Norberto Benitez, MD

Originally from Santa Clara, Cuba, Dr. Norberto Benitez came to the United States at the age of 12 with his parents and sister. Settling in Miami, his father taught them the value of hard work and civic pride that was the driving force in both his children completing medical school and becoming physicians.

Dr. Benitez entered private practice in 1987 when he purchased a small pediatric office in Neptune Beach from Dr. Aleyda PiRoman. The practice eventually merged with Jacksonville Pediatric Associates and grew to include three offices during the next 18 years.

In 2005, Dr. Benitez left the senior pediatric partnership position he held at JPA to open 24/7 Pediatric Care Centers, the only 24/7 pediatric practice in the United States, fulfilling a long time dream of opening an office dedicated to round-the-clock care of children.

Dr. Benitez is a 1980 graduate of the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic. He completed a one-year family practice internship at St. Joseph Medical Center in New York and a three-year residency in pediatrics at University Hospital in Jacksonville.

He is also involved in missionary work in Peru, Panama, Bolivia, Guatemala and Jamaica.  He treated patients in Haiti arriving 10 days after the devastating earthquake in 2010 and founded Bright Eyes Uganda where his work has been instrumental in creating positive change in many ways in Uganda. Dr. Benitez has five children, and 5 grandchildren and resides in Jacksonville Beach with his wife Anna.