The Jessie Trice Community Health System (JTCHS), in partnership with the Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation (JTCHF), marked a new chapter in their commitment to advance primary care with the grand opening of the Annie R. Neasman Teaching and Research Annex and the official launch of the JTCHS Family Medicine Residency Program. The program is a significant step toward addressing the ongoing shortage of primary care providers.

The event, held at the JTCHS Dr. Fatima Zafar Health & Wellness Center, brought together JTCHS leadership, board members, staff, resident physicians, healthcare professionals, and community partners. Among the distinguished guests was Ms. Annie R. Neasman, former president and CEO of JTCHS, whose legacy in advancing teaching and research continues through the annex named in her honor.

“This residency program represents a major milestone; we are incredibly proud to open the doors to this next chapter in medical education at JTCHS,” says Ryan R. Hawkins, president and CEO of JTCHS. “By training the next generation of family physicians, we are building a healthier tomorrow for the communities we serve.”

Led by an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals, the JTCHS Family Medicine Residency Program offers a hands-on curriculum rooted in patient-centered care, population health, and service in underserved areas. “Residents who train at teaching health centers and federally qualified health centers are more likely to remain practicing in underserved areas,” says Dr. Joycelyn Lawrence, chief medical officer of JTCHS and designated institutional official for the program. “We are honored to mentor these talented residents as they grow into skilled, confident, and compassionate physicians.”

The program’s inaugural class features four outstanding residents who will receive hands-on clinical experience. Their training hub, the Annie Neasman Teaching and Research Annex, located at the JTCHS – Dr. Fatima Zafar Health & Wellness Center, will support interdisciplinary collaboration, patient-centered care, and community engagement. The annex also houses a growing portfolio of research and quality improvement initiatives, including projects focused on food security, diabetes care, hypertension management, and other vital health needs. “I’m proud to see the next generation being trained right here,” says Annie R. Neasman, former president and CEO of JTCHS.

Program leadership includes:

• Ryan R. Hawkins, President & CEO of JTCHS
• Joycelyn Lawrence, Chief Medical Officer of JTCHS and Designated Institutional Officer
• Arianne Cordon-Duran, Associate Program Director
• Gladys Opong-Tetteh, Institutional Administrator and FM Program Coordinator

The opening of the Annie R. Neasman Teaching and Research Annex and the launch of the Family Medicine Residency Program mark a significant step forward for JTCHS. By emphasizing education, practical training, and community care, JTCHS is strengthening its commitment to improving health outcomes in South Florida. Over time, this program will help expand the pool of skilled healthcare providers available to serve the community’s evolving needs.