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University of Florida and UF Health leaders today broke ground on UF Health Durbin Park, a 42.5-acre health and wellness campus that will advance health care services as part of UF's regional expansion plan for Jacksonville County and St. Johns.
The first phase of the UF Health Durbin Park development, located in northeast St. Johns, will include a full 150-bed hospital focusing on orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular medicine and women's services, as well as a multidisciplinary medical office building and an ambulatory surgery center. The project is expected to bring 2,000 new jobs to the area, for a total of 12,000 jobs in St. Johns and Jacksonville over time, and represents a $1 billion investment in Northeast Florida.
The initiative reflects an infusion of additional resources into one of the state's fastest-growing regions — not just financial resources, but human resources and intellectual capital. This includes technologically advanced care focused on world-class outcomes, research opportunities — including access to new clinical trials — and training programs for the next generation of care providers.
The latest effort complements UF's goal of bringing innovative programs in medicine, business and engineering throughout Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, said Mori Hosseini, president of the UF Board of Trustees. These aim to support the region's growing workforce and academic needs in biomedical technology and focus on cutting-edge technology related to simulation, health applications of artificial intelligence, quality and patient safety, healthcare administration and finance. technology — opportunities to create strong synergies by uniting UF's power generation programs with the city's growing stature as a national healthcare and technology hub.
“I have two simple messages: First, if you want the highest quality of care, UF Health is here for you. Second, we are here because the University of Florida has a bold vision for Northeast Florida,” Hosseini said. “Our bold vision will allow us to achieve great things together. When it comes to getting bold, UF knows a thing or two. Make no mistake: The University of Florida does not make small plans.
“We dare to dream big. We set high goals. And we hold ourselves to high standards,” he added. “When we do that, we achieve incredible things. We raise the bar. We deliver incredible results for Floridians. That's exactly what we're going to do for St. Johns and the Jacksonville community… When the moment calls for nothing less than the best, come to UF Health.”
Once completed, the 395,000-square-foot hospital will include acute, critical and urgent care. surgeries; and an imaging suite and hybrid labs for invasive procedures. Construction on the hospital began in December 2023, and UF Health expects to care for the first patient by the end of 2025. The ambulatory surgery center will focus on orthopedic and other surgical services, providing a full range of care, including surgical and operating rooms, office spaces and rehabilitation facilities.
President of UF Ben Sasse said UF and UF Health are committed to working with the community to better meet the needs of patients and their families.
“Together we are doubling down on bringing our unique approach to problem-solving care to the region, care that will simply make people's lives better,” Sasse said. “This is an area on the rise, and we are proud to match our exceptional expertise with the needs of the community to revolutionize health services for the citizens of Florida. The work we do here will save lives.”
The university's academic health center is uniquely positioned to accomplish this, said David R. Nelson, MD, senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health.
UF Health introduced the state's first mobile stroke treatment unit last year, which is already dramatically improving patient outcomes by reducing time to treatment and is part of a system-building network that will be larger than any in the country. UF Health is also home to an NCI-designated Cancer Center, 72n.d in the nation and the only one in North Central and North Florida — and the only one in Florida owned by a public university.
And the health system is proud to be a member of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee's national medical network, one of three — and the most comprehensive in the country — caring for our Team USA athletes as they prepare for the Summer Games in Paris .
Other points of pride:
- The UF College of Medicine ranked No. 1 medical school in Florida. The National Institutes of Health rankings of Blue Ridge ranked neurosurgery No. 2 among all universities, neuroscience/neurology No. 3 and surgical services No. 5.
- UF Health is home to the nation's leading liver, kidney and lung transplant program, according to the Scientific Transplant Recipient Registry, ranked No. 1 in liver transplantation with the best one-year patient survival rate of 99.03%. No. 2 in kidney transplant and No. 1 in three-year lung transplant patient survival.
- UF Health Shands is recognized as one of US News & World Report's Best Hospitals and Best Children's Hospitals, with five adult specialties and four pediatric specialties ranking in the top 50.
- UF and UF Health are committed to advancing AI across industries by creating an academic hub to advance AI in the health sciences to put technology to work for patients.
“As we look to the future, our vision for UF Health is ambitious. We envision a healthcare landscape where every person has access to world-class medical care, regardless of their location or circumstance,” Nelson said.
“It's worth noting that he's not going to get bigger for the sake of it,” he added. “You're going to get better and you're going to be bolder. And it's about how growth fuels our ability to reinvest in our mission, nurturing the spectacular programs we already have… and all the healthcare providers that enhance our ability to advance discovery and clinical care and educate the next generation”.
UF Health is committed to providing hope and healing, said Carlton DeVooght, CEO of UF Health St. Johns.
“Now is our time. It's a time to celebrate not just the construction of a building, but the birth of a new era in healthcare for our community. With UF Health Durbin Park, we are poised to be a pioneer of innovation, compassion and excellence in health care delivery. This won't just be a hospital. it will be the cornerstone of our community — a place where patients find comfort, families find comfort and caregivers find purpose. Our commitment to serving our community drives us forward with unwavering dedication and determination.”
The university seeks to ensure that every member of the community has access to the resources they need to live their healthiest lives, Hosseini said.
“We do this with a deep sense of compassion and empathy,” he said. “Behind every diagnosis, every treatment and every recovery, there is a person — a mother, a father, a sister or a friend. People matter. We treat every patient with the dignity, respect and personalized care they deserve. People deserve to be supported, valued and heard every step of the way. This is our commitment.”
About UF Health
UF Health is a world-class academic health center that combines cutting-edge research on campuses in Florida with outstanding clinical care in a network of hospitals across the state. The flagship is UF Health Shands Hospital, part of Florida's preeminent health system, with nine adult and pediatric specialties ranked among the nation's top 50 programs in the 2023-2024 US News & World Report Best Hospitals and Best Children's Hospitals surveys.
With main campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville, as well as satellite locations in Central Florida and many other locations, UF Health provides quality health care to patients throughout the nation's third most populous state. UF Health consists of six health colleges, 10 research centers and institutes, 11 hospitals — including two teaching hospitals and five specialty hospitals — and a number of medical practices and outpatient services.
About UF Health St. Johns
UF Health St. Johns, a regional division of UF Health, is dedicated to building healthier communities throughout Northeast Florida. Offering preventive, diagnostic and interventional care, including working with area schools to address youth behavioral health and the latest health and wellness options where our community members live, work and play.
The region includes UF Health Flagler Hospital, with a 130-year legacy in community care, and multi-specialty practices at UF Health Nocatee and UF Health MuraBella, as well as primary care and specialty practices in neighborhoods throughout St. Louis County. Johns and beyond.
UF Health Flagler Hospital has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ for primary care stroke centers, national accreditation for its total hip and knee replacement programs, accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Cancer, and Center of Excellence definition for her bariatric surgery program.
Learn more at StJohns.UFHealth.org.
