2021 Graduates
Michelle Ayazo, MD
Hometown: Cape Coral, FL
Undergraduate Education: University of Miami (The U)
Medical School: The Florida State University College of Medicine
In Her Own Words
“The USF-MPM family medicine program has offered a comprehensive learning environment that has been exceptional for residency training. From excellent and caring faculty to the resident camaraderie, it is the perfect environment for learning and serving the community. I also love the area and all the activities that are available in Clearwater, St. Pete and Tampa. Throughout my time here, I have developed relationships with my co-residents, faculty and clinic patients that have allowed me to continue to grow and learn in both life and medicine. I am grateful to have the opportunity to train and serve the Clearwater community alongside my amazing fellow residents!”
About Dr. Ayazo
Dr. Michelle Ayazo was born in Bogota, Colombia, and later moved to Florida as a teenager. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in Neuroscience with a double minor in Chemistry and Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami (The U). She is proud to be a first-generation physician and is passionate about mentoring minority students pursuing medical professions.
During her medical school training at FSU COM, she was on leadership committees for FSU Cares, a community service organization and AMWA. Dr. Ayazo has continued to take on leadership roles during her residency training, she serves as moonlighting co-coordinator and has helped establish an integrative medicine interest group.
Dr. Ayazo has always harbored a passion for healthy and happy living and aims to instill those same personal values in her patients. Her philosophy and approach to optimal living resonates in how she practices medicine “wholistically.” She aspires to be her patients’ health care advocate and educator and equips her patients with the tools to be the leaders in their own personal health journeys. Her clinical interests include integrative and functional medicine, nutrition and weight management, women’s health, dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Her personal interests include working out (lifting weights, hot yoga and Pilates), healthy flavorful plant-based cooking, paddle boarding, dancing and traveling.
Nallely Barron-Garcia, MD
Hometown: Dodge City, Kansas
Undergraduate Education: Kansas State University
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
In Her Own Words
“This past year has been one of the most gratifying and exciting years of my life. Being able to join the USF-MPH Family Medicine Residency Program has been extremely rewarding. I’ve had the pleasure to work with great residents and faculty. Our program really allows us to become the physician we have envisioned when we started down this journey. I am looking forward to what is coming next. Also, I can’t forget about being able to experience all that sunny Florida has to offer.”
About Dr. Barron-Garcia
Dr. Barron-Garcia was born in Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico; however, she grew up in a small town in Kansas. During her last years of high school, she was involved in a program that allowed students to observe different health professions in her community. This experience is where she first saw the impact a family medicine provider has on their patients. It was during these formative years when she decided she wanted to be a physician. She attended Kansas State University, where she majored in Microbiology with a minor in Anthropology. She then attended medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she continued to cultivate her love for family medicine.
Dr. Barron-Garcia’s interest are in providing care for the underserved community, women’s health, research and advocating for minority and women who are pursuing careers in science. Dr. Barron-Garcia wants to instill the importance of preventive care into the multicultural community. During her undergraduate and medical education, she has acted as a mentor and participated in a variety of interest groups who aim to empower minority students and women to continue their higher education. Dr. Barron-Garcia hopes to continue to pursue her interests at USF-MPM.
In her spare time, Dr. Barron-Garcia enjoys spending time with her husband, their cat, her family and friends. She aspires to spend some time enjoying the vast activities that Florida provides and do some traveling.
Margaret Louise Hebert, MD
Hometown: Lafayette, LA
Undergraduate Education: Louisiana State University
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport
In Her Own Words
“I am beyond excited to be joining the USF-MPM Family Medicine Program! During interview season, I wanted a program that not only strived in clinical knowledge and teaching, but also made me feel like I was part of one big family. After my interview, there was no denying I had found that in this program. Opening up my letter on Match Day and seeing where I matched was a feeling like no other!”
