Tampa General Hospital continues to be the best hospital in the Tampa Bay area, as today’s release of the 2023-24 rankings by U.S. News & World Report show.

Today’s U.S. News announcement also recognized 11 Tampa General specialties for their strong national reputation and performance, including six in the nation’s top 50 and three in the top 20. Many of the 11 specialties are led or co-led by USF Health faculty physicians.

“Tampa General’s strong showing in this year’s rankings is a testament to the compassionate care and clinical expertise of our primary teaching partner,” said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“I’m so proud of our physicians and the leadership they have provided in propelling so many specialties to be among the best in the nation. These rankings translate into saving patients’ lives across Tampa Bay and beyond.”

Dr. Lockwood is also the executive vice president and chief academic officer of Tampa General Hospital.

The six specialties ranked among the top 50 in the nation are:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology – ranked #9 in the U.S. and #1 in Florida
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery – ranked #19 in the U.S. and #1 in Florida
• Diabetes & Endocrinology – ranked #18 in the U.S. and #2 in Florida
• Ear, Nose & Throat – ranked #39 in the U.S. and #2 in Florida
• Orthopedics – ranked #30 in the U.S. and #2 in Florida
• Urology – ranked #49 in the U.S. and #2 in Florida

In addition, five more specialties were recognized as “high performing” and among the top 10% in the nation:

• Cancer
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

Using a comprehensive hearing intervention designed, tested, and implemented by researchers at the University of South Florida, the multi-site ACHIEVE study examined the efficacy of hearing aids for reducing long-term cognitive decline in older adults.

Results from the largest randomized, controlled clinical trial testing the efficacy of hearing aids for reducing long-term cognitive decline in older adults were published July 18, 2023, in the journal Lancet, as well as reported for the first time at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2023, held the same day, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Called the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study, the multisite study found that, in older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline, hearing intervention slowed down loss of thinking and memory abilities by 48% over three years.

While the results were negative in the total study population, the hearing intervention did slow cognitive decline by 48% in a study subset of older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss who are participating in an ongoing observational study of heart health. Investigators believe that the effect of the hearing intervention on reducing cognitive decline was only apparent in the group of participants from the heart health study because this group had nearly a 3-fold faster rate of cognitive decline over the study period than the healthy volunteers that enrolled in the trial. That much faster rate of decline allowed researchers to see the beneficial effects of hearing intervention on reducing this decline within the limited 3-year period of the study.

“The hearing intervention had a significant effect on reducing cognitive change within three years in the population of older adults in the study who are at increased risk for cognitive decline,” said Frank Lin, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, and co-principal investigator of the ACHIEVE study. “Hearing loss is very treatable in later life, which makes it an important public health target to reduce risk of cognitive decline and dementia, along with other dementia risk factors such as less education in early life, high blood pressure, social isolation and physical inactivity.”

The overall ACHIEVE study was led by researchers at Johns Hopkins and seven additional contributing institutions. A team of researchers from USF led the hearing intervention provided in the study. From the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, Theresa H. Chisolm, PhD, professor and vice provost for Strategic Planning, Performance and Accountability, and Michelle Arnold AuD, PhD, assistant professor, collaborated with Victoria Sanchez, AuD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

In addition to designing the hearing intervention, the USF team also trained the study audiologists and continuously monitored the hearing intervention that was provided in the overall study.

“The ACHIEVE Study is evidence that auditory rehabilitation, including the use of hearing aids, in older adults who had more risk factors for cognitive decline slowed the rate of cognitive decline,” said USF Health’s Dr. Sanchez. “Important risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia that could be potentially addressed to help reduce dementia include hearing loss, less education in early life, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, social isolation, and physical inactivity. Addressing hearing loss is one way we could reduce the increase rate of older adults living with dementia.”

Established research shows that loss of hearing can increase a person’s likelihood of cognitive decline, she said, adding that further research is needed.

