As thought leaders and visionaries, Irma and Norman Braman are lifelong contributors to Miami and its surrounding communities. Amidst their authentic cultural leadership and countless contributions to the local economy, they founded the Braman Family Foundation, a charitable organization that funds, among other things, underserved medical needs. After a devastating diagnosis in the early 2000s with Irma’s sister facing breast cancer, the Bramans set out to change the landscape of cancer care in South Florida. They envisioned all-encompassing, high quality cancer treatment that was personal, effective, and proactive. “We began looking for a partner to provide a true level of excellence for our community,” Norman shares. The result of that search is the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, a legacy project for the family and the apple of Norman’s philanthropic eye.

The Gift

As lead donors of the project, the Bramans are committed to ensuring a standard of excellence for the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center. Set to open in 2025, the new cancer center will enhance the existing partnership with Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Care Center; this collaboration increases access to advanced treatments, clinical trials, and research. “We aim to ensure that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to personalized and expert cancer care right here in our community,” said the Norman. While the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center will deliver true clinical excellence, the success of the center is truly found in “…lives saved, families intact, and hope restored,” said the Bramans.

Motivating Mission

Irma and Norman Braman hope that their contribution to the field of cancer treatment will continue to push philanthropy to the forefront. “Given our personal experiences and seeing the pressing need in our community for more access to expert cancer care, Irma and I felt a profound need to act. This cause is worthy of our commitment, and we hope our actions inspire others to pay it forward in their own ways,” Norman said. Their dedication to championing personalized, comprehensive cancer care through Mount Sinai Medical Center will leave a generational impact on the healthcare landscape in South Florida.