Dr. Marsha Fishbane Elected Palm Health Foundation Board Chair

February 8, 2024

Dr. Marsha Fishbane, pediatrician, public health physician, and dedicated community volunteer, has been elected chair of the board of trustees at Palm Health Foundation, Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. Dr. Fishbane joined the foundation board in 2015 and has served on its Community Investment Committee for 17 years. She succeeds former chair, David Wisehaupt, managing director, Wisehaupt, Bray Asset Management/ Hightower.



Dr. Fishbane brings wide-ranging insights from 43 years of practice in private and public settings and leadership positions at nonprofit and government organizations. Her impact is far-reaching as well. She is the co-founder and board member of Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, a former chairperson for the School Health Advisory Council of Palm Beach County, and the former school health medical director for the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County where she led the implementation of the school health program that placed a nurse in every public school.



Before she was elected chair, Dr. Fishbane served as Palm Health Foundation’s Executive Committee vice-chair and Community Investment Committee chair. Patrick McNamara, Palm Health Foundation president and CEO, recognized the value of Dr. Fishbane’s leadership from the start. “Dr. Fishbane’s deep understanding of how to create countywide health solutions has been essential to helping us realize our vision where all Palm Beach County residents—especially children and youth—have opportunities to thrive and reach their full health potential,” he said. “I know she will bring wisdom and compassion to her board chair position and lead us in building a culture of health over the next two years.”

Dr. Fishbane has also been a key advocate of the foundation’s Healthier Together place-based funding effort, which was a major contributor to Palm Beach County winning the 2020-2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health Prize. “I’m proud to lead Palm Health Foundation at a time when they are capturing local and national attention for their ground-breaking health initiatives,” said Dr. Fishbane. “The foundation’s staff, board of directors, and community partners are dedicated to building a culture of health, advancing brain health, and strengthening the health professions—all initiatives I am personally and professionally committed to advancing.”


Dr. Fishbane is a resident of Singer Island and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Her pediatric training was completed at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and obtained a master’s in science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.


As a medical professional, she was in private pediatric practice for six years before moving into a 30-year career in public health with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, where she held the positions of community and school health division director and school health medical director before her retirement. Her leadership commitments have included the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention/Teen Parenting Coalition, the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership, and the Wellness Promotion Policy Task Force with the School District of Palm Beach County.


Dr. Fishbane’s favorite pastimes are traveling and keeping up with her three daughters and three grandchildren.



 

About Palm Health Foundation 
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes, and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $93 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.

