Health care businessman and philanthropist Mike Fernandez named 2018 Commencement speaker
| By Stephanie Weaver
Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, founder of MBF Healthcare Partners, will deliver the commencement address at Loyola University Maryland’s 166th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md.
Fernandez was born in Manzanillo, Cuba, where he and his family lived until they were forced to leave in 1964. After living in Mexico City for six months, the Fernandez family made their way to New York City. Fernandez attended Xavier High School, an all-boys Jesuit high school in New York, and then attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque before enlisting in the Army.
After his service in the Army, Fernandez began his career in the insurance field selling health insurance. A few years later, he started Group Tech System, the first national database on health insurance quoting programs. The company changed names and was acquired by a public trade. Since that time, he has been the founder of majority shareholder of many healthcare related companies, many of which have been acquired by publicly traded companies. Some of these include, Physicians Healthcare Plans, CAC Medical Centers, Prescribit Rx, CarePlus Health Plans, Navarro Pharmacies, and Hospitalists of America.
In 2014, Fernandez published his autobiography, Humbled by the Journey: Life Lessons for my Family… and Yours. He resides in Coral Gables, Fla., with his wife and five children.
In addition to serving on Loyola’s Board of Trustees, Fernandez also serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of Miami and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is on the Board of Directors of Mednax. Fernandez will receive an honorary doctoral degree from Loyola.
"Every year we try to identify a speaker who can give our graduating undergraduate and graduate students a message to carry with them as they leave Loyola," said Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., president. "This year, particularly with the conversations around DACA and American immigrants, Mike Fernandez will have a compelling story and important message to share with our community. He also speaks powerfully about making the most of the educational opportunities you encounter and working to give back to your community."
Also honored at Commencement will be J. Richard Fredericks, a member of Loyola's Board of Trustees, who will receive the Presidents Medal; Geraldine Johnson Geckle, ’74, who will receive the Carroll Medal, Rev. Frank R. Haig, S.J., who will receive the Newman Medal; and Immigration Outreach Service Center, which will receive the Milch Award.
More information about Loyola’s 2018 Commencement Exercises is available at loyola.edu/commencement.