A Moment to Shine

Memorial Healthcare System introduces its newest animal assisted therapy dog, Honeycrisp. The 2.5-year-old Golden Retriever is certified to help treat physical and emotional disabilities. She comes from a long line of service and facility dogs: she is the niece of Freedom, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital’s therapy dog, and the great-great niece of Gael, Memorial Regional Hospital’s dog who is semi-retiring at age nine.

Honeycrisp has a gentle and calm demeanor that will pair perfectly with the fast-paced environment of Memorial Regional Hospital, home to Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute, Memorial Transplant Institute, Memorial Cancer Institute, Memorial Neuroscience Institute, Memorial Family Birthplace, and Level I Trauma Center.

“We are so excited to welcome Honeycrisp as she is part of our succession planning for Gael, who will be 10 years old this year and is semi-retiring,” said Tracy Meltzer, ARNP, director of nursing at Memorial Regional Hospital. “Through the help our specially trained therapy dogs, we’ve created a powerful healing environment that motivates and encourages our patients to reach their goals.”

Honeycrisp was onsite today with Memorial’s five other therapy pups and her home handler Trish for a training session. Her arrival from Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD) was made possible by a generous anonymous donation to the Memorial Foundation. Today the pups and their handlers worked on walking up and down stairs, riding an elevator, and simulated patient visits. The week-long training prepares the handlers and Honeycrisp to work with patients safely to provide comfort and care.

Brett Rose knows what it’s like to be among the sickest of the sick. Left partially paralyzed and with extremely limited physical abilities for months after contracting West Nile, Zika, and Dengue viruses from a mosquito bite, the Broward-based businessman is focused on ensuring current and future patients within Memorial Healthcare System have access to the same medical resources that saved his life.

Rose will have the opportunity to make the difference he seeks in his new role as chair of the Board of Directors for the Memorial Foundation and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation. The nonprofit organizations raise funds philanthropically to assist patients, families, and to underwrite the cost of programs, facilities, and equipment within the South Broward Hospital District.

Rose, CEO of Fort Lauderdale-based United National Consumer Suppliers (UNCS), was selected to serve a two-year term.

“I’m alive and mobile because of the care I received at Memorial,” said Rose. “Others have similarly complex medical challenges and it’s our role at the foundations to make sure our current and future patients and hospital teams have whatever resources are necessary to deliver life-changing care.”

One board priority will be fundraising for the growth and expansion of the Memorial Cancer Institute. The comprehensive cancer center, already one of only five Cancer Centers of Excellence in Florida, will open a $125 million facility later this year in Pembroke Pines that will consolidate resources and maximize collaboration between high-level specialists for the more than 5,200 new patients that come for life-saving treatment each year.

Joining Rose as officers on the board of the foundations are Beth-Ann Krimsky (1st Vice Chair), Allan Budelman (2nd Vice Chair), and Andrew Greenfield, MD (Immediate Past Chairman). Executive committee members include Elden LeGaux, Susanne Cornfeld Hurowitz, Sean Deviney, and Doug Gawrych.

Adam Blomberg, MD, Amy Share Brennan, Atif Hussein, MD, and Alberto Peisach are joining the nonprofits for the first time in 2023.

“We’re fortunate to have these individuals on our Board of Directors,” said Kevin Janser, president of the Memorial and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundations. “Their leadership and philanthropic efforts will help us deliver many of the programs and services that improve lives for those at our hospitals.”

Memorial Foundation and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation raise funds philanthropically to assist patients, families, and to underwrite the cost of programs, facilities, and equipment within the Memorial Healthcare System.

To learn more or make a donation, please call 954-265-3454, or visit the Memorial Foundation and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation.

Tour de Broward had a great run, and the team at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is grateful to loyal supporters who participated throughout the last 13 years. With the help of the community, Tour de Broward raised more than $6 million for programs, services and facilities at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Regrettably, Tour de Broward has reached its end, yet there are several events and initiatives you may support, because the need to continue improving the lives of children and families in Broward County is ever present.

The community is encouraged to continue supporting Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital through other fundraising events, the Catch the Love campaign or engaging with the hospital’s activities on Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Facebook page.

The Tour de Broward team is grateful for all your love and dedication.