Q&A with Ron Doncaster, vice president of Lakeside Medical Center
Earlier this year, Tampa General Hospital reached an agreement with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide administrative leadership, operational management and strategic support for Lakeside Medical Center, the Health Care District’s 70-bed, acute care, public teaching hospital in Belle Glade, Florida. Together, the organizations’ shared goal is to increase access to high-quality care in the rural areas of Palm Beach County.
To lead this endeavor, Tampa General tapped Ron Doncaster, a seasoned health care executive, to support the growing partnership between the academic health system and Lakeside Medical Center. Doncaster brings several decades of experience, having managed operations at some of the most prestigious health care systems, including Mass General Brigham and, most recently, as interim chief operating officer at Tampa General. Serving as vice president and administrator of Lakeside Medical Center, he oversees operations, supports the integration of enhanced services, supervises personnel, and provides strategic recommendations for innovative programming and future growth.
“Our number one goal is to meet the needs of the community,” said Doncaster. “With improved delivery models and expanded access to specialists, we can elevate the level of care available in the community without losing the personal service only a local hospital can provide.”
We recently sat down with Doncaster for an update on the partnership.
Q: Can you expand on the strategic goals behind Tampa General Hospital’s initiative at Lakeside Medical Center?
A: Our vision is to enhance clinical services and innovation, improve community health through support of better outcomes, and expand access to academic-based care in underserved areas, limiting the need for residents to travel far for services. Lakeside Medical Center is a vital community hospital serving the rural Glades region, and we see tremendous potential in this partnership to add more resources, more expertise and more innovation to the care we already provide, while maintaining our identity and our connection to this community. Tampa General can bring in specialists through its provider network in Palm Beach County and its Tampa hospital via telehealth.
Q: Why is this partnership significant for the health care landscape in rural South Florida?
A: Rural hospitals like Lakeside Medical Center play a critical role in the health of their communities. With the Health Care District, we’re copilots, leveraging the scale and expertise of an academic health system to strengthen operations, increase service availability locally, and ultimately, improve outcomes. It’s a community-based model that could serve as a blueprint for transforming rural hospitals statewide.
Q: What are the immediate areas of focus for Tampa General at Lakeside?
A: Tampa General and the Health Care District are committed to developing a strategic plan within the following year. This process involves community focus groups and close collaboration with physicians and community leaders. Our goal is to define a clear vision for the next three years, identifying growth opportunities that align services with our patients’ health needs.
Q: How does this initiative support Tampa General’s academic mission?
A: As one of Florida’s leading academic health systems, Tampa General — through our partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine — is committed to education, research and innovation. This initiative creates opportunities to bring additional academic resources into a rural setting, supporting both training and evidence-based care delivery.
Q: What workforce implications does this initiative have for the region?
A: Lakeside Medical Center is one of the largest employers in the Glades. Our Family Medicine Residency Program graduated its 13th class of physicians this summer. We view academic medical training as a pipeline for much-needed providers. We support access to continuing education for our hospital team and work with area high schools and colleges to strengthen talent pathways. Our aim is not just to fill positions, but to build careers.
Q: How does this effort align with state and federal priorities around rural health?
A: This partnership expands our ability to provide long-term sustainability. It’s aligned with initiatives to improve rural health access to quality care, telehealth and technology, address social determinants of health, and strengthen the rural health care workforce.
Q: What’s your message to other health systems observing this initiative?
A: Tampa General Hospital and the Health Care District’s missions of caring for all and empowering communities are closely aligned. Tampa General is proud to be investing in a model that uplifts community-based hospitals through partnership — not replacement. We believe this collaborative approach can deliver measurable results for patients, providers and the broader health system.
