Endowed Chairs

An endowed chair is one of the most prestigious awards that can be bestowed on a physician for outstanding contributions to medical science.

Endowed chairs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare. An endowment represents a significant investment in enhancing patient care, innovation, research and education.

Endowed chairs provide stable and dependable sources of funding, and are essential to attracting and retaining visionary physicians. They create a legacy that is far-reaching and transformative by elevating patient care through a culture of inquiry, curiosity and critical thinking. They attract leaders who mentor and inspire the next generation of practitioners and create a supportive environment that enables healthcare professionals to push the boundaries of knowledge and exploration.

Endowed chairs are an investment in the future and they represent a profound commitment to the health and well-being of our community.

Endowed Chairs

Baptist Health Foundation is committed to honoring the tradition and importance of endowed chairs in elevating medical excellence. As an endowed chair recipient, a physician has the great honor and responsibility of advancing Baptist Health's impact through research and service.

Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute

Pending Appointment

Created to provide comprehensive support to Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute’s leadership in further advancing and influencing the research, discovery and treatment of cancers.

The Michael J. Zinner M.D. Endowed Chair in Cancer Care is currently unfilled. The institution is undertaking a search for the next distinguished appointee, following a period honoring the legacy of Dr. Zinner.
Murugesan Manoharan, M.D., FRACS

Created to provide comprehensive support in furthering Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute's vision of quality care, improved patient outcomes, clinical research and the education of medical trainees in urologic oncology.

Learn More About Murugesan Manoharan, M.D.

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Matthew David Hall, M.D.

Created to provide comprehensive support to advance pediatric radiation oncology at Baptist Health, this endowed chair will foster innovation in research, cutting-edge technology, program development and other strategic initiatives. The chair will empower a physician leader to enhance treatment options, improve outcomes for children with cancer and drive continued excellence in compassionate, specialized care.

Learn More About Matthew David Hall, M.D.
Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO

Created to support leadership of the scientific program at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. This chair provides comprehensive support to further advance and influence research, discovery and treatment of cancers.

Learn More About Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, M.D.

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Minesh P. Mehta, M.D.

Created to provide support for radiation oncology leadership to advance and influence research, discovery and treatment of cancers at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute.

Learn More About Minesh P. Mehta, M.D.

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Naiara Abreu Fraga Braghiroli, M.D., Ph.D.

Created to support Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute's commitment to offering patients first access to the most cutting-edge clinical treatment methods, the most relevant and promising medical research and the highest standards of care.

Learn More About Naiara Abreu Fraga Braghiroli, M.D.

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Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute

Tom C. Nguyen, M.D.

Created to provide comprehensive support to Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute's Medical Director in furthering the vision of excellence in multi-disciplinary care and research.

Learn More About Tom C. Nguyen, M.D.

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Miami Neuroscience Institute

Michael W. McDermott, M.D., FAANS

Created to provide comprehensive support to the leader of clinical neuroscience at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute in furthering the vision of high-quality care, improved patient outcomes, clinical research and the education of medical trainees in clinical neuroscience.

Learn More About Michael W. McDermott, M.D.

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Samer D. Tabbal, M.D.

Created to provide comprehensive support to a physician leader charged with expanding the understanding and improving the care of patients with movement disorders. The endowed chair will provide the physician with the resources to pursue novel research efforts in brain imaging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Learn More About Samer D. Tabbal, M.D.

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Diego R. Torres-Russotto, M.D.

Awarded to the physician leader overseeing the Department of Neurology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute to advance patient care, research and treatment in areas such as cognitive decline, movement disorders and Parkinson's disease.

Learn More About Diego R Torres-Russotto, M.D.

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Felipe De Los Rios La Rosa, M.D.

Created to provide comprehensive support to a physician leader at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute who seeks to advance treatment, training and research related to stroke, stroke-related deaths and disabilities. The chair will also support discovery and research in identifying the risk factors of stroke and new approaches for stroke treatment and prevention.

Learn More About Felipe De Los Rios La Rosa, M.D.

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Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D.

Created to provide comprehensive support to a physician leader whose mission is to transform surgical therapies for epilepsy and movement disorders in adults.

Learn More About Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D.
Ronald Barton Tolchin, D.O.

Created to provide comprehensive support to a physician leader at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, responsible for overseeing and developing physiatry, also known as rehabilitation medicine — a branch of medicine that is dedicated to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all types of disabilities related to the brain, nerves, bones and muscles. This endowment supports the Chairholder’s work in furthering innovative research, program development and training initiatives in this area.

Learn More About Ronald Barton Tolchin, D.O.

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Pending Appointment

Created to provide comprehensive support to a physician leader specializing in dementia, including but not limited to its diagnosis, treatment, and driving clinical trials and research studies focused on advancing our understanding of dementia and exploring new treatment options.

Orthopedic Care

John William Uribe, M.D.

Created to provide support to the Chief Medical Executive of Baptist Health Orthopedic Care to advance patient care and drive research and discovery in orthopedics.

Learn More About John William Uribe, M.D.

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How You Can Help

Generosity greatly impacts the mission of Baptist Health. Your gift can make a difference in patient care, research and education. Tax-deductible contributions can be made via credit card, check, transfers of stock, real estate, or planned gifts such as wills, trusts and annuities.

To learn how you can advance education and research through endowed chairs at Baptist Health, please contact:

Press Releases

Endowed Chairs Press Releases

Baptist Health Foundation

Baptist Health Foundation Presents Endowed Chair Ceremony for Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D.

CORAL GABLES, FL – May 7, 2026

Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health Brain and Spine Care, was installed as the Esernia Endowed Chair in Surgical Treatment of Adult Epilepsy and Movement Disorders at a ceremony and reception on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Mr. C Miami - Coconut Grove.

Baptist Health Foundation

Samer D. Tabbal, M.D. Installed as Endowed Chair at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute

CORAL GABLES, FL – November 24, 2025

Samer D. Tabbal, M.D., FAAN, director of the movement disorders program at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, was installed as the Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders at the Institute in a ceremony and reception on November 19, 2025 at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami.

Baptist Health Foundation

Baptist Health Foundation Installs Michael J. Zinner, M.D. as Endowed Chair at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute

MIAMI, Fla. – May 2, 2025

On Thursday, May 1, Baptist Health Foundation hosted a ceremony and dinner at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami in celebration of the Michael J. Zinner, M.D. Endowed Chair in Cancer Care. The chair will support the work of Michael J. Zinner, M.D., CEO and executive medical director of Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and Baptist Health Cancer Care.

Baptist Health Foundation

Baptist Health Foundation Receives $2M Gift to Establish Endowed Chair at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute

MIAMI, FL – May 29, 2024

Baptist Health Foundation announced today that it has received a $2 million donation from John and Mary Lou Dasburg to establish an endowed chair in radiation oncology in support of the planned Women’s Cancer Center at Miami Cancer Institute. The chair will be named the John and Mary Lou Dasburg Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology in recognition of the donors. It will support the work of Minesh P. Mehta, M.D., chief of radiation oncology and deputy director of Miami Cancer Institute.

Baptist Health Foundation

Baptist Health Foundation Installs Ronald Tolchin, D.O. as Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Pain & Rehabilitative Medicine

MIAMI, FL – April 24, 2024

Ronald Barton Tolchin, D.O., Chair of Nonsurgical Spine Care and Rehabilitation at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, was installed as the Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Pain & Rehabilitative Medicine at a ceremony and dinner on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami.