New FIU/Baptist Health graduate medical education programs transform doctors and the community

Dr. Carlos Lezcano is precisely where he wants to be. The recent FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine graduate has joined the inaugural cohort of physician residents in the new joint Florida International University/Baptist Health Graduate Medical Education Program. It now includes nine residencies and fellowships, with more programs planned.

He is happy to stay in Miami and close to his family while launching his medical career.

“It’s an amazing privilege that I’ve been able to do both medical school and residency in my hometown,” said Lezcano, a first-year physician resident in neurology.

Lezcano’s story reflects a larger mission: training physicians who combine cutting-edge skills with deep community connections. At a time when doctor shortages have reached concerning levels, these new programs are preparing the next generation of health care professionals to serve patients with expertise and compassion.

(Watch Now: Meet the first class of physician residents in the new Florida International University/Baptist Health residency programs, pairing high-quality medical care and academic rigor in training physicians of the future. Video by Michael Justiz.)

Investing in the Physicians of the Future

The new physician residents in internal medicine, general surgery and neurology — along with existing residencies and fellowships in family medicine, orthopedics and radiology — are training across Baptist Health hospitals, which include Baptist Hospital, South Miami Hospital, West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Doctors Hospital. Diagnostic radiology residents will begin in July 2026.

“This is a very important investment in the growth of young physicians and the health of our community,” said Dr. Diego Torres-Russotto, program director of the FIU/Baptist Health Neurology Residency. “When I’m in my clinic, I am helping one, two or three patients at a time. But by training other physicians, I can eventually be helping thousands of patients.”

Choosing Their Residency Programs

Residency is a necessary step towards obtaining a medical license for independent practice. It provides in-depth training within the chosen specialty. Several factors influence a young doctor’s choice of residency, including program reputation, geographic location and personal interests. “One of the main reasons I chose neurology was for my grandpa, who has Parkinson’s. I saw how it affected his quality of life and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to develop skills so that I can help patients suffering from these chronic conditions live their best quality of life,” said Lezcano.

A similar situation shaped the career of first-year neurology physician resident Dr. Maria Jacome Llovera, who chose her specialty partly because of her experience with a family member with a neurological condition. “I know firsthand what it is to deal with the complexity of a neurological disease,” she said. “I’m feeling very excited and grateful to be here. It’s a great institution that offers the best care to patients, and I’m excited for all the things I’m going to learn here.”

Dr. Christopher Senkowski, program director of the FIU/Baptist Health General Surgery Residency, says the quality of physicians in the inaugural cohort is exceptional. “Surgery is very competitive. I wanted an eclectic group of excellent, caring surgeons who want to stay in South Florida,” he said. “I want them to be academic leaders one day, chairs of departments, the best surgeons. We have a wonderful team. The potential is tremendous.” 

Advancing the Future of Training and Care

The new FIU-Baptist Health residency and fellowship programs welcomed 68 trainees from medical schools nationwide. Over the next five years, that number is expected to grow to approximately 325 physician residents and fellows. 

Baptist Hospital also is on track to become a statutory teaching hospital, further supporting the mission to improve health outcomes through education, research and access to high-quality care.

“We have the high-quality, community-based medical care that Baptist Health is known for and the academic rigor of FIU,” said Dr. Seema Chandra, the FIU/Baptist Health Internal Medicine Residency program director.

 Addressing the physician shortage

Like the rest of the country, South Florida is experiencing a severe shortage of doctors. Demand is rising due to population growth, increased need for elderly care and many physicians approaching retirement.

Because most doctors choose to practice where they complete their residency training, expanding local residency programs is a critical step toward addressing this shortage. FIU and Baptist Health are working together to grow these programs, helping to train more physicians and ensuring the community has increased access to the high-quality care it needs.