Yogi Hernandez Suarez MD, MBA, FACOG

Dr. Yogi Hernandez Suarez is Founding Vice Provost for Population Health and Well-being at Florida International University. As one of South Florida’s anchor institutions, FIU plays a central role in generating, sharing, and implementing knowledge that promotes health and well-being. FIU endeavors to graduate students who are responsible for their own health and who support and advocate for the health of their community. Answering directly to the Provost, Dr. Hernandez Suarez works collaboratively and across disciplines to incorporate health promotion and literacy into all aspects of student culture, administration, operations, and academic mandates. She is also Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Affairs in the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and serves as a strategic consultant to FIU’s community-based Academic Health Center.
Dr. Hernandez Suarez has been a physician leader in Miami for almost 20 years, with positions in private, public, academic, and hospital settings. Her first role in leadership was in the Jackson Health System where she advanced to serve as Chief Administrative Officer of Ambulatory Services. Imprinted by her time in the safety net, she has spent her career building value for patients, providers, and learners through public- private partnerships, inclusive practice models, and community relationships. Most recently, Dr. Hernandez Suarez was Vice President for Clinical Innovation for Conviva Care Solutions, a managed care subsidiary of Humana, Inc. where she led population health management for 250,000 seniors in a full risk model. She has received multiple awards for her leadership and was recently elected to the International Women’s Forum for her impact in healthcare.
Born and raised in New York City, she attended Swarthmore College and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. She holds a Master of Business Administration with specialization in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Miami. Dr. Hernandez Suarez is a first generation Cuban American whose parents came to New York in 1961. She is married to Dr. Jeffrey D. Simmons. They are the parents of twins, Gabriela and David. David is autistic; his journey fuels her unrelenting passion for the inclusion and well-being of special populations.