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PASCO COUNTY – Hospitals across AdventHealth’s West Florida division helped make the holidays a little brighter for families in need across Pasco County. 

Team members from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Connerton recently came together to provide fresh produce to children and families just in time for the holiday break.

This initiative brought healthy fruits and vegetables to 165 children and their families at Boys and Girls Club Lacoochee, Achieve Center New Port Richey, Achieve Center Wesley Chapel, and Quail Hollow Elementary. 

Many of these families rely on free and reduced lunches during the school year, so this extra food makes a big difference while school is out.

AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Connerton also helped stock the One Stop Shop food pantry in Dade City with produce for more than 1,000 families – about 4,000 people. Dade City nurses volunteered to pack grocery bags ahead of time so families could quickly drive through and pick up fresh food for the holidays.

Pantry organizers shared they often struggle to get fresh produce and usually have canned or boxed food to offer and that when they surveyed the families they serve, produce was one of the most requested items.

Using the insights gained from its Community Health Needs Assessments, AdventHealth works with community organizations and stakeholders like these to support programs that reduce the social determinants of health that contribute to poverty, unemployment and transportation.

“From food security to better transportation, our community benefit programs, initiatives and partnerships work to meet the health needs of our West Florida communities,” said Dean Whaley, executive director of strategic partnerships and community engagement for the AdventHealth West Florida Division. “It’s our goal to identify specific health opportunities and implement tailored programs to boost whole-person health for everyone in our communities.”

TAMPA – Community leaders have unveiled plans for the 2025 reopening of the Dome Theatre at the Museum of Science & Industry. 

The inside of MOSI’s blue dome will begin lighting up imaginations early next year, powered by a combination of foundation, private and county support. 

MOSI’s new Digital Dome Theatre will be powered by 10 huge, cutting-edge digital Christie projectors, the new 8K technology is far sharper, brighter and more immersive than the old film technology that last operated inside the dome in 2017.

“We’re talking about pull-you-in and blow-your-mind educational fun,” MOSI CEO John Graydon Smith said. “Our eight-story-tall screen will surround you with science, with 360-degree movies and the second-largest digital dome planetarium in America.”

The theater will also serve as MOSI’s new Saunders Planetarium. MOSI’s existing Saunders Planetarium can seat 46 guests at a time, but in the new dome, more than 300 people can share the experience at once. By adding capacity for field trips, group events and daily museum guests, more people than ever in Tampa Bay will be able to take a planetarium tour of the universe, simulate an undersea expedition in a 360-degree movie, or discover other wondrous new ideas.

In addition to replacing the entire 10,000-square-foot screen inside the dome (which was completed in September), the project will install 10 new Christie digital projectors powered by an Evans & Sutherland Digistar 7 control system and custom Bowen speakers to deliver a feel-like-you’re-there immersive experience, whether in outer space, under the ocean or anywhere else your imagination and movie magic can take you. 

Funds for the multi-million-dollar renovation are still being raised but support from the Saunders Foundation, Raymond James Financial and Hillsborough County has already been secured, with more private funding pending, including naming opportunities for the theater.

“This major investment shows that MOSI is committed to staying right here in North Tampa, an area driving innovation thanks to USF, Moffitt Cancer Center and the transformation of University Mall into Rithm at Uptown,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. “We look forward to watching MOSI continue to grow, here in its longtime home, now and for years to come.”

Since its founding in 1962, MOSI has received significant support for its planetarium and immersive theater efforts from AdventHealth, the Saunders Foundation and Hillsborough County. 

MOSI’s new theater and planetarium is expected to open for field trips, museum guests, and special events in the first half of 2025.

Pasco County Administrator Mike Carballa provided an update on local response to hurricanes Helene and Milton during a Dec. 16 county commissioners meeting. His remarks have been edited for clarity and space. 

What a month the end of September through October was for the county. 

I think (Hurricane) Helene actually sent a lot of warnings to citizens in terms of the dangers of storm surge and we had very few evacuees during that first storm, unfortunately. It really put our first responders into the thick of it. 

Between the two storms, over 1,200 water rescues we made during that period of time and actually you’ll see some of our appropriations requests I think will support some of that response. 

During the second storm, when Milton came through barreling down as a strong Category 4, even as a Category 5 at one point in time, folks heeded the warnings and we had a tenfold increase in those folks that investigated and went to our shelters. Having places to shelter folks, as well, was important. 

We were actually concerned even operating out of our emergency operations center at one point that we were going to have to relocate inland. That’s just how dangerous these storms were. 

Since I’ve been an administrator, I can tell you this is my third go-around in terms of a full-on activation with realistic threats. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to become the norm rather than just just an outlier. 

But we continued after the storms to set up – I call it an encampment but really an area for those that were displaced to live. We call it Pasco Hope. Actually used an opportunity to get pallet homes installed as well as trailers from the state. 

