Page 63 - May 2019 with HCHeroes

2019 HEALTH CARE HEROES ®

INDIVIDUALS OF MERIT

JOHANNES W. VIEWEG,
MD, FACS
Founding Dean and Miami Jewish Health congratulates
Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of our colleagues at Florida PACE Centers
Allopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University for being nominated for the

Creating a new medical school is an undertaking
like no other in academia and higher education. It Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
involves a significant institutional and community
investment, strong leadership and a distinct vision “Through a collabora-
in an ever-changing health environment. Upon join- tive approach, Dr. Vieweg Health Care Heroes Award.
ing Nova Southeastern University in spring of 2016,
Dr. Johannes Vieweg’s charge was to secure prelimi- has accomplished some-
nary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on thing most medical educa-
Medical Education, the organization that governs
MD programs. tors have not endeavored
Although it typically takes three to four years of to—starting a new medical
planning prior to launching a new school, less than school. Not only that, but
1-1/2 years later, the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College
of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) was given pre- he did it in record time.”
liminary accreditation, and today, more than 5,000 Barry J. Silverman, MD
applicants are competing for a coveted spot. NSU Chairman, Board of Governors,
MD is now among only 151 MD-awarding medical Health Professions Division
schools in the nation and the eighth MD-awarding Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
school in Florida. Nova Southeastern University
In addition to NSU’s existing $3.7 billion econom-
ic impact to the state, by 2030, it is expected to gen-
erate another $350 million in economic activity annually, supporting more than 2,000
local jobs. Dr. Vieweg is passionate about promoting excellence in teaching, research,
and healthcare delivery as well as enhancing the visibility of the medical school
through meaningful relationships with community, business, and political leaders.
Under his direction, the college is training future physician leaders about the impor-
tance of evidence-based medicine and discovery.

KYMBERLEE J. MANNI, PHD

Chief Operating Officer
UHealth Tower

Dr. Kymberlee Manni has been the force behind
the renovation, reinvention and expansion of
UHealth Tower, the flagship hospital of the
University of Miami Health System, South Florida’s
only academic medical center.
Manni and her team have transformed UHealth
Tower’s care in the areas of brain and spine, cardiol-
ogy, orthopedics, ear, nose and throat, and gastroin-
testinal health, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer “Dr. Manni always
Center is also expanding its world-class oncology Your devotion to our participants
care in the hospital. This transformation includes goes the extra mile.
the addition of 17 new operating rooms, two new Offering the strongest
MRIs, new catheterization labs, new interventional is an inspiration to us all.
radiology suites, multispecialty robotic surgery pro- possible support for her
grams and other technological advancements. colleagues and providing
Another distinction for the hospital has been the
establishment of the LGBTQ Center for Wellness, the most compassionate
Gender and Sexual Health, one of the first of its kind care for patients and their
in the southeast U.S. Dr. Manni has been central to
the recruitment of extraordinary team members, families are her
who provide compassion and an unmatched patient top priorities.”
experience. Edward Abraham, MD
Her leadership is also making pioneering clinical Executive Vice President for
research happen at UHealth Tower, where they are Health Affairs
working to discover new ways to prevent, treat and CEO, UHealth—University of
cure patients’ most serious disorders.
Her influence is felt throughout South Florida as Miami Health System
her team of empathetic healthcare employees and University of Miami Miller
caregivers spread what she has taught them and School of Medicine
share it with those they mentor.

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