Educational Lunch & Learn for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue at St. Catherine’s West

Catholic Health Services (CHS) proudly welcomed 14 members of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) for a special visit and tour of St. Catherine’s West and Villa Maria West Skilled Nursing Facility.  The group included leaders from several MDFR stations, notably Battalion 13-A Chief Mike Edward, Station 28 Captain Jean Joseph, EMS 54 Captain Tyrone Wilson, and Battalion 14 Captain Tracy McGill.

Coordinated with the help of Captain Joseph, this rare gathering brought together personnel from Rescue 1, Rescue 28, Rescue 44, EMS 54, and Battalion 14. The visit served as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships between emergency responders and CHS’s healthcare providers.

Anais Gomez, Administration for St. Catherine’s West, led the tour and provided an overview of CHS’s full continuum of care. The visit included a walkthrough of the campus, with a focus on outpatient rehabilitation services such as aquatic therapy. During the tour, the team was also introduced to Arianne Martinez and Christina Sierra, Directors of Nursing at the West Campus.

“We explained the different levels of care available, including Catholic Home Health,” said Figueredo. “They were particularly interested in our Stroke Certification and support group, which is open to patients and community members alike.”

The firefighters expressed heartfelt appreciation for the visit, calling it “educational and eye-opening.” They praised the facilities’ cleanliness, maintenance, and the warm, welcoming environment created by CHS staff.

While getting multiple MDFR stations together is no small feat, the success of this visit sparked interest in replicating the experience for other units across the county.

“This was a job well done on all fronts,” said Captain Joseph. “It’s rare to get four stations in one place, but it was worth it.”

CHS looks forward to continued collaboration with first responders and building on the mutual commitment to serve the South Florida community with excellence and compassion.