{"id":689949,"date":"2026-06-07T14:53:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/689949\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T14:53:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:53:30","slug":"big-money-is-pouring-into-south-florida-health-systems-what-it-means-for-patients-sun-sentinel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/689949\/","title":{"rendered":"Big money is pouring into South Florida health systems. What it means for patients \u2013 Sun Sentinel"},"content":{"rendered":"

A flurry of big-money donations is strengthening South Florida\u2019s health systems, a trend that will significantly benefit everyone who needs medical care in the years ahead.<\/p>\n

The million-dollar-plus donations by local billionaire philanthropists, who are aging and may need medical treatment themselves, are aimed at improving cancer care, funding research to prevent and treat diseases, fueling major hospital expansions, and adding specialized pediatric care.<\/p>\n

In recent years, big gifts have increased as the community of South Florida billionaire philanthropists has grown, either relocating to the area or sharing the fortunes they amassed through homegrown businesses. As money pours in, those suffering from a disease like Parkinson\u2019s or seeking experimental therapies for Alzheimer\u2019s will find medical innovation in their backyard rather than having to travel outside the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat these extraordinary gifts reflect is a growing understanding that the health of a community is one of its most important long-term investments,\u201d said Loreen Chant, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida<\/p>\n

Just weeks ago, top executives at Baptist Health South Florida announced the largest single philanthropic gift in the organization\u2019s 66-year history.<\/p>\n

Dr. Herbert Wertheim made a $100 million donation to establish the Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute Transformational Impact Fund, a fund dedicated to advancing cancer care, research, prevention, education and innovation in Baptist Health medical facilities. The gift will also establish the Dr. Herbert Wertheim Center for Cancer Prevention, strengthening research infrastructure and expanding clinical trials.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.Dr. Herbert \u201cHerbie\u201d Wertheim announces a $100 million gift to Baptist Health South Florida to establish the Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute Transformational Impact Fund. (Baptist Health South Florida\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a transformational gift for cancer care. We\u2019re going to do extraordinary things with this gift,\u201d Baptist Health South Florida CEO Bo Boulanger<\/a> said when the announcement was made.<\/p>\n

Wertheim is the founder of Brain Power Incorporated, a Miami-based manufacturer of optical products. The billionaire businessman and Palm Beach resident has focused on education and healthcare in his philanthropic giving.<\/p>\n

Wertheim\u2019s large donation comes on the heels of a $50 million gift from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin to Baptist Health in 2024 to support research and patient care for Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.<\/p>\n

Since relocating the investment firm\u2019s headquarters to Miami, Griffin has reshaped the South Florida healthcare landscape through various donations:<\/p>\n

Nicklaus Children\u2019s Hospital ($25 million, 2023) to support the development of a state-of-the-art pediatric surgical tower, expanding access to advanced surgical care for children and families across South Florida.
\nUniversity of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center ($50 million, 2024) to support construction of a 12-story cancer research facility that will double Sylvester\u2019s research footprint and accelerate the development of new therapies and clinical trials.
\nMount Sinai Medical Center ($15 million, 2025) to support the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center and expand access to advanced cancer care throughout South Florida.
\nRonald McDonald House Charities of South Florida ($3 million, 2026) to support a family campus that will nearly double lodging capacity for families whose children are receiving life-saving medical treatment.
\nUniversity of Miami Health System ($10 million, 2026) to support the Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, including the recruitment of renowned physician-scientist Dr. Field Willingham and the expansion of research, care, and physician training.<\/p>\n

\u201cKen is deeply committed to improving lives and quality of life in South Florida and to ensuring that the region is the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family,\u201d said Julia Quinn, Griffin Catalyst director of philanthropy. \u201cHealthcare plays such an important role in quality of life and in a region\u2019s ability to thrive and attract talent, businesses, and families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did COVID launch the trend?<\/p>\n

Alexandra Villoch, chief executive officer of Baptist Health Foundation, noticed right after the pandemic an increase in large philanthropic donations earmarked for healthcare. Baptist Health has been a significant beneficiary, channeling those funds into areas such as cancer care, physician recruitment, clinical trials and early-screening technologies.<\/p>\n

\"AlexAlexandra Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. (Baptist Health South Florida\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n

\u201cI think COVID brought home the fact that you need extraordinary\u00a0good healthcare where you live,\u201d Villoch said. \u201cBecause you could be the wealthiest person in the middle of COVID, but you couldn\u2019t get on an airplane to go to New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nationally, the aging population now encompasses more high-net-worth individuals and family foundations that are deploying capital at unprecedented scale to improve healthcare. \u00a0In fact, health philanthropy represents 10% of total giving in the United States, according to Giving USA<\/a>. The philanthropic gifts are part of a post-pandemic push toward community\u00a0giving, in which donors want to see their money actively addressing localized health needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhilanthropy is not the same thing as charity,\u201d Villoch said. \u201cIt\u2019s more about investing in the future. I think 99% of the philanthropy that we receive here in South Florida is coming from somebody who has either personally been touched by a disease or they have had a family member touched by a disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then you have someone like Dr. Werthheim, who really just wants to make an impact and does believe that his investment will drive really transformative change in how healthcare is delivered,\u201d Villoch said.<\/p>\n

