Baptist Health Foundation Installs Michael L. Katz as New Board Chair
CORAL GABLES, FL – October 9, 2024 – Baptist Health Foundation announced today that it has installed Michael Katz as chair of its Board of Directors for fiscal year 2025, which begins October 1, 2024, for a two-year term. He previously served as the Board’s vice chair from 2022 to 2024. Mr. Katz succeeds Lani Kahn Drody, president and founder of Lowell International Realty in Miami, who has served as the Foundation’s Board chair for the past two years.
“We’re thrilled to have Michael Katz take on this important role,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “He brings a wealth of experience, ideas and community involvement that will benefit the Foundation’s strategic initiatives. We’re also incredibly grateful for the leadership of Lani Kahn Drody. During her tenure, gifts to the Foundation totaled nearly $212 million, a two-year fundraising record. We can’t thank her enough for her support, and we look forward to her continued collaboration as Michael takes on his new position.”
Michael Katz has been a longtime supporter of Baptist Health. In addition to serving as vice chair of the Baptist Health Foundation Board, he has been a member of Board’s Miami Cancer Institute council since 2016, serving as its chair from 2020 to 2022; and Foundation Board Treasurer from 2019 to 2020. He will also serve as a member of the Baptist Health Planning Committee in the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Katz has also provided significant philanthropic support to the Foundation over the past ten years. He has donated in support of Baptist Outpatient Services and the planned Women’s Cancer Center at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute. He is also actively involved in Bounce Back from CancerTM, an event partnership between Baptist Health Foundation and the Miami HEAT that engages the community to raise funds for research at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute. His company, S & K Worldwide Realty, has been a co-presenting sponsor of the event for the past five years.
“It is an incredible honor to step into the role of chair at Baptist Health Foundation,” said Michael Katz. “The mission of the Foundation is to make the South Florida community aware of the extraordinary medical care available throughout the Baptist Health system. And our relationship with Florida International University will also bring new and exciting opportunities in research and education.”
As principal and manager of S & K Worldwide Realty, a strategic real estate lending firm located in Coral Gables, Florida, Mr. Katz has been successfully involved in over $2 billion worth of real estate transactions as a principal, manager and advisor.
Mr. Katz holds a J.D. from the University of Florida School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Maryland. He served as an Advisory Board member of the University of Miami School of Real Estate Development and Urbanism. Mr. Katz is married to his wife Valerie and they have two children — Ross Ketover, who is a Senior Executive at NFL films; and Dr. Danielle Squires, a pediatrician at Kings Bay Pediatrics.
About Baptist Health Foundation
The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
About Baptist Health
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and The Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health South Florida is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
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