The Brain Surgeon's Take

Leor Weinberger, Ph. D., is a pioneering biomedical scientist and the Sylvester Professor and founding chair of the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His research focuses on innovative approaches to infectious disease, particularly the development of therapeutic interfering particles (TIPs)—engineered antiviral therapies designed to combat...

Jennifer Martin, Ph. D., is a Professor at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the Leon Medical Centers Eminent Scholars Chair in Geriatrics. She directs FIU’s Benjamín León Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Miami VA. A licensed clinical psychologist and nationally recogn...

Dr. Anil Menon is a NASA astronaut, emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and U.S. Space Force colonel whose career has taken him from emergency rooms and military aviation to the International Space Station. A graduate of Harvard and Stanford, he earned degrees in neurobiology, mechanical engineering, and medicine, followed by training in emergency and aerospace medicine. Menon was N...

Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar is the President of the World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the most influential organizations in global boxing. Born in Mexico City in 1969, Sulaimán grew up immersed in the sport as the son of legendary longtime WBC President José Sulaimán. After earning a degree in Business Administration from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, he held leadership roles in business and joine...

Shelton “Shelly” Berg is an acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and five-time Grammy-nominated musician who has made a profound impact on music education and the South Florida cultural community. Berg served as Dean of the University of Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music from 2007 through 2026, where he helped transform the school into a nationally recognized lead...

Donna Shalala is an American educator and public official whose career spans academia, government, and philanthropy. She served as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 , representing Florida’s 27th congressional district. She was the first woman to head a Big Ten university and...

Dr. Patricia A. Whitely serves as Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement at the University of Miami, a role she’s held in various forms since joining the university in 1997, capping over four decades of service to the institution. She oversees the 24 departments and areas that provide programs, services, and facilities shaping the Miami Hurricane student experience . She e...

Ron Baron is an American billionaire investor and founder, chairman, and CEO of Baron Capital, an asset management firm he started in 1982 known for long-term growth investing. He built his reputation identifying high-growth companies early and holding them for years or decades, with notable bets including Tesla, which became one of his firm’s most famous and profitable positions. Baron is also kn...

EJ Manuel is a former NFL quarterback, college football analyst, and entrepreneur best known for his standout career at Florida State University and as a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. A four-year contributor at Florida State, Manuel led the Seminoles to an ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl victory before spending four seasons in Buffalo and later playing for the Oa...

Dr. Alexander McKinney is the Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Chief of Service for Radiology at both UHealth and Jackson Health System. A nationally recognized neuroradiologist, he spent 26 years at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his medical training and rose to the rank of professor before joining Miami. Dr. McKinney i...

Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in UM’s Department of Psychology, and Director of the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment (CAMAT) Program. She’s best known as the primary developer of the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A), with 175+ publications and 10,000+ citat...

Ali Landry is an actress, entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and former Miss USA. Best known as the iconic “Doritos Girl” and for her work in television and film, she has successfully reinvented herself as a business leader, author, and champion for healthy living. Through her RE/SHAPE platform, Ali inspires others to pursue personal growth, resilience, and intentional living while balancing a thriv...

Colonel Merryl Tengsedal is a trailblazer in the field of aviation and a symbol of perseverance and excellence. She is notably recognized as the first and only African American woman to pilot the U-2 “Dragon Lady,” a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft in the United States Air Force. Her journey to this remarkable achievement began with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of N...

Michael Maroone has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of AutoNation, Inc., the world’s largest automotive retailer, since 1999. Today, AutoNation represents more than 35 brands, from Porsche to Rolls Royce and Honda to Chevrolet. AutoNation has twice been ranked in Forbes magazine’s annual Top 500 Companies in the United States and has received numerous awards such as Time Magazine’s...

First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, White House Adviser & Voice of Resurgence. Nicole Malachowski is one of the most compelling leadership voices on today’s stage. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, she has lived a life defined by challenge, responsibility, and bold decisions. From leading fighter...

Heitner has been referred to as one of the foremost experts on name, image, and likeness (NIL) by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, a power player in NIL deals by Action Network, “a founding father of college athletes earning rights,” and a top sports trademark attorney by Sportico. Heitner has been honored with the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Le...

Elizabeth Pérez is a sports anchor for CNN en Español. Since joining CNN, Elizabeth Perez has covered a variety of sporting events: the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the 2011 Pan-American Guadalajara games from Mexico, and more recently the Churchill Downs 139th edition of the famous Kentucky Derby, the first and most important of the three races that make up the U.S. Triple Crown. She has also pr...

Three-time Super Bowl champion and leader of UM’s 1987 national championship team … One of the elite receivers in Dallas Cowboys and NFL history … Cowboys’ first-round pick in 1988, the 11th player overall … Played 12 seasons … Selected to five straight Pro Bowls (1991-95) … Led the NFL with 1,523 yards on 93 receptions in 1991 … Recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-98 … Set a...

Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Rick joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He attended Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training Class 109 in Coronado, CA. Rick was assigned to SEAL Team TWO in Little Creek, VA in 1980. He served at SEAL Team TWO from 1980 until 1985, specializing in winter warfare, combat diving, and sniping until he was selected for duty at SEAL Team SIX in 1985. In 19...

  Brian Edwards carved his path alongside icons like Donna Summer and Joan Rivers. Over the decades, he built a reputation as a multi-award-winning talent executive, client relations rep, producer, writer, and occasional performer – working with some of the most recognizable names in show business: Cindy Crawford, Susan Sarandon, Melissa Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Farrah Fawcett, Shirley Jones, Naom...

Key “Future-Ready” Initiatives: * MIA Airport Modernization: The “Modernization in Action” (M.I.A.) plan is renovating over 600 elevators/escalators, replacing 126 boarding bridges, and updating 196 restrooms. Major projects include a $136-million Flamingo Garage expansion (2025 completion), a new $350-million Westin MIA Hotel (2027 completion), and a planned $750-million Concourse K expansion. *...

PLAYR is a science-backed nutrition brand specifically designed for youth athletes to support growth, focus, and performance. It provides tailored, age-appropriate supplements—such as CORE for daily hydration and CLUTCH for game-day, featuring ingredients for muscle recovery, focus, and gut health without adult-level dosing.  Key aspects of PLAYR include: * Targeted Nutrition: * Key Products * Fou...

Allison DiPalo is an author, educator, and founder working at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, ethics, and meaning. With over two decades of experience in direct patient care, trauma-informed practice, and program development, her work bridges rigorous scientific inquiry with deep respect for the human experience. Her writing focuses on responsible approaches to altered states, int...

Dr. Grettel Garcia, MD, is a board-certified internist based in Miami, FL, affiliated with UHealth - University of Miami Health System and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She graduated from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in 2017 and completed her residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She specializes in internal medicine, treating conditions like hypertension,...

Jaclyn Sklaver is an internationally recognized sports nutritionist who works with gym enthusiasts and the world’s top professional athletes to optimize performance, body composition and metabolic health. She is the former Head of Performance nutrition for the Orlando Magic NBA team. Jaclyn’s practice, Athleats Nutrition is operated with the combined philosophy of both performance nutrition and fu...