Helen and Jacob Shaham are further proof of how local philanthropists are driving transformative change in medical care. The founders of The Palace Group of Senior Living Communities donated $15 million to Nicklaus Children\u2019s Health System. The Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus now bears their name.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father-in-law died from cancer,\u201d Jacob Shaham said during a reception when the donation was announced. \u201cMy identical twin brother died from cancer two years ago. It\u2019s close to us. For the last 45 years, we did everything for our elderly residents; now, it\u2019s time to do something for our youngest residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

A February report<\/a> by The Orr Group says all health systems will come to rely more on big donations:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a volatile healthcare landscape,\u201d the report says, \u201cphilanthropy is no longer supplemental \u2014 it is a strategic lever shaping the future of care delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broward and Palm Beach counties attract donors, too<\/p>\n

Broward Health received a $5.2 million gift in May 2025 from the Henry E. Haller Jr. Foundation to support two new labs at its flagship hospital in Fort Lauderdale. The gift will help the hospital system build labs at Broward Health Medical Center focused on heart health, equipped with Siemens Artis Icono systems for cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology.<\/p>\n

In Palm Beach County, billionaire Alan B. Miller, the founder of Universal Health Services (UHS), is associated with a massive corporate healthcare investment \u2014 the first new north county hospital since 1979.\u00a0 Miller has a home in the Admirals Cove community in Jupiter, near Palm Beach Gardens. \u00a0The healthcare corporation that Miller built over the last 45 years has financed and will operate a $430 million hospital in Palm Beach Gardens. The hospital opened on May 22 and was built with future growth in mind. Miller\u2019s son, Marc, president and CEO of UHS, chose to name the hospital after his father as a tribute to his legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis hospital is a blessing for this community,\u201d\u00a0 Alan B. Miller, 88, told the crowd at the hospital opening. \u201cIn the future, you will see that it is so essential to keeping people well and saving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just weeks ago, St. Mary\u2019s Medical Center Foundation in West Palm Beach changed its name to The Foundation for Palm Beach Health Network, expanding its fundraising efforts to support all six hospitals within the Palm Beach Health Network.<\/p>\n

Executive Director Felicia Morton said she plans to target all donors in Palm Beach County to support a wider range of health initiatives.<\/p>\n

\u201d As more are moving here from different places, they want to see their donations make a difference and have an impact.\u00a0 What better way to do that than to support hospitals that they themselves use? \u201d Morton said.<\/p>\n

Money for medical schools<\/p>\n

Hospitals aren\u2019t the only institutions drawing massive investments; South Florida medical schools are also attracting large donations that promise to elevate healthcare across the region.<\/p>\n

With education, donors are no longer just putting their names on lecture halls; they are treating medical school donations like venture capital \u2014 funding scholarship programs and expecting\u00a0that their increasingly large funds yield regional public health upgrades or high-level clinical research breakthroughs.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.Dr. Chad Perlyn, executive vice president and chief medical officer, left, and Dr. Harry Moon, president of Nova Southeastern University, in the boardroom on the Davie campus. Perlyn sees big donations transforming healthcare. (Joe Cavaretta\/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)<\/p>\n

Dr. Chad Perlyn, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Nova Southeastern University and dean of NSU\u2019s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, said that as South Florida grows, donors recognize the area needs world-class healthcare and healthcare education to serve the population.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing philanthropy support both major infrastructure projects and groundbreaking scientific initiatives that have the potential to improve lives far beyond our region,\u201d Perlyn said. \u201cInvestments like these help position South Florida as a destination for innovation, discovery, and advanced patient care.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, philanthropist David Husman, who lost his wife, Cathy, to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2023, gave Nova Southeastern University a $20 million gift for ALS research and established NSU Health\u2019s David and Cathy Husman Neuroscience Institute on the Davie campus. The gift brought Husman\u2019s total support for the university\u2019s neuroscience efforts to $41 million.<\/p>\n

\"FloridaFlorida International University and Baptist Health have broken ground on a new academic medical center. (FIU\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n

