Baptist Health Foundation Receives $2M Gift to Establish Endowed Chair at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute
CORAL GABLES, FL – October 17, 2025 – Baptist Health Foundation announced today that it has received a $2 million donation from Anthony and Joyce Esernia to establish a new endowed chair at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. In recognition of the donors, the chair will be named the Esernia Endowed Chair in Surgical Treatment of Adult Epilepsy and Movement Disorders. It will support the work of Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon and a national authority on functional neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation and other forms of neuromodulation. The chair will support Dr. Abosch’s research work in deep brain stimulation and other techniques used to treat epilepsy and the movement disorders.
“We are immensely grateful for this generous gift,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “The Esernia family has been very supportive of Miami Neuroscience Institute and its visionary leader, Michael McDermott, M.D. This endowed chair will help cement the Institute’s reputation as a world-class center for advanced neurological care and create a legacy of innovation in the fields of epilepsy and the movement disorders.”
Dr. Abosch recently joined Baptist Health as deputy director of Miami Neuroscience Institute, as well as the Institute’s director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of functional neurosurgery. She is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in deep brain stimulation (DBS), a life-changing therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. Dr. Abosch previously served as Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as professor and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado and Director of Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and lectured around the globe on neurosurgical innovations and is the Secretary of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
“I am deeply honored,” said Dr. Abosch. “This extraordinary gift will accelerate the Institute’s efforts to advance therapies and expand the possibilities for patients whose lives are profoundly impacted by these conditions. I am grateful to the Esernia family and Baptist Health Foundation for their vision and commitment to building a program that brings hope, innovation and healing to patients and families across our community and beyond.”
Movement disorders — including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia — and epilepsy represent some of the most challenging and life-altering conditions for patients and families. Today, Parkinson’s alone affects at least one percent of the population, with cases expected to double over the next decade. Around 20 percent of the population will experience a movement disorder, with symptoms ranging from tremors and muscle rigidity to profound balance issues. Additionally, about one in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives, and over 42 percent of patients with active epilepsy report their health as fair or poor, highlighting the disorder’s affect on an individual’s quality of life.
Miami Neuroscience Institute is building a nationally prominent program in functional neurosurgery to address this urgent need. The Institute’s advanced surgical treatments are restoring independence and mobility to patients with epilepsy and movement disorders. It is also conducting research and clinical trials to develop new therapies for these and other neurological conditions. “We endow this chair to move science forward and to bring hope to those living with epilepsy and movement disorders,” said Foundation donor Joyce Esernia.
Miami Neuroscience Institute provides the most comprehensive and innovative techniques to diagnose and treat the brain, spine and nervous system. Under the direction of Michael McDermott, M.D., an internationally renowned neurosurgeon, chief medical executive and Irma & Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at Miami Neuroscience Institute; as well as chair of the Department of Neurosciences at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the Institute embraces a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, from nonsurgical treatments and minimally invasive procedures to complex brain and spine surgery. As national leaders in the treatment of movement disorders, the team at Miami Neuroscience Institute ensures that patients receive the most-innovative treatment options to provide the best quality of life possible.
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 28,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning 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. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its 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 & 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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