The TGH president and CEO was honored for his leadership in driving health care transformation in Florida and beyond.
John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital (TGH), was recently named a top health care leader in the U.S., according to the Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2023 “Great Leaders in Healthcare” list. His inclusion on the list reflects his ability to not only lead, empower and support his organization’s thriving team, including its world-class physicians, but also his efforts to transform care delivery and increase his region’s and state’s access to world-class patient care.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition as it’s not just a recognition of me, but is a symbol of the hard work our leaders and teams are doing inside our organization to ensure that our team members feel supported and valued, and also the work of our organization to innovate the delivery and access to the highest quality care possible across this state and beyond,” Couris said.
For Couris, team members are a top priority. He recognizes that when team members are better supported, they can then provide the best care to patients. This focus on team member engagement and enhancement is why TGH is continually recognized nationally for its impact and commitment to creating a culture of personal and professional development for all team members.
During his tenure, Couris has spearheaded a wide range of programs and partnerships at TGH to enhance patient care and inspire broader health care industry innovations. One program that he is particularly passionate about is the evolution of the Tampa Medical and Research District. The district, inspired by renowned medical districts across the country, houses a growing hub of world-class clinical care, academics, research and biotechnology anchored by TGH and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
To accelerate TGH forward in creating a health care network to better serve the entire state of Florida, Couris has also announced a $550 million master facility plan. As the largest expansion in the hospital’s history, the master facility plan includes a new 500,000-square-foot patient tower, which will include 136 additional in-patient beds; a free-standing emergency department; a TGH Cancer Institute hub for diagnostic testing, treatment and support services; a building to be outfitted for administrative, education and training space; a sterile processing facility; and renovated main operating suites.
Projects that have opened since the master facility plan was announced in 2021 include a new ICU; renovation of the regional Burn Center and Burn ICU, which is one of only two American Burn Association (ABA)-verified adult and pediatric burn centers in Florida; and a new 2,000-space team member parking garage.
Tampa General Hospital has also been creating a framework of state-of-the-art services for patients in the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast areas with the expertise and innovation of a preeminent academic medical center. The Florida East Coast initiative began with an alliance with the Cancer Center of South Florida and then the Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches. Since the alliances began, TGH has continued to grow its services. The TGH Digestive Health Center, formerly known as the TGH Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches, recruited Dr. Sonja K. Olsen, a board-certified internist, gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist from NYU Langone Health in New York City. The TGH Cancer Institute in Palm Beach County includes West Palm Beach-based Dr. Robert Scoma, a thoracic surgical oncologist, and Dr. Jason Hechtman, a breast cancer surgeon. Tampa General has established TGH General Surgeons of the Palm Beaches with renowned West Palm Beach robotic surgery specialists Dr. Daniel R. Higgins and Dr. Itzhak Shasha, along with TGH Advanced Kidney Care and TGH Imaging. TGH also recently announced its first East Coast concierge physician, Dr. Laurie Rothman.
“John is not only shaping TGH into one of the country’s leading academic health systems, but is also helping to grow the region into an innovative medical and research destination,” said Phil Dingle, chairman of the Tampa General Hospital Board of Directors. “His exceptional work is advancing and inspiring the next generation of medicine – a team conducting advanced research that saves lives, adapts to changes in health care and cares for the sickest patients with the most complex conditions.”
