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, FL (Feb. 6, 2025) – 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.