NSU’s Health Professions Division will host its 29th annual Bal Fantastique, a gala dinner dance and fundraiser honoring the excellence of HPD’s education and success,1 on March 29 at 7 p.m.
Jay Tischenkel, founding trustee of HPD’s board of governors, said “The Bal Fantastique is one of Broward’s most popular events of the season and sells out quickly every year. It is also HPD’s one and only fundraiser.”
Event proceeds enable HPD to improve its teaching facilities, upgrade equipment, establish scholarships for deserving students, increase medical research and serve the community’s health care needs.
HPD Chancellor Fred Lippman said he is very proud of the success HPD graduates continue to achieve.
“HPD provides not only the community, but the nation with the finest health professionals that we can educate,” Lippman said. “We are not proud because of their financial success, but for being a very good quality provider of health care and the honor they bring to this university.”
Bal Fantastique is a black tie event and will take place at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 at 2301 S.E. 17th St. in Fort Lauderdale. It consists of a cocktail reception, open bar, dancing, dinner and a 10-piece orchestra.
The reception begins at 7 p.m. and dinner will be served an hour later. The event is by invitation only, attended each year by around 375 people. Invitations are given to past guests, select students, faculty and staff, the board of trustees , HPD alumni and anyone who requests an invitation far enough in advance.
Lippman said attendees are supporters of HPD’s needs , vision and mission.
Tischenkel looks forward to the event’s uplifting atmosphere.
“It is exciting to see everyone so happy and having such a great time,” he said, “There are no auctions or speeches, just fun, great music and the food is better than any fine restaurant.”
HPD is composed of the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, Optometry, Health Care Sciences, Nursing, Medical Sciences and Dental Medicine and Lippman sees Bal Fantastique as one way for each area to continue its legacy.
Lippman said it is evident that both HPD and the university as a whole are continually growing.
“When this event first started, we only had three schools and now there are more than 21 programs in HPD,” he said. “The Bal Fantastique is now populated with more and more alumni and people who have achieved dramatic success in their health professions.”
