Ave Maria Health Care Opportunities Close to Home

Southwest Florida’s fastest-growing community attracts a plethora of medical providers

Ave Maria’s growing list of medical providers has become a staple of conveniences for residents and surrounding community members looking for care not far from home. Recent arrivals of chiropractors, optometrists, women’s health specialists, hearing specialists, medical suppliers, and aesthetic medicine have met the growing demand for wellness services.

“The community requires a variety of health-specific needs, and it felt fitting to establish in Ave Maria because of that,” said Dr. Stephanie Olson of Family Chiropractic and Sports Rehab.

For many physicians and business owners, the decision to serve Ave Maria was also a love story, often finding their forever home with the mission of bringing their needed services to the town and surrounding areas.

“Ave Maria is like a big family. Neighbors know and help each other.”

Optometrist Luisa Del Toro, OD, knew she belonged in Ave Maria the first time she visited from Weston, FL, noting its peaceful atmosphere. She sold her busy south Florida practice, purchased a home, and opened Ave Maria Optical in late 2020 in the Ave Maria Town Center.
“Ave Maria is like a big family,” said Dr. Del Toro. “Neighbors know and help each other.”

Dr. Raul Enad established his concierge medical practice in 2022 and soon after moved into his new Ave Maria home with his wife and three daughters. His clinic specializes in internal, functional, regenerative, and aesthetic medicinal treatments. “It is my practice’s goal to bring a comprehensive approach to any illness and to offer in-depth testing to tailor a personalized treatment plan, thereby ensuring safe, affordable, and ethical wellness tools.”

Dr. Ana Garcia-Iguaran relocated to Ave Maria, attracted by the town’s values and the opportunity to make a difference in an area without women-specific health services.

“I’ve been in an urban setting for 15 years and felt my practice was stifled in some ways,” she said. “When I realized Ave Maria was so close to my Miami home, there was no hesitation in moving my practice to this community. This is a long-term commitment for me.”

NCH Healthcare System has announced the opening of an Immediate Care Center set to open in summer 2024 in Ave Maria’s Midtown Plaza. “Ave Maria’s growth has led to significant interest in new services wanting to locate within the community,” said Cee Cee Marinelli, director of development for Ave Maria. “To complement the continued residential growth, we look forward to providing more health resources to Ave Maria and the surrounding communities.”

Reposted from an article in Ideal-LIVING Magazine, 2023 Summer Issue – Best Places to Live