University of Miami Hospital Celebrates First Birthday

12/1/2008

University of Miami Hospital employees were welcomed to work this morning with balloons, breakfast and handshakes from Sebastian the Ibis in the main lobby as part of the hospital’s first birthday celebration. Birthday gifts also included a University of Miami Hospital magnet and a handout highlighting the hospital’s greatest accomplishments in its first year of operation as the centerpiece of UHealth—the University of Miami Health System.

A large cake constructed as an exact replica of the 560-bed hospital stood center stage as a backdrop for photos of staff with Sebastian and hospital leadership including University President Donna E. Shalala, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Miller School Dean and UHealth CEO, William O’Neill, executive dean for clinical affairs at the Miller School and chief medical officer for UHealth, Anthony Degina, University of Miami Hospital CEO, and Michele Chulick, associate vice president and executive director of clinical operations for UHealth.

Following the morning festivities, a group led by Shalala toured the hospital, stopping for greetings and photos with employees in Environmental Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy and Patient Registration, and surprising 41 new staff members at orientation by offering a warm welcome and some words of encouragement.

“Today you are all ‘Canes,” said Shalala. “We have an important responsibility to our community. We are building a powerhouse in Miami—creating new jobs for not just you, but your other family members and for your children. When you are at work, think about the patients you are serving, but also realize the good work you do will open up new jobs for others.”

“We are building a medical destination for South Florida and for the U.S., and you will be a part of it,” said Dean Goldschmidt. “As an academic medical center we stand apart from other medical centers. We are extremely patient centric, we practice evidence-based medicine, we provide an interdisciplinary approach, and we train young doctors to provide the best care backed by clinical research. We do it, not alone, but by embracing our community.”

Later in the afternoon, Degina led an informal cake cutting ceremony for the hospital’s staff. “This is an old building but a new institution,” said Dr. O’Neill, who attended the cake cutting. “We’re instituting a culture of excellence with warm, family friendly treatment for our patients. When you mix that with the science and academics coming from the Miller School, you have an unbeatable combination.”