The partnership with the state during the response was absolutely fantastic. We asked for things, we got things. Folks really pulled together on that.  

I want to say we’re probably about 60% to 70% full on that. These are temporary housing for folks that literally lost housing and we’re seeing more of that as we come through doing the recovery, which is the substantial damage issues. Because as you know, FEMA in order for us to maintain you know certain levels here – reimbursements and things – you got to kind of play by their rule book – and while our federal delegation has been … working with us to help move things along, sometimes the federal rules are tough. 

It’s coming to areas where you know we’re having to make decisions. Folks are having to make decisions on where we go from our housing here and there. So we’re seeing more and more folks kind of saying, ‘You know what? I think we’re leaving,’ and so they’re coming to these areas but then again we’re also helping folks get through things and rebuild.

On the debris front, I’m happy to say that we’re probably three-quarters of the way through. The state and the federal government gave us an extension. They mentioned December I think. That deadline’s gone all the way into February in terms of debris pickup. We’ve completed our first pass in the county. Pasco County started ahead of everyone else and we have continued to lead. So out of 1.4 million cubic yards of debris, we’re definitely over a million at this point and continue to clock in and pick up debris. 

We estimated probably about $50 million to $60 million and fortunately we did receive our first check from the federal government in terms of helping our cash flow on that of about $24 million. So we’ll continue to roll there.

WESLEY CHAPEL – AdventHealth Wesley Chapel showed Dec. 11 how music can comfort patients and their families, connect the community, and inspire gratitude during its Christmas at the Piano celebration. 

Staff, patients, visitors and community members came together in the hospital’s lobby to enjoy a musical program made to bring hope and joy to all.

The event featured performances from vocalists across all AdventHealth West Florida Division Hospitals.

“Music has an incredible way of lifting hearts and spirits, especially during the holidays,” said Daniel Sierra, chaplain of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, who organized the event. “This celebration reflects the meaning of Christmas – bringing people together to give thanks, share joy and remind us all of the healing and hope that Christ brings.”

The annual tradition is part of AdventHealth’s mission of “Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ” to the community. 

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel also encouraged guests to reflect on the importance of giving back and fostering connections with one another, making the season brighter for all.

TAMPA – The AdventHealth West Florida Division is bringing breast cancer screenings directly to communities across the Tampa Bay region thanks to a new mobile mammography bus.

Community leaders celebrated the launch of the bus Nov. 22 at the AdventHealth Care Pavilion New Tampa.

It will serve as a rolling medical office, staffed by experienced technologists and equipped with advanced 3D imaging technology. It will provide women with screenings from the comfort of their community or workplace.

“By offering mobile mammograms, AdventHealth is empowering individuals to prioritize their health,” said Genia Evarts,  outpatient imaging director for the AdventHealth West Florida Division. “This new bus not only represents our commitment to quality but also sets a high standard for the care we provide.”

Kristen McCall, president of the AdventHealth West Florida Foundation, described the addition as a “tremendous achievement.”

“We are grateful to our foundation donors who invested in lifesaving care and allowed this addition to be fully funded through local philanthropy,” McCall said. “The impact of enhancing access to early detection will be experienced for years ahead.”  

The AdventHealth West Florida Division performed more than 7,000 mobile mammography patient screenings in 2023 in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, Florida Department of Health and other agencies.

Of those screenings, 1,350 were with Hillsborough County Public Schools teachers and employees.

Hillsborough County teacher Heather Leitzke signed up for a screening when the mammogram bus visited her school last year. Leitzke said she needed a mammogram because her OB/GYN of 25 years had retired. 

“I got my mammogram and didn’t think much of it until I got a phone call a couple weeks later saying there were abnormal findings,” Leitzke said. “The results of a follow-up biopsy came back, and I heard the words no one wants to hear, ‘It’s cancer.’ 

“Fortunately, they also used words like ‘caught early’ and ‘treatable.’ I had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation and I am now six months cancer-free! Thanks to AdventHealth for having this program and making it easy for busy teachers to get this important test.”

Visit adventhealth.com/adventhealth-mobile-mammography to schedule the mobile mammography bus at a location. 

DADE CITY – As fears of Y2K computer crashes spread leading up to the turn of the century, Kathleen Sullivan sought to connect quilters worldwide.

Sullivan, an avid quilter and officer with the Tampa Police Department, thought it would be fun to create a project with a Y2K theme. She encouraged other quilters online to exchange 25 2.5-inch fabric squares with one another. The idea was to incorporate 2,000 squares into each quilt in honor of the millennium. 

Sullivan received 250 envelopes filled with fabric blocks from throughout the United States, Canada and 27 other countries. Many envelopes included letters sharing personal stories about the senders’ lives and families. 

After Sullivan passed away in 2022, her family donated the fabric squares and letters to the East Pasco Quilt Guild.

