In just five years, Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has expanded its footprint from 17 to 150-plus locations in the Tampa Bay area and across Central Florida to the East Coast. This growth reflects TGH President and CEO John Couris’ execution of initiatives prioritized in the ambitious TGH Master Facility Plan. Here, he discusses the latest accomplishments in the Tampa Medical & Research District, ongoing goals, and its impact on the region, the state and beyond.

TGH is making a significant capital investment in the future of Tampa Bay and health care in Florida. What does that look like? We are executing a $550 million capital commitment — our master facility plan — to deliver the most advanced technology and innovative care by creating a growing medical and research district in downtown Tampa. Anchored by TGH and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the Tampa Medical & Research District is modeled after renowned medical districts in cities like Boston and Houston. It houses an ever-growing hub of world-class clinical care facilities and academic, research and biotech spaces. We are excited to partner with USF Health on the district and are engaged in a multifaceted partnership with the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council to maximize the district’s impact.

In the past two years, the district has grown to include the TGH Rehabilitation Hospital, a free-standing emergency department and the TGH|USF Health Precision Medicine Biorepository. We recently broke ground on the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital; in response to the increasing need for mental health and psychiatric services, the new hospital will offer a full range of inpatient and outpatient services led by psychiatrists from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

In alignment with our new board-adopted, five-year strategic plan, the TGH Master Facility Plan also includes the construction of the new Taneja Surgical, Neuroscience & Transplant Tower on the main hospital campus, which is estimated to open in 2027.

What is your goal for the Tampa Medical & Research District? Our goal is to make Tampa Bay an anchor of the health care landscape with the creation of a complete health care ecosystem. We want to create a vibrant, attractive and innovative hub that will motivate people to move here and start a business, or bring to our region the brightest research minds and clinical care providers. We are striving to deliver an environment with a robust infrastructure ripe with collaboration. We are actively working with other sectors, such as private equity and biotech, with a focus on intentional collaboration.

Today, the possibilities for the district feel limitless. We will be constantly developing, growing and investing in the district. We are looking to engage with new sectors, including our public school systems and independent schools, as well as museums, aquariums, and the arts and sciences. The district will be a source of constant and ongoing activity.

What impact will the district have on the community and the state? How will folks in other communities benefit? The district is already attracting renowned clinicians and researchers to Florida, resulting in increased access to experts, cutting-edge research, education and technology for patients and students. Once completed, the total economic impact of the district will be more than $6.4 billion annually, including the creation of 41,500-plus jobs, approximately $4 billion in GDP, and $798 million in federal, state and local fiscal revenues. Additionally, it is estimated that the new Tampa General facilities, once completed, will make a $1 billion economic impact across the region.

Individuals across the state will benefit from the work the district will generate, such as access to new therapies and treatments, and medical devices, or in terms of the ability to seek treatment in world-class facilities or expertise from clinicians in Tampa Bay, particularly for critical or complex cases.

Is there anything else you would like to add? The district and the facilities we invest in, along with other recent expansions, including acquiring the Bravera Health network in West Central Florida, and our growing network of expert physicians serving patients in Palm Beach and Martin counties, represent our commitment to providing citizens across Florida with increased access to world-class care.