Jose E. Garcia Jr., M.D., ’25, Named 2026 Distinguished Alumni
Tuesday, Apr 07, 2026
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science is excited to announce that Jose E. Garcia Jr., M.D., B.G.S. '25, has been named a 2026 Distinguished Alumni by the Florida Atlantic University Alumni Association. Together with other honorees, Dr. Garcia will be recognized on Friday, April 10, during the 2026 Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony and Reception.
Dr. Garcia began his higher education journey at Palm Beach Junior College and Florida Atlantic before earning his medical degree in 1987 from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
“It is truly an honor to be named a 2026 FAU Distinguished Alumni Award recipient,” said Dr. Garcia. “The College of Science provided me with an excellent foundation for the next stages of my academic journey and future career as a physician.”
As a physician, entrepreneur, and health care advocate, Dr. Garcia has remained dedicated to expanding access to quality medical care for underserved communities. In 1995, he founded American Care, Inc., a multispecialty physician group practice that has grown from a single office into 26 medical centers across Florida, that primarily serve low-income populations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Garcia’s company along with many other health care providers, experienced a shortage of workers. He launched an institute to train medical assistants, and in addition, gave scholarships to low-income students enrolled in the program, including FAU students.
Over the years, he has also shared his time and wisdom with Schmidt College of Science students. Most recently, he was a guest speaker at the college’s 2024 Pre-Health Professions Entrepreneurship Summit themed, “Mind Your Business,” where he spoke to students about how to open, manage and maintain a health care practice.
For current Schmidt College of Science students who are interested in pursuing a career as a physician or health care professional, Dr. Garcia shared this advice: “It is important to be consistent, persistent, inquisitive and pursue excellence.”