Baptist Health Foundation has received a $5 million grant from the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation to support the Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. The funding, provided through the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Parkinson’s Disease Fund, will advance the Institute’s Parkinson’s disease clinical care program, focusing on patient care, research, community outreach, and technological innovation. In recognition of the grant, the Foundation will have its name on the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation Auditorium at the upcoming Kenneth C. Griffin Center within the Institute.
Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation, expressed gratitude for the donation, highlighting that the grant will help drive innovation and research in Parkinson’s disease care and support patients affected by this condition. The grant aligns with Miami Neuroscience Institute’s mission to combine groundbreaking discoveries with compassionate patient care.
The Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation, established in 2023, works to create a lasting impact in healthcare, mental health, education, and wildlife conservation. The recent grant aims to meet urgent needs of Parkinson’s disease patients, raise awareness about the disease, and foster advances in treatment that could benefit future generations. Elaine Saverin emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to supporting holistic care, research, and technological innovation to improve patient outcomes.
Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive at Miami Neuroscience Institute, noted that the grant arrives at a pivotal moment as the Institute prepares to open the Kenneth C. Griffin Center. The funding will enhance multidisciplinary, patient-centered care and facilitate the use of advanced technologies in treating Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, benefiting patients locally and beyond.
Miami Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care for the brain, spine, and nervous system, employing a multidisciplinary approach under Dr. McDermott’s leadership. The Institute combines nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments with complex brain and spine surgery, offering innovative options for movement disorder patients to improve their quality of life.
The Kenneth C. Griffin Center, currently under development, will house the growing physician team and state-of-the-art laboratories for neuroscience research. By combining patient care and research in a single facility, the Center will strengthen collaboration between clinicians and researchers, further advancing the Institute’s work in neurodegenerative disorders.
Baptist Health Foundation inspires philanthropy to support innovation, community wellness, and excellence in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Donations help expand patient care, advance medical research, upgrade technology, and provide ongoing education for medical staff.
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, over 29,000 employees, and 200 outpatient and urgent care facilities. Its institutes specialize in cancer, brain and spine, heart and vascular, and orthopedic care, and the system partners academically with Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Recognized for excellence by Fortune and U.S. News & World Report, Baptist Health continues to deliver comprehensive, faith-based medical care across South Florida.
