“Every clearer image represents an opportunity to detect cancer at an early stage, which means more treatment options that are typically less invasive,” said Sara Ardila, MD, breast surgical oncologist with the Orlando Health Cancer Institute — St. Cloud. “When patients can access advanced screening close to home, they are more likely to stay consistent with annual mammograms. Screenings truly save lives, and having 3D mammography available in the St. Cloud community ensures that our patients receive the highest standard of care, delivered with both precision and compassion.”

 

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According to a news release, Orlando Health Emergency Room – Osceola,  Orlando Health Emergency Room – Reunion Village, and Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital were recognized as leaders within the healthcare industry for outstanding patient satisfaction.

The Guardian of Excellence Award® is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of the nation’s top hospitals and health systems, honoring facilities that consistently perform at the highest levels in patient experience.

“It’s an honor for our emergency department teams in Orange and Osceola counties to be recognized for the outstanding care they provide in their respective communities,” said Orlando Health Senior Vice President and Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital President Philip Koovakada. “Our team members are not only prepared to provide the best medical care possible, but also ensure patients feel wholly supported throughout their time with us.”

Press Ganey partners with more than 41,000 healthcare facilities worldwide, working to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience while improving the safety, quality, and experience of care.

Orlando Health’s emergency departments — both hospital-based and freestanding — operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are staffed by board-certified emergency physicians, registered nurses, and comprehensive support teams. Facilities are equipped with advanced resources, including specialized resuscitation rooms, diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound, X-ray, and CT scans, on-site laboratory services, and helipads for air-care transfers when needed. Many locations also offer outpatient services including diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and outpatient rehabilitation.

Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health is a private, not-for-profit integrated academic healthcare system serving communities across Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico.

For Osceola County residents, the recognition highlights the continued commitment of Orlando Health’s emergency care teams to delivering high-quality, compassionate care close to home.

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Hailey Vargas was born at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies at 12:41 a.m. on January 1, 2026. The newborn weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and measured 21.5 inches long. Hailey is the daughter of Rosairy Berroa and Yessie Vargas.

To celebrate the special arrival, the Central Florida Diaper Bank is donating a year’s supply of diapers — approximately 3,600 diapers — to Hailey’s family. The nonprofit organization works to support healthy growth and development for children from birth to age three by ensuring families have access to essential resources.

“This marks our fourth year honoring the first baby of the year with a diaper donation,” said Sharon Lyles, executive director of the Central Florida Diaper Bank. “Diapers are a basic necessity, and this donation reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring every baby has a healthy start.”

The annual tradition highlights a partnership focused on easing financial stress for new parents while promoting infant health and well-being across Central Florida.

Orlando Health, a private not-for-profit integrated academic healthcare system, serves communities throughout Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. With a wide-ranging network that includes hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, and specialty services, the organization continues its mission of providing comprehensive, compassionate care across the region.

For Hailey Vargas and her family, the New Year began not only with a new life, but with a powerful show of community support — a hopeful start to 2026.

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The announcement came during the Orlando Health Surgical Innovations Summit, where surgeons demonstrated the new system inside the state-of-the-art Orlando Health Bioskills Lab. The event brought together leading experts and innovators from across the nation and abroad to collaborate on improving surgical care and outcomes.

The innovative procedure utilizes the Flexagon Self-forming Magnets System developed by GI Windows Surgical. Orlando Health became the first healthcare system to use the technology after participating in its clinical trial. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially approved the system earlier this summer.

During the live demonstration, Orlando Health surgeons showed how the precision magnets are used in minimally invasive weight loss surgeries. The system allows for more efficient tissue connection, potentially reducing surgery time and leading to faster, safer recoveries for patients.

Doctors also shared insights on how this magnetic innovation could transform future surgical practices beyond bariatrics, emphasizing its potential to simplify complex procedures while enhancing patient outcomes.

The demonstration highlighted Orlando Health’s ongoing commitment to cutting-edge care, medical education, and improving quality of life for patients through innovation and collaboration.

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Each selected nonprofit receives its full grant award at the beginning of the funding cycle, ensuring that resources are available immediately to address urgent community health priorities. The 2025 CHNA, developed in collaboration with local health and community partners, uses a combination of comprehensive data and community feedback to identify the most pressing health challenges throughout the region.

