As a youth in his native Haiti, Dr. Rudolph Moise, DO didn’t have much luck with the girls.

He remembers the rejection that resulted largely from a common habit among small children.

“Growing up in Haiti, I used to suck my thumb for comfort,” says Moise. “Over the years, because of what I was doing, my front teeth were protruding and my peers were calling me a ‘beaver,’ making fun of me.”

Today, as a medical doctor and CEO of Comprehensive Medical Aesthetics, he is married, personally accomplished and committed to helping others overcome self-image issues like the one that hindered his development as an adolescent. Having “begged” his parents to get the dental work that ultimately improved his appearance, Moise’s confidence and motivation improved.

“Girls started looking at me and I developed a strong drive to succeed,” he says.

Moise’s journey from Haiti to North Miami, where his practice boasts a staff of 60, led him to recognition on Legacy South Florida’s Top Black Healthcare Professionals list for 2025. From physicians to corporate administrators, their efforts and initiatives impact countless numbers of lives and well-being.

“Oh, my God, I am so honored,” says Moise, “because there are so many outstanding providers who do great work in the community. I’m thrilled.”

Among Moise’s fellow 2025 Top Black Healthcare Professionals are Ryan Hawkins, MBA, the CEO of Miami-Dade County’s Jessie Trice Community Health System; and Dr. Nelson L. Adams, III, M.D., trailblazing obstetrician-gynecologist, who founded South Florida’s Maternal Child Health Initiative.

“I live by the mantra, which is biblical, ‘To whom much is given much is required,’” said Adams, who also received Howard University’s Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in 2025.

From solid parenting to schooling and other advantages early in life, the doctor calls serving the community an obligation resulting from privileges he received.

“I don’t want to miss an opportunity to complete the tasks that have been assigned to me,” adds Adams, whose North Miami office continues to serve expectant mothers.

Hawkins says he takes pride in the impact he is making.

“The most fulfilling part of my work,” he says, “is knowing that every day I have the privilege to make a meaningful difference in the very community that shaped me. From Liberty City to Hialeah, to Miami Gardens and every neighborhood in between, we’ve built a network of exceptional providers and dedicated staff — highly trained, deeply compassionate, and fully committed to serving our patients with excellence and heart.”

Hawkins also helped lead Jackson Health System and served as Jackson North Medical Center’s chief of staff and chief operating officer. Past roles also include deputy chief of staff for Miami-Dade County.

“It’s truly a blessing to be recognized by Legacy Magazine for the work my 350-plus teammates and I have the privilege to do each and every day,” Hawkins said. “I’m deeply honored to stand among so many incredible leaders who are using their gifts to make a lasting impact.”

Moise says it’s a joy to support patients in need of Comprehensive Medical Aesthetics’ help in becoming their best selves. Comprehensive Medical still has eight primary care providers, but specializes in treatment for issues from sunburn to sexual wellness.

      “I get positive feedback,” Moise adds. “You could save somebody’s life, but when you make them look good and feel good… they say, ‘Doctor, man, you are the best!’”

      Having already established himself as an attorney, U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and colonel – the highest rank awarded to an American of Haitian descent at the time – and even an actor, Moise says he gets a rare fulfillment by helping others gain the confidence he gained from aesthetic treatment.

“Making people feel good about themselves is even more rewarding,” he says. “My wife asks when I’m going to retire,” Moise added. “I’m having too much fun!”

Hawkins calls the support he facilitates through his role at Jessie Trice gratifying.

“This recognition isn’t just mine; it belongs to all of us who believe in the power of service, compassion, and faith in action. I’m grateful.”

Since the United States Public Health Service’s infamous “Tuskegee Experiment,” a 40-year study of untreated syphilis in Black men, sparked long-standing suspicion in the community, leadership like that of the men and women being honored among Legacy Magazine’s Top Health Care Professionals of 2025 has played a significant role in helping to restore confidence in healthcare.