Editor’s Choice

For Colombian native Jenny Nieveen, her parents’ love of education defined her dreams and goals. Nieveen (pictured left) lived in the United States when her parents attended graduate school in Western Kentucky University. When they returned to Colombia, her father opened a boarding high school for local and international students. In the meantime, Nieveen saved

Lifestyle continues to reach out to businesspeople all over South Florida to ask questions about the impact COVID-19 has had on their businesses—and what the future holds. Today, we check in with John Alfano, president and CEO of Doris Italian Market & Bakery. Business background: Starting out as a mom and pop meat market in

Scout Lessons When Madeleine Gonzalez sold the Girl Scouts’ famous cookies, she wasn’t just satisfying customer cravings for Thin Mints. She also was tapping into a passion for business and marketing. The lessons she learned from selling cookies—never giving up and letting her voice be heard—were put into action when the Miami Beach resident made

Melvin Kohan  Medical director, Infection Prevention and Control Program, Broward Health Coral Springs Background: The Wellington resident attended Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Connecticut, and did his fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Miami. Earlier in his career, he

Lifestyle continues to reach out to businesspeople all over South Florida to ask questions about the impact COVID-19 has had on their businesses—and what the future holds. Today, we check in with Rocco Mangel, owner of Rocco’s Tacos.   Business background: With locations in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila

Mireya Toquica   Nurse, Aventura Hospital & Medical Center Background: Toquica, 34, was born in Colombia; she moved to Miami in 2000 with lifelong dreams of becoming a nurse. “I grew up in a place where people lacked basic health care resources and services,” she explains. “Seeing that changes you. That’s what inspired me to make a difference.” Shortly

Lina Puntervold Nurse and infection control practitioner, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital  Background: Puntervold earned a master’s degree in public health with a minor in epidemiology from the University of South Florida. Having cared for the hospital’s tiniest patients in the neonatal unit, the Broward County resident now dedicates herself to disease-related research, reporting, and education.    Pandemic

Mauricio Danckers   Medical director, Intensive Care Unit, Aventura Hospital & Medical Center  Background: As medical director of the ICU, Danckers specializes in the care of the medical and surgical critically ill. In addition, he is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Nova Southeastern University’s Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, where he was recently awarded

Anakarla Perozo Trauma ICU nurse, Kendall Regional Medical Center  Background: As the first member of her family to pursue a career in medicine, Perozo, 29, has had a desire to help people for as long as she can remember. “My mom always wondered why I wanted to do this,” she says. “There [are] no doctors in

Jennifer Homan Vice president of development, Junior Achievement South Florida Background: In her role at Junior Achievement, Homan raises funds to deliver financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship programs to 52,000 students a year. The Aventura resident earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in mental health counseling

Makandall Saint Eloi   Associate medical director, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Urgent Care Background: Saint Eloi, 31, is a young leader (pictured center, above) in the medical field working diligently on the front line of the current pandemic. Before COVID-19, the Miami-based doctor served as chief resident of his medical class at the University

Edmara Nieves Attending physician, emergency room, Broward Health Medical Center   Background: Nieves earned her medical degree at Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and completed her residency at Orlando Health. She teaches emergency medicine to students and residents as a faculty member at Nova Southeastern University and Florida International University.