Jim  Burkhart becomes Tampa General Hospital’s new CEO on Monday, March 4, marking a new era  in USF Health’s longstanding partnership with its major teaching hospital.

Burkhart joins Tampa General  from Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, a private, not-for-profit teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Florida.  He was president and chief executive officer at Shands Jacksonville since 2010, after serving as president and adminstrator there since 2003. 

Jim Burkhart

“We welcome Mr. Burkhart to the Tampa Bay region, and we look forward to working with him,” said Stephen Klasko, MD, CEO of USF Health  and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, who served on the search committee for Tampa General’s new CEO.

Under Burkhart’s leadership, the operations and financial position of Shands Jacksonville was successfully repositioned.  He also built collaborative relationships and alliances with both academic faculty and community-based physicians that significantly affected the recruitment of key additions to the medical staff and faculty.

“I believe Jim is the best choice to lead Tampa General into the future.  He has demonstrated strong leadership at a fully integrated academic medical center, and will be a great partner for USF Health at our primary teaching hospital,” Dr. Klasko said. “Once Jim has settled in, we will explore new ways in which USF Health and Tampa General can work together for the benefit of our patients and families.  We believe we can strengthen an already close relationship, and that our futures are aligned.”