Urologic Cancer Surgeon Receives Ultimate Academic Honor
The Eric and Elizabeth Feder Family Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology Research is presented to Dr. Bruno Nahar.
It was a special evening for a Desai Sethi Urology Institute (DSUI) and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center physician as he received the highest academic honor a university can bestow on a faculty member.
With his beloved parents, Eduardo and Claudia, watching via Zoom from Brazil, Bruno Nahar, M.D., officially received the Eric and Elizabeth Feder Family Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology Research during a Nov. 7 ceremony at the Lois Pope LIFE Center.
“I would like to thank Eric and Elizabeth Feder for their extraordinary generosity. Your commitment to philanthropy is not just about writing checks, it’s about writing futures,” said Dr. Nahar, also an associate professor of urologic oncology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. “Because of philanthropic spirits like yours, we are empowered to push boundaries in our field, to conduct meaningful research, and to make a significant impact on patient care for generations to come.”
The University’s Centennial Talents Initiative
The Feder Chair is part of the University’s Centennial Talents initiative, a bold plan launched by University of Miami President Julio Frenk to significantly increase the number of endowed positions by 2025 in celebration of the University’s centennial.
During his opening remarks, President Frenk discussed why such an initiative was so important.
“Endowments offer sustained support, allowing our scientists to be nimble, focused, and responsive to the ever-expanding base of knowledge that drives innovation in health care,” he explained. “A university with a strong endowment helps attract and retain some of the brightest academic and medical minds.”
Gratitude for Donors
The chair was funded by an extraordinary gift from Eric and Elizabeth Feder, ardent supporters of Sylvester and Dolphins Challenge Cancer, the annual event that raises funds for research. During the ceremony, Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., Sylvester director, expressed gratitude to the Feders and the difference their support makes.
“Eric and Lizzie, we’re incredibly grateful for your support of our cancer center,” said Dr. Nimer, also the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and the executive dean for research at the Miller School. “Your generosity in establishing this endowed chair will ensure that leading-edge research into urologic cancers will continue at Sylvester in perpetuity.”
Dipen Parekh, M.D., founding director of the DSUI, also expressed his deep and personal gratitude to the Feder family and encouraged a reluctant Eric Feder to join him on stage to hear the praise first-hand.
“Eric, this is deeply personal to me, and I know you didn’t want to speak, but I wanted everyone to know how, when anyone you care about needs you, you drop everything to help in the most unconditional, selfless fashion,” explained Dr. Parekh, also University of Miami Health System chief operating officer and director of robotic surgery, executive dean for clinical affairs, chair of the Department of Urology, and the Dr. Victor A. Politano Endowed Chair in Clinical Urology at the Miller School. “It makes me very happy that the Feder name will live on at this University.”
Before returning to his seat, Feder expressed his gratitude.
“My entire family is very honored to be here tonight,” he said. “The University and the Miller School of Medicine have touched our lives in many ways. And to Dr. Nahar, this is your moment. Enjoy it.”
Groundbreaking Cancer Research Funded
Dr. Nahar received his medical degree in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2005 and completed a residency in general surgery followed by a residency in urology. He was on the faculty at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro for four years before coming to South Florida to complete a clinical fellowship in urologic oncology and robotic surgery at Sylvester.
As a member of both Sylvester and the DSUI, Dr. Nahar specializes in focal therapy and robotic surgery for prostate, kidney and bladder cancers. He uses advanced imaging, such as ultrasound and MRI, to target the exact location of a tumor and minimize the impact of treatment on surrounding healthy tissue and structures.
As his boss, mentor and friend, Dr. Parekh was effusive in his praise when introducing the new chair recipient.
“Dr. Nahar is doing groundbreaking work in the field of focal therapy for prostate cancer and he’s going to change the paradigm in the way we treat prostate cancer,” said Dr. Parekh. “It gives me great pleasure to see someone like Bruno accomplish this milestone and I can’t wait to see his greatness unfold.”
The focus of Dr. Nahar’s research is on developing and implementing innovative, less-invasive therapies for prostate cancer that minimize side effects and maintain the quality of life for patients suffering from this disease. In his remarks, Dr. Nahar thanked his parents, his wife and children, siblings, friends, mentors and colleagues who helped him along his journey, saying it was not a “solitary trek.”
“This generous endowment will enable me to continue making significant advancements in this critical field,” said Dr. Nahar. “To the Feders, I express gratitude not just on my behalf, but on behalf of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Miller School of Medicine and most importantly, my patients, whose lives are being impacted by your kindness.”
Tags: Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Dr. Bruno Nahar, endowed chair, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center