Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) has received a $500,000 gift from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation to advance the rehabilitation of threatened and endangered sea turtles. The gift will support the surgical suite within LMC’s sea turtle hospital, where some of the Center’s most critically injured patients receive lifesaving care. In recognition of the Foundation’s commitment to environmental conservation and the health of marine life, LMC has named the facility the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Surgical Suite.
“We are proud to partner with Loggerhead Marinelife Center, an organization deeply committed to protecting the health of our coastal ecosystems,” said Robert Wood Johnson, director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation. “This gift continues our mother’s enduring legacy of service by supporting critical conservation efforts and helping ensure these remarkable animals have the opportunity to thrive for generations to come.”
LMC completed a strategic expansion of its surgical suite in 2024 to create a more advanced and efficient clinical environment for its sea turtle patients. The renovation enhanced surgical workflow, strengthened sterility protocols, improved case management, and expanded the Center’s capacity to provide specialized care for increasingly complex cases.
The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Surgical Suite plays a vital role in the conservation and recovery of sea turtle populations. It is where patients with severe injuries and illnesses – including boat-strike trauma, fishing-line entanglements, tumors, and other life-threatening conditions – receive advanced surgical care. The suite enables LMC’s veterinary team to restore function, improve quality of life, and, whenever possible, return rehabilitated turtles to the ocean.
The surgical suite also serves as a specialized training environment for veterinary students and externs. Under the leadership of Chief Science Officer Dr. Heather Barron, LMC has become a nationally recognized center for aquatic veterinary medicine, helping expand the field’s capacity to care for marine wildlife.
“Specialized surgical care can mean the difference between life and death for a sea turtle, and having a dedicated, state-of-the-art surgical suite allows our veterinary team to provide the highest level of care to these incredible animals,” said Dr. Heather Barron. “The generous support of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation not only helps us sustain this critical resource, but also strengthens our ability to train the next generation of aquatic veterinarians.”
In 2025, LMC treated more than 230 juvenile and adult patients and more than 1,500 hatchlings. The Center achieved a 76% patient survival rate, reflecting not only surgical expertise, but integrated diagnostics, postoperative care, and continuous innovation in marine animal health.
As one of the world’s leading sea turtle hospitals, LMC combines rescue, rehabilitation, scientific research, conservation, and education to protect ocean ecosystems and inspire stewardship of marine life. The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s investment will help ensure that the Center can continue to provide lifesaving care to sea turtles and advance its conservation mission.
To learn more about LMC’s sea turtle hospital and patient care, visit marinelife.org/rehabilitation/sea-turtle-hospital.
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC)
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, located in Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach, Fla., is a sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education, and conservation center. The Center also manages the Juno Beach Pier across the street from the park. Established in 1983, LMC seeks to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Its facilities include a sea turtle hospital, a research laboratory, and exhibit areas, including live sea turtles and other coastal creatures. LMC has been named the No. 1 “Best Free Attraction” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024 and 2025.