By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Josie Romano Brown, president of Mercy Foundation.
Romano Brown, who since 2001 has served as overseer of the hospital�s principal support arm, has made significant strides throughout her tenure, heading-up pivotal fundraising efforts and community outreach projects.
�I am grateful for having been given this incredible opportunity to serve,� said Romano Brown. �The journey with Mercy has represented a very significant milestone in my professional life � one that has left an indelible mark. I came here to make a difference and I feel that, with the support of countless individuals, we have been able to accomplish that and more.�
Romano Brown�s legacy at Mercy Foundation includes major fundraising which helped facilitate the expansion and renovation of Mercy�s Emergency Department, now known as the M.B. Fernandez Family Emergency Pavilion, as well as the introduction of robotic surgery, digital mammography and other capital equipment and clinical support.
Her oversight has additionally included the generation of key funds for operations at the St. John Bosco Clinic, a facility which provides free medical care to thousands of uninsured and underprivileged adults and children in the community.
John Johnson, Mercy�s chief executive officer, has asked Romano Brown to stay on in a consulting role and ensure the continuity of the foundation�s operations. While no successor has been named, interviews are being conducted by Johnson and members of Mercy�s senior management. Romano Brown�s last day in office is March 31.
Romano Brown has been a Miami resident for more than 40 years and her ties to south Florida�s medical, civic and business communities have helped further her role as a liaison between the hospital and the city.
Prior to joining Mercy Foundation, Romano Brown served as executive director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the University of Miami. She also was president and founder of her own company, Romano Brown & Associates, Inc.
The Mercy Foundation is the principal fundraising arm of Mercy Hospital, managed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders and key supporters manages it. In the last five years, the foundation has been instrumental in the success of projects and community outreach programs such as the St. John Bosco Clinic, the School of Licensed Practical Nursing, the Ortega Bonet Miami Cancer Center, the Kohly Center for Rehabilitation and the Colt Neuro-Intensive Care Unit.
