 |
Eight internal resident doctors were among the 16 resident doctors who graduated from AdventHealth Sebring's Graduate Medical Education program. (Photo of Internal resident doctors and AdventHealth doctors.)
(photo courtesy: Infinity Reflections) |
|
SEBRING, Fla. (Monday, June 30, 2025) -- AdventHealth Sebring recently honored the first graduating class of Internal Medicine resident doctors. The eight residents have completed a three-year program, and half plan to stay in the area to practice medicine.
AdventHealth Sebring also recently celebrated eight family medicine resident doctors who completed the program. Many of them have also committed to staying in the community.
This is the second group of Family Medicine resident doctors to graduate from the program. AdventHealth Sebring Chief Medical Officer Dr. Victoria Selley said the resident doctors have inspired innovation at the hospital.
“The ability to research and bring in new technology has been wonderful. For the last two years, we’ve been able to recruit physicians to stay in our area, allowing us to expand services in Wauchula, Lake Placid, Avon Park and Sebring. It has been amazing. It allows us to provide more whole person care to our patients in rural communities and it has been really beautiful,” Dr. Victoria Selley said.
Dr. Sheila Hernandez is one of the graduating Family Medicine resident doctors. She has committed to working for AdventHealth for the next three years, attending to patients in Avon Park.
“My time as a family medicine resident at AdventHealth Sebring has been an incredibly fulfilling chapter in my medical journey. It has been an honor to care for the Highlands County community and to be a part of a healthcare team that values compassion, collaboration, and continuous learning,” Dr. Sheila Hernandez said.
Born in Cuba and a resident of Miami for many years, Hernandez studied at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Davie, FL. She is bilingual and is also accepting new patients.
AdventHealth Sebring also received approval to increase the number of Internal Medicine resident doctors it can accept into the program. This July, 15 new Internal Medicine resident doctors will begin training at the hospital, nearly doubling its capacity.
“We’re grateful to have more resident doctors on campus. Their thirst for knowledge inspires physicians already attending to patients to continue their own education, as they’ll be assisting residents with research. As a result, all of the healthcare providers will discover new ways to provide healthcare and improve operations,” said Dr. Thomas Shimshak, program director of the AdventHealth Sebring Internal Medicine Residency Clinic.
Eight Family Medicine resident doctors will also begin the program in July.
Graduate Medical Education programs like these help address the physician shortage in Florida, which the Florida Hospital Association projects will reach 36,000 by 2035. AdventHealth's GME programs aim to grow the physician pipeline to meet Florida’s increasing demand for doctors, particularly in rural areas and within specialties where there is a shortage.
“Over the course of the next five years, AdventHealth Sebring will graduate more than 100 residents,” said Dr. Pamela Knickerbocker, program director of the AdventHealth Sebring Family Medicine Residency Clinic. “That goes a very long way in helping with the physician shortage and delivering care to our communities.”
To learn more about the services AdventHealth Sebring provides, click here.
To learn more about AdventHealth Sebring residency programs, click here. |
|
|
 |
AdventHealth Sebring Family Medicine graduates and residents at the graduation ceremony.
(photo courtesy: Armando Velasco and Santos Lopez) |
|
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Lauren Rozyla-Wong
AdventHealth West Florida Division
Senior Manager of Media Communications
m: 813-928-3526 | e: lauren.rozyla-wong@adventhealth.com
Beth Tunis
AdventHealth West Florida Division
Media Communications Specialist
AH Wesley Chapel, AH Zephyrhills/Dade City, AH North Pinellas
m: 952-221-1753 | e: elizabeth.tunis@adventhealth.com
John Luti, Jr.
AdventHealth West Florida Division
Media Communications Specialist
AH Heart of Florida, AH Sebring, AH Lake Wales, AH Lake Placid and AH Wauchula
m: 863-272-1585 | e: John.Lutijr@AdventHealth.com
Want to join our media distribution list? Email lauren.rozyla-wong@adventhealth.com |
|
|
|
|
