Chen Senior Medical Center

Bios

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  Larry Katz, MD

  MD

  Dr. Larry Katz has been practicing in South Florida for over 20 years. Dr. Katz is unique in that he was an electrical engineer who graduated with a Master's degree from the prestigious New York University prior to attending medical school, where he pursued his passion for caring for the senior population. "The best thing about being a doctor is making a new diagnosis and seeing the patient respond to treatment," says Dr. Katz. "My patients are like family to me," he adds. "My relationships with them are very special. Just how I make a difference in their lives, they also make a difference in mine."

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  Link: Larry Katz, MD

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  Jose Cofino, MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C

  MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C

  Jose Cofino is a family nurse practitioner and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Havana in Cuba and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida Atlantic University. He earned his master’s degree in nursing from Barry University in Miami. Prior to joining Chen, Jose was a nurse supervisor at Vitas Innovative Hospice Care where he identified physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs for terminally ill patients and their families. Jose is fluent in English and Spanish.

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  Link: Jose Cofino, MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C

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  Jennifer Castilloux, DO

  DO

  Since Dr. Jennifer Castilloux was young, she’s always been interested in science. “All the complexities of the human body and pathology piqued my interest,” Dr. Castilloux says. Specializing in internal medicine, Dr. Castilloux rounds in skilled nursing facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. “I chose to work with seniors because I believe they deserve a physician that will advocate for their needs, especially if they are unable to do so for themselves. I take time to make sure my patients really understand what’s going on with them and teach them about prevention so they can regain control of their health and take better care of themselves,” Dr. Castilloux adds.

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  Link: Jennifer Castilloux, DO

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  Marcos Lima

  MD

  Dr. Marcos Lima became inspired to pursue a healthcare career when he was a teenager growing up in Cuba. “I’ve always enjoyed helping others,” he says. Dr. Lima started off doing that as a radiologist and medical assistant before becoming a primary care physician. Applying his wide range of skills and medical knowledge, Dr. Lima loves providing well-rounded, compassionate care to seniors today. While he enjoys helping them stay well, he says, “It’s always satisfying to see a sick patient getting better.” In his time off, Dr. Lima likes to read, listen to music, go to the gym, and travel. One of his favorite places to visit has been Japan.

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  Link: Marcos Lima

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  Marly Rodriguez

  MD

  Volunteering at a hospital while in college inspired Dr. Marly Rodriguez to pursue a medical career. “I realized that I want to provide compassionate care to people—like the doctors who helped my sister when she was a baby,” says Dr. Rodriguez. Working here, she enjoys being able to focus on seniors. “I love listening to their stories and learning about their life experiences.” By taking time to build relationships, Dr. Rodriguez also feels she can provide the best quality care. When Dr. Rodriguez is not with patients or keeping up on medical research, she likes to spend time with her husband and English bulldog, go to the gym, travel, try new foods, and play board games. She also dreams of visiting Greece one day.

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  Link: Marly Rodriguez

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  Mercy Gomez

  LAc

  Mercy Gomez is a licensed acupuncturist who has always wanted to care for others. “As a child, I liked helping those younger than me and making connections with seniors,” she says. Working with seniors at ChenMed, Mercy Gomez treats persistent pain, stress, sleep issues, or other symptoms. “It’s such a joy to see the improvements that patients experience with acupuncture and hear how it’s impacted their lives,” she says. “I also enjoy the stories, lessons, and love they share.” In her time off, Mercy Gomez likes to kayak, ride her bike, walk on the beach, and travel the world. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with family and her cat.

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  Link: Mercy Gomez

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  Vinaya Shyam

  MD

  Becoming a physician was a childhood dream of Dr. Vinaya Shyam’s. “Trying my best to make a positive impact on someone else’s life has always been and always will be the most gratifying action,” she says. Dr. Shyam emphasizes preventative care in her practice and enjoys “educating patients about their ailments and treatments.” She is appreciative of her relationships with patients, which allow for more individualized care. “I genuinely take interest in each and every patient I have the pleasure of encountering and love learning about their personal lives and history,” she says. Outside work, Dr. Shyam loves hiking, cooking, and exploring new places with her husband. When possible, she enjoys traveling home to Canada and India.

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  Link: Vinaya Shyam

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  Fabiana Vastola Mascolo

  MD

  Dr. Fabiana Vastola Mascolo has always wanted to be a physician and cannot imagine doing anything else. “I strive to apply an integrated approach to medicine, seeing patients in a humanistic and scientific way,” she explains. Honesty, compassion, and dedication are key in her practice. The time she spends getting to know her patients and their health is her favorite part of her profession. “I enjoy the process of investigating patients’ diseases by using critical thinking and working on improving their quality of life,” she says. She adds, “I enjoy building a meaningful relationship with the patients and want them to feel like I am someone they can trust.” When not with patients, Dr. Vastola Mascolo can be found painting or enjoying time with family and friends.

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  Link: Fabiana Vastola Mascolo

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  Sofia Cueto

  AP

  Sofia Cueto fell in love with acupuncture the moment she tried it. “I knew right away that I wanted to share acupuncture with the world,” she says. That’s when Sofia Cueto left her corporate finance career to become an acupuncture physician. As she cares for her senior patients, Sofia Cueto empathizes with their struggles and uses acupuncture to bring relief to their pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and digestive trouble. “Being able to help them gives me tremendous fulfillment,” she says, “and I love seeing the incredible transformations in my patients!” Away from work, Sofia Cueto focuses on quality time with her family and friends, personal development, church, and fitness. She also enjoys travel and considers all of Europe to be magical.

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  Link: Sofia Cueto

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  Dany Louis Pierre

  ARNP, FNP-C

  Dany Louis Pierre has always had a desire to “help fight socio-medical injustice,” explaining that she chose to become a healthcare provider to help increase access to medical care. She believes in “patient-oriented” and “value-based care.” She treats her patients with love, empathy, and understanding. “It is very important to build trust, treat them as human, not just a number, not just a patient, show interest in their overall life, enjoy whatever they want to share with me, and show importance to whatever is important to them,” she explains. “Working with the senior population is, for me, a calling,” she adds. In her free time, Dany Louis Pierre loves spending quality time with her husband and two kids.

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  Link: Dany Louis Pierre

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  Harold Prat Garcia

  MSN, APRN, FNP-C

  Harold Prat Garcia followed in the footsteps of many family members by pursuing a career in healthcare. He views the doctor-patient relationship as a “partnership” and wants patients to know he cares. “I make it a point to listen to their concerns,” he says. He is a firm believer in preventative care. “I strongly believe that prevention is paramount to a patient’s positive health outcomes,” he says. He appreciates the opportunity to both teach and learn. He explains, “I enjoy teaching patients about nutrition, exercise, and their health conditions.” He adds, “As healthcare providers, we can never stop learning.” In his free time, Harold Prat Garcia likes traveling with family. He is also interested in the automobile industry.

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  Link: Harold Prat Garcia