Carlos Migoya, Silvia Rios Fortun, Flavia Llizo, Carlos Peralta and his wife Mariana, Dr. Mauricio Pipkin, and David Zambrana
Transformational donation expands lung ICU and names the Carlos Peralta and Family Lung Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital
October 5, 2026 — Jackson Health Foundation today announced a historic $15 million contribution from prominent Mexican businessman and philanthropist Carlos Peralta and his family. In recognition of this transformational gift, Jackson Health System formally named its specialized pulmonary facility the Carlos Peralta and Family Lung Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The contribution will expand Jackson’s lung intensive care unit capabilities, support seamless emergency care routing, equip the facility with cutting-edge medical technology, expand specialized clinical research, and elevate patient care for individuals facing end-stage lung disease. The center operates with the full backing of the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System that ranks as the number-one transplant program in Florida and a top-10 program nationally for transplant volume, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
For Peralta, chairman and chief executive officer of Grupo IUSA, the historic gift represents a profound sense of gratitude after facing a terminal medical crisis. Diagnosed with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that severely impairs breathing and oxygen absorption, he urgently required a double-lung transplant. Despite having the ability to seek treatment anywhere in the world, Peralta turned to MTI for its specialized surgical expertise and rapid donor availability. MTI’s lung transplant program is recognized for taking on cases of unmatched complexity and providing rapid turnaround for patients facing critical time constraints.
“We didn’t have time to waver,” said Peralta. “My condition was worsening every day, and I knew my time was limited. Finding Dr. Pipkin and the extraordinary team at Jackson Health System saved my life. I am forever grateful to the Miami Transplant Institute and the team that gave me a second chance at life. My family and I made this gift so that future patients facing severe lung disease can receive the same world-class care and hope that I received.”
“Carlos’ story reminds us of what is possible here at Jackson,” said David Zambrana, president and chief executive officer of Jackson Health System. “Behind every transplant is a person with more life to live, a family hoping to make more memories with their loved one, and a future that looks brighter and less uncertain. The Carlos Peralta and Family Lung Unit will ensure that thousands more families experience that same hope.”
Peralta underwent successful surgery led by Mauricio Pipkin, MD, surgical director of lung transplant at MTI.
“We care for the sickest of the sick,” said Dr. Pipkin. “In many cases, these are patients who have been turned away elsewhere because they require advanced life support and come straight from the ICU. As complex as Carlos Peralta’s case was, our team was confident we could give him a second chance. Seeing him thrive today and choosing to pay that gift forward is the highest compliment our team could receive.”
The newly named Carlos Peralta and Family Lung Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital features expanded ICU capabilities, coordinated single-floor clinical management for complex lung patients, and enhanced patient safety through dedicated interventional radiology and catheterization suites. It will bring together pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, and critical care into one multidisciplinary team.
“This transformational donation from Mr. Peralta and his family will leave an indelible mark on healthcare in South Florida,” said Flavia Llizo, chief executive officer of Jackson Health Foundation. “Gifts of this magnitude accelerate our ability to innovate, expand clinical infrastructure, and deliver compassionate care to every patient who walks through our doors. We are deeply honored by the Peralta family’s generosity and trust in our mission.”
For more information about Jackson Health Foundation or the Miami Transplant Institute, visit www.jacksonhealthfoundation.org.
