Benjamín León Jr.’s Legacy of Care and Giving

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FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell (right) with CasaCuba Executive Director Lydia “Lili” Betancourt Space, MS ’00 (left), recognizing Benjamín León Jr. (center) for his support at the CasaCuba gift announcement in January 2024.
By Samantha Vargas For over six decades, the León family has dedicated their lives to providing healthcare to the residents of Miami-Dade County. In 1964, Benjamín León Sr. began the family’s legacy in healthcare by opening a small clinic for newly arrived Cuban exiles in Miami. The impact of this decision can be seen on […]

Florida International University bridges industry needs with top researchers through unique cooperative research center

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Originally published January 17, 20204, on news.fiu.edu. Written by Michelle Chernicoff Florida International University has secured the nation’s only forensic science Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for the second time. The Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS) brings together top academic forensic science researchers to develop solutions to industry partners’ top needs. The CARFS Phase […]

Florida Keys city to replace sewage wells following FIU research findings

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Originally published on December 18, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Written by JoAnn Adkins The Marathon City Council says it will end the use of shallow sewage wells, a move that could drastically reduce the pervasive pharmaceutical contamination in local fish populations uncovered by FIU scientists. The announcement was made following a settlement with the citizen-based group […]

FIU alumni Tina Vidal-Duart and Carlos Duart gift to name wine studies program at Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

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Originally published on December 8, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Written by Yvonne Yee-Amor FIU alumni Tina Vidal-Duart ’02, MBA ’04 and Carlos Duart’94, MA ’99 have announced a gift establishing the Vidal-Duart Wine Studies program at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The only wine studies program in the country named by a Hispanic family, this commitment underscores the couple’s […]

Researching “monster” cancer cells

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Originally published on December 1, 2023 on news.fiu.edu Written by Angela Nicoletti Cristina Andrade-Feraud has seen how healthy cells change after exposure to arsenic. The transformation is radical. Exploding exponentially in size, the cells end up looking like “monsters,” she says. A Ph.D. candidate in the lab of FIU cancer researcher Diana Azzam, Andrade-Feraud is unraveling the […]

Baptist Health and FIU join forces to elevate care, address doctor shortage and boost medical research in South Florida

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Originally published on November 28, 2023, on news.fiu.edu. Written by Dianne Fernandez Baptist Health, South Florida’s largest not-for-profit healthcare system, and Florida International University, South Florida’s public research university, today announced a collaboration that will expand physician training, research, and patient care for the benefit of the South Florida community. Under the new enhanced affiliation […]

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences establishes Jorge M. Perez and Darlene Boytell-Perez 50th anniversary scholarship endowment

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Originally published on November 20, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Florida International University (FIU) today announced a generous gift from Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Marie Boytell-Pérez ’89, MS ’96 to establish a new endowment at FIU’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences (NWCNHS). The Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Boytell-Pérez 50th Anniversary of Nursing Scholarship […]

Fernandez Family Foundation makes $1M gift for scholarships at FIU Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership

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Originally published November 8, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Written by Todd Ellenberg The Miguel B. Fernandez Family Foundation has made a $1 million gift to FIU’s Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership in the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs to support student scholarships. The gift will establish the Miguel B. Fernandez […]

Researchers receive $1 million grant to ensure resilience and cybersecurity of critical infrastructure

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Originally published on November 3, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Written by David Drucker At a minimum, power outages are jarring. In a flash, screens fade to black, lights darken and air conditioners go warm. When the problem is limited to a single street or neighborhood – due to causes such as equipment failure or a line […]

Restoring the Everglades to ensure South Florida’s freshwater supply

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Originally published on October 11, 2023 on news.fiu.edu. Written by Karen Cochrane, Angela Nicoletti, and Adrienne Sylver Many parts of the world are facing a freshwater crisis. Severe, long-lasting drought conditions not seen for thousands of years gripped much of the U.S. in 2022. Coalinga, a small town in California, made headlines because water was […]