UM and Local Residents Celebrate The Lennar Foundation Medical Center

Despite the chilly and intermittently rainy weather, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd of more than 2,500 local residents and University of Miami faculty, staff and students who turned out on Sunday to help celebrate the spectacular Lennar Foundation Medical Center on UM’s Coral Gables campus.

The carnival-like atmosphere featured fun for the whole family, with performances by UM cheerleaders, musicians and dance teams from local schools; several “mad scientist” demonstrations; stilt walkers, balloon artists, face painting and photo booths; team mascots, including Sebastian the Ibis, mingling with the crowds; and, to help close the event, a marching band and a confetti cannon.

Inside were self-guided tours through the state-of-the-art facilities and educational sensory laboratories – focusing on touch, sight, and taste and smell – that highlighted the expertise of the medical specialties offered at The Lennar Center.

“Today was truly an open house for the community,” said Ben Riestra, M.B.A., Chief Administrative Officer of The Lennar Center. “It was the first example of what we are going to do in the future – go out to meet our patients close to where they live.”

This event was an opportunity for those who live in the area, many of whom are not yet patients, to get an up-close look at what is now available to them close to home – the exceptional services of an academic medical center under one roof, in a building with groundbreaking innovations and an unmatched patient experience.

In a brief speech to the crowd, Thinh H. Tran, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Operating Officer of UHealth, said, “Welcome to this wonderful celebration. This is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and I would like to wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

“We cannot have happiness and prosperity without health. The University of Miami Health System is all about you. This building is about you, it’s about caring for each other, it’s about our wellness and health as a community.”

A gallery of photos from the event is available here.

Tags: Ben Riestra, Lennar Center, Thinh H. Tran, UHealth - the University of Miami Health System