By: Staff Writer | November 18, 2025 | 17 min. read |
UHealth welcomed hundreds of community members for a day of fun, discovery and celebration of the new UHealth SoLé Mia Medical Center.
UHealth—University of Miami Health System welcomed hundreds of community members on Saturday, November 15, for a day of fun, discovery and celebration of the new UHealth SoLé Mia Medical Center in North Miami.
The free, family-friendly community celebration marked the debut of the AI-enabled, state-of-the-art, seven-story, 363,000-square-foot ambulatory facility, UHealth’s largest outpatient facility to date. Nestled in the SoLé Mia community, the medical center offers world-class, university-based medicine closer to home for South Florida residents, especially those in northern Miami-Dade and southern Broward counties.
The medical facility officially opened its doors to patients in late September and welcomed the first surgical patients on Oct. 28. Following the community celebration, an intimate evening unveiling on Monday, November 17 culminated the series of opening events for the facility.
“UHealth SoLé Mia represents our vision to bring world-class academic medicine closer to every community we serve,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief executive officer for UHealth and executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Miami. “This facility stands as a symbol of innovation, compassion and partnership.”
The community celebration came alive with activities for all ages. Children and families enjoyed giveaways, food from area eateries, numerous UHealth-themed interactive games and prizes. Guests enjoyed the caricaturist station and custom drawings, while others personalized keepsakes at the hat patch station. The popular smoothie bike allowed users to learn about nutrition and exercise.
“This is really about the community. It’s about bringing health care closer to home, and it’s something that we don’t take lightly as staff members,” said Vandana Pathak, assistant vice president of ambulatory services at UHealth SoLé Mia. “We have a lot of staff here. The celebration is for you, also.”
Pathak also highlighted UHealth’s pillar medical institutes, including Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Desai Sethi Urology Institute, the UHealth Orthopaedics-Hospital for Special Surgery collaboration and the UHealth Comprehensive Diabetes Center, among other specialties, that have a presence at SoLé Mia and offer patients increased access.
As festivities came to a close at Saturday’s event, attendees left with a sense of excitement, transformation and belonging.
The momentum carried over to Monday, November 17, when UHealth leaders joined community leaders, medical innovators, physicians, key donors and elected officials from throughout Miami-Dade County for a grand unveiling of the facility.
Dr. Dipen Parekh
“When we stood on this very ground in 2022, I said something that has stayed with me throughout this journey. ‘UHealth at SoLé Mia will set the standard for topflight health care in this country.’ Tonight, I’m proud to say we have delivered on that vision,” said Dr. Parekh, also noting that Saturday’s community celebration was an inspiration.
“This is an important moment for all of us,” said Stuart Miller, chair of the UHealth Board of Directors and member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees. “When you see participants in our community band together, doing great things, imagine the number of people we’re going to be taking care of in this community.”
Distinguished guests were invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility, experiencing firsthand the cutting-edge design and advanced technologies that define this new chapter in health care.
The event featured inspiring remarks by an array of speakers, lively music and refreshments, all set against an atmosphere of anticipation for what UHealth SoLé Mia will continue to bring to the North Miami community. A dynamic video presentation highlighted the center’s mission to make world-class care more accessible while interactive displays invited guests to explore its innovations.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who participated in the groundbreaking for UHealth SoLé Mia, spoke of the impact that it will have on the community.
“In a month, we are already seeing a transformation in this community, thanks to this incredible institution,” said Levine Cava. “This is future-ready patient care, world-class patient care. Here we have something that is going to be transformational for all of us here in Miami-Dade County.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
City of North Miami Mayor Mayor Alix Desulme said UHealth SoLé Mia was a welcome and much-needed addition to the community.
“Tonight, we are here opening doors to a place that will transform lives for generations yet to come. For years my community has been advocating for greater access to high quality health care closer to home,” said Desulme. “This facility made this vision a reality.”
Former Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center cancer patient Jackie Gonzalez was also part of the lineup of esteemed speakers.
“I’m here as a mother, a wife, a nurse, a former senior vice president and chief nursing officer. But today I stand before you as a proud, loyal and grateful patient and a staunch advocate for the world-class team at this health care system,” said Gonzalez, who spoke in-depth about her health care journey that began with a phone call about her diagnosis.
As a volunteer with UHealth’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, Gonzalez was instrumental in helping shape the design and renovations of UHealth facilities, including UHealth SoLé MIa. Since 2021, she has used her dual perspective as both a clinician and patient, offering practical input to make spaces more accessible, comfortable and patient-centered.
The new medical center has already begun transforming how care is delivered in the region. By combining innovation, accessibility and a patient-first approach, UHealth SoLé Mia is bringing academic medicine’s best resources to North Miami and the surrounding cities of North Miami Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles, Hallandale Beach and beyond. Miami sits at the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and UHealth SoLé Mia serves as a prime destination for international patients traveling to Miami for care.
For the developers behind SoLé Mia, its arrival is a defining moment.
“This is the most modern and high-tech facility of its kind in Florida,” said Jamie LeFrak, principal and vice chair of LeFrak. “UHealth SoLé Mia will not only set the standard for health care delivery but also become an anchor for our community.”
Jackie Soffer, chairman and CEO of Turnberry, added, “Bringing UHealth to SoLé Mia was about more than building a medical facility. It was about building a healthier future for North Miami and beyond. We are proud to partner in creating a destination where world-class medicine meets community care.”
Tags: ambulatory services, Dr. Dipen Parekh, Newsroom, patient experience, SoLé Mia, UHealth – University of Miami Health System