April 23, 2025
A conversation with Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW, Palm Health Foundation Trustee
April 23, 2025
Palm Health Foundation supports BeWellPBC, a county-wide behavioral health initiative. After 10 years of leading community change through Healthier Delray Beach and BeWellPBC, Lauren Zuchman will bring her passion to a new chief officer role in Palm Beach County with continued reinforcement of community at the forefront.
April 16, 2025
Gifts will benefit The Center for The Resilient Mind at Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
April 16, 2025
Palm Health Foundation , Palm Beach County’s leading community foundation for health, has released its 2024 Report to the Community , “From Strategy to Impact: Cultivating Thriving Communities.” Dynamic storytelling, supported by video and podcast links, showcases how the foundation’s $2.7 million in grant investments for 2024 addressed the county’s most pressing health challenges. Advancing brain health . According to the Dana Foundation , more than 8 in 10 Americans are affected by brain health issues. Palm Health Foundation’s investments through its Brain Health Innovation Fund continued to build a growing brain health network—from community-based solutions transforming behavioral health access and support for families and youth through BeWellPBC , to advancing science-based collaboration through the Brain Coast Alliance and the Palm Beach County NeuroArts Collaborative . Strengthening the health professions . There are 510 individuals for every one behavioral health practitioner and over 16,000 nursing vacancies in the State of Florida. Thanks to an outpouring of donor support, Palm Health Foundation awarded $687,000 in needs-based scholarships to 73 nursing and behavioral health students at local universities pursuing degrees to fill significant gaps in access to care across Palm Beach County. Many scholars come from diverse backgrounds and will have the competencies proven to improve patient health outcomes, satisfaction, and the overall quality of care. Activated, healthy, resilient communities . More attention has been given nationwide to the vital conditions —factors like access to quality housing, stable employment, healthy food, and safe communities—and their potential to contribute to health disparities. In 2024, Palm Health Foundation’s Healthier Lake Worth Beach initiative created impact by relieving the stress of code compliance among 55+ residents in vulnerable communities by collaborating with city government through the Neighborhood Health/Code Compliance Curb Appeal project . Recognizing homeowners’ inability to correct code violations due to health or aging, the project engaged volunteers to provide home repairs and improvements, relieving residents of violations and improving their quality of life. Palm Health Foundation also joined with fellow funders during the year to award 21 Community Changemakers Fund grants, seeding and supporting a network of individuals, organizations, and businesses with ideas to benefit resident health through enhancing vital conditions across Palm Beach County. Palm Health Foundation president and CEO, Patrick McNamara, sees how the foundation’s innovative approach to long-term health solutions through community collaboration is paying dividends. “Since evolving our strategy from short-term grant-making to systems change and generational transformation in partnership with community and our donors, we have better recognized—and invested in—the incredible people and ideas for building a thriving community,” McNamara said. “At the same time, we are strengthening our entire health network through scholarships and game-changing collectives, like the Brain Coast Alliance. Our efforts are creating connections between philanthropists seeking breakthrough health solutions and the people who are leading the way for a healthier Palm Beach County.” ### About Palm Health Foundation Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $95 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333. 
April 11, 2025
The Palm Beach Post’s November 12, 2024, article, “ How South Florida aims to become capital of neurological research and treatment ,” introduced readers to a historic collaboration among six esteemed institutions who have formed an alliance to position our region as the “Brain Coast.” As more attention is placed on health and science research spending at a national level, the Brain Coast Alliance is shining a light on the significant discoveries and economic benefits that we all enjoy because our community is united in support of scientific innovation in our own backyard. Our local investments have had a profound global impact, especially in the area of brain science. This is vitally important to all of us, because when the brain thrives, every aspect of our being benefits. When the Brain Coast thrives, every aspect of our region stands to benefit. The brain health discoveries originating in Palm Beach County, FL, where Brain Coast founding members, the Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (FAU), The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) reside, reflect the life’s work of hundreds of scientists working together to illuminate the awesome complexity of the human brain. Their ultimate goal is to find better treatments and even cures for some of humanity’s most challenging brain diseases and disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and developmental difficulties such as autism and sensory processing disorders. Together, these brain conditions affect more than eight in 10 Americans and their ability to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Life science discoveries and development affect the health of our local economy as well, providing over 7,500 jobs and contributing $1.6 billion total gross regional product , according to the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. This local industry is also a driving force for growth. MPFI has attracted scientific investment through a partnership with microscopy manufacturer Abberior Instruments, who moved their US headquarters to Jupiter, FL, in 2017, where recently ZEISS opened a new advanced microscopy training center. Similarly, FAU’s multi-campus partnership with Nikon Instruments, has garnered a designation as a Nikon Center of Excellence , one of only 17 in the Americas and 1 of 32 worldwide. Additionally, Wertheim UF Scripps Institute researchers have established companies in Jupiter that are attracting millions in outside investment while they advance possible treatments for forms of muscular dystrophy, ALS, and glioblastoma. Building upon strengths, Florida Atlantic, home to five inductees into the National Academy of Inventors, oversees a thriving Tech Runway and Research Park , promoting the development of diagnostics and treatments for brain disorders, among others. With professional opportunities and investment come advanced educational opportunities to boost STEM appreciation and careers, creating a dynamic ecosystem where schools benefit from enhanced educational resources, career opportunities, and community collaboration, all bringing the vision for a thriving Brain Coast to life. Beyond local impact, Brain Coast Alliance partners are fueling America’s research pipeline, ensuring that our country is—and stays—at the forefront in the development of life-changing medications and therapies. Palm Beach County’s research institutes’ list of discoveries is inspiring and supports Florida’s public health priorities , including addressing chronic health conditions, understanding the neural basis of addiction, treating mental health conditions, and understanding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Did you know, for example, that the genetics of forgetting were uncovered in Jupiter? Other examples of Brain Coast Alliance researchers’ worldwide impact on some of the most debilitating diseases and conditions include: At FAU, Erik Engeberg, Ph.D., is exploring two-way communication between the brain and robotic devices , where an artificial limb would respond to brain signals for movements, and Ning Quan, Ph.D., has discovered novel healthy roles for inflammatory immune molecules in the brain that may one day lead to novel neuroprotective medications. At The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Laura Bohn, Ph.D., has shown that dangerous and unwanted side effects of pain medications, including respiratory suppression and itching, can be minimized with next-generation medications now in development. Meanwhile, Matthew D. Disney, Ph.D., has discovered a potential medication for Parkinson’s that disables the toxic RNA driving the disease. At MPFI, Vidhya Rangaraju, Ph.D., is conducting research that could allow for earlier diagnosis and intervention of ALS, and Sarah Stern, Ph.D., is helping to uncover how the brain processes information related to hunger, thirst and stress, that could unlock new treatments for obesity, eating disorders, and other psychiatric conditions. We look forward to maintaining the momentum on life-changing research that impacts our region and our world. Science is a vital pillar of our economy, one that enhances everyone’s health and wellbeing. To learn more about how you can champion science and support this vital work, visit Palm Health Foundation’s website . Signed, Patrick J. McNamara , President and CEO of Palm Health Foundation, on behalf of the Brain Coast Alliance : Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Palm Health Foundation, Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network
January 29, 2025
What if I become ill? What if my loved one does? How will we manage?
January 29, 2025
Let’s Move Encourages at least 30 Minutes of Activity Daily for Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health
January 29, 2025
Healthier Glades , a Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative, proudly marked six years of empowering the Glades community through its Mini Grant Program with the recent announcement of four grant awards to recipients in Belle Glade and Canal Point, Florida. Through the Mini Grant Program, Healthier Glades invests in promising programs to promote health, wellness, and youth engagement. The initiative has awarded over $140,000 in mini grants to 52 residents and organizations fostering lasting community impact since 2019. The four innovative grants exemplify Healthier Glades’ ability to unlock community strengths by elevating and investing in the ideas that the community believes hold the most promise to change lives and the narrative around mental health. “The programs highlight the creativity, passion, and dedication of Glades’ community members,” said Annie Ifill, Director, Healthier Glades. Mini grant recipients began program implementation on January 1, 2025. Mini Grant Recipients
January 3, 2025
Mark Twain wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” I realized many years ago that the lessons I learn may be for me alone in the moment, but they are not mine to hoard—they are to be shared with others.
December 20, 2024
Hospital conversion foundations are unique and powerful forces in advancing community health. These charitable organizations are born when non-profit hospitals are sold and converted to for-profit entities. A foundation is then established from the proceeds of the sale or “conversion.”
More Posts