By John Couris, President and CEO, Florida Health Sciences Center (Tampa General Hospital)
For nearly a century, Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has delivered exceptional patient care, developed initiatives and cultivated partnerships to enhance the world-class services it provides to Tampa Bay and beyond. Today, that work continues as TGH leads the region and the state as a flagship academic health system and works to make Tampa Bay a model for community health and wellness and a national hub for medical innovation and research.
As the region’s only academic-based health system and leading safety-net hospital, TGH provides accessible care and innovative therapies and treatments to over 6 million residents, including the most vulnerable populations and those with the most complex conditions. Additionally, the system is improving patient outcomes, propelling research and discovery, and training the next generation of medical professionals.
Nationally Ranked Care Right Here at Home
For 50-plus years, TGH has partnered with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine to form the region’s only academic health system. Thanks to this dynamic alliance, TGH offers patients a full range of innovative, world-renowned services, from primary care and urgent care to specialized treatment for the most complex conditions and rehabilitation services. Its academic partnership affords TGH the opportunity to offer its patients novel therapies right here in Tampa Bay, improving outcomes and increasing their ease of treatment.
TGH’s quality care and outcomes have earned national accolades, with TGH ranking as the #1 hospital in Tampa Bay for the ninth consecutive year and the second-highest-ranked hospital by U.S. News & World Report’sBest Hospital rankings for 2024-2025.
Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranked TGH among the top 20 hospitals in the nation in two medical specialties: Gastroenterology & GI Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology. TGH also ranks as one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals in six more medical specialties: Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinology; Ear, Nose & Throat; Heart & Vascular Surgery; Orthopaedic Surgery; and Urology.
TGH also ranks as “high performing” or among the top 10% of hospitals in 15 medical procedures or conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); diabetes; heart attack; heart failure; hip fracture; hip replacement; kidney failure; knee replacement; leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma (blood cancers); lung cancer surgery; pneumonia; prostate cancer surgery; stroke; and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
In the past five years, TGH has expanded its reach across the Tampa Bay region and Florida through several strategic partnerships, resulting in over 150 locations where patients can receive cutting-edge and highly specialized care that may not be available at community-based hospitals.
A Commitment to a Healthier Tampa Bay
TGH is committed to meeting the region’s health and wellness needs inside and outside the health system. Therefore, TGH works closely with government officials, nonprofits and community groups to understand the region’s needs and invest in sustainable solutions to create a healthier Tampa Bay.
TGH Healthpark clinics in Tampa serve over 100,000 patients each year, delivering primary and specialty care to the city’s most at-risk residents. Tampa General offers patient education, wellness workshops, health screenings and prevention programs to help residents identify health risks, manage conditions and achieve better health outcomes. This past January, with the help of its community partners, Tampa General opened the TampaWell Community Garden and Food Pharmacy. The food pharmacy gives patients who are diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension or obesity access to nutrient-rich foods free of charge.
Building a Nationally Renowned Health Ecosystem in Tampa Bay
Today, TGH is building and scaling the Tampa Medical & Research District, a joint initiative between TGH, USF Health and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council.
Spanning over 1,500 acres in and around downtown Tampa and Ybor City, the district is home to a rapidly expanding center of outstanding clinical care, academic institutions, research facilities and biotechnology companies. Upon completion, the district is expected to make a $1 billion impact across the Tampa Bay region, adding more jobs and increasing access to experts, cutting-edge research, education and technology for patients and students.
A key component of the district, the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital, is expected to open in 2025. This year, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that established the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital as one of the state’s first four behavioral health teaching hospitals. The TGH Behavioral Health Hospital will help shape lifesaving and life-changing care for patients in need of mental health support, offering both inpatient and outpatient care options for the community.
These are just a few examples of how TGH is caring for its community and leading the way in innovative, nationally recognized, world-class care. There’s so much exciting work ahead as TGH continues to drive innovation and remain at the forefront of academic medicine.