Medical Magnet Program

Students in the Medical Magnet Program will pursue rigorous academic courses in three distinct strands, Pre-Medicine, Allied Medical Sciences and Sports Medicine. The three strands prepare successful completers for further educational or career opportunities within the medical field.

Meet our Team

Ms. Debby Fries Furton Athletic Business Manager friesd@dadeschools.net	Graduate from Purdue University with a degree in Health and Safety Education with Community Health Education and Athletic Training minors.  She started her sports medicine career as a student at Purdue while working at Benton Central High School.  Prior to starting as an athletic trainer at Miami Sunset Senior High School, she served as an Athletic Trainer at Lafayette Jefferson and Miami Beach Senior High Schools. In addition to employment as an athletic trainer, Ms. Fries Furton interned as a health educator at Lafayette Home Hospital. While at Miami Sunset, she has been named Teacher of Year twice and Blood Drive Coordinator of the Year for One Blood.
Erin Cernuda MAGNET LEAD TEACHER ecernuda@dadeschools.net	Graduated with honors from Barry University with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. She then continued her education and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Ms. Cernuda worked in the field of athletic training for ten years prior to becoming a teacher. In 2016, Ms. Cernuda was named the “Gatorade Secondary Schools Athletic Trainer of the Year” and a finalist in the Strength and Conditioning Magazine “Athletic Training MVP” award. The following year she was named the Miami Dade County Public Schools Support Staff member of the year for the district. In the 2018-2019 school year she was named the Miami Sunset Senior High School Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Captain Robert Cernuda TEACHER	Class of 2002 alumn, Captain Cernuda is a firefighter/paramedic that currently works for City of Miami Fire Rescue. As an officer within the Fire Department, Captain Cernuda brings a weath of knowledge and experience to our Emergency Medical Responders Class. He enjoys working with students as well as volunteering during his personal time. He was the Captain for the City of Miami Fire Rescue Station 14 American Heart Association 5K team. He is an avid runner and holds the school record for the annual MSSH Turkey Run with Mr. Rivera following in second place. He is proud to return to his alma mater and train the next generation of First Responders.
Firefighter Daniel Ferrell TEACHER	Another Class of 2002 alumn, Firefighter/Paramedic Ferrell works full time for Miami Dade Fire Rescue. Firefighter Ferrell brings a different dynamic to our medical magnet staff as he has expertise in the following areas: emergency medical management, patient care, and communication. As an active member of the school community, Firefighter Ferrell not only serves the community as a First Responder, but also through various service projects. His kindness and compassion for others shines through his teaching as he helps the next generation of First Responders to be better prepared for emergencies but also better equipped to be understanding and caring practitioners!

Academy Completions Guidelines

Students Applying To Enter A Magnet Program Must Qualify According To The District Wide Standards:

• 2.0 GPA or above in all core classes
• All core academic effort must be a “2” or “1”
• Students must not have excessive unexcused absences
• Students must demonstrate model student behavior at all times

Medical Magnet Program Strands

PRE-MEDICINE

The Pre-Medicine strand prepares students for coursework at the postsecondary level and establishes a strong foundation for future medical school students with project-based learning methods and a variety of laboratory techniques.

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ALLIED MEDICAL SCIENCES

The Allied Medical Sciences strand allows students to pursue interest in various allied health careers through the National Academy Foundation (NAF) Academy of Health Sciences (AOHS) curriculum. The AOHS curriculum engages students through a series of career exploration courses taken throughout their high school experience. All courses use project-based learning techniques with an emphasis on strengthening literacy, project management, leadership, and team building skills while fostering creativity and innovation.

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SPORTS MEDICINE

The Sports Medicine strand provides students with laboratory and real world field experiences through school-site internships with Miami Sunset’s athletic teams. The three strands prepare successful completer for further educational or career opportunities.

Medical Magnet Program Dress Code