About Dr. Hebert
Dr. Hebert grew up in southern Louisiana – an area they call “Cajun Country.” From an early age, she had a passion for science and health care, having grown up around multiple family members who were in the medical field. She had always felt drawn to help people and serve the greater good as a result of her culture and upbringing in the South. Even before medical school started, she knew that Family Medicine was the perfect fit for her.
Dr. Hebert earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Philosophy at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. While at LSU, she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, where she served in their philanthropy to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During medical school, Dr. Hebert was very active in the Family Medicine Interest Group at LSU-Shreveport and served as president in her final year, learning the ins and outs of what it means to be a leader in medicine. She also spent her time volunteering to help the underserved populations in north Louisiana.
Dr. Hebert has a particular interest in integrative medicine, specifically in incorporating nutritional health, mind-body medicine and acupuncture into her future practice. In her spare time, she enjoys taking her dog to Honeymoon Island Park, going to the beach and trying out new restaurants in the Tampa Bay area – all with her fiancé, Josh. She is also an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers, and has now joined Tampa Bay Lightning fan base as well.
Justin Hubenak, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Education: University of Colorado
Medical School: Texas A&M College of Medicine
In His Own Words
“My draw to USF Family Medicine Program, in short, was being blown away by the passionate clinical staff, and an overall “fit” that is difficult to describe. As a graduating medical student, I made a list of attributes I valued in program. This included university support for research, diverse patients, support for relevant electives, and a program with strong ties to the community. These boxes were all checked off and more. As an intern, there was never a time that I felt abandoned and everybody worked well as a team. As an added bonus, the location couldn’t get any better!”
About Dr. Hubenak
Dr. Hubenak is originally from Texas; however, he grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where he worked his way through college as an ASE-certified mechanic. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Colorado. His devotion to serve others began young, where he was active in Scouting and achieved the rank of Eagle, providing help to the Red Cross as part of his service project. During his college years, he hired and trained those less fortunate and worked with individuals in recovery to obtain career skills. Dr. Hubenak returned to Texas after his undergraduate degree to research full time at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the field of tissue engineering. He has multiple peer-reviewed publications ranging from targeted nanoparticle drug delivery, to stem cell research for tissue regeneration, which he has presented at conferences across the US from Miami to Hawaii. His experience at MD Anderson working with physicians and researchers alike ultimately encouraged him to follow through with his passion for medicine, completing his medical degree at Texas A&M College of Medicine (Gig ‘em!). He is drawn to the wide scope of practice and variety that makes up Family practice, and the ability to continue serving those in need.
In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of hobbies including hiking, biking, motorcycles, running, skiing and snowboarding. He has been working on adding snorkeling to this list while in Florida. In addition, he continues to enjoy tinkering with electronics and mechanics, is an avid sports fan, and has been known to catch an occasional beach sunburn.
Ainslee Juarbe, MD
Hometown: Pembroke Pines, FL
Undergraduate Education: University of Florida
Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, SELECT Program
In Her Own Words
“When choosing a residency program, my mentor advised me to find a place that would make the 1,000 days of residency worthwhile. I sought a program that combined the feel of a community hospital with the support of an academic institution. I also wanted a place that would support my interests in physician leadership, underserved populations and performing arts medicine. So far, I’ve had an incredible learning experience and I could not be happier with the help and support from faculty, residents and especially my patients. I feel so welcome and am glad I made the choice to be here. I’m excited for what the next two years will bring!”
About Dr. Juarbe
Dr. Juarbe was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Anthropology, she attended the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and became a graduate of the SELECT program, studying in both Tampa Bay and Allentown, PA. During her training, Dr. Juarbe participated in research with the Ponce School of Medicine partnership Outreach Core and Hospital Damas in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
In line with her passions for physician leadership, Dr. Juarbe was selected to be one of 30 physicians in the country to participate in the AAFP Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute, where she will continue building skills to become a leader in Family Medicine. She also has a strong interest in sports medicine and was actively involved in multiple mass participation events, including a Half IRONMAN and several Walt Disney World Marathons, where she was the only physician bike medic. Her other interests in medicine include wilderness medicine and women’s health.
