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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.

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.

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.

Dr. Nhat T. Nguyen, D.O., M.S. is a board-certified Family Medicine physician with over 15 years of clinical experience in urgent care, primary care, and wellness medicine. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and completed her Family Medicine Residency at St. Petersburg General Hospital. She has served as teaching faculty at Nova Southeastern University and St. Petersburg General Hospital, where she trains and mentors nurse practitioner students, physician assistant students, and resident physicians. Dr. Nguyen is passionate about teaching clinical excellence — helping trainees refine diagnostic reasoning, master procedural skills, and deliver compassionate, patient-centered care.

Recognizing the shortcomings of the U.S. healthcare system and the opportunities made possible by advances in mobile technology, Dr. Avinesh Bhar left his office-based practice in 2019 to focus on establishing a telemedicine practice founded on high-value and personalized, convenient and cost-effective sleep and pulmonary care. Dr. Bhar is a fellowship-trained and board-certified in sleep and pulmonary medicine. He has been in practice for over seven years following the completion of his fellowships at Washington University in St Louis and the University of Tennessee (Memphis). He also holds a MBA from the University of Chicago. Dr. Bhar loves soccer, plays tennis and is active on Twitter (@AviBhar).

Dr. Matthew Rodgers trained at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and joins the practice after retiring from the Army after a 27-year career.  He is board certified in family medicine and sleep medicine with a focus on sleep medicine for the past 10 years.   He was the Army medical director for the virtual medical center for two years focusing on providing synchronous and asynchronous virtual health care throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Dr. Rodgers created virtual sleep medicine clinics to provide sleep testing and treatment to sites in four countries and eight sites, throughout Europe. Professionally he enjoys narcolepsy, sleep apnea and the complex interactions between sleep and PTSD.  Dr. Rodgers likes football, basketball, and baseball.  But ironically wasn’t good at any of them, so he played rugby for eight years and wrestled for fourteen and coached wrestling for five years.

Dr. Amy Meoli has been practicing sleep medicine for over 20 years. She trained at the University of Missouri-Kansas City prior to her sleep fellowship at Allegheny University in Philadelphia. She is board-certified in sleep medicine. Dr. Meoli says she recognized the changes in patient needs related to sleep issues, and the growing time constraint people have to manage. She believes Sliiip is a progressive move to accommodate patient needs. Dr.Meoli is excited to be a part of this organization. Besides work, she enjoys time with her puppies. She loves to travel and cook.

About Us

Jaggers Keene, MD, provides excellent primary medical care at his practice Jaggers C. Keene, MD, in Largo, Florida. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas for his undergraduate degree and earned his medical degree from the East Central University in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Dr. Keene went on to graduate from Memorial Family Practice Residency in Houston, Texas, and conducted his family practice residency at McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation in Waco, Texas. 

Dr. Keene also attended a general surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a reconstructive surgery externship at Santa Rosa Hospital Downtown, part of the Baptist Healthcare System in San Antonio.

Dr. Keene shares his integrative approach to primary care concerns such as diabetes, skin cancer, and heart disease. Make an appointment at his office by calling today or request an appointment using the website

Meet Dr. Santiago

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Lourdes T. Santiago, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon at Colon and Rectal Clinic of Tampa Bay in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Santiago specializes in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, as well as pelvic floor disorders.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and serving as a major in the United States Army, Dr. Santiago relocated to Tampa Bay, Florida, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Science and Chemistry at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Santiago returned to Puerto Rico, graduating with her Doctor of Medicine from the Ponce School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency and colon and rectal surgery fellowship training at the University of South Florida.  

She is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the Florida Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (FLSCRS). 

Dr. Santiago has an affiliation with many area hospitals, including St. Petersburg General Hospital in St. Petersburg, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Largo Medical Center in Largo, and Belleair Surgery Center in Largo. 

An advocate for education, Dr. Santiago gives regular presentations in English and Spanish about colon and rectal cancer throughout the Tampa Bay area. 

In her free time, Dr. Santiago enjoys giving back to the community she serves. In addition to her lectures and presentations, she volunteers at the Health Department, provides care at local free medical clinics, and participates in local toy drives during the holidays. 

 

 

     

Pina Panchal, MD is a native Canadian with a strong passion for working with women. Trained in a variety of aesthetic services and skilled in the medical management of weight loss and hormone deficiencies, she offers her services to both men and women of Tampa, Florida, at Bella Mia Medical Aesthetics and Laser Institute. Dr. Panchal believes a woman is at her best when she feels her best. She takes pride in helping her patients feel happy, healthy, and confident.

Dr. Panchal is board-certified in family medicine. She completed her bachelor’s degree in health sciences at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She went on to study medicine at the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine in the Netherlands. Dr. Panchal completed her residency in family medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, then served as Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia. She enjoyed working with medical students and residents in this teaching capacity.

At Bella Mia, Dr. Panchal provides a wide variety of aesthetics services and has certifications in a variety of procedures and treatments such as neuromodulators, fillers, Kybella®, laser skin treatments, medically-managed weight loss, and management of hormone deficiencies.

Dr. Panchal speaks fluent Guajarati, Hindi, and English. She belongs to a number of professional associations, including the American Academy of Family Medicine, the North American Menopause Society, the American Medical Association, and the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine.

Cheryl Reed, MD, is a board-certified family practice physician with more than 30 years of experience at Pinnacle Health Group in Tampa, Florida. As a family practice physician, she has the opportunity to get to know her patients well and treat them with personalized care through all stages of life.

Dr. Reed completed her undergraduate studies at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. She then went on to study medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. She completed her residency at the Medical Center of Beaver County in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Reed became a family physician because she liked the idea of treating the whole family throughout their lives. She was recently awarded Vitals.com’s Patient Choice Award, an honor bestowed on physicians who receive near-perfect patient reviews. She’s also been voted onto the “Best Doctors in Tampa Bay” list several times.

When she’s not at work, Dr. Reed enjoys volunteering in her community, watching movies, and relaxing with her husband of 22 years and their son.

Yvonne Latimer, MD is a board-certified family practice physician at Pinnacle Health Group in Tampa, Florida. She has over 15 years of experience in treating adult medicine, women's health, geriatrics, and mental health. 

Dr. Latimer completed her undergraduate studies at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. She earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia. She then moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to complete her family practice residency at Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center, where she was chief family practice resident during her final year. 

Dr. Latimer decided to become a family physician because she loved her experience treating the entire family as a medical student. She is known for her warmth, compassion, care delivery, and great sense of humor. 

She currently belongs to the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Dr. Latimer enjoys spending quality time with her husband, daughter, and animals. They love beaches and traveling outside of the United States, especially to Central and South America.