Palm Beach County Visionaries to Unveil “Brain Coast” Vision During October’s Train the Brain Month
Leaders believe shared vision, determination, science, education, collaboration, and investment can transform the South Florida region and change the world.
Palm Health Foundation’s eighth annual Train the Brain community health campaign during October 2024 marks the unveiling of a significant collaborative initiative. On October 24, 2024, at the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Palm Health Foundation will launch The Brain Coast: A Vision for South Florida, an aspiration endorsed by six Palm Beach County brain health and science visionaries:
- Palm Health Foundation
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute at Florida Atlantic University
- Stiles-Nicholson Foundation
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
- Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network
Patrick McNamara, President & CEO, Palm Health Foundation and Dr. Randy Blakely, Executive Director, FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
Image Credit: Joel Engelhardt, Stet News Palm Beach County
These six partners believe the vision for The Brain Coast is akin to President John F. Kennedy’s ambitious goal for America’s space exploration that accelerated the development of Florida’s Space Coast. Together, they aim to accelerate innovation in diagnosing, treating, and curing neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders, and other brain conditions that affect 8 to 10 Americans according to the Dana Foundation and Research America. All have signed a Brain Coast vision statement, committing to three pillars:
- 1: Deepening Brain Science, Education, and Resiliency Through Research
- 2: Engaging the Community
- 3: Spurring Innovation to Improve Brain Health, Mental Health, and Community Resilience
As these partners grow their network of partners beyond Palm Beach County to all of South Florida, the three pillars will guide their work to advance the understanding of the human brain, mental health, and resilience, and shape the future of healthcare delivery and societal wellbeing. They envision future partners to span across science, health, education, funding, and the community.
“With world-renowned brain science institutions in our backyard, and science, health, education, and community partners integrated into a growing network focused on brain health, we see the transformational potential for South Florida to become recognized as The Brain Coast over the next decade,” said Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health Foundation.
Many initiatives demonstrating The Brain Coast Vision’s promise are already underway:
- The Palm Beach County Neuroarts Collaborative becoming the national NeuroArts Blueprint’s first local Community Arts Coalition Partner
- Glades residents leading National Institute of Health-funded Alzheimer’s research at FAU
- Palm Health Foundation Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute Computational Brain Health Graduate Fellowships
“The Brain Coast is more than a sum of its parts,” McNamara said. “Students, researchers, scientists, health professionals, funders, nonprofits, and residents are coming together across South Florida to transform brain health in our local community and around the world, setting the course for the massive potential that lies ahead.”
If You Go:
What: Launching the Brain Coast Vision
Palm Health Foundation is launching "The Brain Coast Vision," an aspiration toward a thriving brain health ecosystem in South Florida. This vision is partly realized through breakthrough scientific research happening right here in Palm Beach County. Join us to hear the stories behind the science and be inspired by the journeys that led local scientists to dedicate their lives to advancing treatment for brain disorders as varied as depression, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and more.
When:
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where:
Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute at Florida Atlantic University Jupiter Campus, Jupiter, FL 33458
Registration: Free & Open to the Public. Registration Required - Seating is Limited.
Register at
palmhealthfoundation.org/events
Contact info@phfpbc.org with event questions.
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About Palm Health Foundation
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes, and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $93 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.
About Train the Brain
Train the Brain is a community health campaign annually presented by Palm Health Foundation throughout the month of October. The campaign goal is to help Palm Beach County residents understand that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. With information and resources provided, participants are encouraged to make changes in their thinking about mental health conditions and integrate brain healthy habits and self-care behaviors into their daily routines.
PalmHealthFoundation.org/train-the-brain
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