“Our main trial results shared today are exciting and informative, but much more research is still needed,” Dr. Sanchez said. “Our team of multi-institution investigators are continuing to follow all participants in the ACHIEVE study beyond three years to look at longer term effects of hearing intervention on cognition and other outcomes.”

This foundational work can also help guide policymakers, she said.

“Our results will hopefully create policy changes because in many parts of the world we need improved affordable access and insurance coverage for hearing treatment/intervention,” Dr. Sanchez said. “This does not mean just a hearing aid, as hearing intervention consists of two components. First are hearing aids and related hearing technologies, and second are the diagnostic and hearing care support services of an audiologist to guide the individual in using these hearing technologies to hear and communicate optimally.

“We recommend that people who have concerns about their hearing and their risk factors for cognitive decline discuss these concerns with their doctor and be seen by an audiologist to address their hearing and communication needs.”

The ACHIEVE study is a randomized trial of older adults aged 70-84 with untreated hearing loss who were free from substantial cognitive impairment, conducted at four study sites in the United States, and 977 total participants were recruited from two study populations: 238 adults participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and 739 healthy community volunteers newly recruited to the study.

Graduate programs at USF Health had promising gains in this year’s rankings from U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News), with some programs breaking into the top 50 of their rankings.

In the U.S. News 2024 Best Graduate Schools list released on April 25, USF Health’s physician assistant, nursing and public health programs ranked among the best in the country.

The rankings released April 25 did not include medical schools or law schools; those rankings were released by U.S. News May 11.

Among the notable advancements this year are the two graduate programs from the USF Health College of Nursing, each of which had major gains, and the Physician Assistant Program in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, which made the ranking list for the first time in its young history after receiving its inaugural full accreditation needed to qualify.

“Our nursing school is clearly garnering attention on the national stage as both its master’s and doctoral programs are making incredible gains in the rankings, and proving to be the best in Florida,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “And the first-time ranking for our physician assistant program marks a significant milestone. While this USF Health program is still young, its inaugural ranking is among the top third of PA programs across the country. We anticipate further rankings gains as our program continues to develop.”

According to U.S. News, its methodology uses data from expert opinions and statistical indicators when measuring a program’s ranking, examining qualities students and faculty bring to the educational experience and graduates’ achievements linked to their degrees, such as job placement and research impact.

The posted results for USF Health this year include:

• #46 in Medical Schools for Primary Care: The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine improved significantly for U.S. medical schools for primary care, going from #56 last year to #46 this year, and breaking into the top 50 for the first time.
• #50 in Medical Schools for Research: The Morsani College of Medicine continues to rank well among U.S. medical schools for research, ranking at #50 this year.
• #65 in Health Doctoral Programs – Physician Assistant: The Morsani College of Medicine’s Physician Assistant program ranked for the first time, ranked at #65 this year, placing it in the top third of the more than 200 PA programs in the rankings.
• #31 in Nursing for Master’s: The USF Health College of Nursing jumped 11 spots, going from #42 last year to #31 this year, making it the top-ranked public nursing master’s program in Florida.
• #33 in Nursing for DNP: The College of Nursing also continues to improve in its DNP program ranking and skyrocketed into the top 50 for doctoral programs in the country with its 34-spot jump from #67 last year to #33 this year, making it the top-ranked public or private DNP program in Florida.
• #22 in Public Health: The USF Health College of Public Health remains the top-ranked public health program in Florida, with its rank at #22 this year.

U.S. News does not provide new rankings for all graduate programs each year, so the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy maintains its rank of #68, and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences maintains its rank of #49.

More on rankings for other USF graduate programs…

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be overwhelming and isolating. Never was that more true than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eileen Poiley understands that challenge well, having dedicated more than 35 years to educating caregivers at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center. When the world stopped, she knew this important work could not.

