Barry University Invites Miami to Its First-Ever Health, Arts & Spirituality Summit on November 5
Barry University invites South Florida to join its inaugural Health, Arts & Spirituality (HAS) Summit on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at the Shepard & Ruth K. Broad Center for the Performing Arts. The free public event marks the launch of Barry’s new HAS initiative, which integrates music, art, faith, and community with evidence-based science.
Everyone is invited. The summit is a first-of-its-kind opportunity for South Florida residents, including caregivers, nurses, and families, to hear from national researchers, hospital and faith leaders, and artists about how music, art, faith, and community affect the way people heal and cope. Hospitals across the U.S. are bringing music, art, creative programming, and spirituality to the bedside, and a World Health Organization review of more than 3,000 studies found the arts play a major role in preventing illness, promoting health, and supporting treatment across the lifespan.
Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Broad Center. At 12 p.m., the Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, celebrates Mass and Blessing in Cor Jesu Chapel. The afternoon program begins at 1 p.m. with an opening keynote by Jill Sonke, Ph.D., US Cultural Policy Fellow, Stanford University, followed at 1:45 p.m. by an interpretive performance by Latin Grammy Award-winning flautist Nestor Torres.
At 2:30 p.m., a distinguished panel of health and faith leaders takes the stage, featuring Dr. Eneida Roldan, Barry University College of Health Professions and Medical Sciences; Sister Xiomara Méndez Hernández, OP, BCC, Executive Director, Dominican Sisters Conference; Marc Kaplan, Executive Director of Enterprise Development, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation; Gwenyth Morris, MT-BC, NMT, Board Certified Music Therapist, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; and Alexandra Villoch, Chief Executive Officer, Baptist Health Foundation. At 3:15 p.m., Guitars Over Guns performs, led by Dr. Chad Bernstein, Co-Founder and CEO. At 3:45 p.m., Daniel León, MBA, Founder, Acacia Charitable Fund, and Sister Jamie Caporizo, OP, Director of Health, Arts & Spirituality at Barry University, deliver the closing keynote. Barry University President Mike Allen, Ph.D., will also offer remarks.
The celebration continues at 4 p.m. on the Campus Mall with an evening featuring Nestor Torres and guest artists. At 5:30 p.m., the Andy Gato Gallery hosts the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Art Teacher Exhibition.
The summit is free and takes place at Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33161. RSVP at no cost and view the full schedule at barry.edu/HAS.