Family Medicine Physician

Closer to her: AdventHealth brings women's and prenatal care to neighbors in need with new Mobile Health bus. Published date: October 06, 2026 | Estimated read time: 5 minutes | * Caroline Glenn AdventHealth for Women is known for providing compassionate, whole-person care for every stage of a woman's life, and now, it's putting that care on wheels and taking it directly to the people who need it. Called to provide easier access to healthcare for women and expecting moms, AdventHealth for Women has launched a Mobile Health bus that will visit community partner sites to reach women who have not traditionally had access to healthcare. Now, women who can't afford care, don't have insurance or are on Medicaid or underinsured, or are even experiencing homelessness can get care - at no cost - close to home. "AdventHealth for Women Mobile Health is a beautiful expression of our mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, bringing the same care you would expect at the hospital or in a doctor's office directly into the community," said Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women. "It reflects what our neighbors have told us they need, and it reflects what we believe: that every woman deserves access to whole-person care. And for the women who can't come to us, we are determined to come to her." Patients will be able to see clinicians for their annual well-woman preventative screenings, and expecting mothers can get ultrasounds and lactation consultations. On board the bus there will be nurse birth care coordinators - who speak English, Spanish and Haitian Creole - to provide childbirth education, working with physicians and care teams back at the hospital. "This is our commitment to meet women where they are, regardless of who you are, where you're from, your insurance status, your income or the color of your skin. And I can think of nothing better that encapsulates the mission of AdventHealth." - Dr. Rizwana Fareeduddin, AdventHealth for Women executive medical director The AdventHealth for Women bus will make stops to see patients at the community partner sites across Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lakes counties that made this initiative possible: * Florida Department of Health in Orange County * Florida Department of Health in Seminole County * Healthy Start Coalitions of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties * Community Health Centers in Pine Hills and Groveland * Hope Partnership in Kissimmee * True Health in Casselberry and Orlando "The new Women's Mobile Health Unit is far more than a clinic on wheels. It embodies the shared commitment of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County and AdventHealth for Women to meet people exactly where they are, beyond clinic walls, and bring essential services, compassionate care and dedicated support specialists directly into the neighborhoods we serve," said Dr. Robert Karch, health officer and director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. "I'm excited to see the meaningful impact this mobile clinic will have on families across our community." Florida currently ranks last in the United States for access to prenatal care. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that roughly 25,000 Florida mothers did not receive prenatal care in the first trimester or at all during their pregnancy. And that number is rising as Medicaid coverage shrinks and some rural areas go without maternal care facilities. Nationally, more than 600 women in the United States die every year because of maternal complications, according to the CDC. That number is even higher for women of color. And 80% of those deaths are preventable. "As a physician, I have spent my career thinking about what happens when care arrives too late. What happens when a woman delays a doctor's visit because she can't afford it. What happens when she can't find a ride to her appointment. And before you know it, a small problem quietly grows into a big one. That is the reality this Mobile Health Unit is here to confront," said Dr. Rizwana Fareeduddin, a maternal fetal medicine physician and executive medical director of AdventHealth for Women. The community organizations that will host the Women's Mobile Health bus have for years been on the front lines of improving women's care and maternal health, walking alongside its region's most vulnerable neighbors and person-by-person making sure those who are struggling are loved and cared for. The AdventHealth for Women Mobile Health bus aims to strengthen those connections, changing the course of pregnancies and birth experiences and of a woman's life and a child's well-being. "Access to care is one of the most important factors in supporting healthy pregnancies, healthy babies and strong families," said Healthy Start Seminole Executive Director Carmen M. Guzman. "The Mobile Health bus allows us to reach more residents, provide earlier interventions and create meaningful opportunities for healthier futures throughout our community." "Partnerships like this are what make dignity more than an idea - they make it something people can experience. We are grateful to AdventHealth for Women for coming alongside Hope Partnership to bring women's healthcare directly into the community," said Rev. Mary Downey, founder and CEO of Hope Partnership, a nonprofit in Kissimmee helping families who are living in poverty and experiencing homelessness." "By meeting women where they are, this partnership removes barriers to care and affirms something we believe deeply: every woman deserves access to quality healthcare delivered with dignity, compassion and respect." - Rev. Mary Downey, founder and CEO of Hope Partnership AdventHealth for Women and community partners dreamed up the Mobile Health initiative in direct response to the latest Community Health Needs Assessment, in which thousands of Central Floridians gave feedback on the region's most urgent issues. Chief among them were pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. "This initiative is about our neighbors whose voices are too often unheard and whose healthcare needs frequently go unmet. They face obstacles that many of us may never have to consider: lack of transportation, unstable housing, food insecurity, financial distress, limited access to primary care and the daily challenges of simply surviving," said Dr. Fareeduddin. "But this is our commitment to meet women where they are, regardless of who you are, where you're from, your insurance status, your income or the color of your skin. And I can think of nothing better that encapsulates and executes the mission of AdventHealth."