Poiley launched the Alzheimer’s Caregivers Podcast in May 2021 to offer practical guidance to caregivers where and when they need it. As the show posts its 100^th episode this month, this resource has helped more than 7,000 unique listeners around the world with downloads from six continents.

Eileen Poiley.

“Some caregivers are at the end of their ropes, and they don’t know what to do,” Poiley said. “We help caregivers deal with the challenges from a non-medication perspective, as there are a lot of behaviors that medication can’t change.”

The podcast features 30-minute episodes on a wide range of topics affecting families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, including understanding short-term memory loss, managing the challenges of daily life, reducing safety risks, frequently asked questions and more.

Podcast producer Scott Huetteman, whose mother has Alzheimer’s disease, encouraged Eileen to create the podcast after hearing one of her presentations in person.

“There are a lot of ways to get information out, and the challenge with caregivers is that there is so much they need to know,” Huetteman said. “The podcast is a great way caregivers can listen to episodes any time of the day or night at their convenience.”

Poiley agrees that caregivers need a large volume of information, but that comprehensive books that cover a wide range of topics aren’t typically useful for caregivers. The podcast format allows them to pick the topic they need at the right moment.

Eileen Poiley.

One caregiver who has listened to all 100 episodes—several many times—said he was in a dire situation looking for help as he cared for his family member. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years before he reached out for support beyond medical care.

“I wish that I could reconstruct the morning I discovered the Institute,” said the caregiver, who asked to remain anonymous. “I had been looking through articles I had collected in a file over the previous five years, as her needs were getting well past what I could provide. Things were getting really emotionally intense for both of us.”

The Pinellas County caregiver became hopeful upon discovering the nearby virtual Alzheimer’s support programs at USF, along with the podcast series, through a Google search.

“It was like Eileen was here in the home, how she described what we were going through at the time,” said the caregiver. “She was spot on, and I could implement what I was learning and see almost immediate results.”

“My loved one and I are now both much calmer, in a better place, all because I listened to the podcasts. Eileen identified behaviors to watch for, explained them, and gave me strategies for how to respond and how to cope.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the 7^th leading cause of death in the United States, and one in three seniors dies with dementia.

To support Alzheimer’s caregiver education at USF Health, give online at usf.to/caregivers or contact Dan Minor at danielminor@usf.edu.

Story by Davina Gould, USF Foundation.

This year’s USF Health Research Day set new records as more participants than ever filled the USF Tampa campus Marshall Student Center on March 3 to showcase the best of their scientific work.

The 33^rd USF Health Research Day included 457 research poster presentations by students, postdocs, residents, faculty, and staff across all health disciplines. Research Day is the largest research-oriented event of its kind at USF and remains the largest celebration of health sciences research collaboration across all four USF Health colleges (medicine, nursing, public health and pharmacy) as well as with colleagues in other USF colleges, including social work and engineering.

From left, Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dr. Kim Orth, Rhea Law, and Dr. Steve Liggett.

Research Day kicked off with the Annual Roy H. Behnke, MD, Distinguished Lectureship featuring speaker Kim Orth, PhD, professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Orth’s presentation was titled “Black Spot, Black Death, Black Pearl: Tales of Bacterial Effectors” – click here for more about Dr. Orth and her work.

Dr. Kim Orth.

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Tampa General Hospital, the primary teaching hospital for USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, was the presenting sponsor for USF Health Research Day 2023.

Following Dr. Orth’s presentation was the judging of work. Judges reviewed the posters that lined the Marshall Center Ballroom, asking the students for more detail and clarifications about their research projects. Presentations ranged from pilot, preliminary, empirical and case studies to system reviews and reviews of literature or charts.

Following the 13^th Annual Joseph Krzanowski Invited Oral Presenters by select students representing medicine, nursing, public health, and pharmacy, Research Day culminated with an Awards Ceremony in the Oval Theatre announcing the winners in 29 competitive categories – including 18 monetary awards totaling $8,600.

* * *

For the list of Research Day 2023 award winners, click here.

