State Senator Danny Burgess Joins Tampa General in Celebration of Veterans' Service and Contributions to Community

More than 200 team members at Tampa General serve or have served in the U.S. military; Tampa General honors their service and sacrifice this Veterans Day.

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) welcomed U.S. Army Reserve Major and Florida State Senator Danny Burgess to its Davis Islands campus Tuesday to honor veterans across the country, including the many service members and veterans who care for patients at Florida's premier academic health system.

"We're incredibly proud of the veterans, reservists and active-duty military members who are part of the Tampa General family," said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General. "Their courage and commitment to service inspire us, and the leadership, experience and teamwork they bring make Tampa General and our community stronger."

The Veterans Day Celebration recognized all Tampa General team members who are veterans or active-duty military. The ceremony featured remarks from Senator Burgess, an honor guard by Riverview High School JROTC and the national anthem sung by Tampa General team member and veteran Tiffany Aceituno.

Addressing the veterans in the room, Senator Burgess said, "Thank you for serving our country in uniform. Thank you for serving our state in healthcare. We're better for it. Keep being the tip of the spear in healthcare."

A member of the Florida Senate since 2020, Senator Burgess championed legislation and pilot programs targeting PTSD, depression, anxiety and suicide prevention for combat veterans and families. Before his election to the Senate, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to serve as executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. Senator Burgess also served in the Florida House, as Mayor of Zephyrhills, and on the Zephyrhills City Council.

Senator Burgess is a Major and former Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and has served in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps since 2012.

"Our veterans have given so much of themselves in service to our country, and we are incredibly fortunate that many have chosen to continue that spirit of service as part of the Tampa General family," said Doug Leonardo, TGH Behavioral Health Service Line Leader, CEO of TGH Behavioral Health Hospital and executive sponsor of the TGH Veterans Team Member Resource Group. "Their courage, compassion, and commitment to others make us a stronger organization and enrich the care we provide every day. Senator Burgess' continued dedication to those who have served, particularly his recognition of the mental health challenges many veterans face, means a great deal to all of us. Our veterans deserve more than our gratitude. They deserve our unwavering commitment to their health, well-being and quality of life."

Tampa General's Veterans Team Member Resource Group organized the event, a volunteer-led initiative that promotes inclusion among veterans, active military, and supportive team members.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, Florida's premier academic health system, is a 1,530-bed not-for-profit network of hospital and outpatient services spanning Florida. As the only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care center serving 23 counties, Tampa General delivers world-class care. The system's hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital, Tampa General Behavioral Health Hospital, all in Tampa; Tampa General Brooksville, Tampa General Spring Hill and Tampa General Crystal River. Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Hospitals for 11 consecutive years, with five medical specialties ranking among the top 50, two additional medical specialties ranked among the top 100 best hospital programs and two specialties ranked in the top 10% in the United States. As the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness, the academic health system has elevated its digital care coordination center to the next level by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care to ensure patients receive leading-edge care as quickly and safely as possible. Tampa General's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by four prestigious Forbes magazine rankings — in the 2026 America's Best Large Employers ranked as the Tampa Bay region's #1 employer in the healthcare category for the sixth year in a row, the 2026 America's Best Employers for Company Culture, in the top 100 for the 2026 American's Best Employers for New Grads and the 2026 America's Best Employers for Women.

Tampa General is the area's safety-net hospital, caring for anyone regardless of ability to pay; in fiscal year 2024, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $289.1 million in the form of healthcare for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is recognized as one of the leading adult solid organ transplant centers in the nation and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General transports critically injured or ill patients from surrounding counties to receive the advanced care their conditions require. Tampa General has a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General's footprint includes TGH North, which consists of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties; Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices; TGH Family Care Center Kennedy; TGH outpatient centers; TGH Virtual Health; and TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care, powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Amanda Bevis
(202) 680-9262
[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital