Home » Retired surgeon and nurse donate $2.5M to Hardin Memorial

Retired surgeon and nurse donate $2.5M to Hardin Memorial

Hardin Memorial Hospital Vice President and Chief Marketing and Development Officer Tracee Troutt (left) holds the check for $2.5 million donated to the Hardin Memorial Health Foundation by Dr. Robert Robbins and his wife, Rita. Pictured with Troutt are (left to right) Dr. Robert Robbins (seated), Sen. Joe Prather, Rita Robbins, and HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson.

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (July 27, 2018) — Hardin Memorial Hospital has received a $2.5 million gift from a retired surgeon and nurse that is the largest donation in the history of the Elizabethtown hospital.

Dr. Robert Robbins and his wife, Rita, say they hope to give even more, for a grand total of $5 million.

“Rita and I are so proud of HMH’s growth and strength,” said Robbins, a retired HMH surgeon and longtime entrepreneur. “We are committed to helping secure our region’s health-care system – which is one of the best of its size – today and in the future. We hope we can encourage others to name the Hardin Memorial Health Foundation in their estate plan and to invest now in HMH. Providing the highest quality health care requires all of us participating in providing HMH support and monetary donations.”

The couple helped HMH establish a philanthropic foundation many years ago and again when it was reconstituted. The Robbins’ unrestricted gift includes cash donations of more than $1.25 million; prior donations of art, property and cash; and a planned future estate gift.

Earlier this year, Louisville-based Baptist Health acquired HMH in a $361.4 million transaction. After the acquisition is finalized in December, HMH will operate as Baptist Health Hardin.

HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson said that given Baptist Health’s promise to grow and expand services and invest millions of dollars in HMH, the timing of this significant private donation is even more exciting.

“There is no way to adequately express our gratitude for this incredible gift, especially at this important point in HMH history,” Johnson said.