Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Broward Health has opened a new chapter for its electrophysiology and heart and vascular programs with the onboarding of Jose L. Baez-Escudero, M.D., to the newly created position of chief of cardiology for Broward Health Physician Group. Dr. Baez is the first systemwide chief of cardiology. He will also serve as the chief of cardiac electrophysiology and a key member of the Broward Health leadership team and medical staff.
Well respected in the community and a highly accomplished cardiac electrophysiologist with more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Baez was most recently director of electrophysiology at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, where he was responsible for growing the complex arrhythmia program. He also served in several key leadership roles and was interim chair of cardiology and director of the cardiology fellowship program, further demonstrating his leadership and vision in advancing heart health.
"With the onboarding of Dr. Baez, Broward Health continues to enhance the sub-specialty cardiovascular programs we provide, ensuring Broward Health patients have access to a unified multidisciplinary team and innovative treatment solutions," said Jenna Merlucci, FACHE, vice president of heart and vascular services at Broward Health.
"He will help strengthen our current capabilities and also contribute to our long-term goals of improving heart health and advancing our vision to be a champion for a healthier community," said Bernardo B. Fernandez Jr., M.D., corporate physician executive.
Broward Health continues to recruit top-tier healthcare professionals while investing in a strong physician group.
"With the quality of its doctors and strategically located hospitals, Broward Health is well positioned to care for patients in need of cardiac care – whether it is preventative or after a cardiac event," Dr. Baez said.
Dr. Baez graduated summa cum laude from Universidad San Francisco de Quito College of Health Sciences in Ecuador with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and also earned his Doctor of Medicine, receiving the Valedictorian Honors Award. Dr. Baez then completed an internal medicine residency and served as chief resident and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas in cardiovascular disease and at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois in clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
A full array of electrophysiology services are available at Broward Health Medical Center including ablations, cardiac rhythm management device implants and left atrial appendage occlusions. These services complement the wide range of cardiology subspecialties across Broward Health.
Broward Health, founded in 1938 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks among the 10 largest public healthcare systems in the United States. Nationally recognized for its focus on high-quality care for the residents of Broward County and beyond, Broward Health boasts five hospitals, two trauma centers, a dynamic academic partnership with Florida Atlantic University, was the county’s first statutory teaching hospital and has an ever-growing graduate medical education program. It includes more than 50 health centers and physician practices covering virtually every healthcare specialty.
Broward Health never stops working toward its mission of Exceptional Care, Extraordinary Compassion and Everyday Excellence. Driven by more than 11,000 talented employees and physicians who deliver care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, Broward Health is one of the largest employers in Broward County with an operating budget of $1.6 billion, and annually provides almost $225 million of charity and uncompensated care.
For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.