Preferred Care Partners CEO appointed chair of FIU Foundation Board

MIAMI – Joseph L. Caruncho, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Care Partners, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Florida International University (FIU) Foundation. Caruncho, an alumnus of FIU, has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2006.

“Joe Caruncho is one of a rising group of alumni who have broadened their leadership roles at our university,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “As FIU continues its mission to serve the community, we are enthusiastic about the wealth of knowledge and commitment that Mr. Caruncho brings to this position. The continued success of the FIU Foundation will ensure the growth and well-being of our university. We are confident that under Mr. Caruncho’s leadership the Foundation’s achievements will be monumental.”

As Chairman, Mr. Caruncho will oversee the Foundation, a non-profit corporation governed by the Board of Directors, whose members play a significant role in the development of the University as a major educational, cultural and economic resource. The Directors contribute their time, leadership and financial resources to advance the mission of the university.

“As South Florida’s only public research University, and one of the top urban serving universities in the country, Florida International University plays a vital role in the future of our community,” Caruncho said. “It is an honor to be given the opportunity to serve as Chair of this important board. I look forward to working with our Board Members, the faculty and staff of FIU as we fulfill the foundation’s mission to support this great institution.”

Mr. Caruncho, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from FIU, also meets regularly with the FIU Board of Trustees as the Foundation’s Board of Directors representative. He also is a College of Medicine Founder and has established a scholarship for the medical school’s first class.

Mr. Caruncho was named as Ultimate CEO by South Florida Business Journal in 2006 and the “Florida Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year” in the category of Healthcare in 2005. He was also recognized as “CEO of the Year” for the 2005 “Excellence in Healthcare” Awards. In 2004, he was named to the FIU College of Business “Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame” and was recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as a “Heavy Hitter in Healthcare.” In 2006, he was recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics is the U.S. by Hispanic Business magazine. He has served as Chairman of the Florida Board of Governors for Prevent Blindness America, and is currently the Chair of the Deans Council at FIU College of Business Administration.

Mr. Caruncho also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University . He is a member of the Florida Bar Association.

Preferred Care Partners has a provider network of 23 hospitals and more than 1,500 physicians throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties . The company offers seniors and persons with disabilities on Medicare an alternative to the traditional HMO Medicare Advantage option. For more information on Preferred Care Partners visit www.mypreferredcare.com .

-FIU-

Media Contacts:
Madeline Baró, Florida International University, 305-348-2234 or mbaro@fiu.edu or
Michelle Palomino, The Conroy Martinez Group, 305-445-7550 or michelle@conroymartinez.com

About FIU:

Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 21 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will open in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.