There have been three multimillion-dollar donations involving spine and orthopedic surgeons since June 1.
1. The Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children in Los Angeles received a $50 million estate gift from Meyer and Renee Luskin. The Luskins previously gave a $15 million gift to the hospital in 2022, and that donation added their name to the facility. The new donation will support the hospital's mission to advance health equity to children.
2. Spine surgeon and philanthropist Gary Michelson, MD, and his wife, Alya, donated $120 million to the University of California Los Angeles for its California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy. The gift designated $100 million to establish two research entities — one for rapid vaccine development and one on leveraging the microbiome to advance human health, according to an Aug. 27 news release from UCLA. Another $20 million endowment will provide research grants to scientists in immunotherapy, human immunology and vaccine research.
3. University of Pittsburgh received an $18.5 million donation from the Orland Bethel Family Foundation to support a biological specimen repository within the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center for orthopedic research. The Orland Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center Biobank will help develop treatments for arthritis, osteoporosis and spinal conditions.