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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.

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.

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.

Slyllia Thompson is a Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner with over 12 years of demonstrated nursing experience, spanning dynamic healthcare settings; in areas of Primary Care, Research, Assisted Living Facilities and Home Health. She graduated from Barry University in Miami with a BSN degree and went on to pursue her MSN degree at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She believes in patient centered care and optimizing the best healthcare outcomes for her patients. She enjoys spending time with her family, attending her kids sporting events, traveling, volunteering in her community and a home cooked meal.

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 

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.

Languages Spoken:  English, Russian, Medical 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

Rafael Castells Ferras is a trusted and accountable bilingual (English and Spanish) Board-
Certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with over 12 years of experience in the medical field. He is trained to work in high-stress environments, demonstrating excellent
interpersonal communication skills and a keen sense of purpose. Rafael excels at
collaborating with healthcare teams to provide superior medical care, with exceptional
proficiency in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient treatment.

Mr. Castell's medical education in Cuba includes a specialization in Ophthalmology and Visual/Neuro Electrophysiology, with several years of community service. He holds a Master’s in Nursing from Miami Regional University and has trained to work in acute care settings at the University of Miami Emergency Room and Bascom Palmer ER. Since the global health crisis, he has been actively practicing and providing patient care in these critical environments.

Rafael is passionate about educating his patients on their conditions to improve health outcomes. He firmly believes that community-based disease prevention and health promotion are essential for long-term wellness.

Dr. Stephanie Coriolan is a board-certified physician specializing in Internal Medicine, dedicated to providing compassionate, efficient, and patient-centered care. She earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami/Holy Cross program in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Prior to joining AssociatesMD, Dr. Coriolan practiced primary care, where she managed a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. In addition to comprehensive primary care, she regularly evaluated walk-in patients and treated various urgent issues in-office, including dehydration, respiratory and urinary infections, skin infections, minor burns, heart failure exacerbations, and lacerations.

Dr. Coriolan’s approach to medicine is deeply influenced by her upbringing. Raised in Haiti by two physician parents, she developed an early appreciation for compassionate care and the importance of serving her community. She is committed to taking the time to listen to her patients and tailoring treatment plans to meet their individual needs, ensuring they feel informed, supported, and confident in their care.

She is fluent in French and Haitian Creole and has intermediate proficiency in Spanish, allowing her to connect with and care for a diverse patient population.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Coriolan enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and maintaining an active lifestyle through Pilates.

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. Nasreen Ghazi is a board-certified family medicine physician providing comprehensive primary care in South Florida. She earned her medical degree from George Washington University and completed her residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received recognition for her excellence in women's health/obstetrics.

Dr. Ghazi has extensive experience in outpatient primary care and is dedicated to preventive health, women’s health, and managing a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, where she teaches and mentors medical students.

She is committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care and speaks conversational Spanish, with additional proficiency in Urdu, Bangla, and Arabic. 

When she is not at work, Dr. Ghazi is running after her three children and their dog, Gypsy! She loves to paint watercolors, read romance novels and enjoy the outdoors. 

Languages Spoken: English, Conversational Spanish, Proficiency in Urdu, Bangla, and Arabic

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. 

Brian Ibrahim, MD, is an experienced, board-certified family medicine physician at Pinnacle Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida. He has over a decade of experience helping patients achieve exceptional health and disease prevention in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Dr.Ibrahim is board-certified in Obesity Medicine.

Dr. Ibrahim earned his Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry and business administration at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He completed his medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in the Netherlands.

Dr. Ibrahim completed a family medicine residency at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, where he was Chief Resident. 

Dr. Ibrahim has been practicing in the Memorial Health Care System for over 10 years as one of the premier hospitalists. He was the medical director of Memorial South Hospital Group and is currently the Chief of Family Medicine. 

He enjoys helping patients better manage chronic diseases and reduce their risk of complications. Dr. Ibrahim maintains his advanced credentials with continuing education to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in family medicine. His warm, compassionate demeanor puts patients of all ages at ease.

Dr. Ibrahim is currently accepting new patients and welcomes them to Pinnacle Healthcare System. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ibrahim, call the Hollywood office or book a consultation online today.

Book with Dr. Ibrahim Today