In her spare time, Dr. Juarbe enjoys baking for her co-residents, drawing, swing dancing, cycling, eating at new places and spending time with family and friends.
Alexandra Lawson, MD
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Undergraduate Education: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
In Her Own Words
“I was searching for a residency program that had the feel of a community program, but the support of an academic institution, and I definitely found that at USF-MPM. I was fortunate enough to complete a rotation at USF-Morsani College of Medicine during my fourth year of medical school, and I learned first-hand how fun and hard-working the residents are, and how supportive the faculty is. I am so grateful I matched here, and I am looking forward to getting to know better the Clearwater-St. Petersburg-Tampa community.”
About Dr. Lawson
Dr. Lawson always enjoyed science and helping people, and though it seems like a cliché, becoming a physician was the best way she felt she could do both. In undergraduate school, she studied Chemistry with a French minor, in hopes of one day working with Doctors without Borders. In medical school, she pursued a dual-degree MD/MPH, with intentions of using her public health background to better support her community and be involved in research throughout her career. Outside of medicine, Dr. Lawson is a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, even when they are not having good years. She loves living in St. Petersburg-Clearwater area with her husband and her dog.
Adeeb Rohani, MD
Hometown: Seminole, FL
Undergraduate Education: University of Florida
Medical School: Florida International University
In His Own Words
“Becoming a resident at USF-MPM has always been a dream for me since high school. The ability to be part of such a compassionate and innovative program has always driven me to better myself, so that I could match the standards of this program. My time so far spent with both the faculty and staff has been remarkable and will likely have a profound impact on my ability to practice as a competent physician in the future. I am ecstatic that I was able to match into this family medicine program and am excited to learn from some of the finest physicians and colleagues in the area.”
About Dr. Rohani
Dr. Rohani grew up locally in the Clearwater area and had always had a drive to serve diverse and underprivileged individuals through health care and policy. Having grown up in a family that was devoid of financial resources, he set out to be able to help his local community in any manner possible.
Dr. Rohani completed his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. During his time there he held multiple leadership positions with a focus on fundraising for local non-profit organizations as well as the development of community service groups for youth in the area. Afterwards, he had spent his time in medical school at Florida International University, furthering his passion for helping the underserved. He volunteered for multiple organizations and free clinics to help those in his local community. In addition, while spending time at his medical institution he developed a passion for quality improvement, medical education, public health and health policy. At this time, Dr. Rohani has been part of multiple medical education initiatives at his medical school and presented multiple posters on quality improvement projects.
Overall, Dr. Rohani’s primary passion and goal entails helping those around him in any manner possible related to health care as well as inspiring others to help the underserved.
Andrew Sprouse, MD
Hometown: Bixby, OK
Undergraduate Education: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
In His Own Words
“This residency program simply checked all of the boxes. I knew as soon as I rotated here during the fall of my fourth year, that this place was where I could achieve my residency goals. The forward-thinking mindset coupled with a culture of balancing challenge and support makes for an ideal environment to learn, practice and improve. The academic connection paired with the community application was an initial draw, but the support for an autonomous approach was the dealmaker.”
About Dr. Sprouse
Dr. Sprouse grew up in the small town of Bixby, OK, just south of Tulsa. He is fortunate enough to have a wonderful younger sister, who is currently in medical school, loving parents, and grandparents who have always provided an excellent support network.
Dr. Sprouse completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK, where he majored in Entrepreneurship and Venture Management and completed a Chemistry minor. After living and working in Houston, TX, at a startup oncologic hospital, he returned to Oklahoma to complete medical school at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Dr. Sprouse has specific interests in alternative models of primary care, point-of-care ultrasound and sports medicine. He enjoys walking with his dog, Penny, and traveling to new places with his wife. He is an avid soccer, football and basketball fan and also enjoys fishing and boating.