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Bold ambition, realized
Impact
Emboldening the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in its quest to position itself as a global leader in the field of urology, the Desai Sethi Family Foundation made an extraordinary commitment of $20 million to the Miller School’s renowned Department of Urology.
The Foundation’s generosity helped to establish the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, which was dedicated, along with the Desai Sethi Medical Center, in February 2022 on the University’s medical campus, near downtown Miami.
The Desai Sethi Urology Institute will attract the brightest minds and recruit the most talented physician-scientists dedicated to the study and treatment of urologic disorders and to accelerate breakthrough advances in research. The Institute will also expand clinical care and train future generations of urologists.
The institute’s founding director is Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, the chief operating officer and director of robotic surgery at the University of Miami Health System, professor and chair of the Department of Urology, executive dean for clinical affairs, the Dr. Victor Politano Endowed Chair in Clinical Urology at the Miller School, and one of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons in urologic oncology. In the latter capacity, he works closely with the NCI-designated Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
On the heels of the Foundation’s pledge, the Urology Institute received three more significant donations. First, in an expression of immense gratitude for the urological care provided by Dr. Parekh, Hugh Culverhouse, Jr., a successful South Florida attorney, and his wife, Eliza, made a $1 million gift to the Institute.
Shortly thereafter, prominent South Florida philanthropists, Terry and Carla Taylor, pledged $3 million to the Institute, and Dan and Brett Sundheim committed $5 million to an innovation and technology fund.
“The Desai Sethi Family Foundation’s generosity propels the University into the upper echelon of institutes dedicated to the discovery and treatment of urologic disease—not just in South Florida, but worldwide,” said University President Julio Frenk. “We are grateful for their commitment, and for the generosity of the Culverhouses, Taylors, and Sundheims, in supporting the types of advances in health care that are only possible at an academic health system.”
“We are dedicated to exploring the latest discoveries in the laboratory and accelerating the most promising therapies from the lab into our clinics for the best possible treatment for patients,” said Parekh. “These generous gifts will transform our ability to expand the scope and influence of our work, creating a thriving environment for new discoveries in the field that will benefit patients here in South Florida and worldwide.”
The Desai Sethi Urology Institute is conducting research that is advancing the science of urology, publishing seminal work on the efficacy of robotic surgery, urologic cancers, men’s health, endourology, male infertility, and in treating various urologic diseases.
With its location in South Florida, the Institute will provide access to a multitude of patients from various backgrounds and cultures and serve as an international destination for care. Institute researchers will study health disparities in the treatment of both men and women with urological issues.
“The creation of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute will be a new crown jewel for our health system,” said Stuart Miller, chair of the UHealth Board of Directors, chair of Ever Brighter, and a University of Miami trustee. “This commitment demonstrates that
Bold Ambition, Realized
Extraordinary philanthropy, led by a commitment from the Desai Sethi Family Foundation, has affirmed the Department of Urology as a global leader in its field.
University Trustee Stuart Miller; Laurie Silvers, chair of the University Board of Trustees; Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, director of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute; Bharat Desai, co-founder of the Desai Sethi Family Foundation; Saahil Desai; Dr. Henri R. Ford, dean of the Miller School; President Julio Frenk; and Joe Echevarria, CEO of UHealth.
UHealth and the Miller School of Medicine are at the forefront of patient care, research, and innovation and the leading health care system in our community.”
Dr. Henri R. Ford, dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, described the creation of the Institute as “transformative.” He added, “This is a defining moment that will distinctly elevate the level of groundbreaking research in urologic diseases, ultimately benefiting patients and impacting how we share that knowledge with the next generation of physician-researchers.”
Hugh Culverhouse witnessed Dr. Parekh’s expertise firsthand in March of 2020.
“My prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level started skyrocketing and I have a family history of prostate cancer,” he said. “Dr. Parekh was extremely sensitive in explaining to me why my prostate needed to be removed.”
After a successful surgery and an ideal recovery, “the outcome has been nothing short of incredible. Everything I was afraid I would lose, I did not,” said Culverhouse. “I live without the fear of dying in the same manner as my father and grandfather. A life without fear is precious.”
“If you look at what has already been given [to the Institute], you can see the potential,” said Culverhouse. “Soon it will be known around the country that if you want a recovery like mine, you come to the Desai Sethi Urology Institute at the University of Miami Health System, under the leadership of Dr. Parekh. I encourage others to match or exceed my gift so we can advance the field quickly.”
“It’s an honor to receive support from partners of the University like the Desai Sethi family, Mr. and Mrs. Culverhouse, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and Mr. and Mrs. Sundheim,” said Dr. Parekh. “Donor support significantly expands the scope of our work and allows us to push forward with new discoveries that will lead to the best possible treatments for patients.”
Leaders in the field of urology across the country affirm that countless lives will be saved through the Desai Sethi Urology Institute’s research, scientific investigation, and innovation under Parekh’s expertise and guidance.
“With his singular vision for excellence, superb administrative and organizational skills, and a fierce determination to contribute to global health, Dr. Parekh has built a stellar career spanning academic medicine, clinical practice, and institutional leadership,” said Dr. Joel Sheinfeld, Florence and Theodore Baumritter/Enid Ancell Chair of Urologic Cancer, deputy chief of urology services, and director of the urology fellowship program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “In leading the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Dr. Parekh has a well-deserved opportunity to assemble the resources to further enhance innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. This will allow the Institute to fulfill its mission of advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of urologic diseases.”
