Palm Beach Philanthropists Show Support for Cancer Research and Medical Education
$2.5 million gift supports Sylvester, Miller School scholarships and the School of Nursing.
As the owners of a home health care services agency, Vahan and Danielle Gureghian value exceptional patient care delivered by highly educated and compassionate caregivers. This prompted the couple to make a generous gift to support three critical health care areas within the University of Miami: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Their $2.5 million donation was celebrated during a reception hosted by the Gureghians at their Palm Beach home and attended by Sylvester and UM leadership. The gift includes $1 million for Sylvester to the Director’s Innovation Fund, $1 million to establish The Gureghian Family Endowed Medical Scholarship and $500,000 to create the Gureghian Family Endowed Nursing Scholarship at the University of Miami.
“We are excited to support scholarship opportunities for deserving students attending the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and the Miller School of Medicine,” said Danielle Gureghian. “The future of medical care, especially home health care, depends upon dedicated and empathetic health care professionals. UM students are the epitome of professionalism, dedication and knowledge.”
Vahan Gureghian added that the couple is equally excited to support Sylvester.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Nimer, one of the country’s foremost medical innovators, we look forward to Sylvester becoming the premier leader in comprehensive cancer treatment and research not only in the state of Florida but in the country,” he said.
Supporting Scientific Research
The Gureghians first became acquainted with Sylvester during an outreach event in 2024, which prompted a tour of the hospital and research facility and a meeting with Dr. Nimer, Sylvester’s director and the executive dean for research at the Miller School.
Noting Dr. Nimer’s passion for the cancer center and trust in his vision, the couple decided to invest in Sylvester’s future with a donation. During the reception, Dr. Nimer thanked the Gureghians for their generous support.
“Vahan and Danielle, your support of our mission is critically important as we make Sylvester, UHealth and the University of Miami the destination place for people with cancer and other serious health problems,” said Dr. Nimer, who is also the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.
Dr. Nimer shared how philanthropy has helped establish Sylvester as one of the nation’s leading cancer centers, noting its renewed National Cancer Institute designation as the only cancer center in the region to earn this distinction.
“We achieved an ‘outstanding’ score which, ranks us among the elite cancer centers in terms of research,” said Dr. Nimer, who elaborated on Sylvester’s commitment to leading research to find solutions to the most-difficult-to-treat cancers with three specialized centers – the Sylvester Brain Tumor Institute, Sylvester Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute and the Sylvester Myeloma Institute.
Enhancing Educational Opportunities
The family’s support for the Miller School also came through a similar meeting with Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the medical school. Dean Ford expressed his gratitude to the Gureghians for their gift to support medical scholarships, which are critical to the school’s goal of becoming one of the nation’s premier medical schools.
“Scholarships open doors for diverse students, empowering aspiring physicians to achieve their dreams and enabling them to serve communities and innovate without financial burdens,” said Dean Ford. “Through their generous support, the Gureghians are helping us ensure that the brightest minds can enhance the health of humanity and transform the future of medicine.”
The Gureghian family is familiar with the excellence of UM.
They funded a scholarship at the School of Nursing and Health Studies several years ago. The Gureghian Scholarship is awarded to students completing the 12-month accelerated BSN program. Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement and an essay addressing the role of home health care in the modern medical landscape.
Hudson Santos, Ph.D., R.N., the dean of the School of Nursing, shared his appreciation for the Gureghians’ ongoing support. He spoke of the importance of advancing the nursing profession and his vision for the school’s future – to rise to become the No. 1 nursing school in the nation.
“As dean, I am committed to fostering partnerships with health care leaders in South Florida, such as the Gureghians, to ensure we’re always attuned to our community’s needs,” said Dean Santos, who is also the Dolores J. Chambreau Endowed Chair in Nursing. “Vahan and Danielle, I am grateful for your generosity and am confident that together, we will accomplish remarkable things.”
The Gureghians are owners of Independence Home Health, a provider of home care services throughout South Florida.
Tags: Dean Henri Ford, Dr. Stephen Nimer, philanthropy, scholarships, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center