Meet Pedro Martinez-Clark, MD, FACC | Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pedro Martinez-Clark, MD, FACC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pedro, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2006, I moved to south to Miami, motivated by family ties and cultural affinity. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where I joined as faculty, was undergoing a transformative period, with the acquisition of a hospital and the recruitment of Dr. William O’Neil, a prominent figure in interventional cardiology. Working under Dr. O’Neil’s leadership, I had the chance to pursue my interests in medical innovation and entrepreneurship. We embarked on various projects, including developing percutaneous devices and techniques in interventional cardiology. Additionally, we conducted clinical trials and collaborated with physicians worldwide.
When Dr. O’Neil eventually left for Detroit, I stayed in South Florida despite the University of Miami feeling different without my mentor. This change at the University of Miami made me decide to establish my cardiovascular practice, now known as Amavita Heart and Vascular Health. Simultaneously, I focused on another project: clinical trials in Latin America. This endeavor led to the creation of bioaccess, a successful Florida-based medical device clinical research organization that promotes affordable medical innovation and research.

Since its inception in 2012, Amavita Heart and Vascular Health has experienced significant growth. We now have four locations in Miami-Dade County, including outpatient centers for procedures. Looking ahead, we have ambitious expansion plans set for the next 2-5 years. I take great pride in the success of bioaccess and its contributions to fostering medical innovation, as well as the growth and accomplishments of Amavita Heart and Vascular Health.

What should our readers know about your business?
Throughout my journey, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to explore different ideas. While many of my ventures were unsuccessful, I learned valuable lessons from those failures. Failures provide essential learning opportunities and can shape your mindset for future projects. These experiences taught me resilience and provided me with practical knowledge that I could apply to my next endeavor.
When I started Amavita Heart and Vascular Health, I had already encountered and learned from numerous setbacks. These failures gave me insights into various aspects of business and helped me develop a street MBA. Learning through experience, especially from failures, has been instrumental in my personal growth and development.

I realized that while being a good physician doesn’t necessarily guarantee success as a business owner, physicians must be involved in the business side of healthcare. After all, healthcare is a business that revolves around the relationship between patients and doctors. Unfortunately, doctors have lost significant control over the healthcare industry. I firmly believe that doctors should be in control or have a seat at the decision-making table regarding matters affecting physicians and patients. It is essential to regain and maintain a voice for physicians in shaping the future of healthcare.

In the field of cardiovascular medicine, there has been a noticeable trend toward consolidation, where many physicians are either individual practitioners or employed by hospital systems. This trend is prevalent in South Florida and across the industry.

Working for a hospital system can introduce inherent biases. For instance, if I, as a physician, am employed by the University of Miami, there might be a natural inclination to refer patients within the same system. It is simply more convenient for me to interact with physicians within my network. As a result, there is a possibility of overlooking the talent and expertise outside of that specific healthcare system.

On the other hand, at Amavita Heart and Vascular Health, we operate as an independent practice. We are not tied to any particular healthcare system, nor do we have loyalty to any specific system. Our primary commitment is to our patients. We are dedicated to providing the best possible care and service, prioritizing our patients’ well-being above all else.

As an independent, full-spectrum cardiovascular practice, we are not constrained by the limitations of a specific healthcare system. Our focus is on the patient’s needs, and we strive to refer them to the most suitable physicians, regardless of the healthcare system they are affiliated with. We don’t have any institutional affiliations or ownership. Our loyalty lies with the patient; our success is directly tied to their well-being and satisfaction.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami has a lot to offer. Walking around Brickell Ave and Brickell Bay Drive is perhaps the best way to experience Miami to its fullest. Along that walk, there are too many bars, restaurants, and shops to choose from.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed by having several mentors in my personal and professional life. Each of my mentors has played a huge role in shaping my career, and I still think about them daily. I think I have been good at taking the best traits of each of these mentors and incorporating them into my life. I also have to thank God for giving me a solid family foundation, starting with my powerful mother, my brothers, and above all, my healthy 15-year-old son, who is my primary source of inspiration.

Website: https://amavita.health/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amavita.health/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amavita-heart-and-vascular-health/