While we’ve just entered our second month of 2023, we have already seen important events that showcase our dedication to fulfilling our mission and represent our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care.

On Feb. 18, we hosted the 16th 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 trauma patient David Henley, whose life was saved after he went into cardiac arrest at the 2022 Gate River Run. You can read more about his remarkable story and the care our trauma team provided 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 as the region’s most valued health care asset. I cannot thank the physicians, nurses and staff at UF Health TraumaOne enough for the work they do to save lives every day.

Additionally, in late January, UF Health Jacksonville and Intuitive Health held a ribbon-cutting event for the Baymeadows hybrid emergency room and urgent care center. This new concept gives consumers choices while providing outstanding care to patients throughout the community and offering 24/7 care. The new facility, located near the intersection of I-295 and Baymeadows Road, is the first of three hybrid centers that UF Health Jacksonville is building in Northeast Florida. Two others are under construction and will open soon on Lane Avenue and New Kings Road.

These are only a couple of the many achievements that have already made 2023 a year to look forward to and one marked with great success. As always, thank you for the work you do every day.

It is an honor to serve as your CEO.

Sincerely,

Russell E. Armistead, MBA

CEO, UF Health Jacksonville