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Lakeland Regional Health has recently welcomed the following new providers to the medical staff. All providers listed below are accepting patients for care. Behavioral Health – Luis Rivera, LCSW Luis Rivera, LCSW, brings over 22 years of experience in mental health, specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational issues. He is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has a strong background in case management and clinical supervision. Rivera provides compassionate care in both English and Spanish, creating a safe and empathetic space for healing and growth, emphasizing emotional awareness and effective coping skills. He earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut and his Bachelor of Arts from Inter-American University in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Rivera sees patients ages 9 and up at the One Lakeland Square location. For appointments, patients should call 863.687.1222. Family Medicine – Cristiane Arboleda, APRN Cristiane Arboleda, APRN, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in family medicine and telehealth care. She brings extensive clinical experience across primary care, internal medicine, cardiology, rehabilitation, and mental health settings. She has a strong focus on preventive care, chronic disease management, and helping reduce hospital readmissions through patient-centered, holistic care. Arboleda earned her Master of Science in Nursing from South University, where she completed both Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. She is board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Arboleda provides telehealth care through the Readmission Clinic. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000. Family Medicine – Ronald Wentworth II, APRN Ronald Wentworth II, APRN, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a strong background in trauma and emergency care. He has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare, including service as a U.S. Army Medic. He was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by his commitment to creating meaningful connections with patients and ensuring individuals from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, feel seen, respected, and supported throughout their care journey. Wentworth earned his Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Keiser University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Capella University. He is also certified in multiple advanced life support courses and emergency care certifications. Wentworth sees patients at the Gateway location. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000. Gastroenterology – Banke Agarwal, MD Dr. Banke Agarwal is a board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy and the treatment of pancreatic and biliary disorders. He performs advanced GI procedures, including ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), with a focus on diagnosing and treating complex digestive conditions. Agarwal earned his medical degree and completed his internal medicine training at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in India. He completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, in New York, followed by advanced fellowship training in gastrointestinal endoscopy at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has served in academic and leadership roles and has contributed extensively to research, education, and innovation in advanced endoscopy and pancreatic disease care. Agarwal sees patients at the One Lakeland Square location and the Medical Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.687.8335. Hematology/Oncology – Noman Ashraf, MD Dr. Noman Ashraf is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist specializing in the care of adult patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including thoracic and head and neck cancers. He earned his medical degree with honors from The Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed his internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his subspecialty fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of South Florida/Moffitt Cancer Center. Ashraf sees patients at the TGH Cancer Institute | LRH Hollis Cancer Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.603.6565. Internal Medicine – Ernest Gilmore, MD Dr. Ernest Gilmore is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 30 years of experience providing comprehensive primary care for adult patients. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of common adult illnesses and chronic conditions, with a strong focus on preventive medicine and helping patients improve their long-term health and wellness. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. Gilmore sees patients at the Morrell location. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000. Nephrology – Halie Toy, APRN Halie Toy, APRN, is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in nephrology. She brings a strong clinical background caring for adults and children with a wide range of health conditions and is committed to helping patients navigate their care with confidence and support. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from South University, where she completed her Family Nurse Practitioner training. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Galen College of Nursing. Toy sees patients at the Grasslands Campus and the Medical Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000. ### About Lakeland Regional Health Not-for-profit Lakeland Regional Health reaches beyond its hospital walls to promote wellness, education, and discovery in new places and new ways, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at its Medical Center, Tampa General Cancer Institute | Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center, and ambulatory care locations. Lakeland Regional Health earned Most Wired Advanced and Most Wired status 10 times since 2013 and has earned workplace awards from Forbes, Gallup, and Becker’s Hospital Review. Its 910-bed comprehensive tertiary referral hospital, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, operates the Jack and Tina Harrell Family Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine; a Level I Trauma Center; the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children, which includes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine; and the Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness.
Lakeland Regional Health has recently welcomed the following new providers to the medical staff. All providers listed below are accepting patients for care.
Behavioral Health – Luis Rivera, LCSW
Luis Rivera, LCSW, brings over 22 years of experience in mental health, specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational issues. He is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has a strong background in case management and clinical supervision. Rivera provides compassionate care in both English and Spanish, creating a safe and empathetic space for healing and growth, emphasizing emotional awareness and effective coping skills.
He earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut and his Bachelor of Arts from Inter-American University in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Rivera sees patients ages 9 and up at the One Lakeland Square location. For appointments, patients should call 863.687.1222.
Family Medicine – Cristiane Arboleda, APRN
Cristiane Arboleda, APRN, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in family medicine and telehealth care. She brings extensive clinical experience across primary care, internal medicine, cardiology, rehabilitation, and mental health settings. She has a strong focus on preventive care, chronic disease management, and helping reduce hospital readmissions through patient-centered, holistic care.
Arboleda earned her Master of Science in Nursing from South University, where she completed both Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. She is board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Arboleda provides telehealth care through the Readmission Clinic. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000.
Family Medicine – Ronald Wentworth II, APRN
Ronald Wentworth II, APRN, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a strong background in trauma and emergency care. He has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare, including service as a U.S. Army Medic. He was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by his commitment to creating meaningful connections with patients and ensuring individuals from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, feel seen, respected, and supported throughout their care journey.
Wentworth earned his Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Keiser University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Capella University. He is also certified in multiple advanced life support courses and emergency care certifications.
Wentworth sees patients at the Gateway location. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000.
Gastroenterology – Banke Agarwal, MD
Dr. Banke Agarwal is a board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy and the treatment of pancreatic and biliary disorders. He performs advanced GI procedures, including ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), with a focus on diagnosing and treating complex digestive conditions.
Agarwal earned his medical degree and completed his internal medicine training at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in India. He completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, in New York, followed by advanced fellowship training in gastrointestinal endoscopy at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has served in academic and leadership roles and has contributed extensively to research, education, and innovation in advanced endoscopy and pancreatic disease care.
Agarwal sees patients at the One Lakeland Square location and the Medical Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.687.8335.
Hematology/Oncology – Noman Ashraf, MD
Dr. Noman Ashraf is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist specializing in the care of adult patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including thoracic and head and neck cancers.
He earned his medical degree with honors from The Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed his internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his subspecialty fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of South Florida/Moffitt Cancer Center.
Ashraf sees patients at the TGH Cancer Institute | LRH Hollis Cancer Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.603.6565.
Internal Medicine – Ernest Gilmore, MD
Dr. Ernest Gilmore is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 30 years of experience providing comprehensive primary care for adult patients. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of common adult illnesses and chronic conditions, with a strong focus on preventive medicine and helping patients improve their long-term health and wellness.
He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.
Gilmore sees patients at the Morrell location. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000.
Nephrology – Halie Toy, APRN
Halie Toy, APRN, is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in nephrology. She brings a strong clinical background caring for adults and children with a wide range of health conditions and is committed to helping patients navigate their care with confidence and support.
She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from South University, where she completed her Family Nurse Practitioner training. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Galen College of Nursing. Toy sees patients at the Grasslands Campus and the Medical Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000.
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About Lakeland Regional Health
Not-for-profit Lakeland Regional Health reaches beyond its hospital walls to promote wellness, education, and discovery in new places and new ways, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at its Medical Center, Tampa General Cancer Institute | Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center, and ambulatory care locations. Lakeland Regional Health earned Most Wired Advanced and Most Wired status 10 times since 2013 and has earned workplace awards from Forbes, Gallup, and Becker’s Hospital Review. Its 910-bed comprehensive tertiary referral hospital, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, operates the Jack and Tina Harrell Family Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine; a Level I Trauma Center; the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children, which includes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine; and the Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness.