David Alboukrek, MD, FACR
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Dr. Alboukrek was born in Mexico City and grew up in Guatemala, where he attended medical school. He went on to complete a family medicine residency program in Guatemala City before moving to the United States. He did a one year fellowship in Child Psychiatry at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, followed by a residency in internal medicine at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. He then completed a fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX. Before moving to Boca Raton in 1995, he was in practice with Berkshire Orthopedic Associates in MA.
Dr. Alboukrek is board certified in internal medicine and has been re-certified in rheumatology. He has been a member of multiple medical societies in the USA and abroad. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. He is a member of the Florida Medical Association, Florida Society of Rheumatology, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society. He has had active roles in the Osteoporosis Diagnostic and Treatment Center of South Florida and the RASF-Clinical Research Center, and has provided care to indigent patients at the Whelton Virshup Creaky Joints Arthritis Clinic for many years. Dr. Alboukrek is an Affiliate Clinical Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, where he has been a preceptor for first and second year medical students, and participates in clinical activities such as elective rotations with the third and fourth year medical students and second and third year internal medicine residents. He is currently Chairperson of the Medical Staff Excellence Committee (peer review) at Boca Raton Raton Regional Hospital, where he previously served as Chief of Medicine from 2011 to 2013. He maintains privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center. When not at work he is most likely playing pickleball or ping pong somewhere. |
Shawn Baca, MD, FACR
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Dr. Baca grew up in Albuquerque, NM and obtained his undergraduate degree and medical degree at the University of NM in Albuquerque. He moved to Florida in 1987 and did his internal medicine training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. During his training, he was named intern of the year, given the Furlong award for outstanding performance by a medical resident, and served as chief medical resident. He did his clinical rheumatology and research fellowship at the University of Miami, with his research focused on osteoarthritis.
Dr. Baca has been practicing with Rheumatology Associates of South Florida since 1992. He is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, Florida Medical Association (FMA), Florida Society of Rheumatology, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society (PBCMS). He has served as treasurer on the medical executive committee of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He was elected by the FMA and serves on the Florida delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA). He currently serves as the Chairman of the South Florida Caucus to the FMA and was Chairman in 2017. For over a decade he has also represented patients and physicians of Palm Beach County and as a delegate to the FMA House of Medicine. He is Past President of the PBCMS, and has previously served as a Member at Large, Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. He has been the primary investigator of several clinical trials. He was a clinical assistant professor in the department of Rheumatology at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial hospital for several years and is currently an Affiliate Clinical Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. He also serves on the Continuing Medical Education Committee at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He maintains hospital privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center. Dr. Baca has been recognized over the years as a top doctor by Best Doctors in America, Super Docs, People’s Choice of the Award-Royal Women's Club of Boca Raton, Honor Your Doctor, Rotary Club Boca Raton, Palm Beach Illustrated and US News and World Report. He was honored as Physician Hero of the Year Palm Beach County by the PBCMS in 2019. He was also honored by the Arthritis Foundation in 2019 at their annual gala. He has participated in a free clinic (now the Whelton Virshup Creaky Joints Arthritis Clinic) since 1994 and is Past President of the Leadership Board of the Palm Beach County Arthritis Foundation. |
Joseph Forstot, MD, FACR, FACP
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Dr. Forstot grew up in Long Island, NY before moving to Buffalo to obtain his undergraduate degree at S.U.N.Y, where he graduated magna cumme laude. He then received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he also completed his internship and residency training. He did his clinical and research fellowship in rheumatology at University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver, Colorado. He has been practicing rheumatology in Boca Raton since 1980.
Dr. Forstot is board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and American College of Rheumatology. He is a member of the Florida Medical Society, Florida Society of Rheumatology, and Palm Beach County Medical Society. He is a founding member of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and is the director of the Osteoporosis Diagnostic and Treatment Center of South Florida. He has been involved in clinical research since 1978, and is the director and primary investigator for the RASF-Clinical Research Center. In 1986, Dr.Forstot co-founded the Free Arthritis Clinic of South Palm Beach County (now the Whelton Virshup Creaky Joints Arthritis Clinic), servicing the indigent patient population of south Palm Beach and North Broward counties. He is the director of the clinic, and maintains an active volunteer role. Dr. Forstot is an Affiliate Clinical Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. He is the clinical coordinator for the Rheumatology-Musculoskeletal Section for the second year medical students, and a clinical preceptor for the students. He also sits on the admissions and credentials committees at the medical school. He maintains hospital privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center. In addition to his many medical leadership roles, he is Co-Founder and Director of the Boca Hoops youth basketball league, which was established in 1989. He also helped establish High-Five Basketball, the only recreational basketball program in the state of Florida for children and young adults with disabilities. He is an ardent Heat fan, and has had season tickets since the inception of the team in 1988. |
Ira Pardo, MD, FACR
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Dr. Ira Pardo is one of the original founders of Rheumatology Associates of South Florida. Since 1981, he has helped expand the practice by hiring physicians who are dedicated to superior patient care and ethical delivery of medical expertise.
Dr. Pardo was born in Brooklyn, NY, grew up in Massapequa, and graduated with high honors from the University of Rochester. His medical degree was received from SUNY Downstate, as was his residency in internal medicine. His Rheumatology fellowship was done at the University of Pennsylvania, and he remained on faculty there for an additional year. He is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. Dr. Pardo has been on staff on Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center (DMC) for more than 30 years. He is past chief of medicine at DMC. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, Florida Medical Society, Florida Society of Rheumatology, and the Palm Beach Medical Society. He is on the board of the Arthritis Foundation of Palm Beach County. He is an Affiliate Clinical Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Dr. Pardo has been instrumental in providing free care to indigent patients through the Whelton Virshup Creaky Joints Arthritis Clinic. He is involved in multiple charities including the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood, Jewish Community Center, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Morgan Pressel Foundation, and Israel Bonds. Dr. Pardo has been married for more than 30 years to Janie Rubin Pardo, and has one son. His passions are his family, his patients, his friends, and his golf. |
David Dillon, MD
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Dr. Dillon is a native South Floridian, having grown up in the Jupiter area. He received a BS in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a focus on Exercise Physiology from the University of Florida. He went on to complete his medical education at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University as a member of its inaugural class, graduating in 2015. He pursued his Internal Medicine training at the University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Hospital program. He completed his rheumatology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, serving as chief fellow in his final year. During his time in Charleston, his research interests included mortality disparities in patients with lupus as well as scleroderma. He was also involved in development of quality improvement interventions for patients with gout at the Miami VA Hospital during his residency training. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
When not at work, he enjoys playing and coaching lacrosse, fishing, and spending time with his wife and family. |