Tampa General invests $45M in Florida's Heartland with new ownership of DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Tampa General expands rural care with major DeSoto hospital investment. DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia became TGH DeSoto on Thursday. DeSoto County's only hospital now belongs to Tampa General Hospital's academic health system, backed by a $45 million commitment. The DeSoto County Hospital District Board voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to choose Tampa General's proposal over competing bids from AdventHealth and NorthStar Hospitals. The agreement is a 49-year lease under which Tampa General takes over operations of the 49-bed hospital. "Tampa General is making a long-term commitment to provide exceptional care in rural communities across Florida," said Tampa General President and CEO John Couris. "Working together with the DeSoto County Hospital District, we're maintaining the local access to care that is so important to this community, while connecting this region to the innovations, technologies, research and best-in-class care we offer across Tampa General's academic health system." Tampa General will invest at least $45 million over 10 years in technology, expanded services, and access to specialists. Existing staff will stay on, and the hospital will keep its community focus. "This is the start of a new era in DeSoto County, one that comes with a new name for our hospital, a significant investment in the care we offer this region and a connection to one of the nation's leading academic health systems," said Tampa General Senior Vice President Vince Sica, who ran DeSoto Memorial as CEO and now serves as president of TGH DeSoto. "But some things will never change: our commitment to care for the people of this community." Tampa General will also put its air ambulance fleet at TGH DeSoto's service, so patients who need a higher level of care can get to it quickly. The system plans to upgrade TGH DeSoto's electronic health record system to improve the patient experience and help the hospital meet regulatory requirements. "In joining the Tampa General family, we will honor DeSoto Memorial's history and what the Hospital District Board, team members, physicians and community partners worked so hard for over the years: ensuring this community had great healthcare," said Tampa General Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Stacey Brandt, who also serves as president of its Community and Specialty Hospital Division. "TGH will add to that foundation by bringing in needed services, offering the latest technologies and innovations, and providing access to leading-edge research and treatments." TGH DeSoto is the latest addition to a system that has grown quickly since 2023, when Tampa General bought three hospitals in Hernando and Citrus counties from Community Health Systems for about $290 million and rebranded them as TGH North. With TGH DeSoto, Tampa General's system now has eight hospitals, including specialty hospitals for inpatient rehabilitation and behavioral health, nearly 170 care locations, and more than 15,000 employees and providers. Couris and Sica will cut the ribbon at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the hospital, 900 N. Robert Ave. Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team performed editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review. Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises Media and is the publisher of FloridaPolitics.com, INFLUENCE Magazine, and Sunburn, the morning read of what's hot in Florida politics. Previous to his publishing efforts, Peter was a political consultant to dozens of congressional and state campaigns, as well as several of the state's largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella. Follow Peter on Twitter @PeterSchorschFL.

Adventist HealthCare names Opal Howard Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Adventist HealthCare today announced the appointment of Opal Howard as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Howard will serve as a member of the health system's senior leadership team and lead human resources strategies across the organization. Following a comprehensive national search, Howard was selected for her extensive leadership experience, commitment to team member engagement and proven ability to align workforce strategies with organizational goals. "Opal is an accomplished and mission-driven leader with a track record of strengthening culture, developing high-performing teams and advancing innovative workforce strategies," said John Sackett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Adventist HealthCare. "Her experience, strategic perspective and passion for supporting team members make her the ideal leader to help us continue building an exceptional workplace where people thrive while advancing our Mission of extending God's care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing." Howard joins Adventist HealthCare with more than 30 years of progressive human resources leadership experience at AdventHealth. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for AdventHealth's East Florida Division, where she led workforce strategy for more than 12,000 team members and collaborated with executive leaders to align workforce initiatives with clinical, operational, and financial priorities. Throughout her career, Howard has assumed increasingly broader leadership responsibilities. As Vice President of HR Business Operations for AdventHealth's Central Florida Division, she oversaw human resources operations supporting more than 36,000 employees. Previously, as Vice President and HR Business Partner for AdventHealth's North Region, she led efforts that significantly reduced employee turnover and successfully guided the transition to a new HR operating model. Earlier in her career, Howard served in executive director, director and associate director roles, leading regional integration initiatives, standardizing HR practices across multiple facilities, implementing new technologies and developing workforce solutions that enhanced transparency, recognition and team member engagement. Howard holds a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management and a Bachelor of Science in human resources from Western Governors University. She is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). "I am honored to join Adventist HealthCare and its dedicated team," said Howard. "I look forward to supporting our people, strengthening our culture and advancing strategies that help team members bring their best selves to work each day as we continue our vision to be the trusted choice for exceptional whole-person care in every community we serve." Adventist HealthCare is a leading faith-based healthcare system serving the Washington, D.C., region since 1907. The system offers a convenient, connected network of hospitals, rehabilitation services, home care, physician practices, cancer and cardiac centers, and outpatient imaging. As of Spring 2026, Adventist HealthCare is the only health care system in Maryland with all acute care hospitals having a Leapfrog "A" Safety Rating. Adventist HealthCare's commitment to provide exceptional, compassionate whole-person care is guided by its mission to extend God's care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing.