The Brain Surgeon's Take

Dr. Anil Menon is a NASA astronaut, emergency medicine physician, mechanical engineer, and U.S. Space Force colonel whose career has taken him from emergency rooms and military aviation to the International Space Station. A graduate of Harvard and Stanford, he earned degrees in neurobiology, mechanical engineering, and medicine, followed by training in emergency and aerospace medicine. Menon was NASA’s flight surgeon for multiple International Space Station missions and became SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, helping prepare the company’s first astronauts for human spaceflight and building its medical program. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, he completed astronaut training in 2024 and launched aboard the Soyuz MS-29 in July 2026 for his first mission to the International Space Station, where he is conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations focused on the future of human space exploration. 

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Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar is the President of the World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the most influential organizations in global boxing. Born in Mexico City in 1969, Sulaimán grew up immersed in the sport as the son of legendary longtime WBC President José Sulaimán. After earning a degree in Business Administration from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, he held leadership roles in business and joined the WBC, eventually becoming its Executive Secretary before being unanimously elected President in 2014. Under his leadership, the WBC has emphasized boxer safety, medical research, clean sport, women’s boxing, and social responsibility, while continuing to expand the organization’s global influence. In 2024, he was re-elected to a four-year term, continuing a family legacy that has helped shape the modern sport of boxing. 

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Shelton “Shelly” Berg is an acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and five-time Grammy-nominated musician who has made a profound impact on music education and the South Florida cultural community. Berg served as Dean of the University of Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music from 2007 through 2026, where he helped transform the school into a nationally recognized leader in innovative, experiential music education. A graduate of the University of Houston, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance, Berg has performed and recorded with some of the world’s leading musicians and has composed and arranged for film, television, and major recording projects. His work has included collaborations with artists such as Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Arturo Sandoval, and Chicago. As an educator and leader, Berg has championed creativity, entrepreneurship, technology, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, preparing generations of musicians for the rapidly evolving music industry. 

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Donna Shalala is an American educator and public official whose career spans academia, government, and philanthropy. She served as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 , representing Florida’s 27th congressional district. She was the first woman to head a Big Ten university and the longest-serving secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , having served as chancellor of UW-Madison and earlier as president of Hunter College. She became president of the University of Miami in 2001 and led the school for 14 years , and later served as CEO of the Clinton Foundation. A Washington Post article described her as “one of the most successful government managers of modern times,” and in 2008 the Council on Excellence in Government named her one of the greatest public servants of the past 25 years ; that same year she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Dr. Patricia A. Whitely serves as Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement at the University of Miami, a role she’s held in various forms since joining the university in 1997, capping over four decades of service to the institution. She oversees the 24 departments and areas that provide programs, services, and facilities shaping the Miami Hurricane student experience . She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Theology from St. John’s University, her master’s degree in Student Personnel Services from the University of South Carolina, and her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Miami . Over her career she has become a nationally recognized figure in higher education administration and crisis management, earning honors such as the James W. McLamore Outstanding Service and Leadership Award, the NASPA Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer, and recognition as a Pillar of the Profession, while UM students honored her by naming the Patricia A. Whitely Unsung Hero Award in her name.

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Ron Baron is an American billionaire investor and founder, chairman, and CEO of Baron Capital, an asset management firm he started in 1982 known for long-term growth investing. He built his reputation identifying high-growth companies early and holding them for years or decades, with notable bets including Tesla, which became one of his firm’s most famous and profitable positions. Baron is also known for his lavish annual investor conference featuring major celebrity performers, and he’s a prominent philanthropist who has pledged to give away the bulk of his fortune, supporting causes in education and medical research through his Baron Foundation.

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EJ Manuel is a former NFL quarterback, college football analyst, and entrepreneur best known for his standout career at Florida State University and as a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. A four-year contributor at Florida State, Manuel led the Seminoles to an ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl victory before spending four seasons in Buffalo and later playing for the Oakland Raiders. Since retiring from professional football, he has transitioned into broadcasting as a premier college football analyst for ESPN where he provides insight on the game and player development. Off the field, Manuel is an advocate for leadership, mentorship, and financial literacy, using his platform to inspire the next generation of athletes and professionals.

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Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in UM’s Department of Psychology, and Director of the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment (CAMAT) Program. She’s best known as the primary developer of the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/UP-A), with 175+ publications and 10,000+ citations. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi (2002) and has served as incoming President-Elect of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

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Dr. Alexander McKinney is the Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Chief of Service for Radiology at both UHealth and Jackson Health System. A nationally recognized neuroradiologist, he spent 26 years at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his medical training and rose to the rank of professor before joining Miami. Dr. McKinney is an accomplished physician-scientist with more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, numerous textbook contributions, and a research portfolio spanning neuroradiology, advanced imaging, and artificial intelligence in medicine. He has emerged as a leading advocate for integrating AI into radiology, championing a vision in which radiologists leverage advanced technology to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and preventive care. 

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Ali Landry is an actress, entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and former Miss USA. Best known as the iconic “Doritos Girl” and for her work in television and film, she has successfully reinvented herself as a business leader, author, and champion for healthy living. Through her RE/SHAPE platform, Ali inspires others to pursue personal growth, resilience, and intentional living while balancing a thriving career and family life.

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