Memorial Regional Hospital and Hatzalah South Florida Enhance Healthcare Collaboration with Major Medical Education Conference

Memorial Regional Hospital, South Florida’s largest hospital and Level I Trauma Center, has strengthened its vital partnership with Hatzalah South Florida (HSF) by hosting a landmark Continuing Medical Education (CME) conference. This prestigious event highlights the longstanding collaboration between these two premier healthcare organizations to provide exceptional emergency medical care to the South Florida community.

Held at Memorial’s state-of-the-art Conference Center, the conference marks a significant milestone in a partnership that has consistently enhanced patient care outcomes across the region. This alliance ensures a seamless continuum of care from emergency response to hospital treatment, benefiting countless patients throughout South Florida.

“Our relationship with Hatzalah South Florida exemplifies Memorial’s commitment to supporting excellence in pre-hospital care,” said Dr. Randy Katz, District Medical Director of Emergency Services at Memorial Healthcare System. “By hosting their CME conference, we are not just providing a venue—we are reinforcing our shared mission of delivering outstanding emergency medical care. The synergy between Memorial’s emergency department and HSF’s rapid response capabilities has proven invaluable in saving lives.”

The day-long educational event brought together over 100 emergency medical responders from South Florida, New York, and New Jersey, further establishing Memorial Regional Hospital as a leading center for medical education and training. “It was a day of education and an incredible show of camaraderie among various Hatzalah agencies,” said Joseph Dahan, a member of the HSF Board of Directors. “Having this conference at Memorial Regional Hospital adds an unparalleled dimension to our training capabilities.”

The conference featured an esteemed faculty of medical experts, including:

• Dr. Peter Antevy, a leader in pediatric emergency care and the founder of Handtevy – Pediatric Emergency Standards, Inc. Dr. Antevy serves as Medical Director for multiple South Florida fire-rescue departments and has received numerous accolades, including the 2018 National Medical Director of the Year award from NAEMT. His expertise, particularly in pediatric EMS, has been instrumental in improving emergency care standards.
• Dr. Yossi (Josef) Schenker, MD, MBA, a seasoned volunteer paramedic and physician with Hatzalah Emergency Medical Services. As the Medical Director of Senior Care Emergency Medical Services and Chairman of NYC REMAC, Dr. Schenker oversees treatment protocols for over 100 healthcare facilities in New York. His leadership in electronic health records implementation and clinical care has significantly impacted emergency medical services.
• Dr. Ari Ciment, a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center. As a Clinical Associate Professor and former President of the medical staff at Mount Sinai Miami Beach, Dr. Ciment has contributed extensively to medical literature, including publications in NEJM and CHEST. His expertise in respiratory emergencies was a key highlight of the conference.

Additional guest lecturers included Dr. Jonathan Auerbach, Josh Hartman MBA, NRP, Robby Lederman FPC, NRP, Chief Jeff Levy, Valerie Soto ARNP, and Mendy Reismann CCP-C, FPC, NRP.

The comprehensive program, offering CME credits for both Florida and New York practitioners, covered essential topics such as:

• Advanced Life Support (ALS) Cardiac Emergencies
• Stroke Emergencies
• Obstetric Emergencies
• Pediatric Emergency Care
• Respiratory Emergency Management
• Patient Assessment Techniques
• Pre-Hospital Antibiotics for Sepsis
• Summer and Heat-Related Emergencies
• EMS Documentation and Interagency Collaboration

The conference’s dual-track format allowed participants to customize their learning experience, while Memorial Regional Hospital’s advanced facilities provided access to cutting-edge medical resources and technology.

“The partnership with Memorial Regional Hospital has been transformative for emergency medical care in our region,” said Dr. Yoram Gutfreund, HSF Medical Director. “Their support and collaboration have elevated the standard of pre-hospital care we provide, ensuring our patients receive the best possible treatment from the moment we arrive through their transition to Memorial’s expert medical team.”

About Memorial Regional Hospital

Memorial Regional Hospital, the flagship facility of Memorial Healthcare System, is one of Florida’s largest hospitals and a leader in adult and pediatric care. As a Level I Trauma Center, it provides the highest level of emergency care, serving as a critical healthcare resource for South Florida communities. The hospital’s collaboration with organizations like Hatzalah South Florida underscores its dedication to comprehensive, coordinated healthcare delivery.

About Hatzalah South Florida

For 15 years, Hatzalah South Florida has been providing emergency medical response services to the South Florida community. As a volunteer-based emergency medical service organization, HSF is committed to delivering professional, compassionate, and rapid emergency medical care. Through its strategic partnership with Memorial Regional Hospital, HSF ensures seamless integration from pre-hospital to hospital-based care, optimizing patient outcomes and emergency response effectiveness.