This week, the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute, in partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, earned a prestigious state designation as a Cancer Center of Excellence from the Florida Department of Health.
This achievement places TGH among an elite group of only seven hospitals in Florida to receive this recognition, which honors excellence in comprehensive, patient-centered care and pioneering research.
The designation underscores Tampa General’s commitment to providing world-class cancer care. “Patients choose the TGH Cancer Institute for its academic-rooted, patient-first approach,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General Hospital. “This honor is a testament to our collaborative teams, access to cutting-edge therapies, and unwavering dedication to giving every patient the best possible chance at the best possible outcome. Congratulations to our leaders, care teams, and researchers on this well-deserved achievement.”
Established by the Florida Legislature in 2013, the Cancer Center of Excellence program aims to promote exceptional cancer care and attract top providers statewide. The rigorous evaluation standards, developed by the Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council and the Biomedical Research Advisory Council, ensure that only centers demonstrating the highest levels of quality and innovation receive this distinction.
“This designation reflects the transformative power of academic medicine in delivering superior care,” said Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., MHCM, Executive Vice President of USF Health and Dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
Eduardo Sotomayor, M.D., vice president at Tampa General Hospital and executive director of the TGH Cancer Institute, who co-led the application, added, “At the TGH Cancer Institute, we combine compassionate care with state-of-the-art clinical research and innovative therapies. Our mission is not only to improve survival but to enhance our patients’ quality of life.”
This state accolade adds to the TGH Cancer Institute’s growing list of national honors. The Institute — one of Florida’s few academic medicine-based cancer centers through its partnership with USF Health — is ranked among the top 10% in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2025-2026.
The designation is a pivotal step in the Institute’s strategic journey to achieve the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. NCI recognition is awarded to centers that meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
