Latina Cuban-American Healthcare Professional Gives Back
Meet Maria Teresa Planas, 2024 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Clinical Strategy & Practice Lead, CarePlus Health Plans
“Hispanic women must continue to empower, mentor and inspire other women to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams and goals both professionally and personally.”
In 1971, while seven months pregnant, Maria Teresa Planas’ mother made the difficult decision to leave her family to flee Cuba. First living in Spain before moving to the U.S., Maria and her mother struggled to find a place to call home before settling in Miami and reuniting with Maria’s father nine years later.
As a divorced single mother, Maria studied to earn her accreditation as an LPN.
Maria started her 20-year career with CarePlus first as a pre-certification nurse before transitioning to becoming a Field Case Manager.
Earning her BS and MA degrees from Barry University allowed Maria to climb the ranks at CarePlus.
In 2021, Maria completed the Disney Institute Perfect Experience program which helped earn her position as Clinical Strategy and Practice Lead focusing on population health by offering support to providers.
While working with the Miami Outboard Club, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other charities each Christmas season, Maria dresses as Mrs. Santa Claus and distributes thousands of toys to the underprivileged children of Centro Mater Little Havana, Centro Mater West and Centro Hispano Catolico in Wynwood.
To give thanks that her mother is a long-time cancer survivor, Maria has been a walk-a-thon team captain for Miami-Dade County raising $4,000 to benefit St. Jude Hospital. Maria’s also a wish granter/volunteer for Make-a-Wish of Southern Florida.
Through CarePlus, Maria has worked to help the senior community, and last year she became an active member of the Elderly Affairs Committee for Miami Lakes. She also serves on the board of Zonta Miami Lakes which is dedicated to improving the lives of women globally.
Her efforts have earned her the Humana Volunteer Recognition Grant, the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Commonwealth Award for Community Service, the Make-a-Wish South Florida Volunteer of the Year award and numerous other acknowledgements. 
The 2024 Honorees are:
MARIBEL FELICIANO – Broward Office of Economic & Small Business Development
MARY SOL GONZALEZ – Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative
CHRISTINA D/ELOSUA LAMBERT- Chief Adm. Officer Gordon & Partners, WPB City Commissioner
YOLY MAGANA-VALENCIA – Latinas Who Trade & Wealth with Yoly
TARLIKA NUNEZ NAVARRO – Dean, Professor of Law St. Thomas University College of Law
SUSAN NYAMORA – South Florida Wellness Network, President, CEO
KARINA PAVONE – Amigos for Kids, President CEO
MARIA T. PLANAS – Care Plus Health Plans,
RACHEL EUGENIA PINEDO – Foundation of the Americas/Global Philanthropy Society, Founder
SILVIA MARIA QUINTANA – Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Chief Executive Officer
LOURDES SANCHEZ-BRETON – United Badges of Honor Foundation, Founder & Firefighter
SANDRA NOEMI TORRES – United Latinas, Founder and CEO
2024 LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR
EMILY MARQUEZ-DULIN – -CEO, Brooke USA Foundation, a non-profit focused on providing aid to the to the developing world through economic and sustainable programs that advance the lives of people in equine dependent communities (600 million worldwide). A volunteer consultant for numerous charities and non-profit organizations as we
2024 UP & COMER HONOREE
TIFFANY ESCOBAR – Associate Attorney Beltran Brito Casamayor, LLP, Immigration & Nationality Law
Volunteer with Colombian Bar Association, Co-Founder of the Colombian American Student Bar Association and numerous community service activities.
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The 19th Annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity Luncheon
