
UHealth, the University of Miami’s Health System, receives $175 million of funding from the National Institution of Health, the highest amount in Florida, making $5.2 billion in revenue in the fiscal year of 2023. Such high funding has created opportunities for 1,300 clinical trials and early access for all patients to new treatments and preventative medications according to the UHealth website.
The health system has maintained direct affiliation with UM’s Miller School of Medicine, and developed close ties with the university’s undergraduate public health sciences department. Their financial success directly benefits the University of Miami.
According to UM’s presidential financial report of 2023, UHealth helped bring in 63.2% of UM’s operating revenue in the fiscal year. Hospitals and clinics brought in $2,578.6 million and medical professional practice contributed $698.2 million.
“What we know today is the institution we call the University of Miami cannot be successful if the health system isn’t successful,” President of UM and CEO of UHealth Joe Echevarria said in a roundtable with student media on Nov. 20, 2024.
The University’s dependence on UHealth is possible because of its financial success. This is ensured by bringing UHealth to its full potential before working on other projects for the University.
“So there was an early focus on the health system because it needed some development, but now it’s humming,” Echevarria said. “Because it’s humming, we now can do more things.”
Echevarria also emphasized the importance of utilizing already existing university resources to support UHealth and any future changes that may be implemented. The university wants the health system to remain an asset for students.
“There’s lots of revenue opportunities for the institution that don’t involve raising prices for students,” Echevarria said.
UHealth is a resource for pre-med students to get volunteer hours or for research. Since The Lennar Foundation is located right next to campus, it is very accessible to undergraduate students who may want to work there.
Madison Perrin, a freshman studying health sciences at UM, expressed an interest in taking advantage of possible openings available for pre-med students at UHealth.
“If there is an opportunity to shadow a doctor or even to just volunteer there I would love to do that,” Perrin said. “I didn’t really know it was offered or available. I applied to the Baptist Health Doctors Hospital so I’m waiting to see if I get that.”
UHealth’s dedication to their research department has helped the UM Miller School of Medicine rise to #44 on the U.S. News and World Reports rankings of Best Medical Schools: Research as of 2023. The Miller School has been able to provide research to UHealth in order to further develop clinical trials.
The University’s health system has also been experiencing an upward trend in net patient service revenues, which increased by 11.3% in 2023.
UHealth plans to collaborate with their larger number of patients by opening a new medical center in Downtown Doral where they will host local weekly clinics in underserved neighborhoods in Miami. They have also committed to collaborating with Jackson Health System, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
These organizations aim to meet the health needs of Miami-Dade County more extensively by improving access to healthcare, financial stability and chronic disease treatment.