Miller School Dedicates the Estefan Voice Studio

Thanks to a generous donation from world-renowned musical talent and University of Miami alumna and trustee Gloria Estefan, an innovative voice studio has been dedicated within the Department of Otolaryngology at UM’s Miller School of Medicine. The studio is the first clinical space of its kind in Florida and one of only a few in the nation.

Estefan Voice Studio
Left to right: Laurie Slivers, Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D, Fred F Telischi, M.D., David E. Rosow, M.D.

“Of all the things I would have my name on, this is a great one because it is going to help a lot of people,” said Estefan, who graduated in 1978 and received an honorary doctorate in music in 1993. “It’s is so amazing that our medical community is growing here in Miami. UM reaches into the community in every way possible, and I hope that many, many people benefit from the amazing doctors here.”

Gloria and Emilio Estefan
From left, Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

Her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, echoed the sentiment: “It’s a dream come true, because we want to give back to this amazing city and amazing community that we have been so incredibly blessed to call home.”

In collaboration with the UM Frost School of Music, the Estefan Voice Studio will be a space for leading-edge vocal research, as it gives physicians-scientists a new diagnostic tool to gather the fullest understanding of the human voice. The studio is equipped with sound-dampening walls and diagnostic and recording equipment to allow patients to sing at full performance volume without holding back to properly receive a diagnosis and treatment.

David E. Rosow, M.D.
David E. Rosow, M.D.

“We sought to build not just the best voice studio in Florida, but a center that can compete with institutions anywhere in the world,” said David E. Rosow, M.D., director of the division of laryngology and voice disorders. “I can’t think of a more iconic duo that represents music and Miami better than Gloria and Emilio Estefan. We are very honored to have the Estefan name on this very important component of our voice medicine program.”

The April 6 ceremony for the voice studio, which was established with a $100,000 gift from the Gloria Estefan Foundation, included a performance from students at the Frost School of Music and a tour of the new facility.

Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

“The dedication of this studio is a major step toward the University’s goal of achieving preeminence, which is the level beyond excellence,” said UM President Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. “On behalf of the entire university community, I want to thank Gloria and Emilio Estefan for this outstanding gift.”

The donation is part of the University’s Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The most ambitious in the University’s history, the $2.5 billion campaign is set to conclude in 2025, when the University will celebrate its centennial.

Dean Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A.
Dean Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A.

“This is going to be a game-changer for patients who are looking to our physicians for answers,” said Laurie Silvers, chair of the UM Board of Trustees. “The Estefans’ generosity will help those physicians refine and redefine the future of treatment, patient care and education in this field.”

Dean Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., spoke to the magnitude of the impact Estefan’s generosity will have on vocal research.

Fred Telischi, M.D.
Fred Telischi, M.D.

“As one of the nation’s premier medical schools, a key part of our mission is to promote cutting edge research that will lead to transformative care for our patients,” said Ford, who is also the chief academic officer of the Miller School. “The dedication of the voice studio will elevate the level of otolaryngology research happening at our medical school.”

“This state-of-the-art facility will set a new standard in our region for developing new therapies,” said Fred Telischi, M.D. ’85, chair of the Department of Otolaryngology. “Whether its singing, teaching, lecturing, lawyering, doctoring or just plain chatting, human vocalization is the foundation of interpersonal interactions, and I can’t overstate the impact of the Estefan Voice Studio on our community.”

If you would like to join the Estefans and contribute to the Otolaryngology Department, contact Brian Weinblatt at [email protected] or 305-243-4390.

A gallery of photos from the is available here.


Tags: Dean Henri Ford, Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Fred Telischi, Estefan Voice Studio, Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century, Frost School of Music, President Julio Frenk