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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. 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

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.

Dina R. Edrich, MD, is a board-certified specialist in family medicine at Beth and Howard Braver, MD, in Hollywood and Aventura, Florida. She has more than 10 years of experience treating patients with a variety of acute and chronic disorders.

Dr. Edrich earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami and her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean in St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Dr. Edrich continued her medical training with a residency at Rutgers University’s Centra State Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. She was elected Chief Resident for her final year of training. 

Dr. Edrich is board certified in Family Medicine and maintains hospital affiliations with Aventura Hospital and Memorial Regional Hospital. 

Sean Del Grego, DMSc, PA-C is a Doctorate level III Advanced Practice Practitioner (APP) coming to us from Northwest Florida. He graduated with honors in 1998 from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio through the United States Army. Dr. Sean is a retired Army field grade officer whose last duty assignment was with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion (RTB) at Eglin Air Force Base. He is also a Bronze Star medal recipient for his actions while serving in the Iraq theater of operations, where he supported combat missions and gained over 36 months of combat medical experience. 

In 2018, Sean earned a Doctorate of Medical Science specializing in Family Medicine. In addition to his clinical work, he has been an adjunct clinical professor at South College since 2021 and previously held a similar role at Florida International University (FIU). He has extensive experience practicing medicine and a passion for teaching, making him a valuable addition to our team. 

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.

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.

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.

Kirenia Santiuste, DNP-PhD-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner serving patients at AssociatesMD in Davie, Florida. She holds an Autonomous Practice Endorsement in Florida due to her vast knowledge and expertise.

Kirenia was born and raised in Cuba, where she decided at the age of 5 to dedicate her life to the art of medicine and her patients (who were dolls at the time). Her parents were the engine that would push her to pursue her dreams. Kirenia attended medical school in her native city, bringing several years of competence, experience, evidence-based practice (EBP), and endless commitment to AssociatesMD and the community.

Kirenia has been practicing as a primary care provider since 2016 and holds a Master of Science in nursing and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she received The Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence due to her stellar performance as well as the Chancellor’s List Award for five consecutive years. 

Kirenia also practices as a women’s nurse practitioner, certified colposcopist, and mentor, which was granted due to more than 4,000 direct clinical hours in an OB/GYN private practice. Kirenia completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice core components and combined it with a PhD-candidature at Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Kirenia has been extensively recognized by her colleagues, nursing organizations, and patients for her professionalism, charisma, leadership, patient care, excellence, and commitment to clinical practice, including the NCQA for preventing diabetes and data measurement. 

In her free time, Kirenia loves spending time with her beloved family. She enjoys reading, going to the movies, and caring for her orchids, her favorite flowers. She is also active in her son’s extracurricular activities, school PTA, and the community.