November 11, 2008

Dear Miller School Faculty and Staff,

On this day when we remember those who have served our country with great honor, I would like to express my pride and gratitude to the Miller School faculty and UHealth-affiliated institutions for their tireless work in providing medical support to our veterans and for championing the research that has changed the way we provide this care.

Our commitment to marrying leading-edge research with superior patient care for veterans is evidenced through our strong and long-standing partnership with the Miami VA Medical Center, as well as through our newly formed relationship with the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, which now serves as a training hospital for internal medicine residents from the Miller School at Florida Atlantic University.

This winter, under the leadership of principal investigator Ross Bullock, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery, the Miller School will conduct a national clinical trial to investigate the use of Oxycyte, a liquid that carries four times the oxygen levels of red blood cells, to help protect brain tissue damaged by traumatic brain injury (TBI).

TBI has been called the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. If Oxycyte succeeds in trials, it could quickly be adopted by the U.S. military to help soldiers who suffer TBI. In a strong show of support for this research effort, the Department of Defense has provided $1.9 million in funding toward the cost of the Oxycyte trials. At the same time, our formidable research team at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis will be studying Oxycyte for use in spinal cord injury. These are just two examples from a substantial body of research we are conducting at the Miller School, UHealth and Jackson to help our veterans.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that we help our veterans. I am so proud for all that we do for these brave men and women, who through their unparalleled commitment to protecting our country’s freedoms, teach us the ultimate meaning of service.

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
CEO, UHealth