“The Community Health Needs Assessment is a critical component in identifying the highest priority areas impacting the health of our communities today,” said Sara Osborne, senior director of Orlando Health Community Benefit. “By making investments annually and providing grant funding in full at the start of the award period, we’re able to support an immediate impact and collaborate with exceptional community partners who are actively working toward improving health and wellness outcomes in the areas we serve.”

The 2025 assessment highlighted access to care as the top priority for this year’s grant program, focusing on healthcare accessibility, quality, and economic stability. Previous funding cycles have supported efforts addressing food insecurity, socioeconomic barriers, and mental and behavioral health needs.

Orlando Health has conducted its Community Health Needs Assessment every three years, encouraging residents to share their perspectives on community and personal health through surveys and outreach initiatives. Since the program’s launch in 2016, the healthcare system has awarded more than $6.4 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across its service areas. Last year, Orlando Health distributed $1 million to support priorities identified in the 2022 assessment.

Founded over a century ago, Orlando Health is a private, not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $14 billion in assets under management, serving Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. In fiscal year 2024, the system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact through programs, services, and investments aimed at improving quality of life and overall health outcomes.

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On Florida’s east coast, the institute recently integrated orthopedic practices and physicians from Steward Health Care’s former east Central Florida locations following Orlando Health’s acquisition. As a result, six orthopedic physicians and seven physician assistants are now part of the Jewett Orthopedic Institute team, extending care to new patients in Melbourne, Sebastian, and Vero Beach.

On the west coast, the expansion continues through the addition of 20 physicians and 16 physician assistants from Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health. Clinic locations in Brandon, North Tampa, South Tampa, Wiregrass, and Zephyrhills will be rebranded under the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute name in the coming months. Additionally, the St. Petersburg orthopedic clinic will relocate this fall to the Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Institute Square campus and reopen as an Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute site.

“We are thrilled to provide greater access to the wide range of specialized musculoskeletal care offered by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and welcome our newest physicians and team members,” said Dr. Michael Jablonski, senior vice president of Orlando Health and president of both the Jewett Orthopedic Institute and the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute. “Our physicians are committed to advanced training, with most completing sub-specialty fellowships in their areas of expertise. We are excited to bring this level of orthopedic care to more communities and expand patient access to our orthopedic specialty hospital in Orlando.”

The Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Downtown Complex is Florida’s first dedicated orthopedic hospital and serves more than 320,000 patients annually. With 24 clinic locations across Florida, the institute employs 94 physicians and 118 advanced practice providers, continuing to set the standard in musculoskeletal care.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a private, not-for-profit academic healthcare system with $12 billion in assets under management, serving communities in Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. The system includes a comprehensive network of hospitals, medical centers, urgent care facilities, and specialty institutes. In FY 2023, Orlando Health contributed nearly $1.7 billion in community impact. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com.

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“This expansion showcases our commitment to not only providing high quality clinical care, but also conducting cutting edge clinical research” said David Strong, Orlando Health president and CEO.

Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute is now pioneering AI technology for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society. Dr. Shyam Varadarajulu, gastroenterologist and president of Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute, is developing AI endoscopic ultrasound technology to help doctors detect pancreatic cancer earlier by spotting tiny tumors in the pancreas. Dr. Varadarajulu is leading this groundbreaking research through a clinical study in collaboration with experts in Europe.

“One of the major problems in diagnosing pancreatic cancer is that it is not diagnosed at an early stage,” said Dr. Shyam Varadarajulu. “Artificial intelligence could help doctors find challenging tumors earlier which could lead to a life-saving treatment plan for patients.”

Leila Braswell knows the impact of early detection all too well. Dr. Varadarajulu used AI to locate a mass on Braswell’s pancreas last year. That mass turned out to be pancreatic cancer. Now, one year after detection and chemotherapy at Orlando Health, Braswell is cancer free.

“Listen to your body. Start looking,” Braswell said. “It’s what saved my life. I feel like I was given this second chance, and I have to give back and let people know that there is help. Orlando Health, that was a huge difference. A great experience. Consistent, caring care. So I was very fortunate.”

The expansion brings two additional interventional endoscopy procedure rooms that will include shockwave lithotripsy for treating pancreatic stones, the first in Central Florida. New additions also include a cutting-edge Motility Center, Medical Pancreatology Clinic and recruitment of two additional transplant hepatologists to the Central Florida community.  The Motility Center includes the Motility Clinic and state-of-the-art Motility Lab which provide comprehensive care for patients with both upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders. The three-member liver team has been developed in anticipation of a solid organ transplant program that is expected to start at Orlando Health within the next two years.

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