Baptist Health Foundation Presents Endowed Chair Ceremony for Felipe De Los Rios La Rosa, M.D., F.A.H.A.
MIAMI, FL – October 2, 2023 – Felipe De Los Rios La Rosa, M.D., F.A.H.A., a cerebrovascular neurologist and the Director of Stroke Care at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, was installed as the Irma Bass Endowed Chair in Stroke Neurology at a ceremony and dinner on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel. The program was led by Bo Boulenger, president and CEO of Baptist Health; Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation; Jack Ziffer, Ph.D., M.D., EVP, chief clinical officer and chief physician executive of Baptist Health; and Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive and Irma & Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at Miami Neuroscience Institute.
The endowed chair, which will support the work of Dr. De Los Rios, is named in recognition of Irma Bass and honors the milestone of her 95th birthday. Ms. Bass, who resides in Miami, has a special interest in stroke and vascular neurology research. Baptist Health is known for its expert care in the field of neurology, and currently treats over 1,000 stroke patients a year.
“We are immensely grateful to the Bass family for this kind and generous gift,” said Alex Villoch, chief executive officer of Baptist Health Foundation. “The endowed chair is a wonderful tribute to Irma Bass, who is an advocate for improving healthcare in our community. It creates a legacy that will support the research programming already underway at Miami Neuroscience Institute and provide hope to the many South Florida stroke patients we care for, now and in the future.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of long-term disability, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). On average, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds; and someone dies from a stroke every three to four minutes.
Funds from the Endowed Chair will help support Dr. De Los Rios La Rosa’s work in clinical stroke research, as well as promote quality stroke care, improve stroke patient outcomes and educate young medical trainees in stroke neurology.
“It is a tremendous honor to accept this chair, and I thank the Bass family for their extraordinary generosity in supporting the science of stroke neurology at Baptist Health,” said Dr. De Los Rios La Rosa, who specializes in adult neurology, stroke treatment and vascular neurology. “We are excited to further expand our research and education programs to benefit both our patients and clinicians.”
Dr. De Los Rios La Rosa has been Director of the Stroke Program at Baptist Hospital of Miami since 2016. Under his leadership, the program has undergone three Joint Commission re-certifications as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. It has also consistently received the top American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” National Stroke Program Awards. Dr. De Los Rios La Rosa is also involved in leading-edge research through NIH StrokeNet and regional partners, working to develop new treatments and expedite their implementation in the community.
“This gift will have a significant impact on the Institute, as we are actively involved in clinical trials and researching ways to improve stroke treatment,” said Michael McDermott, M.D., Chief Medical Executive and the Irma and Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. “This Endowed Chair will help us not only advance this important research, but also recruit top stroke specialists for our growing institute.”
Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute provides the most comprehensive and innovative techniques to diagnose and treat the brain, spine and nervous system. 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 Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute ensures that patients receive the most innovative treatment options to provide the best quality of life possible.
Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute is a Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. The Institute’s epilepsy program is accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a level 4 epilepsy center, the highest level possible; and the Intraoperative Monitoring Department received the top-tier accreditation from the Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Laboratory Accreditation Board of ABRET — the first in Florida, one of 27 in the U.S. and one of only 30 in the world to achieve this accreditation.
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.