Members of the guild incorporated these squares and letters into 10 quilts of different sizes for the  “Y2K Quilt Collection Exhibit,” currently on display at The Bike Spoke. The project took about a year and a half to complete. 

“We wanted to see Kathleen’s vision through,” \member Judy Croucher said. 

Each set of fabric squares came with a “siggie” block that included the sender’s name and hometown. 

“We have kept track of each block so it is kind of like the world came to Dade City,” President Rozanne Ritter said. “This is an opportunity for our community to see what people had sent from around the world.”

Some quilts in the collection are designated as “scavenger hunt quilts,” encouraging visitors – especially children – to search for specific things within the designs. 

“It’s a fun way for people to spend more time exploring the details,” Ritter said.

Since the Dade City Heritage Museum is being renovated, the exhibit will be displayed through Dec. 20 at The Bike Spoke, 37800 Church Ave., Dade City. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The guild will also display the quilts at Dade City events, such as Church Street Christmas, Kumquat Festival and Farm Festival & Quilt Show. 

Email for details about the quilts and the guild. 

WESLEY CHAPEL – Luiza Guryeva created an Active Hearts Association chapter in Florida this summer to help people in the community. 

Guryeva, a senior at Wesley Chapel High School, said the youth-led organization empowers “students to create lasting, meaningful change in their communities by leading impactful healthcare support initiatives.”

She is the executive of Florida AHA, which has chapters across the state, including Wesley Chapel High School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation and The School of Advanced Studies in Miami. She leads a coalition of more than 100 students.

The chapter she founded was the first in the United States, Guryeva said. 

Active Hearts has chapters in Almaty, Kazakhstan – the founding chapter – Astana, Kazakhstan and Boston, Massachusetts. Plans are in the works to open new chapters in Shanghai and Bangkok, Guryeva said.  

The Active Hearts Association in all chapters across the world is a medical hub providing opportunities for healthcare enthusiasts and fundraising for hospitalized children, according to its website.

“I was drawn to the ethical and financial challenges within the healthcare industry and sought to create opportunities for meaningful community service for students, fostering greater hope for patients,” Guryeva said about why she started Florida’s AHA chapter. 

She formed the new chapter in Kazakhstan alongside her former classmates, Mereyli Baisariyeva and Almansur Samat, the founders. 

Luiza moved to the United States only three years ago from Kazakhstan. 

After graduating from Wesley Chapel High School next year, she plans to study business with a focus on finance, management and economics. She aims to use her education to create meaningful change in healthcare management and policy, particularly in addressing the influence of private equity firms.

Recently, Active Hearts Association prepared more than 300 “get well soon” cards that were delivered to patients in hospitals such as AdventHealth and Pruitt Health in Lutz. 

Each card was handmade with a handwritten message of encouragement inside, Guryeva said. This effort was intended to reduce feelings of loneliness and ensure recipients felt the personal touch and thoughtfulness behind each card, rather than receiving something mass-produced or printed by a computer, she added.

She personally took the cards to the hospitals and left them with the director of volunteers who distributed them to patients. 

At Pruitt Health, Luiza was able to organize a hospital visit for members of Active Hearts Association. They donated the cards and were given a tour of the hospital. 

In addition, Active Hearts Association members are organizing a talent show for nursing home residents, collecting Christmas cards for AdventHealth’s patients and developing wellness packets for women in Bangladesh.

Guryeva expressed hope that more high schools across Florida will establish Active Hearts Association chapters within their communities.  

Email or follow @activeheartsflorida and @activeheartsassociation on Instagram for details on how to open a chapter.

WESLEY CHAPEL – Community leaders signed a beam Nov. 8 to mark the progress of the AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER, a new off-site emergency department in East Pasco County.

The more than 13,000-square-foot emergency department will include 12 patient beds and two triage rooms when completed in the first half of 2025. It will also offer imaging and lab services.  

“The Meadow Pointe ER is located in a rapidly growing part of Pasco County and AdventHealth wants to make sure we’re meeting the needs of our community there,” said Mike Murrill, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Connerton. “We are committed to expanding our footprint of emergency care services and making it easy for our neighbors to access AdventHealth’s robust network of care.”  

The signed beam was placed over what will become the main entrance of the ER. The names of those who helped make the $26 million project a reality will welcome future patients through the door.

The opening of the new emergency department will create more than 30 jobs in Pasco County.

“Reaching this milestone in such a short period of time is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, teamwork and innovation,” said Todd Watson, manager of Robins & Morton Florida Division. “We are proud to be working on a project that will enhance health care access and deliver vital services to our community.”

The AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER joins the organization’s nine other freestanding emergency departments across the Tampa Bay area. 

This also includes an EMS fleet with 21 ambulances and AdventHealth AirStar 1, a medical helicopter dedicated to critical patient transport across the Tampa Bay region.