Jose M. Garcia, MD

Medical Director Hillsborough County

Dr. Garcia attended Medical School at Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas in Santiago de Cuba. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Dr. Garcia has professional affiliations with the Cuban Association of Urology. In 1998, he was nominated by the National Public Health Department’s Annual Award for Best Scientific Work. He is certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Practice.

Family Medicine 

 Zoilamis Gutierrez-Candelario, APRN-C is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in health and medical care. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Honor Society of Nursing. She attended Sacred Heart University in Puerto Rico, graduating with honors with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. Then, while working at Hospice Lifepath as RN Care coordinator, she completed with honors her Master of Science in Nursing at Miami Regional University with specialty in Family Nurse Practitioner. Zoilamis also graduated from Medical school in Camaguey of Cuba, where she specialized in Family Medicine and Pulmonology, worked for several years as a Primary Care Provider, Pulmonologist and Faculty Member at Manuel Ascunce University Hospital in her natal Camaguey City of Cuba before immigrating to the United States and restarting her career, taking the path of a Nurse Practitioner

Medical Director Highlands County

Dr. Ivette Cardona Ruelle earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochicalco in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, where she also completed her Social Service requirements. She continued her medical training at Hospital Episcopal San Lucas in Guayama, Puerto Rico, where she also served as Chief of Interns and later as Internship Coordinator.

Dr. Cardona began her career as a General Physician at Hospital Episcopal San Lucas, where she developed a special interest in Wound Care and worked closely with the Surgical Department. For the past eight years, she has provided Primary Care services at a private practice in Orlando, Florida.

With more than 15 years of experience in Primary Care, Dr. Cardona is affiliated with the National Alliance of Wound Care, El Colegio de Médicos Cirujanos de Puerto Rico, and the Oficina de Regulación y Certificación de Profesionales de la Salud (ORCPS).

Dr. Cardona is known for her caring and compassionate approach to medicine. She takes time to listen to her patients, understand their needs, and partner with them to improve their health and well-being. Her philosophy is simple — to treat every patient like family and help them live healthier, happier lives.

Family Medicine

Dr. Lazaro holds a Doctorate in Medicine from Cuba (1993) and specialized in Family Medicine (1999) and Endoscopy (2009) through the Higher Institute of Medicine in Camaguey. With over 20 years of medical experience, he served as Head Physician in Guatemala (1999-2001) and Venezuela (2003-2007).

In 2023, Lazaro completed his Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from Miami Regional University, gaining substantial clinical experience in Primary Care. Additionally, he has been a Certified Risk Coder and Certified Professional Medical Auditor for the past 8 years.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Lazaro is passionate about building long-term, trusting relationships with his patients, focusing on their well-being and helping them lead healthy lives.

Family Medicine

 Graduated with Doctor of Medicine and diplomate in Intensive Care from the Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Villa Clara, Cuba in 2011.

In the United States, he has graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program from the Miami Regional University. He is nationally certified and Florida State-Licensed Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with extensive clinical experience in Cardiology. Manuel has taken care of the geriatric population since 2019; and he is currently a Cardiovascular (CV) Team member of The American College of Cardiology. Manuel has excellent communication skills and a proven patient satisfaction record. He speaks both English and Spanish Fluently.

Family Medicine

Dr. Victor Almanzar, MD, attended medical school at Universidad Central Del Este (UCE), a private university in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, in 2007. He completed his internship at Hospital Buen Samaritano in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

He specializes in general medical practice/family medicine and has been practicing for 18 years. Additionally, Dr. Almanzar holds an associate degree in Respiratory Therapy from Antillean Adventist University in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, earned in 1998, and practiced for 15 years. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. 

Family Medicine

  Dr. Fatima Ruiz is a bilingual Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in the medical field, caring for patients with dedication and compassion. She began her career as a physician in Venezuela in 1995 Graduating from Carabobo University and later continuing her journey in the United States, earning her Master of Science in Nursing (FNP) with highest honors.

Her professional background includes over 7 years caring for patients at Miami Jewish Health and for 3 years working alongside excellent colleagues at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.
She has extensive experience in Primary Care, Cardiology and Internal Medicine. Her patients in Miami value her professionalism, kindness, and commitment to their well-being — the same quality of care she is proud to now bring to the Sebring community.

Fatima believes in treating the whole person, focusing not only on illness but also on prevention, education, and helping patients live healthier lives. She is fluent in English and Spanish, making her care accessible to diverse families. Her goal is to build lasting relationships with her patients and provide the highest level of care to the Sebring community.
 

Family Medicine

 Dr. Willma L. Padró is a dedicated primary care physician with extensive experience caring for patients in both Puerto Rico and Central Florida. Throughout her career, she has embraced diverse opportunities within the medical field, including more than a decade of service as a staff physician and, subsequently, as a Medical Director with the Florida Department of Corrections, where she provided leadership and medical oversight across multiple correctional facilities.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Padró earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Antillean Adventist University, where she developed a deep commitment to serving others and caring for those in need. This passion for service inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. She later earned a Master’s degree in Family Relationships from Montemorelos University in Nuevo León, Mexico, followed by her medical degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Dr. Padró completed her clinical training at Hospital Bella Vista in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, before relocating to Florida in 2004. Since then, she has continued to build a diverse career in primary care and medical leadership, gaining experience in a variety of clinical settings and serving patients from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Padró values spending quality time with her family, traveling, discovering new places, and serving her church community. She is also passionate about lifelong learning and personal growth. She recently began learning to play the cello and continues to pursue an additional degree in psychology.

Dr. Padró believes that every day is a blessing and strives to bring compassion, dedication, and a genuine commitment to serving others into every aspect of her life and work.