A team from the City of Tampa Fire Rescue was recently presented with USF Health Culture Coins for their collaboration with USF Health Facilities in coordinating firefighter training sessions at the Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute (MDD).

Charles Lockwood, MD, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, presented a Culture Coin to each team member.

From left: Michael Andrews. Dr. Charles Lockwood, Fire Chief Barbara Tripp, Fire Captain Michael Carter, Firefighters Tyler Van Hartwick and Antonio Jenkins, and Fire Driver Engineer Eddie Arriaga.

Over the course of several months Tampa firefighters trained within the building, mostly in the stairwells, where the main fire stand pipe and related equipment are located and where sound is buffered so the training did not disturb work, teaching and research going on in the building.

Michael Andrews, assistant director of USF Health Facilities, helped coordinate the trainings as part of his effort to invite local first-responders and law enforcement to tour the new building, which opened in January 2020. His aim, he said, is to familiarize these teams with MDD’s layout and nuances so that, during any true emergency, they are familiar and more prepared for entering and protecting MDD and its occupants.

“Familiarizing these teams with our new building is both a collaborative, collegial effort and a practical training effort that benefits all of us,” Andrews said.

The City of Tampa Fire Rescue includes 23 stations throughout Tampa, plus MacDill Air Force Base.