutions such as Hospital de Clínicas, Sanatorio Migone, Centro Médico La Costa, and the Centro del Quemado (Burn Center), where she gained valuable experience in both general and specialized care.

In 2005, Dr. Cortti Ferrari moved to the United States, where she later began her U.S.-based medical training. In 2012, she completed a Transitional Year Residency at Sinai Grace Hospital in Michigan, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency from 2014 to 2017. She went on to complete a Nephrology Fellowship at Ascension St. John Hospital in Michigan in 2018.

After finishing her fellowship, Dr. Cortti Ferrari and her family relocated to Florida in 2019, where she initially practiced as a nephrologist. Over time, she recognized the value of integrating her nephrology expertise into a broader scope of care and transitioned to primary care in 2021. Since then, she has been serving her community as a Primary Care Physician, offering comprehensive care with a deep understanding of complex chronic conditions.

Dr. Cortti Ferrari is married to Tadeo, also from Paraguay, and they are proud parents to Enzo (16), Celina (10), and their beloved dog Tito (4). In her free time, she enjoys running, playing the guitar, and being her children’s biggest fan at soccer matches and gymnastics competitions. She is passionate about building long-term relationships with her patients and helping them lead healthier lives through preventive care and compassionate support.