For the list of Research Day judges and sponsors, click here.

More photos

Photos by Freddie Coleman, video by Allison Long, USF Health Communications

USF Health researchers are studying how a little-known protein known as BIN1 may contribute to the formation of tangles in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain condition that affects more than 6 million Americans today.

Their findings have been published in the peer-reviewed Brain: A Journal of Neurology. Leading the study was Gopal Thinakaran, PhD, CEO of the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute and professor of molecular medicine in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Contributing to the report were Moorthi Ponnusamy, PhD, and other members of the Thinakaran Lab at the Byrd Institute.

The paper focuses on a protein called Bridging Integrator 1 – or BIN1 – a protein that is found in cells in the brain and other organs. Understanding BIN1 has been a challenge because it appears in different forms in brain cells, but breakthroughs could lead to improved therapies for people who develop Alzheimer’s as they age.

“Aging is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,’’ Dr. Thinakaran said. “A comparison of small changes in the DNA of people worldwide with and without Alzheimer’s disease found up to 40% carry small changes in the BIN1 gene, and many of those are at a higher risk for developing the disease.’’

Until recently, other proteins, such as beta amyloid and tau, which contribute to the formation of plaques and tangles in the brain, have received more attention from researchers. But now scientists are turning to risk factors such as BIN1, believing understanding their function might offer targets for potential treatments.

BIN1 is the second-most prevalent genetic risk factor identified for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It encodes an adaptor protein that regulates certain functions in the brain, and evidence suggests BIN1 can alter the dynamics of cell membranes within the brain.

Thinakaran’s team looked at whether the presence of BIN1 inside the brain’s neurons favors the accumulation of tau, a toxic protein, in structures called tangles. Greater numbers of these tangles in the brain have been associated with memory loss and the death of brain cells.

The team found that laboratory mice without BIN1 in their neurons developed only milder degeneration in the regions of the brain essential for memory. Also, brain inflammation was reduced by the loss of BIN1, suggesting that BIN1 in neurons also influences nerve, or glial, cell activation during the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

“These findings mean that BIN1 in neurons promotes Alzheimer’s disease tau pathology, stimulates brain inflammation, and contributes to memory loss, thus identifying BIN1 as a possible drug target,’’ Dr. Thinakaran said.

The timing of the team’s work is critical: The number of Americans affected is expected to rise to 13 million by 2050 and cost the United States more than $1 trillion, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, a global voluntary health organization dedicated to care, support and research.

Alzheimer’s is a specific brain disease that progressively and irreversibly destroys memory and thinking skills. Eventually, Alzheimer’s disease takes away the ability to carry out even the simplest tasks.

The vast majority of people who develop Alzheimer’s dementia are age 65 or older. Experts believe this late-onset Alzheimer’s, like other common chronic diseases, develops as a result of multiple factors rather than a single cause. Although a handful of laboratories worldwide are studying how BIN1 is involved in the disease process, Thinakaran’s team is leading the research efforts to define how BIN1 acts as a risk for Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.

Their work is funded by three major research grants totaling $7 million from the National Institute on Aging, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, along with grants from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and the Alzheimer’s Association.

In June, the USF Health group published a related study in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneraton, which described BIN1’s impact on glial cells, which are responsible for brain inflammation.

— Story by Kurt Loft for USF Health News 

The University of South Florida and healthy older adult volunteers from the Sarasota area will play an increasingly crucial role in the landmark Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) study. This study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, examines whether computerized brain training exercises can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Additional funding awarded earlier this year will provide PACT study participants with an option to provide blood samples that will be used to develop tests for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the largest study of its kind to date, investigating not only how to possibly prevent dementia but also how to detect it earlier.

