Facing the Fears – and Humbled by the Journey – Every Step of the Way
29/03/2015 09:27am | 7829 viewsThe journey I write about in my book, “Humbled by the Journey: Life Lessons For My Family…And Yours,” began in May 1965 when I came to the United States from Cuba. I grew up in New York, and didn’t leave until going away to college at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. College life was short-lived; I was drafted into the army and spent three years in the service. By the time I got out, my parents had moved from New York to Miami, and that is how I ended up settling in this area. One of the reasons I say that I’m humbled by my journey is that you never know where it is going to take you. In this case, it took me to a place of great cultural diversity, where I was surrounded not just by other Cubans but many other influences – Argentinians, Venezuelans, Panamanians – you name it.
About the Author
Miguel (Mike) Fernandez currently serves as Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a private equity firm located in Coral Gables, Florida. The firm focuses on investing in healthcare service companies nationwide. He is married to Constance Fernandez and has five children.
Mr. Fernandez was Founder, President and CEO of Group Tech Systems, Inc., the first national database of group health insurance information. Founder and CEO of Comprehensive Benefit Administrators, Inc. (CBAI) which was sold to Ramsay-HMO (NYSE: RMO) in 1990. He served as Executive Vice President of Ramsay-HMO, Inc. from 1990 to 1992. Founder and CEO of Physicians Healthcare Plans, Inc., which was sold to AMERIGROUP (NYSE: AGP) in 2002. Founder and controlling shareholder of Prescribit Rx, which was sold to Humana (NYSE: HUM) in 2005. Founder and CEO of CarePlus Health Plans, Inc., which was sold to Humana (NYSE: HUM) in 2005. Founder and controlling shareholder of Atlantic Dental, Inc., a dental HMO, which was sold to Doral Dental in 2008. Founder and controlling shareholder of Hospitalists of America which was sold to IPC The Hospitalist Company (NASDAQ: IPCM) in 2008. Controlling shareholder of Medical Specialties Distributors, a value-add distributor of healthcare products, which was sold to a financial buyer in 2010. Controlling shareholder of Navarro Discount Pharmacies, the largest retail pharmacy chain in the U.S. focused on the Hispanic market, which was sold to CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) in 2014. Controlling shareholder of Nutri-Force Nutrition, a niche manufacturing and branded products company, which was sold to Vitamin Shoppe (NYSE: VSI) in 2014.
Mr. Fernandez currently serves on the Board of Directors of MEDNAX, Inc. (NYSE: MD). His community service endeavors include having completed the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela walk (a 501 mile walk from France to Spain) to benefit Miami Children’s Hospital and having raised over $1.5 million. He has served on the Boards of the United Way of Miami-Dade County, the University of Miami, the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Sylvester Cancer Hospital. Mr. Fernandez has been honored frequently with recognition for his business acumen. He was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.
He was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa by St. Thomas University. The degree recognizes outstanding achievements as a humanitarian, business leader and philanthropist. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1975.