Founder: Santo Carollo |
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Santo Carollo witnessed first hand what it's like to have a child born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD's). It inspired them to figure out a way they could help fight this horrible birth defect. After an extended family member was born (Kalani Huggins) with multiple CHD's, they witnessed the stress it puts on the entire family. Not just the emotional stress, but also the finanical stress as well. In years past Kalani's birth, Santo started donating to the Children's Heart Foundation of Florida for research. Even though they knew research was critical, they wanted to do more. In 2008, Santo and Marlee Huggins got together and talked about starting their own foundation. After that, Marlee introduced Dr. Jeffery P. Jacobs to Santo because he also wanted to start his own foundation. And so it began. Next thing you know the three of them set up a meeting inviting Larry King Jr. to attend and come up with a plan to create a foundation. They came up with the Cardiac Kids Foundation of Florida that would help continue to fund research, help families locally, and help give children around the world the possibility of life by helping to fund mission trips. |
Jeffrey P. Jacobs, M.D. |
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Dr. Jacobs received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine through the Honors Program in Medicine. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Research 1988. He then completed a five-year residency in General Surgery followed by a two-year residency in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Jacobs spent an additional year at the University of London in England training in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children; this Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Fellowship was through the Overseas Doctors Training Scheme of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Dr. Jacobs is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Jacobs has published numerous articles and has lectured at many international meetings. Dr. Jacobs is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of South Florida School of Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Chest Physicians. |
He is a member of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA), The Congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society (CHSS), and The European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA). He is the Chair for the STS Congenital Database Taskforce as well as Co-chair of the Joint EACTS-STS Congenital Database Committee. Dr. Jacobs performs both pediatric and adult surgery and enjoys providing individual attention to both patients and their families. He spends his leisure time with his wife Stacy and their children. |
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Founders Board |
Santo Carollo |
Board Members |
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Santo Carollo |
Dr. Jeffery Jacobs |
Marlee Huggins |
Medical Advisory Board |
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Dr. Jeffrey Jacobs |
Dr. J. Blaine John |
Jennifer Carapellucci, RN |
