More than 600 guests gathered at Loews Miami Beach Hotel as the Jackson Health Foundation used its annual Golden Angels Gala to spotlight a major leadership transition and continued investment in Miami-Dade’s public health system.
The evening marked one of the final public moments for longtime CEO Carlos Migoya, who will step down at the end of May after 15 years leading Jackson Health System. In a program that balanced recognition with forward momentum, the Foundation introduced his successor, current president and COO David Zambrana, signaling a leadership handoff at a pivotal time for the system.
It also introduced what will become a lasting part of Migoya’s legacy: the Carlos A. Migoya Patient Care Tower at Jackson Memorial Hospital, set to open later this year.
The gala itself remains one of the Foundation’s most important fundraising drivers, supporting a system that serves as the backbone of public health care in the region. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $265 million, funding everything from capital projects to critical patient care programs. Recent initiatives include the expansion and renovation of the emergency department at Jackson Memorial, expected to be among the largest in the country.
CEO Flavia Llizo kept the message direct. The strength of Jackson, she emphasized, is tied to the community that continues to invest in it.
That community was well represented. Philanthropic leaders, health care advocates, and longtime supporters—including Trish and Dan Bell, The José Milton Foundation, and FPL—were recognized for their role in sustaining and expanding the system’s reach. Their contributions are not abstract; they directly impact access to care across Miami-Dade.
The most effective moment of the night avoided institutional language altogether. Eight-year-old Dylan Smith, treated at Holtz Children’s Hospital after a near-drowning incident, was honored alongside his family. His survival hinged on immediate action—CPR performed by his parents and a neighbor—and the care he received once he arrived at Jackson.
It reframed the evening in practical terms. The Foundation’s work supports infrastructure and innovation, but it also ensures that when moments like that happen, the system is equipped to respond.
The Golden Angels Gala continues to operate at that intersection of philanthropy and necessity. The setting may shift, and the leadership may evolve, but the focus remains consistent: building a public health system that can meet the demands of a growing and complex community.