USF’s PACT study expansion to Sarasota will increase our expected study enrollment from 2,354 to 3,567 over the next two years. To qualify, participants must be 65 or older with no signs of cognitive impairment or dementia. There is an emphasis on the need for African-American/Black and Hispanic study volunteers. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, these populations are at the highest risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

“We are excited for the opportunity to launch PACT in Sarasota. We are seeking another 1,213 healthy older adults to volunteer for this important study. We are grateful for the 2,354 volunteers in the Tampa Bay region and beyond who have already joined our fight against Alzheimer’s disease by enrolling in PACT. The scientific contributions made possible by our PACT volunteers have the potential to positively impact our lives and the lives of future generations,” said Brianne Stanback, PhD, research assistant professor in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and director of Community Engagement for PACT.

Those interested in the study may participate at USF Sarasota-Manatee, Tampa, or St. Petersburg campuses or at Reliance Medical in Lakeland or Winter Haven. Participants may also join the study at University of Florida in Gainesville or Jacksonville, University of North Florida, Clemson University in Seneca or Greenville, SC, or Duke University in Durham, NC.

PACT participants will be asked to initially come to two in-person study visits. They will then complete 45 computerized training exercises in their own home or they may choose to complete activities at a study site. Participants will be asked to return about three years later for a third study visit.

More information is available at the PACT study website, pactstudy.org, or by calling (941) 500-4447.

The PACT study is supported by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01AG070349. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

USF Health doctors are among the best and listed as such in the Top Doctor® list by Castle Connolly.

The list, released earlier this year, includes over 400 local physicians among 55 medical specialties – 82 of them are with USF Health.

USF Health Neurologist Dr. Theresa Zesiewicz.

For more than 25 years, Castle Connolly has conducted the survey that provides the Top Doctors list.

The annual survey involves nominations from peer physicians, who are asked “Where would you go if you needed care?” The process is anonymous and confidential, and doctors cannot nominate themselves. The resulting list, based on merit and inclusion cannot be bought, provides a collection of trusted resources for quality health care.

On this year’s list, 82 physicians on the list are with USF Health. The following list is of USF Health faculty physicians currently practicing medicine within nearly three dozen clinical sites, specialty care centers and affiliated hospitals throughout the region.

Allergy & Immunulogy
Mark C Glaum, MD, PhD
Richard F Lockey, MD
Mandel R Sher, MD
Jolan E Walter, MD/PhD

Cardiac Electrophysiology
Bengt Herweg, MD

Child Neurology
Sagarika Nallu, MD

Colon & Rectal Surgery
Jorge E Marcet, MD
Jaime E Sanchez, MD

Dermatology
Basil S Cherpelis, MD
Nishit S Patel, MD

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Madeline Candelario-Cosme, MD
Yevgeniya Kushchayeva, MD

Family Medicine
Eric E Coris, MD
Eduardo C Gonzalez, MD
Kira K Zwygart, MD

Gasterenterology
Patrick G Brady, MD
John W Jacobs Jr, MD
Jay J Mamel, MD
Joel E Richter, MD
Pushpak Taunk, MD

Gynecology Oncology
Diana Peta-Gay English, MD
Thomas J Rutherford, MD, PhD

Infectious Disease
Sally Fathi Alrabaa, MD
Beata C Casanas, DO
Ambika Eranki, MD
Charurut Somboonwit, MD

Internal Medicine
Nathan A Brinn, MD
Denise K Edwards, MD
Lucy Guerra, MD
John D McCormick, MD
Hugo J Narvarte, MD
Kevin E O’Brien, MD

Interventional Cardiology
Fadi Matar, MD

Maternal & Fetal Medicine
Jan M Lanouette, MD
Charles J Lockwood, MD
Judette M Louis, MD
Stephanie Teresa Ros, MD

Neurological Surgery
Thomas B Freeman, MD
Donald A Smith, MD
Harry R Van Loveren, MD

Neurology
William Scott Burgin, MD
Rossitza I Chichkova, MD
Clifton Gooch, MD
Robert A Hauser, MD
Juan R Sanchez-Ramos, MD
Tuan H Vu, MD
Theresa A Zesiewicz, MD