In April, the Shahams continued their giving and made an impact with a $30 million donation to FIU\u2019s College of Medicine \u2014 the largest in the medical school\u2019s history. The money will fund the construction of a seven-story, 94,000-square-foot Shaham Academic Medical Center on FIU\u2019s main campus. Built in partnership with Baptist Health South Florida, the center will integrate medical education with outpatient clinics, diagnostic imaging and same-day surgical suites when it opens in 2028.<\/p>\n

In Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University received a $28 million pledge from John and Ann Wood to support scholarships for students enrolled in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. It is the largest scholarship gift in FAU\u2019s history and the largest known scholarship gift to a Florida public university\u2019s medical school. The gift, in memory of their son, Robert A. Wood, will provide debt-free tuition for aspiring physicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are creating here is a robust healthcare ecosystem,\u201d Villoch said. \u201cDoctors talk to each other, and they want to be in an ecosystem where research is happening, where technology is improving healthcare \u2026 creating a stronger environment begets more growth, more investment, and that attracts the top physicians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chant at Health Foundation of South Florida notes that South Florida\u2019s continued population growth means that healthcare needs will continue to increase, making health philanthropy increasingly vital to expanding access to care, building a stronger workforce, and improving outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhilanthropic leaders are recognizing that investments in hospitals, medical education, research, and community health initiatives can create lasting benefits that extend well beyond individual patients and strengthen the future of the entire region,\u201d Chant said.<\/p>\n

South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.<\/p>\n

\"CitadelCitadel CEO Ken Griffin has made significant donations to South Florida hospitals and research or health support groups. (Giorgio Viera\/AFP via Getty Images)
\nInvesting in South Florida, one donor\u2019s perspective<\/p>\n

Ken Griffin is one of the most powerful and successful figures in modern finance. With an estimated net worth of over $50 billion, he is the founder and driving force behind Citadel.\u00a0 In 2022, Griffin moved the investment firm and hedge fund\u2019s global headquarters from Chicago to Miami. As part of his civic engagement initiative, Griffin Catalyst, he has recently made substantial donations to improve healthcare in Miami-Dade.<\/p>\n

The South Florida Sun Sentinel interviewed Griffin Catalyst Director of Philanthropy Julia Quinn about Griffin\u2019s health philanthropy.<\/p>\n

On Ken Griffin\u2019s vision<\/p>\n

Ken has seen his role as being able to further accelerate scientific discovery, increase access to care, attract top talent in medicine to the region and create lasting benefits, not only for those of us currently living in South Florida, but for future generations as well.<\/p>\n

On the type of investment that attracts Griffin Catalyst<\/p>\n

Ken is drawn to opportunities that can strengthen the region\u2019s healthcare ecosystem, from advancing research and attracting top medical talent to expanding access to care and investing in innovative programs and facilities. The common thread is helping ensure that South Florida residents can receive world-class, cutting-edge care close to home.<\/p>\n

On Griffin\u2019s personal connection to his health investments<\/p>\n

Everyone, unfortunately, has a personal connection at this point to cancer or other degenerative diseases. These challenges touch nearly every family today and loom large for so many people. At the same time, there is tremendous reason for optimism. There are areas where real progress and breakthroughs in the near term seem very possible. Ken would love to see South Florida and Miami institutions be at the forefront of the next wave of scientific discovery that will change lives.<\/p>\n

On living and investing in South Florida<\/p>\n

Ken\u2019s giving to South Florida medical institutions and healthcare providers began when he and the firm moved to South Florida. He had been involved in other philanthropic work locally before the move, but not in the healthcare space. So far, Ken\u2019s giving has been predominantly in Miami-Dade, but I don\u2019t know what the future will hold. We certainly want to see high-quality, accessible care across the entire South Florida region.<\/p>\n

On future health investments<\/p>\n

Ken has already partnered with many of the region\u2019s leading healthcare institutions, and I expect those partnerships will continue. By supporting organizations that are already doing exceptional work and helping them attract top talent from around the country and the world, the goal is to further establish the region as a center of medical excellence.<\/p>\n

On local involvement<\/p>\n

Many of our team members who have moved to Miami or joined the firm here are looking for ways to get involved in the community. Through the Community Leaders Program, which we launched a few years ago, we support employees who serve on nonprofit boards and become engaged with local organizations. With about 500 employees now based in Miami-Dade, we\u2019ve seen increasing community involvement, and I expect we\u2019ll continue to see more people rolling up their sleeves and working with healthcare institutions across the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A flurry of big-money donations is strengthening South Florida\u2019s health systems, a trend that will significantly benefit everyone…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":689950,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[8019,28,2808,97,252,253,2558,983,31040,3,37652,5262],"class_list":["post-689949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-broward-county","tag-business","tag-florida","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-latest-headlines","tag-local-news","tag-miami-dade-county","tag-news","tag-palm-beach-county","tag-social"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=689949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=689949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=689949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=689949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}