The UCLA Department of Neurosurgery is finalizing the details for its upcoming Visionary Ball.
The event — scheduled to take place at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday — raises funds and awareness in support of patients who face complex neurological disorders. And the program will be toplined by mogul Byron Allen who is slated to receive one of the night’s highest honors, a Visionary Award, as presented by another mogul, Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Allen — the founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group — will be joined by fellow honorees including Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences who will receive a Medical Visionary Award, and Erika Kort who will be feted with a Courage Award.
Music legend Smokey Robinson is confirmed to perform a set during the gala dinner while America’s Got Talent vet Howie Mandel will take the stage all night as emcee. Other highlights include a comedy set from Jay Leno and appearances by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen and Linda M. Liau, department chair of neurosurgery, among others. More than 500 patients, philanthropists, physicians, business leaders and community partners are expected to attend. This month’s Visionary Ball will mark the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
