The gift, by an anonymous patient and spouse, will establish the Ricardo Hanel, MD, and Eric Sauvageau, MD, Chair in Neurovascular Surgery at the Baptist Neurological Institute, according to a news release. Baptist Health said the donation will be matched by the health system for a total endowment of about $2.5 million, which will provide permanent, ongoing funding for brain treatment and research.
Dr. Hanel serves as director of the Baptist Neurological Institute, and Dr. Sauvageau serves as director of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville.
The $1.1 million gift is only part of the $6 million in recent charitable donations that Baptist Health has received to expand its research and education efforts for stroke and brain aneurysms, according to the release.
Baptist Health said the $6 million in donations from corporate and private donors will also help fund endowments focused on clinical program development for treating cerebrovascular conditions in adults and children, as well as expanding community outreach and awareness for stroke and brain aneurysms.
Among the other donors were Cheryl and Tom Rackley, who designated $1 million to support neurological needs for local residents and $500,000 to the Baptist Neurological Institute Endowment, according to the release. Ms. Rackley was treated by Dr. Hanel for a brain aneurysm in 2015.
“The generosity of these gifts are really inspiring,” Dr. Hanel said in the release. “The donations allow us to continue doing advanced research and education while providing the best cerebrovascular care in the region for all ages and all socio-economic levels, especially to the under privileged.”
“These commitments are truly amazing and will allow us to develop the program further and provide support to educate and reach more people in the community,” Dr. Sauvageau added.
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