Claudia Fontes, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Specialist
Dr. Claudia Fontes is a pediatric emergency medicine specialist who provides care in the Emergency Department at Nicklaus Children’s, Baptist, and Homestead hospitals. She earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. Dr. Fontes completed her pediatric residency at UCSF Fresno, where she was honored with the Excellence in Teaching award. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Northwell Health/Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. To complement her training, she earned a certificate in the Health Emergencies in Large Population (H.E.L.P.) course from Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, further enhancing her expertise in managing public health challenges during emergencies.
Dr. Fontes is board certified in general pediatrics and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Fontes is employed by Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS), the multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
The Emergency Department at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is one of the most visited emergency rooms in the nation and has a team of board-certified and fellowship-trained attending pediatric specialists and subspecialists on call, 24 hours a day. To continue to be a leader in ensuring patient satisfaction, the entire staff continually devises and implements strategies to reduce patient waiting time, enhance the waiting room atmosphere and improve the delivery of care for patients and families. The Emergency Department is also home to the Miguel "Mike" B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center, the only freestanding Level I pediatric trauma center in South Florida. An adjoining helipad enhances the facility’s ability to handle incoming traumas, as well as transfers from other hospitals.