MACDONALD FOUNDATION HONORS MIAMI MEDICAL TRAILBLAZER
Coral Gables, FL. The Board of Directors of the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has recently voted to fund a $100,000 medical scholarship endowment in the name of Dr. Dazelle D. Simpson at the Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. Coming during the 30th Anniversary year of the Foundation, the scholarship program goes to assist Miami Dade County residents who want to pursue their medical degree at Meharry.
Dr. Dazelle Dean Simpson, a granddaughter of Miami pioneer W. W. F. Stirrup, was born in Miami in 1924, and graduated valedictorian from George Washington Carver High School in Coconut Grove. With the desire to become a doctor from an early age “so she could help others,” her path brought her to Meharry Medical College, graduating with Highest Honors. Her commitment to children led her to pursue a specialty in pediatrics. Upon completion of her residency, she returned to Miami where she practiced from 1953 to her retirement in 1995.
Over her six decades of service to the Miami community, a few of her notable accomplishments included:
- The first Board Certified Black pediatrician in the state of Florida,
- The first woman and first Black member of the University of Miami School of Medicine Admissions Committee,
- The first Black President, Greater Miami Pediatric Society.
Among many community organizations for which she served in a leadership position, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation was pleased to have her serve as a board member for seventeen years, from 1997-2014. Dr. R. Rodney Howell, a fellow foundation board member and Professor and Chairman of Pediatrics, Emeritus at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noted “Dazelle demonstrated excellence in accomplishing the very long list of ‘firsts’ that bore her name. She was a thoughtful, gentle pediatrician with firm and definite convictions from which she never strayed. As a physician she was an excellent example to our University of Miami medical students, as well as faculty. She remained loyal to Meharry, which recognized her excellence not only as a medical student but through her later accomplishments.”
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Meharry Medical College is one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers dedicated to educating physicians, dentists, researchers, and health policy experts.
The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Inc. has its origins with the establishment Doctors’ Hospital in 1949. Dr. John Tremper Macdonald was one of its founders, and the Foundation was subsequently named in his memory. The mission of the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation is to “provide funding for programs and project designed to improve, preserve or restore the health and healthcare of the people in Miami-Dade County.” Since becoming a grant-making foundation in 1992, the Board of Directors has awarded more than $43 million, giving over 400 grants to organizations throughout the community. For additional information regarding the Foundation, please visit www.jtmacdonaldfdn.org; email: info@jtmacdonaldfdn.org.
MACDONALD FOUNDATION OBSERVES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
By Lee Stephens
Coral Gables, FL. The Coral Gables based Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation observed its 30th Anniversary as a grant-making organization at its Annual Membership Meeting recently held at the Riviera Country Club.
DEANS AT ANNUAL MEETING:
Pictured (L-R): Foundation Chair Aldo C. Busot, Miami-Dade College Nursing School Dean Tommie Norris, University of Miami Nursing Dean Cindy Munro, Dr. Henri Ford, UM Medical School Dean, Ora Stickland, Dean FIU Nursing School, Barry University Nursing School Dean John McFadden, Foundation Managing Director John Edward Smith.
Foundation Chairman Aldo C. Busot, a Coral Gables resident and Morgan Stanley Sr. V.P., welcomed the members and guests to the evening. He commended on the long community service of the members of the board of directors who have a total of 378 years in service to the board, an outstanding legacy.
Foundation Chairman Aldo C. Busot
Highlighting the “points of pride” in the work done in the community, he noted that “in these 30 years, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has invested $48,786,936 in furthering the mission which is to provide funding for programs and projects designed to improve, preserve, or restore the health and health care of people living in Miami Dade county.”
Attending this celebratory 30th anniversary event were the deans of the four area nursing schools: Barry University, Florida International University, Miami-Dade College, the University of Miami, and the dean of the
University of Miami Medical School. Three of the major programs funded by the foundation reside at the University of Miami; they are: the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Genetics, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, and the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation School Health Initiative which, for the last twenty-two years, provides direct comprehensive medical care to 15,000 students in nine Miami Dade County schools.
The Chairman announced that on occasion of its 30th Anniversary Year funding for student scholarships at the nursing and medical school would be increased by 100%, which news was gratefully received by the respective deans.
Managing Director John Edward Smith, in his remarks, provided a retrospective of the foundation’s history, and an appreciation of its namesake Dr. John T. Macdonald, the medical director of Pan American Airways and respected practitioner in Coral Gables and Miami.
The foundation had its origins when a group of doctors spearheaded by Dr. Macdonald worked to build Doctors’ Hospital in Coral Gables. Decades later, when the hospital was sold, the foundation was repurposed to be a charitable foundation. The proceeds of the sale of the hospital were invested into meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s medical advances, funding over 300 community-based programs and addressing the many needs in the Miami-Dade County. Smith noted that “children, the elderly, veterans, the indigent, the underserved, the homeless have all benefitted from the foundation’s largesse in these thirty years, while making significant strides in applied medical research.”
