Nov. 10, 2025 — This month, Lee Health proudly marks the first anniversary of its historic conversion from a public entity to a private, community-focused nonprofit health system. The milestone represents a successful transition built on the promise to preserve local healthcare, strengthen access, and continue serving all residents of Southwest Florida.

“One year ago, our community leaders understood the importance of ensuring Lee Health could remain strong, sustainable, and locally governed for generations to come,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lee Health.  “Their vision and support made this transition possible, and today we’re seeing the results in expanded services, innovation, and continued commitment to every person who visits our facilities or experiences our life-changing programs.”

Since the conversion, Lee Health has honored its pledge to preserve safety-net care, maintain critical community programs, and expand access to high-quality services. In 2025, Lee Health provided approximately $168 million in charity care, continuing its legacy of serving patients most in need. The system also launched new and expanded initiatives to improve health outcomes across the region, including:

• Approval of $150 million hospital expansion at the already under-construction Lee Health Fort Myers medical campus, adding 92 beds and expanding future capacity.
• Opening a 60-bed rehabilitation hospital in partnership with Encompass Health.
• Expanding Hospital at Home to multiple campuses, allowing patients to receive hospital-level care from the comfort of home.
• Introducing histotripsy for liver cancer, the first noninvasive treatment of its kind in Southwest Florida.
• Growing cancer and musculoskeletal services, opening a Cancer Support Community in Fort Myers, and launching the Advanced Lung Care Center at the Lee Health Cancer Institute.
• Opening the Golisano Pediatric Clinic on the Franklin Park Elementary School campus to provide accessible care for children and families.
• Advancing physician engagement, training the next generation of doctors through new OB/GYN and Transitional Year residencies at Cape Coral Hospital.
• Partnering with Lee County to expand the Community Paramedicine Program, helping patients manage complex conditions and avoid readmissions.
• Breaking ground on a new 3-story laboratory and data center, featuring next-generation molecular testing and automation to support growth and innovation.

Financially and operationally, Lee Health remains strong, with Moody’s affirming its A2 credit rating and upgrading its outlook to positive, reflecting confidence in the system’s direction and fiscal stewardship.

“From the start, our goal was to ensure Lee Health could remain independent, accountable to our community, and focused on improving health and wellbeing,” said Lee Health Board of Directors Chairperson David Klein. “We are deeply grateful to the leaders who shared this vision and trusted us to see it through.”

As Lee Health celebrates this milestone, it reaffirms its founding promise: to care for everyone in the community, invest in innovation, and strengthen the region’s health for generations to come.

Visit leehealth.org/PromisesKept to see more details of the impacts made by Lee Health over the last twelve months.

About Lee Health

Lee Health has been a cornerstone of health care in Southwest Florida since opening its first hospital in 1916. As a non-profit, integrated health system, Lee Health is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. With a strong commitment to community health and wellness, Lee Health commits to evolving with the growing and changing needs of the region. The system offers comprehensive services through four acute care hospitals, Golisano Children’s Hospital, three skilled nursing locations, outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, and a wide network of primary care and specialty practices. Lee Health supports every step of the health journey, from preventive care to advanced treatment for every member of our community. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.