CURRENT DEPARTMENT MEMBERS
Wilson Cueva, M.D.
Wilson C. Cueva, MD, is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in neurologic critical care and interventional neuroradiology. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, completed his internship at the University of Illinois, neurology residency, and neurocritical care fellowship at the University of Chicago, and interventional neuroradiology fellowship at Emory University.
During his training at Emory University, Dr. Cueva was part of the neurovascular team at Grady Memorial Hospital and the Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center, a high-volume comprehensive stroke center that played a pivotal role in landmark endovascular stroke trials, including the DAWN Trial.
He currently serves as program director of the Neurology Residency Program at Larkin Community Hospital South Miami Campus and as medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, leading clinical care, research initiatives, and resident education.
Roberto Sanchez, M.D.
Dr. Roberto Sanchez is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. He earned his medical degree from the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Villa Clara and completed his internship and residency training in internal medicine at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital–South Shore. He subsequently completed a neurology residency, followed by a vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System.
His clinical interests focus on the diagnosis, management, and prevention of cerebrovascular disease, and he is committed to delivering evidence-based, patient-centered stroke care.
Ariol Labrada, M.D.
Dr. Ariol Labrada is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in vascular neurology and neurocritical care. He completed one year of internal medicine and three years of neurology residency training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where he was selected as Chief Resident and recognized as Neurocritical Care Resident of the Year. Dr. Labrada completed a vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Labrada is board-certified in general neurology, vascular neurology, and neurocritical care.
Pamela Youssef, M.D.
Dr. Pamela Youssef is a board-certified neurologist. She completed her adult neurology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she served as Chief Resident. She grew up in Lebanon, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, and received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.
Dr. Youssef has experience managing a wide range of neurological conditions across the continuum of care, from acute and subacute settings to outpatient practice. During her training, she led multiple initiatives to improve patient care, hospital workflow, and medical student and resident education. She has been actively involved in research in epilepsy, stroke, and brain injury, and is passionate about teaching and mentoring future clinicians.
Adam Nassery, M.D.
Dr. Adam Nassery is a double board-certified neurologist and interventional pain management specialist. He completed medical school, residency, and a fellowship in interventional pain management at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. His research has focused on multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, cognitive neuroscience, and—most relevant to his current practice—cervicogenic headache and low back pain. A native New Yorker, Dr. Nassery was drawn to Miami due to the similarities between the patient populations in both cities. He is committed to delivering patient-centered care and strives to tailor each encounter to meet individual patient needs.
Mohan Deochand, M.D.
Dr. Mohan Deochand is a board-certified neurologist with over 30 years of experience, specializing in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and sleep medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Superior de Ciencias Médicas and completed a transitional year internship and neurology residency at Howard University, followed by a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Carrie Landess, M.D.
Dr. Carrie Landess is a board-certified neurologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Central del Caribe and completed neurology residency training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, followed by advanced fellowship training in neurophysiology and neuromuscular disease at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Landess has extensive clinical experience managing a wide range of neurologic conditions, including migraine, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and neuromuscular disorders.
Hector Lalama, M.D.
Dr. Hector A. Lalama is a general neurologist and neurophysiologist with more than three decades of experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of neurological disorders. Dr. Lalama is bilingual and fluent in both English and Spanish.
Dr. Lalama earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He completed a transitional year internship at Lancaster General Hospital, followed by a neurology residency and neurophysiology fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System. His extensive clinical experience and broad expertise in general neurology and neurophysiology allow him to deliver thoughtful, evidence-based care to a diverse patient population.
Simon Starosta Rubinstein, M.D.
Dr. Simon Starosta Rubinstein is a neurologist with subspecialty training in cognitive, movement disorders, and neuro-oncology. He received his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and completed his neurology residency at the University of Minnesota/Ramsey Medical Center. Dr. Starosta Rubinstein pursued advanced fellowship training in cognitive, movement disorders, and neuro oncology at the University of Michigan, where he also earned a master’s degree in clinical research design and Statistical Analysis.
He specializes in the diagnosis and management of Cognitive disorders, Parkinson’s disease, other movement disorders, and neurologic complications of cancer, combining clinical expertise with research-informed practice. Dr. Starosta Rubinstein is fluent in Spanish and committed to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered neurologic care across the lifespan.
Sayed Naqvi, M.D.
Dr. Sayed Z. Naqvi is a pediatric neurologist and co–medical director of the Inpatient Neurology Program at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute. He also serves as an assistant clinical professor of Neurology at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. Dr. Naqvi earned his medical degree from Khyber Medical College in Pakistan, completed pediatric residency training at the University of Oklahoma, and fellowship training in neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by advanced training in clinical neurophysiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Naqvi’s clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of medically refractory epilepsy, Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, infantile spasms, and pediatric neurologic emergencies requiring inpatient care. He is board-certified in child neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and epilepsy, and is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Child Neurology, the American Epilepsy Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Naqvi has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents his work at national and international medical conferences.
Stuart H. Isaacson, M.D., FAAN
Dr. Stuart H. Isaacson, MD, FAAN, is a neurologist and internationally recognized expert in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. He is the director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton. Dr. Isaacson has led extensive clinical research and drug development programs, authored hundreds of publications, and is known for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care.
