Juana-Maria Montero-Bernaldez, MD

Lina Augius, M.D., MPH, is a board-certified psychiatrist at Baptist Health Brain & Spine Care | FIU. She has nearly two decades of clinical experience in academic, public and private settings. Her clinical interests include mental health of transitional age youth and women, cultural psychiatry, integrative psychiatry and collaborative care. As an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Dr. Augius is training the next generation of physicians. She also serves as the director of psychiatry and behavioral health for FIU’s Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program, also known as NeighborhoodHELP. Dr. Augius is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Integrative Health and Medicine. She is a member of American Psychiatric Association and the Florida Psychiatric Society. Dr. Augius earned her medical degree and a master’s degree in public health at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine. Her post-doctoral training includes a residency in adult psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. As a clinician, Dr. Augius combines her expertise in psychopharmacology with integrative health practices to optimize treatment outcomes for patients. She strives to create a space where every person feels seen, heard and valued, free from judgment. Her goal is to give patients hope and empower them to move toward greater self-understanding, resilience and wellbeing. Dr. Augius is fluent in English and Lithuanian and speaks conversational Spanish. During her spare time, she enjoys bicycling, recharging by the ocean, traveling with friends and family and supporting the arts.

Aron Berkman, M.D., Ph.D., is a board-certified oncologist at Baptist Health Medical Oncology | FIU. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors and benign and malignant hematologic disorders and has more than 45 years of experience. Dr. Berkman is the founding chief of medical oncology and an associate professor of translational medicine at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He also serves on several university advisory committees. Dr. Berkman has participated in clinical trials involving new drugs for the treatment of lymphoma and small cell lung cancer. His work has been published in high-impact medical journals and presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Berkman earned his medical degree and a Ph.D. in pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed an internal medicine residency at Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a medical oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, both located in Baltimore, Md. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Committed to providing patient-centered care, Dr. Berkman establishes trusting physician-patient relationships with his patients and gives them the time they need to understand their medical diagnosis and treatment options and express their concerns. He also utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, helping patients realize that they are not alone in facing their medical problems. Dr. Berkman is fluent in English and conversational in Spanish and Yiddish. When he is not working, he spends time with his family members, grandchildren and Golden Retriever. He enjoys classical music, playing the piano, watching sports and cheering for the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Commanders.

Shweta Akhouri, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician at Baptist Health Primary Care | FIU. She specializes in primary care, obesity medicine, population health and women’s health. In addition to treating patients at FIU Health, Dr. Akhouri serves as clerkship director of family medicine and associate professor of medical education at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. She also oversees student community household visits through the Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP). Dr. Akhouri is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and serves as a regional leader for the American Medical Women’s Association. Dr. Akhouri earned her medical degree at St. Matthews University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman and completed a family medicine residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. As an obesity medicine physician, Dr. Akhouri strives to offer care that is free from bias and stigma, ensuring a supportive environment for all patients. Her goal is to build long-lasting relationships based on trust and empower patients to play an active role in their healthcare. Dr. Akhouri is fluent in English and Hindi. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and reading fiction.