University of Miami Health System is Getting Exposure Across Campus and Around South Florida

4/29/2008

The public roll-out of South Florida's only university health system began with a spectacular event in the Schoninger Research Quadrangle on April 15. Not only was UHealth unveiled before a special gathering of Miller School supporters, but the newly created Society of Health Champions Annual Fund for the University of Miami Hospital was announced at the same time.

University of Miami Health System, a comprehensive network of university-based medical entities that together represent an innovative brand of the best health care, became finalized in December when the University purchased the former Cedars Medical Center and renamed it University of Miami Hospital.

"Part of building a world-class city is creating world-class jobs and providing world-class health care for people from throughout the world," Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said to the gala attendees after being introduced by University President Donna E. Shalala.

Other event speakers, including Board of Trustees Chair Marta S. Weeks, University of Miami Hospital board chairman Archie Monroe, and William O'Neill, M.D., executive dean for clinical affairs at the Miller School and UHealth's chief medical officer, highlighted UM's medical and community partnerships, consistently high quality of care for patients, and groundbreaking research to discover new therapies. In his remarks, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean, and CEO of UHealth, hailed Joshua Hare, M.D., who a day earlier had conducted the first heart failure clinical trial involving direct stem cell injections to a patient's heart.

"We are becoming the best medical destination in the United States and this city deserves to be a medical destination," Goldschmidt said to the 450 people in attendance at the elegant affair produced by a Miller School team and Barton G.

From the moment guests entered the Quadrangle they were greeted by the sounds of a UM band, performances from cheerleaders, and Sebastian the Ibis. Inside the transparent tent, the dcor theme was orange and green with the "U," the University's symbol, and now also the UHealth logo, as a motif. At the end of the program, guests were treated to fireworks that lit up the sky and a large UHealth sign.

As part of the program, a thankful patient of the Health System spoke publicly about his expert care at UM. Dr. Miguel Lorenzini, a Michigan plastic surgeon who moved to Miami in 2000 and became a UM patient, talked about life-saving surgery he underwent at UM/Jackson on February 19.

"That day they gave me hope," he said. "So from the bottom of my heart and with tears in my eyes, I thank them for giving me a new life and a second chance."

Donor Marla Bergmann, who called the new hospital "the jewel in the crown of the UHealth system," urged others to join her in supporting the hospital. Bergmann is chair of the University of Miami Hospital Leadership Council, a volunteer fund-raising group charged with raising capital and annual gifts for the Society of Health Champions, the umbrella organization that will raise and recognize all gifts for the hospital.