TGH Transplant Institute Receives $2.5 Million Gift to Accelerate Research and Innovation

The Bekki and Mike Haggard Endowed Chair in Innovation will fund cutting-edge research and education within the TGH Transplant Institute.

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Foundation has received a generous gift to create the Bekki and Mike Haggard Endowed Chair in Innovation for the nationally acclaimed and number one ranked TGH Transplant Institute.

The $2.5 million gift will fund new academic efforts and scientific investigations at the TGH Transplant Institute, led by Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of the Institute.

"The Haggards' exceptional gift will make a tremendous impact on patients and families for generations to come," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. "Meaningful gifts like that of the Haggards provide critical resources necessary to support the transformative mission of Dr. Dhanireddy and his team and allow TGH to continue to lead the nation in transplantation. The Haggards are an exceptional couple, and we are beyond grateful for the trust they have demonstrated in Tampa General with their continued support."

Mike Haggard received a kidney transplant at TGH in 2016 after living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). He and his wife, Bekki, have made it a mission to fund PKD research and educate the public about living donations. Bekki Haggard's brother, Allen Buckhalt, donated the kidney that was transplanted into Mike. 

In January, Tampa General was ranked first in the nation for transplants, completing the most procedures of any transplant center in the United States during 2024. Having completed 889 transplants between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, Tampa General set a new national record for transplant procedures in one year.

"TGH has saved my life multiple times," said Mike Haggard. "Now the hospital is inspiring others to save more lives, making everybody better with the TGH standard of excellence."

Dhanireddy plans to use part of the gift to fund an annual Haggard Innovation Grant at the TGH Transplant Institute to inspire innovation for years to come. 

"The opportunity to take a gift like this, invest it and make it work for years to come truly allows the TGH Transplant Institute to expand innovative, new techniques and technology in transplantation," said Dhanireddy. "The timing is perfect, and the Haggards are amazing for turning Mike's journey to health into this transformative opportunity."

The Haggards and Buckhalt have previously teamed up with Tampa General to help people understand how living donations can save lives.  

"Mike and Bekki Haggard are wonderful caring people with a genuine passion for elevating the awareness of live organ donation and the excellence of that work at Tampa General," said Frann Leppla, executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer. "We are so grateful for this generous gift and their years of dedication to saving the lives of other patients living with kidney disease."  

As the TGH Foundation is amid its first-ever fully comprehensive campaign – Elevating Excellence: Innovating Tomorrow's TGH – the Haggards' gift also carried the total funds raised to date over the $150 million mark, a significant milestone toward the foundation's $200 million goal.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL 

Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It was the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant center in 2024 and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North, which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, two TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR
Assistant Manager
Publications & Physician Communications
(727) 510-6363 (cell)
ehardy@tgh.org

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SOURCE Tampa General Hospital