Miami, FL – October 8, 2015 – In a lovely evening of camaraderie, cocktails, dinner and entertainment at the notable de la Cruz Collection, psychiatrists and psychologists from UHealth – the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences inaugurated SHATTER THE STIGMA. The evening’s goal was to initiate the Department’s effort to eliminate stigma from mental illness, and to raise funds to support UHealth clinicians and researchers in significant projects that advance their patient-centered commitment to research, treatment and quality of life following a psychiatric illness. The evening was generously hosted by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, and underwritten by Harley and Sherry Tropin, so that 100% of the proceeds support the Department’s mission. Among the guests and speakers were Dave Barry; Dr. Charles Nemeroff, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. Pascal Goldschmidt, Dean of the Miller School of Medicine; and a host of Miami medical, legal, celebrity, community and business leaders. The focus is appropriately on STIGMA, which has led to the belief that illnesses that occur “above the neck” are different from other biologically based disorders. Stigma results in patients’ reluctance to seek help;  insufficient government funding for mental health treatment and research; lack of parity in medical care;  and deficient access to care for those who need it. SHATTER THE STIGMA is an important philanthropic initiative to improve mental health care and research, and to support the world class psychiatry leadership at UHealth and the UM Miller School of Medicine. Through this initiative, we can counteract the stigma and the inertia in mental health treatment in our country and position Miami as an epicenter of best practices in mental health for the sake of our community, our children and our future.

Carlos de la Cruz, Sheila Elias, & Dave Barry

Dave Barry, Rosa & Carlos de la Cruz

Dave Barry, Pascal Goldschmidt, Rosa & Carlos de la Cruz

David Racher, Donna Shepard, Dave Barry, Sherry & Harley Tropin, Charles Nemeroff, & Susan Racher

Donna Shepard, Dave Barry, Rosa & Carlos de la Cruz, & Susan Racher

Jamie Nicole & Donna Shepard

Ibett Yanez & Craig Robins

Shareef Malnik & Estee Mandel

Carol & Jackie Soffer

Sherry Tropin, Mark & Betsy West

Michael Freedland, Laurie & Deborah Kaye, Susan & Dennis Richards, & Carol Pollack

Dennis & Susan Richards

Dave Barry

Carlos de la Cruz

Charles Nemeroff, Donna Shepard, & Carlos de la Cruz

 Charles Nemeroff

Pascal Goldschmidt

Susan Racher, Jared Abramson, & Pascal Goldschmidt