The 最新天美传媒 announced a $5 million gift to the USF Foundation from Timothy Ubben to create the Ubben Family Center for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Housed in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the center will increase research to fight pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes lung scarring.
This is Ubben鈥檚 second principal gift to USF this year. In February, , led by Dr. Jose D. Herazo-Maya, associate chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and director of the Ubben Program for Pulmonary Fibrosis Research in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
鈥淚t is incredible to see such amazing generosity from Mr. Ubben in such a short time,鈥� said President Rhea Law. 鈥淚 am confident that Dr. Herazo and his research team will make great gains in fighting pulmonary fibrosis as a result of this important gift.鈥�
The $5 million gift will be split between operating funds to expand USF Health鈥檚 pulmonary fibrosis research and to establish an endowed chair, the Timothy Ubben Chair in Pulmonary Fibrosis. The endowment will generate earnings that ensure leadership and funding for this research to continue forever.
"Pulmonary fibrosis doesn't get popular support or much research funding," Ubben said. 鈥淚 probably won鈥檛 be around to benefit from the results of Dr. Herazo鈥檚 research, but hopefully other pulmonary fibrosis patients will. I want him to find the cure, and I want him to do it at USF Health.鈥�
Herazo first served as Ubben鈥檚 pulmonologist in Naples before joining 最新天美传媒 in January and continues to serve as his physician.
鈥淚t is humbling to receive such wonderful support to lead this critical research at USF,鈥� Herazo said. 鈥淢r. Ubben鈥檚 generous gift will help us better understand the root causes of pulmonary fibrosis, so we can expedite the discovery of new tests and treatments to help patients.鈥�
Since Herazo鈥檚 arrival, USF Health and Tampa General Hospital have expanded the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic, which now cares for more than 1,000 pulmonary fibrosis patients in the region.
鈥淲e are thrilled by Mr. Ubben鈥檚 investment in Dr. Herazo鈥檚 research,鈥� said Dr. Charles Lockwood, USF Health senior vice president and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. 鈥淭his will have a powerful impact on building the pipeline of therapies for patients.鈥�
Ubben founded Lincoln Capital Management, a successful Chicago-based investment firm, in 1967. Since retiring in 1999, he has dedicated his time, resources and expertise in board leadership to nonprofit and educational organizations.
鈥淭his extraordinary gift by Mr. Ubben is a moving example of how USF Health patients and their physicians can partner to provide hope for the future,鈥� said USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman. 鈥淭his level of focused research wouldn鈥檛 be possible without Mr. Ubben鈥檚 support, and the discoveries made through this center will ultimately save lives.