Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health Brain and Spine Care, was installed as the Esernia Endowed Chair in Surgical Treatment of Adult Epilepsy and Movement Disorders at a ceremony and reception on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Mr. C Miami - Coconut Grove.  The program featured remarks by Jack Ziffer, Ph.D., M.D., EVP, chief clinical officer and chief physician executive of Baptist Health; Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation; and Michael McDermott, M.D., system chief executive of Baptist Health Brain & Spine Care, chief medical executive and Irma & Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, as well as chair of the Department of Neurosciences at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. The program was followed by a presentation by Dr. Abosch.

The endowed chair will support the work of Dr. Abosch, who serves as deputy director of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, as well as director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of functional neurosurgery. Dr. Abosch is a national authority on functional neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation and other forms of neuromodulation. The chair will support her research in deep brain stimulation and other advanced techniques to treat epilepsy and movement disorders. Established in 2025, the chair is funded by a $2 million gift from Anthony and Joyce Esernia and named in recognition of their generosity.

“We are immensely grateful for this generous gift,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “The Esernia family has been very supportive of Miami Neuroscience Institute and its visionary leader, Michael McDermott, M.D. This endowed chair will help cement the Institute’s reputation as a world-class center for advanced neurological care and create a legacy of innovation in the fields of epilepsy and the movement disorders.”

Dr. Abosch recently joined Baptist Health as deputy director of Miami Neuroscience Institute, as well as the Institute’s director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of functional neurosurgery. She is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in deep brain stimulation (DBS), a life-changing therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. Dr. Abosch previously served as Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as professor and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado and Director of Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and lectured around the globe on neurosurgical innovations and is the Secretary of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

“I am deeply honored,” said Dr. Abosch. “This extraordinary gift will accelerate the Institute’s efforts to advance therapies and expand the possibilities for patients whose lives are profoundly impacted by these conditions. I am grateful to the Esernia family and Baptist Health Foundation for their vision and commitment to building a program that brings hope, innovation and healing to patients and families across our community and beyond.”

Movement disorders — including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia — and epilepsy represent some of the most challenging and life-altering conditions for patients and families. Today, Parkinson’s alone affects at least one percent of the population, with cases expected to double over the next decade. Around 20 percent of the population will experience a movement disorder, with symptoms ranging from tremors and muscle rigidity to profound balance issues.  Additionally, about one in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives, and over 42 percent of patients with active epilepsy report their health as fair or poor, highlighting the disorder’s effect on an individual’s quality of life.

Miami Neuroscience Institute is building a nationally prominent program in functional neurosurgery to address this urgent need. The Institute’s advanced surgical treatments are restoring independence and mobility to patients with epilepsy and movement disorders. It is also conducting research and clinical trials to develop new therapies for these and other neurological conditions. “We endow this chair to move science forward and to bring hope to those living with epilepsy and movement disorders,” said Foundation donor Joyce Esernia.

Miami Neuroscience Institute provides the most comprehensive and innovative techniques to diagnose and treat the brain, spine and nervous system. Under the direction of Michael McDermott, M.D., an internationally renowned neurosurgeon, chief medical executive and Irma & Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at Miami Neuroscience Institute; as well as chair of the Department of Neurosciences at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the Institute embraces a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, from nonsurgical treatments and minimally invasive procedures to complex brain and spine surgery. As national leaders in the treatment of movement disorders, the team at Miami Neuroscience Institute ensures that patients receive the most-innovative treatment options to provide the best quality of life possible.