Health magnate and museum namesake Phillip Frost undergoes surgery after chest pains

Pharma magnate Phillip Frost, namesake of the Frost Museum of Science, was hospitalized with chest pains and underwent surgery, according to a statement Monday from OPKO Health, Inc., the company he chairs.

“Dr. Frost informed the company that he admitted himself into the hospital within the last few days after experiencing chest pains,” OPKO said. “Dr. Frost has undergone a successful surgery, and he is expected to make a full recovery.”

Late Monday, a representative for Frost said he was “recovering well.”

Frost, 82, has been chairman and CEO of OPKO since 2007. In addition to the science museum, Frost is also namesake of the University of Miami’s School of Music, as well as its Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Science. He has been named to Forbes’ list of billionaires in the past, although his current net worth may have fluctuated; OPKO’s share price has declined nearly 90 percent since 2015.

In December, Frost settled civil fraud charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission stemming from his alleged involvement in a penny stock pump-and-dump scheme. The settlement barred him from trading micro-cap stocks but allowed him to stay on as head of OPKO.

“Dr. Frost has been in regular contact with Company management and members of the Board of Directors during his hospitalization, and the Company is continuing to operate normally,” the company said.

A company rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether it had a succession plan in place.

This story was originally published July 29, 2019 at 11:35 AM.