While we’ve only entered our second month of 2020, we have already had important events that showcase our dedication to fulfilling our mission and represent our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care.

On Jan. 25, we hosted the 13th annual “A Night for Heroes” gala honoring the contributions of those who work tirelessly to make our trauma center a leader in the field. The event benefits UF Health TraumaOne by providing the funding to pay for lifesaving equipment and resources to comfort relatives of the trauma patients we serve. At this year’s gala, we recognized and celebrated two trauma patients, Brandon Taylor and Dr. Luis Rios Jr. You will read more about their remarkable stories and recoveries in this issue of Open Lines.

We are proud to be home to Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center. It is a significant part of what positions our enterprise to be the region’s most valued health care asset. I cannot thank the providers at UF Health TraumaOne enough for the work they do to save lives every day.

Additionally, and most recently, we hosted another special event, “Achieving Safety, Equity & Dignity: Time’s Up in Healthcare,” which focused on the scope and impact of harassment and gender-based disparities in the health care workforce. The event was hosted by the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville Division of Cardiology, and the UF Health Women’s Cardiovascular Program in collaboration with the Dean’s Office for Inclusion and Equity and the UF Health Jacksonville Diversity Council. Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, led the important discussion.

The event comes on the heels of UF Health Jacksonville joining TIME’S UP Healthcare, a national initiative dedicated to ensuring safe, fair and dignified work for women in the industry. The mission of TIME’S UP aligns with our goals, and we pride ourselves on treatment, inclusion and respect for everyone in the enterprise. Many of our key leaders, and much of our work staff, are women who are dedicated not only to providing the best, most compassionate health care possible, but also to ensuring fair treatment of all genders, races and cultures. Our support of this effort is imperative.

These are only a couple of examples of many that have already made 2020 a year to look forward to and one marked with great success. As always, thank you for the work you do every day.

Sincerely,

Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, MHSA

CEO, UF Health Jacksonville

Dean, UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville