A doctor, a dentist, and a computer engineer who left Cuba behind are now preparing chicharrones, designing marketing campaigns, and photographing clients in Miami. Their story was covered by journalist Javier Díaz in a report for Univisión Miami that depicts how three young Cubans traded the scalpel and keyboard for a food franchise.
Diego and Luis are brothers. Dayana is Diego's wife. The three of them acquired a unit of the Palacio de los Jugos located on Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami—a neighborhood with a diverse clientele: Americans, Central Americans, and Cubans—that opened on October 21 of this year.
Diego and Dayana have been in the United States for about four and a half years; Luis, for nearly three. "We have been here for almost four and a half years, and we are approaching five years in the country. My brother has been here for nearly three years. So, we saw it as an opportunity for growth," one of them recounts in the report.
The most emotional phrase in the material is spoken by someone who wore a white coat in Cuba: "I look at my coat and I feel like crying. It's reality."
Despite that emotional weight, the business is doing well. Luis, the group's doctor and main spokesperson in front of the cameras, describes the start straightforwardly: "We're doing great, thank God. As you can see, the place is full from the time we open until we close. This has been a blessing."
The trio didn't limit themselves to gastronomy. In addition to the Palace of Juices, they operate a marketing agency and a photography studio. Two of the three do not yet have permanent residency in the United States, which has not hindered them from undertaking ventures on this scale.
Luis summarizes his philosophy with a straightforward phrase: "Brother, you can never set limits for yourself. We are in the land of opportunities. We have to try to move forward and do everything we can."
His story is part of a broader and concerning phenomenon: the mass exodus of Cuban doctors. According to data from the Ministry of Public Health published in 2026, Cuba went from 106,131 registered doctors in 2021 to 71,635 in 2025, resulting in a net loss of more than 34,000 professionals in four years. In total, the healthcare system lost approximately 77,522 workers between 2021 and 2024, including nurses, technicians, and dental professionals.
The Cuban pediatrician Daniel Del Toro González pointed out in October of this year that many colleagues have left the hospitals to work in small and medium-sized private companies, commerce, or sales, because these activities generate more income than state medicine.
The Palacio de los Jugos, founded in 1977 by Apolonia Bermúdez in Miami, now has at least 15 locations in South Florida. The Biscayne unit is the latest in its expansion.
To other immigrants who hesitate due to not having a defined immigration status, Luis has a clear message: "Don't be afraid. If you believe you are good at something, if you believe you can achieve your dream, put in the effort and stay persistent."
"All dreams can come true. And even if they are not the same project they had from Cuba or any other country they come from, it doesn't matter: here, even if it's a new one, it can still be a success."
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