Medical Executive Committee

The Medical Executive Committee (MEC) acts as a medical review committee evaluating and improving the quality of health care rendered by all members of the Medical Staff of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The MEC establishes medical policies to govern the medical staff and also represents and acts for the Medical Staff as a whole, making recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Medical Executive Committee consists of active physicians on the medical staff of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital elected by their peers, and designated administrative representatives.


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Israel D Alvarez, MD


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Veronica Etinger, MD

Chief, Section of Hospital Medicine
Director, Division of Hospital Medicine


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Maria E Franco, MD

President of the Medical Staff


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Ruben Gonzalez-Vallina, MD

Director, Gastroenterology Outpatient Initiative
NCPS Director, Community GI Initiatives


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Ziad A Khatib, MD

Vice President of the Medical Staff
Neuro Oncology Program


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Alex B Koetzle, MD


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Leopoldo Malvezzi, MD

Chief, Department of Pediatric Surgery


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Marcos A Mestre, MD

Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Nicklaus Children's Hospital


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G. Keith Meyer, MD

Medical Director, LifeFlight® Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Services
Medical Director, ECLS/ECMO and Apheresis Services


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Monica M Payares-Lizano, MD

Program Director, Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Program


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Ricardo Restrepo, MD

Pediatric Interventional Radiologist


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Gabriela M Saca, MD


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Pedro A Sanchez-Diaz, MD


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Sarah M Selem, MD


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Balagangadhar Totapally, MD

Director, Division of Critical Care Medicine
Medical Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Director, Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program