Florida's first behavioral health teaching hospital to open to patients in Tampa
The Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Behavioral Health Hospital, which is set to open to the public in March, will offer care for patients in mental health crises, along with hands-on learning opportunities for medical students, according to officials.
Florida DoorDash driver mauled by 2 dogs, airlifted to Tampa
The hospital, located in the center of the Tampa Medical and Research District at 1303 West Kennedy Boulevard, is the result of a joint venture between TGH and Lifepoint Behavioral Health.
Following a ribbon cutting Tuesday, John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General, called the new facility 'a beacon of hope' for Floridians.
'With the opening of TGH Behavioral Health Hospital, we are making a significant leap forward in addressing the pressing need for mental health services in our community and across Florida,' Couris said.
The new facility spans nearly 83,000 square feet and features 96 inpatient beds. Officials said inpatient treatment will consist of 24-hour personalized care, including medication management, safety planning and both individual and group therapy.
Partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment services will also be available at the hospital within the next few months.
Couple says they were forced to sit with dead woman on plane for hours
The hospital's team consists of academic-medicine-based University of South Florida (USF) Health psychiatrists and psychologists, supported by Tampa General therapists and specialized nursing staff.
'Through our comprehensive academic, research and clinical activities, the University of South Florida is uniquely positioned to help address the growing demand for behavioral health services in our community,' said USF President Rhea Law.
Florida lawmakers passed Senate Bill 330 during the 2024 legislative session to create a behavioral health teaching hospital designation in state statute. The law names the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital as the first of four such facilities in the state.
Officials said the hospital is expected to serve as a key behavioral health training and education center for medical students and residents from USF Health's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the Morsani College of Medicine.
Doug Leonardo, who has more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health, having implemented behavioral health services at 12 hospitals and emergency departments in Florida, will serve as the president and CEO of the TGH Behavioral Health Hospital.
'This is the start of a new era in mental health care, combining academic excellence with patient-centered treatment,' Leonardo said. 'The TGH Behavioral Health Hospital will transform the landscape of behavioral health services in Florida, ensuring that individuals and families receive the support they need for mental wellness and recovery.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
15-07-2025
- Axios
How Trump's "big, beautiful bill" could affect Miami
President Trump's " big, beautiful bill" could hurt low-income Miamians who rely on food stamps and government-subsidized health care. The big picture: Trump's tax and spending bill will slash federal funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which nearly a quarter of Miami-Dade County households rely on for groceries, according to the Miami Herald. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill's passage will leave nearly 2 million Floridians without health care by 2034, a result of new Medicaid rules and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Palm Beach Post reports. How it works: The bill, which reduces federal payments to states for SNAP benefits, would require states like Florida with high payment error rates to pay between 5% and 15% of their total food stamp costs beginning in 2028. States that can't afford to pay their share of SNAP benefits might cut benefits or opt out of the program, per the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Meanwhile, new work requirements for some Medicaid recipients and requirements that states conduct eligibility checks twice a year could lead to higher state costs and coverage loss for enrolled Floridians. What they're saying:"If you're someone who relies on social programs, you're going to be negatively affected," University of South Florida economics professor Michael Snipes tells Axios Tampa Bay. Food banks, like Feeding South Florida, have warned that SNAP cuts could increase food insecurity. In Miami-Dade, Feeding South Florida estimates that 400,000 residents don't have enough food to eat or know where their next meal will come from, the Herald reported. Feeding South Florida says the county's food insecurity rate is up 50% from 2019, per the Herald. The other side: Proponents of the bill, which will cut $4 trillion in taxes, say changes to Medicaid and food stamps will curb abuse and encourage able-bodied people to work to receive government benefits.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Miami Herald
What's making us sick in Miami? Heat, hurricanes, insects. Take a look
