24 | F LO R I DA P HYS I C IAN
care, ranking No. 1 statewide in the
number of adult and pediatric specialties
listed among the nation’s best by
U.S. News & World Report.
By the fall of 2013, we had grown
to the point where our hospitals were
almost always full. Therefore, at a
meeting that September of the UF
Health Shands board of directors, we
discussed the possibility of building
a new hospital wing to accommodate
growth and create modern space that
would help us deliver on the vision of
achieving significant national stature as
an academic health center.
Of course there were risks to building
such a hospital tower, mainly centered
on the dark clouds and uncertainties
that perennially seem to affect the
health care landscape.
We, however, took a different view.
Yes, there was risk associated with
building a new hospital only to find
that the health care world had changed
in a manner that would challenge our
financial sustainability. But, we argued,
there was a much greater risk of not
expanding: Indeed, could we accommodate
growth and achieve our vision
as an academic health center of the
highest order through piece-by-piece
renovation of our existing infrastructure
without allowing for growth?
At a retreat of our board and faculty
on this topic, we came down on the
side of growth. A more ambitious plan
emerged based on patient needs: We
decided to build two new hospital
towers — one for neuromedicine
(neurology and neurosurgery) and one
for heart and vascular care (cardiology,
cardiac and thoracic surgery, and
vascular surgery).
In designing the new hospitals, we
first assessed the needs of our patients,
and then worked with the architects to
build spaces that fulfilled these needs.
“
”
Physicians, architects, nurses,
engineers, administrators, contractors,
equipment specialists and staff
from diverse areas of specialization
focused on the goal of designing an
environment that supports sophisticated
technology and outstanding
medical practice, along with soothing
spaces where our patients can heal.
Team members representing heart and
vascular care, neurology, neurosurgery,
operating rooms, intensive care units,
acute care units, patient advocacy,
radiology, maintenance and every
other group that is required to operate
a modern academic health center were
assembled to work on this project.
UF Health Heart & Vascular
and Neuromedicine hospitals
+ The Mary K. Oxley Atrium
+ The Sanctuary of Wisdom, graciously
supported by Mickey and Donna Singer
+ The Drs. Martin and Sandra Fackler Terrace
+ The Rooftop Walkway in honor and
in memory of Albert J. Rhoton, MD,
generously supported by the Rhoton
family and faculty of the Lillian S. Wells
department of neurosurgery
+ The Garden Walkway and Trellis, generously
supported by Dr. David S. Guzick and Dr.
Donna E. Giles
+ The Raising Hope at Work Café (indoor/
outdoor) generously supported by the
employees of UF Health
+
given by Ms. Fleury Yelvington and Dr. Barry
Solomon
+ The Gift Shop, made possible by a gift from
Ed and Jennifer Jimenez
+ The UF Health Shands Executive Board
Room, made possible by members of the
UF Health Shands Board of Directors and
UF Health leadership
+ UF Health Shands Auxiliary Waiting Room
+
+ Hybrid Operating Room, named in memory
of Dr. James Seeger by Carolyn Seeger
+ Operating Room, named in honor of Tomas
D. Martin, MD, through the generosity of
+ C. Richard Conti, MD Cardiac
Catheterization Laboratory, generously
supported by the Conti family and faculty
and fellows of the division of cardiology
+ Neuro ICU Nurses Station, generously
supported by Charles J. Kahn and Janet S.
Kahn
For more information, visit
giving.UFHealth.org/heartandneuro
or contact the UF Health Office of
Development at 352-273-7856.
... WE CONSTANTLY SEEK TO CONTINUE OUR GROWTH IN A
MANNER THAT WILL BEST SERVE THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS
OF OUR PATIENTS ...
David S. Guzick, MD, PhD
PHOTOS BY MARK HERBOTH PHOTOGRAPHY
/heartandneuro