Funding nursing and medical scholarships has been an important focus of the foundation. The deans of the four nursing schools each introduced a student scholar to speak of their aspirations, which was a very poignant aspect to the evening’s program.
University of Miami Medical School Dean Henri Ford addressed the guests, informing them of the great strides at the medical school. Dr. Ford is a preeminent researcher, physician, pediatric surgeon, and mentor. In his time at the UM he has laid the groundwork for transformative student experiences. Under Dr. Ford’s leadership the Miller School of Medicine has risen nine ranks in the U.S. New & World Report. He noted that the Miller School is No. 1 in the State of Florida for NIH funding, a powerful testament to the strength of their research and talent.
Dr. Ford introduced the Annual Meeting guest speaker, Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., a world- renowned geneticist known for her research on the genetics of common human diseases. Dr. Vance is the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department Professor of Human Genomics. Her research has led to a number of findings of genes that increase the risk of certain diseases, such as apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer’s disease, IL7R and multiple sclerosis, and complement factor H and macular degeneration.
Pericak-Vance excels at the integration of genomic and statistical technologies and their application to diseases of public health importance in general, and to neurologic diseases in particular. In her remarks she shared some of her research on genetic tracing in European, African, Native American populations.
FOUNDATION GRANTS
Local community-based organizations (CBOs) who address the Foundation’s mission are welcome to apply for an annual grant in amount up to $50,000.
On occasion of its 30th Anniversary, a multi-year Challenge Grant will provide seed funding for an innovative and inspiring program to serve the Miami Dade community’s identified needs. $1.5 million funding to be awarded to that single program which best responds to one or more of the foundation’s focus aspects in the core mission statement and funding priorities.
For additional information on the foundation’s grant programs, please visit the website: www.jtmacdonaldfdn.org and contact the foundation’s managing director
Miami-Dade College Nursing Scholarship recipient Victor Levi speaks of his work in the emergency room setting.
Barry University Nursing School Dean John McFadden with DJTMF Scholarship recipient Trishe Ann Thresha-Stewart
Annual Meeting reception
Renowned geneticist Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance speaks at the annual meeting.
Medical School scholarship and award recipients Federic Vallejo (2nd from left) and Raymond Bennett (right) join Dr. Jeffrey Vance, Dr. Margaret Vance and UM School Health Initiative Medical Director Lisa Gwynn during the reception.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Dean Henri Ford addresses the annual meeting guests.
Macdonald’s Mission
A GABLES-BASED NONPROFIT QUIETLY PROVIDES FUNDING FOR MEDICAL PROJECTS
January 2021 STREETWISE – Coral Gables Magazine by Samira Navas,
What does the University of Miami’s cutting-edge Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute (BioNIUM) have in common with a small children’s dental clinic in the back of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club?
Both were funded by a low-profile Gables foundation that has
been backing both high intensity health research centers and community
health programs. Located on Madruga Avenue on the south side of U.S.
1, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has been funding local healthcare initiatives for almost three decades. The foundation is named after one of the founders of Doctors Hospital, Dr. John Temper Macdonald, and was established by his colleagues when he died in 1951. In 1992, when Doctors Hospital was sold to HealthSouth Rehabilitation Corporation for $12 million, the foundation used the proceeds to become a grant-making nonprofit.
Since then, the foundation has given more than $47 million in grants to over 300 community-based organizations, including the Coral Gables
Woman’s Club for their dental clinic for underprivileged children.
Recent grants have been especially important due to the pandemic. “Extra expenses have been required to purchase PPE equipment, sanitizers, masks,
gloves, gowns, cleaning liquids – and more that are required by the CDC,” says Ruth Martinez, president of the Woman’s Club. With foundation support, they reopened the clinic in June and have seen more than 200
patients since then.
At the other end of the health spectrum is the Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute at the University of Miami. Run by Professor Sylvia Daunert of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UM’s Miller School of Medicine, the nanotechnology institute was funded by the Macdonald Foundation in 2012 with a $7.5 million grant. In 2015, the institute inaugurated its nano fabrication facility, capable of producing “nano carriers, that act like a tiny submarine with a GPS to deliver drugs or stem cells in the body,” says Daunert. The facility is open to every South Florida company that needs to design and fabricate “very precise devices and materials at the micro and nano scales,” she says. That is music to the ears
of the Macdonald Foundation. “Our board is appreciative of the work being done by our grant recipients throughout the community,” says Aldo C. Busot, chairman of the foundation. Busot has served on the foundation board since 1998 and, as a senior vice president for wealth management at Morgan Stanley, is one of the directors responsible for growing the fund over the years. The foundation has also funded UM’s Department of Human Genetics and its School Health Initiative. Created in 2007, the Department of
Human Genetics has already identified key genes that lead to Alzheimer’s. “It is one of the leading hubs for translational research, where state of the art technology and tools are used for both the treatment and prevention of genetic-related diseases,” says John Edward Smith, managing director of the
foundation.
