South Miami Hospital/Kidz Medical Services Mercury Ball
“Puttin’ on the Ritz,” Benefits Hospital’s Tiniest Patients

Generous supporters of the gala – themed “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – included Platinum sponsor, Florida Heart Care, LLC; Gold sponsors, First National Bank of South Miami, Radiology Associates of South Florida, Intermedia Touch, and Tri-City Electric; Spirits Sponsor, Bacardi, and Wine Sponsor, Southern Wine & Spirits. The event was emceed by South Miami Hospital CEO Lincoln Mendez, and chaired by Gabriel De Armas, Jr.; Zeina and Ghassan Haddad, M.D., and Mari and Romeo Majano, M.D.
The crowd fell silent with emotion when Andreza and Enrique Battaglia Cruz and Sofia and Ryan Holtzman each shared the touching stories of their experiences with Jorge Perez, M.D., and the expert South Miami Hospital NICU clinicians and staff, who they credit with saving the lives of their once-fragile and struggling babies.
The ball also included a longtime tradition associated with the Mercury Ball: The naming of South Miami Hospital’s “Person of the Year.” This year’s honoree was Jeremy Tabak, M.D., F.A.C.P., medical director of the sleep laboratories at Baptist Hospital and Galloway, and the Pulmonary department at Mariners Hospital. Dr. Tabak also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
To support NowICU or the many other worthy causes at Baptist Health South Florida, visit BaptistHealth.net/Foundation
Ryan and Sofia Holtzman, with Sonny and Lani Holtzman
Hope and Jack Ziffer, M.D., PhD, EVP and Chief Medical Officer of Baptist Health
America and Lincoln Mendez, CEO of South Miami Hospital
Jeremy Tabak, M.D., and Yerby Barker
Wayne Brackin, chief operating officer of Baptist Health, and Shaida Brackin, with Veronica and Pedro Flores
Rudy Kranys and Lois Russell
Romeo Majano, M.D., and Mari Majano
Albert Tano, M.D., and Debbie Tano
Kathy White and Bill Wonfor
Yara Haddad, with Zeina and Ghassan Haddad, M.D.
Maria Morales-Gonzalez and Sergio Gonzalez-Arias, M.D.
Yvonne Johnson, M.D., and Charles Philips
Charles and Gabriella Miller
Martha and John Rock
Susan and Michael Meister, M.D.
Danette Gossett and Warren Whisenant
Heather Denis and Dean Rotchin
John and Nancy Acebal
Miguel Gonzalez and Isabel Martinez
Carlos Granja, M.D., and Elise Granja, M.D.
Jorge Rabaza, M.D., and Vicky Rabaza
Alysa Herman and Scott Weston
Detective Judy Webb and David Sanford, representing American Medical Response
Leslie and Joseph Buchanan
Guillermo Pol, M.D., and Aguida Pol
Cristy and Felipe Frias
Wesley and Marcia Rami
Sylvia and Steven Kang