South Florida What's making us sick in Miami? Heat, hurricanes, insects. Take a look These articles focus on Miami's growing health risks due to climate effects. They discuss heat-related illnesses, hurricanes' mental health impacts, and mosquito-borne diseases. Catch up below. Outdoor worker at Casaplanta Garden Center, Otty Bustos, takes a water break on Friday, July 5, 2024 in Kendale Lakes, Fla. By Sophia Bolivar NO. 1: FLORIDA HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN THE NATION, NEW REPORT FINDS 'Without common-sense workplace protections, heat-related illness, coupled with Florida's high uninsured rate, will spell trouble for a growing number of residents' | Published July 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi Juan Jose Muñoz (left) and Elvin Antonio Urbina walk with her belongings through the flooded N 15th St in North Tampa, Thursday, October 10, 2024, a day after Hurricane Milton crossed Florida's Gulf Coast. NO. 2: FLORIDIAN HURRICANE SURVIVORS COULD BE SUFFERING FROM PTSD—BUT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE After a tumultuous hurricane season, an expert says Floridians should look out for symptoms of PTSD. | Published November 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby Recently installed air-conditioning units at 2840-2842 NW 10th Avenue in Miami, Florida. Federal housing doesn't require air-conditioning, but Miami-Dade County is funding new A/C units for hundreds of public housing apartments. By Jose A. Iglesias NO. 3: ON SWELTERING MIAMI SUMMER DAYS, IT CAN BE HOTTER INSIDE HOMES THAN OUT, STUDY FINDS 'Everyone in Miami has AC. The question is does it work and can you afford to use it?' | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris The Florida Department of Health issued a state-wide mosquito-borne illness alert after six people contracted malaria in Sarasota. By James Gathany NO. 4: MOSQUITO SEASON BEGINS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. IS CLIMATE CHANGE MAKING IT WORSE? As Miami-Dade marks the unofficial beginning of mosquito season with a Wednesday event to help residents 'Fight the Bite', the Herald spoke to the head of the Mosquito Control Division, Dr. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby People make their way along the shoreline near the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk as temperatures soar into the 90s on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. By Matias J. Ocner NO. 5: FEELING DIZZY? WATCH FOR THESE WARNING SIGNS DURING SOUTH FLORIDA'S HEAT WAVE Some are at higher risk for heat stroke and heat exhaustion. | Published May 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Miami Herald
What's affecting your health in Miami? It could be lizards, storms or your brain
Health Care What's affecting your health in Miami? It could be lizards, storms or your brain These articles on Miami's health focus on environmental influences and mental health issues. A study on lizards explores how the presence of brown anoles can disrupt mosquito feeding patterns and potentially reduce disease transmission to humans. Researchers at the University of Miami study Alzheimer's disease in Hispanic and Black communities, highlighting a personalized approach to medicine. Meanwhile, post-hurricane mental health concerns like PTSD are addressed by mental health experts advocating for cognitive therapies as a path to recovery. NO. 1: WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN? IT COULD COME DOWN TO WHAT YOU NEED MORE OF EACH NIGHT Here is some expert medical advice. | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante Juan Jose Muñoz (left) and Elvin Antonio Urbina walk with her belongings through the flooded N 15th St in North Tampa, Thursday, October 10, 2024, a day after Hurricane Milton crossed Florida's Gulf Coast. NO. 2: FLORIDIAN HURRICANE SURVIVORS COULD BE SUFFERING FROM PTSD—BUT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE After a tumultuous hurricane season, an expert says Floridians should look out for symptoms of PTSD. | Published November 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby No image found A caretaker, center, offers cafecito to Asustina Valdes Cabrera, left, while she is tested by UHealth medical researcher Dr. Katrina Celis, right, as part of an Alzheimer study during a community outreach event for the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics where UM researchers performed tests, enrolled new participants and took blood samples to a new Biorespository opening at UHealth's campus, at Hora Feliz Adult Day Care on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. By D.A. Varela NO. 3: HOW A UM LAB IS UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF THE BRAIN. IT STARTS WITH A PERSONAL MESSAGE What to know about the visits. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante Peter's rock agamas have spread across Florida, in some places pushing aside native species like the brown anole. That shift in the reptile population could potentially have ripple effects on mosquitoes and the spread of diseases . By Alex Grimsley NO. 4: HOW A TURF WAR BETWEEN LIZARDS IN FLORIDA IMPACTS MOSQUITOES AND MAYBE YOUR HEALTH Researchers are looking at the role a tiny lizard plays in protecting us from mosquito-borne diseases | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
