New 28,250-sq.-ft. Graduate Medical Education hub at Broward Health Medical Center advances commitment to medical education and access to care
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Broward Health has unveiled a new 28,250-square-foot, state-of-the-art Graduate Medical Education (GME) training, education and support facility at Broward Health Medical Center, further expanding the system’s investment in the future of healthcare.
A celebratory ribbon cutting marked the completion of the $10.8 million, 14-month renovation, which is now one of the largest GME spaces in South Florida.
Designed to support Broward Health’s evolving GME program and the next generation of physicians, the new facility is five times larger than the previous space and was purpose-built to meet the needs of modern medical education. The training and wellness facility features an advanced simulation lab, flexible classrooms, a conference room, resident lounges, collaborative workspaces, a library, private on-call suites and a dedicated wellness room, as well as relaxation rooms to promote balance, resilience and mental well-being as nearly half of resident physicians nationwide report symptoms of burnout during training.
“The future of healthcare is shaped by the physicians we train today,” said Shane Strum, President and CEO of Broward Health. “This new GME facility at Broward Health Medical Center reflects our continued commitment to investing in the next generation of doctors while expanding access to high-quality care for the communities we serve.”
The opening of the new center coincides with a historic year for Broward Health’s GME program. Last summer, the health system welcomed the largest incoming class in its 88-year history. Broward Health now has 365 residents and fellows systemwide, representing a 9% increase over last year.
In less than two years, Broward Health has opened two GME facilities. In July 2024, Broward Health North unveiled a 7,000-square-foot training space for residents and fellows serving the northeast Broward County community.
Broward Health currently offers 26 residency and fellowship programs with nephrology, infectious disease and otolaryngology among the eight new specialties added in the past two years. Additional expansions are planned, including OB/GYN and interventional cardiology. Each program is intentionally designed to address specific healthcare needs in the community, particularly long wait times for specialty care.
In addition, Broward Health has increased the number of residents and fellows in such high-demand programs as internal medicine, family medicine, orthopedic surgery and cardiology, strengthening the region’s physician pipeline and improving patient access to care.
Beyond clinical training, Broward Health’s GME program emphasizes wellness, mentorship and community engagement. Each resident and fellow is paired with both faculty and peer mentors, and through initiatives such as Desk to Docs, trainees mentor local high school students interested in STEM and healthcare careers, helping build a workforce that reflects the communities Broward Health serves.
“We’re proud to train physicians from Florida and around the world while providing access to modern facilities and high-quality education,” said Patricia Rowe-King, M.D., a Broward Health pediatrician who serves as the designated institutional official overseeing all residency and fellowship programs. “By investing in education, infrastructure and mentorship, we hope many of these physicians will choose to remain in our community long after completing their training.”
Broward Health’s GME program continues to garner national attention as residents and fellows train alongside experienced physicians, nurses and support staff. Broward Health was recently ranked as the fifth most viewed orthopedic surgery program nationwide on the FREIDA database.
The general contractor for the renovation was Skanska, and the architect was the Beck Group. “This project reflects Broward Health’s commitment to training the next generation of physicians right here in South Florida,” said David Clark, senior vice president of operations at Broward Health. “In partnership with Skanska, we’ve transformed this space into a state-of-the-art environment that supports education, collaboration and resident well-being.”
To find out more about Broward Health’s GME program, visit BrowardHealth.org/GME.
About 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 $1.8 billion, and annually provides almost $500 million of charity and uncompensated care. For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.