Tampa General Hospital will donate more than $162 million to the University of South Florida next year to further strengthen the group’s partnership in academic medicine.
The investment in USF Health is approximately $100 million more than Tampa General’s previous investment more than five years ago, according to a press release. The additional funds will be used to increase collaboration between the two groups, recruit health care providers and advance research initiatives.
“Through our joint efforts at Tampa General and USF Health, we are changing the healthcare landscape. Together, we have expanded our world-class teams, launched new innovative initiatives, adopted cutting-edge technologies and disrupted old models of healthcare delivery,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital, in a statement. “We are setting the standard for the future of healthcare and now it is time to increase our investments and integrations across the academic health system so we can have an even greater impact on our patients and the healthcare industry in our state and across the country.”
The financial commitment is part of a revised partnership between the hospital and the university that was approved by Tampa General’s board of directors on Aug. 6 and this week by the USF Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee. The agreement takes effect Oct. 1.
“The University of South Florida’s long-standing partnership with Tampa General Hospital has brought significant benefits to our students and our region, and today’s approval takes our collaboration even further,” USF President Rhea Law said in a statement. “At the heart of this agreement is our commitment to providing world-class patient care, growing our state’s health care workforce and advancing research – three goals that are critical to the future of our university and our communities.”
Tampa General and USF Health collaborate on clinical care, teaching and research. The partnership has existed for over 50 years and has evolved over time to improve patient care and train the next generation of health care providers. Several hundred USF Health medical students complete clinical rotations at Tampa General each year, and 726 residents and fellows also train there. Tampa General funds programs that support 344 USF residents, the release said. Each month, an average of nearly 200 USF nursing students and 315 other USF Health students gain hands-on experience at the hospital.
“This agreement is a testament to what we have long known — that USF Health and Tampa General are stronger together than we could ever be apart,” said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in a statement. “Our expanded union will certainly advance both of our institutions, but more importantly, it will also benefit our patients and the community as we improve the quality of health care.”
