New UM president Frenk discusses plans for medical school

On the day before his inauguration, Julio Frenk, incoming president of the University of Miami, reaffirmed the vital role of the Miller School of Medicine at the university and emphasized the importance of integrating research, clinical care and medical education.

Frenk spoke Thursday to a gathering of hundreds of people from the medical school and UHealth, university deans and community health leaders. The event included a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new medical education building — the Miller School of Medicine Center for Medical Education — and the renaming of the clinical research building as the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center.

The new Center for Medical Education was made possible by a $50 million gift from the family of Stuart A. Miller, Chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees.

Members of Don Soffer’s family also were recognized for their foundation’s $25 million commitment to the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) – the largest single donation the institute has ever received.

Frenk noted that today’s medical students will be working in a transformed health system when they graduate. “As one of the nation’s top-tier medical schools, we must ensure that our methods of medical education help drive those changes. As a physician and educator, it is thrilling to witness the innovation we are embracing for both our students and faculty.”

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 6:50 PM with the headline "New UM president Frenk discusses plans for medical school."