Maria A. Suarez

Dr. Maria A. Suarez is a nationally recognized nursing leader and ANCC-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specializing in pulmonary and critical care medicine. As a medical investigator, Maria applies her extensive clinical, executive, and academic expertise to the evaluation of complex medical negligence cases.

She formerly served as Assistant Vice President of Nursing and Advanced Practice at Baptist Health South Florida and Miami Cancer Institute, where she was the Executive Sponsor of the systemwide Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Council. Maria joined Baptist Health in 1991 as a licensed practical nurse and progressed through roles including staff nurse, charge nurse, nurse manager, nursing faculty, and nursing executive.

Maria earned her A.S.N. from Miami-Dade Community College, graduated summa cum laude with a B.S.N. from Florida International University, completed an M.S.N. in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track at Barry University, and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Nova Southeastern University.

She serves as adjunct nursing faculty across multiple nursing programs and provided executive strategic leadership for the development and delivery of the Baptist Health Scholars Program. Maria also spearheaded the creation of advanced practice fellowship programs for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to strengthen workforce pipelines and advance academic and clinical excellence across nursing and advanced practice.

Maria’s professional honors include Baptist Hospital Unit Nurse of the Year, multiple Florida International University academic awards, the Nursing Spectrum Teaching Excellence Award, and Nova Southeastern University Corporate Partner of the Year. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations and is a past president of the Nursing Consortium of Florida, of which she currently serves on the board.