The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, through the Bucs Care Foundation, have made a $375,000 commitment to All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine with a primary focus to support physician training in brain health. This is the Buccaneers' largest gift to date in their charitable partnership with the hospital.

"The work being conducted by the doctors and researchers at All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine is exciting and provides real hope that we are on the brink of major advancements in the field of pediatric neurological care," said Buccaneers Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer. "The Bucs Care Foundation is focused on enhancing the lives of Bay Area residents, and this long-term commitment allows us to make a lasting impact on the health and safety of children in and around our communities for generations to come."

Over the next five years, the Bucs Care Foundation will fund the Brain and Neurologic Training Curriculum that supports a unique neurologic residency rotation at the hospital. Approximately 60 All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine pediatric residents will learn about and treat a broad spectrum of pediatric issues including traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke and epilepsy among many other neurologic and developmental issues in the inpatient, ambulatory and rehabilitative settings. The care of patients within the 17 surrounding counties will be enhanced by the unique training and experiences offered to these residents thanks to the support of the Buccaneers. This visionary investment will strengthen pediatric training and impact the future care of children in our local area and beyond.

"We are entering a new era in the care of children with neurological diseases and injuries. Due to increasing prevalence of these conditions, advanced technology and research allow us unprecedented access to and understanding of the complexities of the nervous system," said Jonathan Ellen, M.D., President and Physician-in-Chief, All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine and Vice Dean and Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"When it comes to pediatric brain health issues, we are at the very threshold of what we can accomplish," added Dr. Ellen. "With the generous assistance of private and corporate donors – like that of our very own Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Bucs Care Foundation – we are helping to lead pediatric neuroscience teaching, research and care into the future."

The All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine Residency Program, which welcomes a new class of 12 pediatricians-in-training each year, is a three-year comprehensive program focused on individualized learning and leadership. Launched in July 2014, the residency program builds upon Johns Hopkins Medicine's strength in resident education and includes early opportunities for research, the practice of personalized medicine and a focus on patient safety and quality across medical programs, including neurology.

"As the world around us becomes more and more complex, health care – and pediatric health care specifically – continue to evolve. At All Children's, we are training the next generation of physicians to treat more than acute symptoms," Dr. Ellen explains. "We are training our residents to better predict and someday even prevent brain illness and the repercussions of traumatic brain injury for future generations of kids. This gift is an important step in helping us reach that goal."

In addition to the support of the residency program, $25,000 of the gift will be allocated to assist charity care for ophthalmology patients, aligning with the Buccaneers' commitment to improve childhood vision health.