The School Health Initiative, meanwhile, provides primary healthcare and mental health counseling to students at nine public schools in Miami-Dade. The foundation also provides scholarships to nursing and medical students at UM, Barry University and Florida International University. To learn
more or to apply for a grant, visit jtmacdonaldfdn.org
Coralgablesmagizine.com
FOUNDATION FUNDS MEDICAL CLINIC IN ABACO BAHAMAS
August 2020, Coral Gables, Florida. In response to the devastation of Hurricane Dorian the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Corbett Medical Center in Treasure Cay Bahamas through the Treasure Cay Community Foundation, Inc. Dr. Robert Daehler, Medical Director of the medical center noted that the “Corbett Medical Center serves not only the immediate Treasure Cay community, but also residents of Cooperstown, Leisure Lee, and even patients from Green Turtle Cay. In the Treasure Cay community, the local Bahamians and Haitians that live and work in the community are the most frequent patients seen. Currently, after hurricane Dorian, Corbett exclusively sees patients from the local and surrounding communities, as there are no longer second homeowners in the area.” Funds will be used to purchase a much-needed digital X-ray system.
DR. JOHN T. MACDONALD FOUNDATION FUNDS COVID-19 RAPID TEST
May 7, 2020, Coral Gables, FL In response to the need for effective and efficient COVID-19 testing, the Board of Directors of the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has approved a $100,000 gift for biomedical research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in a COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostic test being developed by Dr. Sylvia Daunert MS, PharmD, PhD, Dr. Sapna Deo, MS, PhD, Dr. Jean-Marc Zingg and their team.
Foundation Board Chair Aldo C. Busot noted the on-going relationship the foundation has with Dr. Sylvia Daunert, Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, whose lab is leading the research at the University of Miami. “In 2012, the Foundation established the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute (BioNIUM) and is aware of Dr. Daunert’s exceptional work. It is timely that we respond to address this crisis which affects us all and fund this research and implementation.”
The patient-friendly test is under review by the FDA and is designed to diagnose the coronavirus in less than 30 minutes, providing critical, early detection that will help curb the spread of the disease. The test is also designed for cost-effective manufacturing that will enable mass production and deployment across the United States and around the world.
Dr. Daunert said “our lab has tremendous experience developing accurate and easily usable tests for infectious diseases such as HPV and Zika. Unlike tests that detect antibodies which can take weeks to manifest, our test is being developed to utilize molecular recognition and amplification of the target virus. This should allow for much earlier detection—within a couple days of exposure—providing critical and time-sensitive information to help curb the spread of the disease.”
“Additionally, our test is designed to provide a read-out in a fraction of the time required for most other tests. It has no technical hardware requirements, offers high sensitivity and a simple binary paper readout that can tell the health care provider if the patient is positive for a disease within 30 minutes.”
Over the years the Foundation has funded three signature programs at the Miller School of Medicine, designed to transform healthcare in South Florida and beyond: the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation School Health Initiative in the Department of Pediatrics, and the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute (BioNIUM).
“The Foundation is unique in its ability to identify leadership roles in our community,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the Miller School of Medicine. “We are grateful for their on-going support and partnership, which will help us play a leading role in advancing research that will lead to transformative care in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.”
Foundation Board Chair further noted: “the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation recognizes the need for the Miami-Dade community, the State of Florida, and the nation to deliver more medical and technological solutions to fight the coronavirus. This gift from the Foundation in support of Dr. Sylvia Daunert and her laboratory will accelerate their important research in developing a crucial diagnostic test for early detection of COVID-19. I urge other donors to match the $100,000 gift to the COVIC-19 Rapid Test Research Fund; “We need to fund this effort now; it is so critically important.”
Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Co-Sponsors “Miami Medicine” exhibit at the Dade Heritage Trust
Date: December 3, 2018
Dade Heritage Trust opened a new exhibit focusing on Dr. James M. Jackson and Miami Medicine. The Trust, formed to preserve Miami-Dade County’s architectural, environmental and cultural heritage through education and advocacy, is housed in the historic office and surgery of Dr. Jackson. The exhibit highlights Dr. Jackson, folk and Native American health practices, medical instruments and the current and future paths of medicine. Two rooms are interpreted to represent a typical medical practice and office in the early 20th century.
The exhibits, which are considered to be permanent and ongoing, were generously sponsored by the Jackson Health System, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Miami-Dade County, Culture Builds Florida, the Miami Downtown Development Authority and the City of Miami.