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Patients' Lives Made Better
Alberto Bacardi – A transformational gift...
Last year, Alberto Bacardi underwent a kidney transplant at Toronto General Hospital. His wife, Maria, was his kidney donor. In their own words, they were touched by the patient experience: before, during and post transplant.
To express their gratitude for the care they received, Alberto contacted the doctors who cared for them, Dr. Carl Cardella, senior staff nephrologist, and Dr. Michael Robinette, surgeon in UHN’s Division of Urology, to find out how the family could support their work.
When Alberto learned more about the research going on at the Multi Organ Transplant Program, the Bacardi family decided to make a gift of $5 million to the program at TGH. In recognition of the family’s exceptional gesture, the Ambulatory Transplant Unit was named the Maria H. Bacardi Ambulatory Transplant Centre.
“My family is honoured to support the transplant specialists and staff at Toronto General Hospital,” says Alberto Bacardi. “We are grateful to Dr. Robinette, Dr. Cardella and the transplant staff for their humanity and heart-felt concern for their patients. We also congratulate Dr. Gary Levy for his leadership of the program.”
The Bacardi gift will fund the creation of an endowed Chair. Its focus, at the family’s request, will be on research relating to improved medications that will prevent organ rejection. The Maria H. Bacardi Ambulatory Transplant Centre, located on the 12th floor of TGH, is designed to meet the healthcare needs of approximately 3,000 organ transplant recipients. All patients have a designated Transplant Coordinator within the Ambulatory program who assists in managing their care along with the multidisciplinary health team.
There’s always an answer. We’ll find it.
