March 2014 Newsletter

CareCloud is Leading the Way

Forbes recently listed Miami-based CareCloud among America's Most Promising Companies and it is clear to see why. Since its inception in 2009, CareCloud has been a trailblazer in revolutionizing the way doctors run their practices. Founded by FIU alum Alberto Santalo, the company has seen its revenue increase more than 100 percent in each of the past 16 quarters.

"We enable the doctors to run a better business, a better medical group, but also, ultimately, deliver better care," says John Hallock, vice president of corporate communications at CareCloud.

The technology that is currently being used by many doctors' offices is often antiquated and decades old. CareCloud offers doctors a new cloud-based practice management system that takes care of the billing, heath records and scheduling aspects of running a practice. There is also an enhanced level of patient information privacy that is a result of encryption and secure browser capabilities. Physicians are open to cloud-based services such as CareCloud because they use cloud-based services in their personal lives, such as for banking, Hallock said.

CareCloud's award-winning user-interface is designed to be friendly and easy for medical office staff to learn. The core technology that drives CareCloud's platform allows doctors and patients to more easily and securely communicate, much like they do with LinkedIn or Facebook, leading to better overall patient care.

John J. Walsh, the chief technology officer for CareCloud, said he encourages students interested in the field to not only understand technology and how it works, but also how it will be used.

Walsh urges students to take advantage of internship opportunities while they are still in school. "Don't be shy. Don't be a fly on the wall…Use it as a learning experience," he said.

Walsh also said the company has a strong interest in collaborating with universities and keeping top talent in South Florida.

"Our founder believes…that South Florida is an area of the country that is rich with talent; the goal is to keep that talent [here]…and collaborating with academic institutions is paramount to that," he said.

For more information, visit the CareCloud website.

STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium

Students from across the region will once again have the opportunity to present their original research at the second annual LSSF STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium to be hosted at FIU's Modesto Maidique Campus. On Saturday, April 12, students of STEM-related disciplines will present their unique scientific research to their peers, academic and industry representatives through oral and poster presentations.

Their presentations will be judged by academic leaders and life science industry professionals, and prizes will be awarded for outstanding projects.

The keynote speaker for the symposium is Dr. Pedro Greer, professor, assistant dean for academic affairs and chair of the Department of Humanities, Health, and Society at FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He is a practitioner, scientist and researcher. Dr. Greer has established two major health care centers for the local South Florida homeless and under-served community - Camillus Health Concern and Saint John Bosco Clinic in Miami. He has received a variety of accolades and awards; in 2009 he was recognized by President Barack Obama as a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree.

Schools participating in this year's symposium include: Barry University, Broward College, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Indian River State College, Miami Dade College, Nova Southeastern University and Palm Beach State College.

For more information or to volunteer to be a judge at the symposium, contact Dr. Susan Webster at websters@fiu.edu.

Next Steps for Life Sciences South Florida

The next LSSF Executive Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL.