West Palm Beach July 2026

6 W E S T PA L M B E A C H | J U LY 2 0 2 6 The Brain Coast BUSINESS PROFILE - By Noel Martinez, Chair, Florida Association of Chamber Professionals; President & CEO, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce - - Photos provided by Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce - F or most of us, we don't spend much time thinking about our brains until something goes wrong. It might be a loved one receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis. A friend struggling with depression. A child facing developmental challenges. Or a family navigating the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury. In those moments, the brain becomes deeply personal. It is the source of our memories, our relationships, our creativity, and our ability to experience the world around us. It shapes who we are. Yet despite decades of scientific advancement, the human brain remains one of the greatest frontiers of discovery. What many people may not realize is that some of the world's most important efforts to better understand the brain are happening right here in Palm Beach County. HOW COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND DISCOVERY ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY Recently, the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to host a conversation with several leaders at the forefront of neuroscience research and education. Joining us were Dr. Joe Schumacher, Chief Scientific Officer of the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience; Courtney Miller, Ph.D, Professor at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology; and Dr. Ken Dawson-Scully, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida Atlantic University. Guiding the discussion was Patrick McNamara, President and CEO of Palm Health Foundation, whose leadership has helped advance the vision of what is increasingly becoming known as the Brain Coast. The name is fitting. Just as Florida's Space Coast became synonymous with exploration and innovation, the Brain Coast represents a growing