Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) has announced a $25 million gift from the Gerald A. and Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation.

Longtime supporters of SMH, the couple previously awarded $25 million in June, which enabled SMH to break ground on the $75 million Research and Education Institute. In recognition of the couple and their support, the institute was named in honor of the couple. When it opens in 2025, the institute will include a range of education programs as well as a simulation center that expands hands-on training opportunities for physicians, nurses, and students mastering new treatments and technologies.

“You don’t always understand how important clinical research and advanced therapies are until they save your life, or the life of someone you love,” said Kolschowsky Foundation president Tim Kolschowsky. “We hope this gift will highlight the importance of medical advances and inspire others to support clinical research here or in their local communities.”

“The whole community benefits from the transformation taking place in our health system,” said Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation president Stacey Corley. “It’s very rewarding to all of us to see the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute taking shape and to be able to offer the latest treatments, technologies, and clinical trials for our patients.”

(Photo credit: Sarasota Memorial Hospital)