August 17, 2026 – Baptist Health Foundation announced today that it has received a $1 million gift from Earl and Christy Powell to support the Stem Cell Therapy Fund at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute and the Center for Spine Care at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute.

The gift, made in honor of Guenther Koehne, M.D., Ph.D., deputy director and chief of blood and marrow transplant and hematologic oncology with Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute, and Raul Vasquez-Castellanos, M.D., director of complex spine surgery at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, will be equally allocated to advance the physicians’ research initiatives. In tribute to their generosity, the Powells will receive naming recognition to be unveiled at a later date.

“Earl and Christy Powell have demonstrated extraordinary vision and generosity, and we are deeply grateful for their support,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “Philanthropy gives our physicians and researchers the flexibility to pursue bold ideas, explore promising new therapies and accelerate discoveries that might not otherwise be possible. The Powells’ investment reflects a profound belief in the power of innovation to transform healthcare and improve lives.”

As principal investigator on multiple investigator-initiated trials, Dr. Guenther Koehne has built a portfolio of studies incorporating adoptive cell therapy following allogeneic transplantation for patients with leukemia, MDS, high-risk multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. His current research is focused on overcoming resistance to CAR T-cell therapy in hematologic malignancies, refining chemotherapy-only conditioning regimens for patients undergoing transplant, and defining how transplantation, CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies fit together in the treatment of multiple myeloma. In collaboration with Miami Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Koehne is leading novel innovative cell and gene therapies to improve the outcome of patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In 2019, he founded the Global Summit on Immunotherapies for Hematologic Malignancies, which convenes leading physicians and researchers in South Florida each year.

Under the leadership of Dr. Raul Vasquez-Castellanos, the spine surgery program at Miami Neuroscience Institute has become a recognized leader in spine care and one of South Florida’s top programs. His vision emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, advanced surgical technology, minimally invasive techniques and evidence-based innovation, allowing patients with the most challenging spinal disorders — including scoliosis, kyphosis, revision spine surgery and complex degenerative disease — to receive world-class care. A respected clinician, researcher and educator, he is widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals and has been invited to speak at national and international scientific symposiums. He has held academic faculty appointments and served as an industry advisor, mentoring the next generation of neurosurgeons while advancing technologies that improve spine care.

Jack Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, chief clinical officer and chief physician executive of Baptist Health, said, “The future of medicine depends on the ability to translate scientific discovery into better patient care. Dr. Guenther Koehne and Dr. Raul Vasquez-Castellanos are leading important work in cell and gene therapies that has the potential to change the trajectory of care for patients with diseases ranging from leukemia to complex spine disorders to neurologic disease including Parkinson’s disease and dementia. This generous gift will accelerate their research, expand access to clinical trials and help bring promising new therapies to the patients who need them most.”

Added Earl Powell, “We are proud to support Dr. Koehne and Dr. Vasquez-Castellanos as they pursue groundbreaking research that has the potential to change lives and shape the future of healthcare. Research is the engine that drives medical progress, transforming today’s challenges into tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Every advancement in diagnosis, treatment and patient care begins with a commitment to discovery and a determination to solve the healthcare issues that affect our communities. By investing in research, we accelerate innovation, improve outcomes and bring new hope to patients and families facing some of life’s most complex medical conditions.”

About Baptist Health Foundation

The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

About Baptist Health

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and the Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health South Florida is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.