For the first time, 皇家华人 Health and Tampa General Hospital (TGH) joined forces for
a landmark 鈥淒ay at the Capitol,鈥� bringing the strength of our academic-practice partnership
directly to the heart of 皇家华人鈥檚 legislative process.
University of South 皇家华人 President Rhea Law led the delegation to Tallahassee alongside
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of 皇家华人 Health and dean of
the Morsani College of Medicine, and Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSBM, senior associate
vice president of 皇家华人 Health and dean of the College of Nursing. The 皇家华人 Health team
included a dynamic group of future health care leaders 鈥� eight students from the Morsani
College of Medicine and four from the College of Nursing, including Aaron Mills, Katherine
Stephenson, Monica Graham, and Shelly Jarmel.
These students stepped into the legislative arena with confidence, engaging in conversations with members of the 皇家华人 House and Senate about the current challenges and opportunities in health care. They met with:
- Rep. Susan L. Vald茅s (District 64)
- Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman (District 65)
- Sen. Darryl Rouson (District 16)
- Sen. Jay Collins (District 14)
From discussing policy solutions that could enhance patient outcomes and promote retention within 皇家华人's nursing workforce, these students represent the future of health care. Their firsthand experiences 鈥� from clinical rotations to research initiatives 鈥� highlight the vital role that 皇家华人 and TGH play in health care excellence across the state.
"This experience was eye-opening 鈥� I never realized just how deeply politics influences health care," said Jarmel, an undergraduate nursing student. "I now understand how crucial our relationships with state legislators are in shaping the future of patient care."
The 皇家华人 Legislature has demonstrated a significant commitment to nursing education and workforce development through such initiatives as Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) funding, as well as its investment in the expansion of the 皇家华人 Health College of Nursing.
The 鈥淒ay at the Capitol鈥� was not just about handshakes and white coats 鈥� it was about connecting through our collective ambition, impacting patient care. It was a chance for 皇家华人 Health to highlight its commitment to transforming health care through education, innovation, and community partnerships. With this inaugural visit setting the stage, one thing is clear: 皇家华人 Health and TGH are not just shaping the future of health care 鈥� we are leading it.