(BLACK PR WIRE) – MIAMI, FL – Health Foundation of South Florida elected Melida Akiti, Vice President of South Broward Community Health Services/Memorial Health System and Luther Brewster, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine & Society at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, to its Board of Directors. The Board leads Florida’s largest nonprofit philanthropy devoted to establishing South Florida as a leader in community health and prevention.

“Melida Akiti and Luther Brewster share Health Foundation’s vision to create a culture of health that enables residents in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Broward Counties to lead healthier lives,” said Health Foundation of South Florida Board Chairman Richard Laviña. “We are fortunate to have committed individuals whose expertise fortifies the impact we make in improving health.”

As Vice President of Memorial Healthcare System’s South Broward Community Health Services, Melida Akiti ensures that uninsured and under-insured residents within the South Florida Hospital District receive quality healthcare at their clinics, which serve as patient-centered, culturally sensitive medical homes. Her career includes credit for developing a strong behavioral health network for residents in Miami-Dade County suffering from severe and persistent mental illness and obtaining NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home Level 3 Recognition for all Memorial Health Systems’ primary care clinics.

Luther Brewster is an Assistant Professor of Medicine & Society at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, where he directs the development of community-based initiatives for the Department of Humanities, Health & Society. He also serves as Chief of the Division of Policy & Community Development and the Community Director of Green Family Foundation Neighborhood HELP ™, Dr. Brewster oversees the coordination of a broad network of more than 100 community partners and the recruitment and retention of medically underserved households for the College of Medicine’s home visitation educational activities.

Health Foundation of South Florida is a nonprofit grant making organization dedicated to improving health in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. By advancing health solutions, the Foundation makes a measurable and sustainable impact in ensuring access to affordable, quality health services for all residents. Since 1993, the Foundation awarded over $104 million in grants and program support. For information, please call 305.374.7200 or visit www.hfsf.org.