He earned his medical degree from McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, completed his internship and neurology residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and pursued fellowship training in movement disorders at Mount Sinai, focusing on Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and atypical Parkinsonism. Dr. Isaacson is actively involved in clinical trials and research, advancing innovative treatments for movement disorders and promoting education through the Parkinson’s Research & Education Foundation.
Brian Steingo, M.D.
Brian Steingo, MD, is the Medical Director of the Boca Raton Multiple Sclerosis Center and a nationally recognized neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis and related neurologic disorders. He earned his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and completed residency training in neurology, pediatrics, and internal medicine at the Johannesburg Hospitals Complex.
He later completed additional neurology residency training at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and served as Chief Neurology Resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Steingo is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology, as well as the Broward County and Florida medical associations, and serves as Chairman of the Professional Advisory Committee for the South Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He has been extensively involved in clinical research, including numerous clinical trials evaluating biologic therapies for multiple sclerosis.
Matthew D. Kay, M.D.
Dr. Matthew D. Kay is a board-certified ophthalmologist with subspecialty expertise in neuro-ophthalmology, specializing in complex eye movement disorders, including strabismus. He practices primarily in South Florida, serving patients in the Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach areas, and is widely recognized for his experience managing challenging neuro-ophthalmic conditions. Dr. Kay earned his medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and completed a transitional year internship and ophthalmology residency at Rush University Medical Center. He pursued advanced fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Wills Eye Hospital.
Dr. Kay also serves as Program Director of the Larkin Community Hospital/LECOM Ophthalmology Residency Program, an ACGME-accredited program, where he is dedicated to resident education and academic excellence.
Aizik L. Wolf, M.D.
Dr. Aizik L. Wolf is a board-certified neurosurgeon recognized internationally as a pioneer in stereotactic radiosurgery, including Gamma Knife treatments for brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, and movement disorders. He is the founder of the Miami Neuroscience Center and serves as Medical Director at Larkin Hospital, where he is known for his innovative surgical techniques, exceptional patient care, and contributions to neurosurgical education.
Dr. Wolf earned his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences with honors from the University of Chicago and graduated summa cum laude from Yale School of Medicine. He completed a transitional year internship at Hennepin Healthcare and neurosurgery residency training at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. He received specialized Gamma Knife radiosurgery training at Brown University under Dr. Christer Lindquist. Throughout his career, Dr. Wolf has performed thousands of complex procedures and published extensively in the field of neurosurgery.
Ali S. Malik, D.O.
Dr. Ali S. Malik, DO, is a board-certified physician specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) with fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management and Sports Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his PM&R residency at Larkin Community Hospital, and pursued advanced fellowship training in Pain Medicine and Sports Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Mouhanna Joseph, M.D.
Dr. Joseph E. Mouhanna is a board-certified anesthesiologist and fellowship-trained Interventional Spine and Pain Specialist based in South Miami, Florida. He earned his medical degree from St. Joseph’s University Medical School and completed a transitional year internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida, followed by an anesthesiology residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System. He subsequently completed fellowship training in Pain Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Mouhanna is recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive spine procedures and interventional pain management. He has extensive clinical experience, contributes to research in pain medicine, and serves as Program Director for Pain Medicine Fellowship at Larkin Community Hospital, providing mentorship and education to the next generation of pain specialists.
Gustavo Ferrer, M.D.
Dr. Gustavo Ferrer is a board-certified critical care pulmonologist. He earned his medical degree from the Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and completed his internal medicine residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, followed by a fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Ferrer has over 20 years of experience treating a wide range of respiratory conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, and is known for delivering patient-centered, comprehensive care and practice of sleep medicine.
Gerardo Ferrer, M.D.
Dr. Gerardo Ferrer, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in addiction, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders. He serves as the Attending Psychiatrist at Larkin Community Hospital and is the Program Director for the Larkin Psychiatry Residency Program. Dr. Ferrer is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care while training the next generation of psychiatrists.
George Michel, M.D.
Dr. George John Michel is a board-certified internist with over 30 years of experience. He serves as Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Chairman of Internal Medicine, and Medical Director of the Larkin Multispecialty Clinic at Larkin Community Hospital.
Dr. Michel earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Miami – Jackson Memorial Hospital. He is affiliated with Larkin Community Hospital and South Miami Hospital and is recognized for his dedication to patient care, medical education, and hospital leadership.
Robert J. Hernandez, M.D.
Dr. Hernandez is a board-certified infectious disease specialist with more than a decade of experience in the diagnosis and management of complex infectious conditions. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and provides comprehensive, evidence-based care across a broad range of infectious diseases.
Dr. Hernandez earned his medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. He completed his internal medicine residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Mount Sinai Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Westchester Medical Center. His training and clinical expertise support high-quality patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Pedro Jose Valdes, D.O., FACC
Dr. Pedro José Valdes is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with extensive experience serving the South Florida community. He completed his internship, residency, and two fellowship programs at Palmetto General Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident, Co-Chief Cardiology Fellow, and Chief Interventional Cardiology Fellow.
Known for his dedication to evidence-based, compassionate care, Dr. Valdes has focused on improving cardiovascular outcomes for underserved and minority populations, building strong patient relationships along the way. Bilingual and highly committed, he currently serves as Interventional Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at Larkin Community Hospital, Palm Springs Campus.
