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University of Florida and UF Health leaders today held a groundbreaking ceremony for UF Health Durbin Park, a 42.5-acre health and wellness campus that will advance medical services as part of the university’s regional expansion plans for Jacksonville and St. Johns County. Ta.
The first phase of the UF Health Durbin Park development in northeast St. Johns County will include a full-service, 150-bed hospital with an emphasis on orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular medicine and women’s services, as well as multidisciplinary medical care. Includes facilities. Office building and outpatient surgery center. The project is expected to bring 2,000 new jobs to the region and a total of 12,000 jobs in St. John’s and Jacksonville over the long term, representing a $1 billion investment in Northeast Florida. corresponds to
This initiative reflects the infusion of additional resources, including financial as well as human and intellectual capital, into one of the fastest growing regions in the state. This includes world-class, outcomes-driven, technologically advanced care, research opportunities including access to new clinical trials, and training programs for the next generation of care providers.
The latest efforts complement the university’s goal of introducing innovative programs in medicine, business and engineering throughout Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, said Mori Hosseini, chairman of the university’s board of trustees. said. These aim to support the region’s growing workforce and academic needs in biomedical technology, and are pioneers related to simulation, medical applications of artificial intelligence, patient quality and safety, healthcare management, and fintech. focuses on technology. This is an opportunity to create powerful synergies through university collaboration. A strong program that is elevating the city’s status as the nation’s healthcare and technology hub.
“My simple message is twofold: First, if you want the highest quality care, UF Health is here for you. Second, we are here for you. , because the University of Florida has a bold vision for Northeast Florida,” Hosseini said. “With our bold vision, we can accomplish great things together. When it comes to bold things, UF knows a thing or two. Don’t get me wrong, the University of Florida is big on small plans. I can’t stand it.
“We have the courage to dream big. We set high goals. And we adhere to high standards,” he added. “When we do this, we accomplish incredible things. We raise the bar. We deliver great results for the people of Florida. That’s exactly what we do in St. John’s and Jacksonville. That’s what we strive to do for our community…When you want a moment that’s nothing short of awesome, come to UF Health.”
Once complete, the 395,000 square foot hospital will include acute, intensive care and emergency care. Operating room. It also features an imaging suite and hybrid lab for interventional procedures. Site work to build the hospital will begin in December 2023, and UF Health expects to treat the first patient by late 2025. The ambulatory surgery center will focus on orthopedics and other surgical services and will provide a full range of care, including operating rooms and treatment rooms. , office space, and rehabilitation facilities.
University President Ben Sasse said the university and University Health are committed to working with the community to best meet the needs of patients and their families.
“Together, we are committed to bringing problem-based care to our region, a unique approach to care that makes people’s lives better,” Sasse said. “This is a developing region, and we are proud to match our unmatched expertise with the needs of our community to revolutionize health care services for Floridians. The work we do here will save lives.”
The University’s Academic Health Center is uniquely positioned to accomplish this, said David R. Nelson, M.D., senior vice president for University Health and dean of University Health.
UF Health introduced the state’s first mobile stroke unit last year. It is already dramatically improving patient outcomes by reducing time to treatment and is part of a network the system is building that will be the largest of any in the country. University Health is also home to 72 NCI-designated cancer centers.n.d. It is the only university in the country, the only university in north central and northern Florida, and the only university in Florida that is part of a public university.
And the health system is proud to be a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s national health network, one of only three to care for Team USA athletes as they prepare for the Summer Olympics in Paris. and the most comprehensive network in the United States. .
Other points of pride:
- The University of Florida College of Medicine is rated the #1 medical school in the state of Florida. Blue Ridge’s National Institutes of Health rankings ranked the university’s neurosurgery department second among all universities, its neuroscience/neurology department third place, and its surgical services fifth place.
- According to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, UF Health is home to the nation’s best programs for liver, kidney and lung transplants and ranks #1 for liver transplants with the highest one-year patient survival rate of 99.03%. I am. It ranks second in kidney transplants and first in three-year survival rates for lung transplants.
- UF Health Shands is recognized as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals and Best Children’s Hospitals, with five adult specialties and four pediatric specialties ranked in the top 50.
- UF and UF Health are committed to advancing artificial intelligence across industry, advancing AI in health sciences and building an academic hub to put technology to work for patients.
“As we look to the future, our vision for UF Health is ambitious. We envision a health care environment where everyone, regardless of location or circumstance, has access to world-class health care.” Nelson said.
“What’s worth noting is that this is not about scaling up for its own sake,” he added. “Growing better and growing bolder is important. And it’s about how growth fuels our ability to reinvest in our mission and build on the great programs we already have.” and how to inspire all healthcare providers to advance discovery and clinical care and strengthen our ability to train the next generation.”
UF Health St. Johns CEO Carlton DeVooght said:
“This is our time. This is a time to celebrate not just a building, but a new era in community health care. With UF Health Durbin Park, we are celebrating innovation, compassion, and care in health care delivery. We are ready to be a pioneer in excellence. This is more than just a hospital. It will be a cornerstone of our community: where patients find peace, families find peace, and caregivers find meaning in life. Our commitment to serving our community will propel us forward with unwavering dedication and determination.”
The university strives to ensure that all members of the community have access to the resources they need to live their healthiest lives, Hosseini said.
“We do this with deep compassion and empathy,” he said. “Behind every diagnosis, every treatment, every recovery, there is a human being: a mother, father, sister, friend. People matter. We treat each patient with dignity and respect. We provide personalized care. People deserve to be supported, valued and heard every step of the way. This is our promise.”
About UF Health
UF Health is a world-class academic medical center that combines cutting-edge research at campuses around Florida with outstanding clinical care at a network of hospitals across the state. The flagship is UF Health Shands Hospital, part of Florida’s premier health system and ranked among the top nine for adults and children in the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Best Children’s Hospitals survey. Our specialty ranks among the elite top 50 programs in the nation.
With main campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville, and satellite sites in central Florida and several other locations, UF Health provides quality health care to patients throughout the nation’s third most populous state. UF Health is comprised of six colleges of health, 10 research centers and institutes, 11 hospitals, including two teaching hospitals and five specialty hospitals, and numerous physician medical practices and outpatient services.
About UF Health St. John’s
UF Health St. Johns, a regional division of UF Health, is dedicated to building healthier communities across Northeast Florida. We provide preventive, diagnostic, and intervention care, including working with local schools to address youth behavioral health and the latest health and wellness options where community members live, work, and play.
The area includes UF Health Flagler Hospital, which has been caring for the community for 130 years, multispecialty practices at UF Health Nocatee and UF Health MuraBella, as well as primary care and specialty practices throughout St. Johns County and other nearby areas. It is included.
UF Health Flagler Hospital has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission on Primary Stroke Treatment Centers, national accreditation for total hip and total knee replacement programs, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the Center of Certified by Excellence. Designated for bariatric surgery program.
For more information, visit StJohns.UFHealth.org.
