As part of the ongoing transformation of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, on December 5th we had the honor of hosting the Fernandez Family for an unveiling of new prominent signage at the pediatric trauma center gifted by the family. Mike and Constance Fernandez; George, Alex, Michelle and Michael Fernandez, children of Mike; and Pilar Giorgino, Mike’s sister, joined Miami Children’s Health System and Foundation and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital leaders for the exciting moment when the signage was revealed. Several close friends and business associates of the Fernandez’s took part in the ceremony and also attended the private breakfast reception following the unveiling to toast this generous family’s commitment to our hospital and those we serve.
The Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center was funded through a $5 million donation to the Together For The Children campaign from The M. B. Fernandez Family Foundation, which was established by Mike Fernandez, Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, LP and one of the country’s most successful health care entrepreneurs. Both Mike and Constance Fernandez have served on the Board of Directors of the hospital and foundation and are long-time supporters of our endeavors.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s is recognized for exceptional emergency medicine. It’s Emergency Department is one of the most visited in the country, with nearly 90,000 visits in 2015 alone, and the Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center is one of only two pediatric trauma centers in Florida and the only freestanding pediatric trauma center in South Florida. The expansion of the pediatric trauma center, a priority of the campaign realized with the Fernandez Family’s act of philanthropy, allowed the hospital to accommodate the growing number of patients from South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean who turn to Nicklaus Children’s in their time of greatest need, confident in our expertise and capability to treat children in the most life-threatening situations.
At the breakfast reception, Dr. Narendra Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System, thanked the Fernandez Family for their generous support and the life-saving gift of the trauma center, saying, “We have been looking forward to completion of the new Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion and other campus enhancements to dedicate the new Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center signage acknowledging the importance of this facility that saves the lives of thousands of critically ill and injured children each year. Today, we are privileged to unveil this new sign and to thank Mike and his family for all they do for our hospital and our community.” MCH Foundation chair Marile Lopez and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital president Michael Harrington also expressed immense gratitude at having such outstanding and unique pediatric facility here to save young lives.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South
Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately
850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs
routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The
hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional
honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.