The community health fairs, such as those in Little Haiti, Florida City, and the Upper Keys, and the weekly clinics being held this fall have extra-special meaning, as they are the first ones to take place since the Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. DOCS Program at the Miller School won a 2007 Health Care Heroes Award. The student-initiated program won the award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in the category of institutions/programs.

DOCS is made up solely of committed student volunteers who provide health care, under the supervision of faculty physicians, for those in the South Florida community who might not otherwise receive medical care.

“These physicians in training are truly remarkable. When most young people would be spending their free time on the beach, these students are spending it with the people who need them most,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. “Their commitment and dedication to the medically underserved reflects a level of concern unprecedented among medical students, and I am very proud.”

Si Pham, M.D., professor of surgery and director of cardiopulmonary transplantation at UM/Jackson, also won a Health Care Heroes Award in the category of health care professionals.