Obstetrics & Gynecology
Shelly W Holmstrom, MD
Catherine M Lynch, MD
Dawn Palaszewski, MD
Odalis Sijin, MD

Ophthalmology
Ramesh S Ayyala, MD
Mitchell Drucker, MD
Lewis Groden, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery
Roy W Sanders, MD

Otolaryngology
Mark H Tabor, MD

Pediatric Endocrinology
Ellen Verena Jorgensen, MD
Henry Rodriguez, MD
Dorothy Shulman, MD

Pediatric Infectious Disease
Carina A Rodriguez, MD

Pediatric Nephrology
Valerie M Panzarino MD

Pediatrics
Sharon Dabrow, MD
Carol M Lilly, MD
Jennifer C Takagishi, MD

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Naomi A Abel, MD

Plastic Surgery
C. Wayne Cruse, MD
Michael Harrington, MD
Nicholas J Panetta, MD
David J Smith Jr, MD
Paul D Smith, MD

Psychiatry
Jean Fils, MD
Amanda G Smith, MD

Pulmonary Disease
Kapilkumar N Patel, MD
Ricardo Restrepo-Jaramillo, MD

Rheumatology
John D Carter, MD

Surgery
Michael H Albrink, MD
Christopher G DuCoin, MD
Paul C Kuo, MD

Urology
David J Hernandez, MD

Vascular Surgery
Murray L Shames, MD

Colon & Rectal Surgery
Robert D Bennett, MD

Urology
Kevin Heinsimer, MD

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is the fastest-rising medical school in the country, climbing over the last decade from #80 to #46 in U.S. News & World Report rankings for medical schools for research.

Based on data from U.S. News & World Report Academic Insights, the Morsani College of Medicine has climbed 34 spots in rankings for 2014 to 2023. No other medical school in the data – public or private – has risen as far in rankings as fast as the Morsani College of Medicine.

In the last decade, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has made great strides, pushing metrics upward in the college’s three mission areas — education, research and patient care – in an effort to place the college among the best medical schools in the country.

With improved metrics, the college’s placement in the national rankings soared from No. 80 in the 2014 U.S. News list to No. 46 in the recently published 2023 list – a seismic 34 spots.

No other medical school in the country has experienced that same improvement in rankings, making the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine the fastest-rising medical schools in the country.

“Our sustained rise in national rankings reflects the rapidly increasing strength of our educational, research and clinical missions at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. We are now competing with the nation’s most storied and respected programs,” said Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “These outstanding metrics also position us to attract the highest caliber students and faculty, further advancing our program into the national spotlight for its outstanding education, exceptional research and world class clinical care.”

Tampa General Hospital is once again the #1 hospital in the Tampa Bay area and is now tied for third among Florida hospitals, as listed by U.S. News & World Report 2022-23 rankings released today.

In the listing, U.S. News recognized 12 USF Health and Tampa General specialties for their strong national reputation and performance, including seven in the top 50 – USF Health doctors lead or co-lead most of these top-ranked specialties.

The news shines a light on the many USF Health faculty who care for patients within these specialties, seeing patients at Tampa General and within USF Health clinical facilities, said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, senior vice president at USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“This national recognition is a wonderful achievement, built upon the dedication, compassion and commitment to world-class care that our physicians and providers deliver every day,” Dr. Lockwood said. “I would like to thank each of them, as well as all of our Tampa General caregivers and colleagues, for their continuing pursuit of excellence and belief in making life better for residents of Tampa Bay and beyond.”

The seven specialties ranked among the top 50 in the nation are:

• Diabetes & Endocrinology – #27
• Ear, Nose & Throat – #16
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery – #34
• Obstetrics & Gynecology – #40
• Orthopedics – #33
• Pulmonology – #49
• Rehabilitation – #40

Five more specialties were recognized as “high performing,” and are among the top 10% in the nation:

• Cancer
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Urology