The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is working to make South Florida a true medical destination. Under the leadership of Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean, the Miller School has wrapped up a momentous year that saw the launch of the University of Miami Health System (UHealth), bringing more state-of-the-art academic medicine and technology to patients from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach County.
In the first full year of operation for UHealths flagship facility, University of Miami Hospital, the daily patient census rate grew from 230 to 330. The research-based health system has launched first-ever stem cell therapies for heart failure, and greatly expanded the minimally invasive and robotic surgeries now available, among other specialties. With more than 650 medical students in training at the Miami campus and at the Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, 2009 promises to be another exciting year. A number of key programs are planned that will benefit all patients, including the creation of the first multi-institutional proton beam therapy facility, working in partnership with Jackson Health System, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami Childrens Hospital and community radiation oncologists. The facility will help patients with cancers and limit the pain and other side effects of radiation therapy. UHealth will spread academic medicine to more South Florida patients through collaborations with FIU, FAU and Nova Southeastern University. The youngest of those patients will benefit as the Miller School leads Floridas portion of the National Childrens Study, bringing greater insight, research and jobs aimed at improving the lives of all children. Research will continue to be a cornerstone of the Miller School, as it moves forward with plans for the UM Life Science Park, a 2-million-square-foot research center that will bring together new technologies and therapies, along with business investors and retail opportunities, all creating an economic hub. In line with that goal, there are plans for a new nanotechnology center, developing new technologies at the nano level, which has shown promise in detecting cancer. The Miller School and UHealth are committed to providing the very best in academic medical care to the community, especially to the most vulnerable patients through the ongoing relationship with Jackson Memorial Hospital. The partnership with Jackson includes a premier neonatal intensive care unit and a full range of other pediatric services at Holtz Childrens Hospital, and one of the most advanced and prolific organ transplantation centers in the world.
