Florida Atlantic: Reshaping Health Care

Florida Atlantic University received a $6 million grant for its Marcus Institute of Integrative Health from the late Bernie Marcus, founder of The Home Depot, and The Marcus Foundation. The gift will broaden the services, enhance educational programs and expand community wellness initiatives at the Marcus Institute, which is managed by the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. The goal is to create a national model that demonstrates the effectiveness of comprehensive integrative health as the optimal approach for achieving overall well-being.

This latest grant from The Marcus Foundation, which was made prior to the passing of Marcus in November 2024, brings its total contributions to Florida Atlantic to more than $10 million. Its support for advancing integrative health is significantly reshaping the landscape of health care, research and education in South Florida and beyond.

“Integrative health simply blends traditional medicine with common sense alternative solutions, and Bernie Marcus long believed it should be offered in today’s health care system,” said Jay Kaiman, president of The Marcus Foundation. “This expansion will help more people who are seeking innovative solutions to their overall health and well-being.”

The Marcus Institute of Integrative Health provides exceptional patient care, innovative educational programs, impactful community engagement, and advanced integrative medicine. Under the leadership of Branson J. Collins, M.D., the institute has made significant strides in advancing its programs, which include integrative pain management and precision image-guided injection therapies for chronic pain, sports injuries and mental health.

The grant enables the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health to expand its operations to provide more services and conduct more research. The institute will implement a three-tier expansion plan that prioritizes high-quality, superior patient outcomes, and will include additional services such as diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasounds, intravenous sedation, tai chi, a functional movement specialist, and a nutrition coach. Additionally, as a result of this grant, the institute is poised to create a center for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Community wellness programs will continue to thrive at the Marcus Institute for Integrative Health, offering more than 52 nutritional classes aimed at engaging 1,500 participants and 150 integrative health classes to reach 1,800 participants annually. The institute also plans to enroll 1,000 students and conduct 50 retreats for veterans.

“We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of The Marcus Foundation, which has been instrumental in advancing our mission,” said then- Interim FAU President Stacy Volnick. “This generous grant enhances the quality of care we can provide locally and allows us to contribute to the broader field of integrative health on a national scale. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the 3.2 million people in our service area.”