Tallahassee, Fla. (Friday, March 14, 2025) – AdventHealth leaders were in Tallahassee for the 2025 Florida Hospital Association Hospital Days, in an effort to positively impact health care for Floridians. AdventHealth was able to showcase the incredible work already supported by the hospital system to create change for our Florida communities.
President and CEO of AdventHealth Tampa, Erik Wangsness, and President and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Connerton, Mike Murrilll, helped to highlight the hospital system’s legislative priorities and share the many ways AdventHealth is providing whole-person care and uncommon compassion throughout west Florida.
Wangsness and Murrill thanked legislators for passing the Live Healthy Act in 2024, which provided historic funding for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and nursing education and workforce programs. This is one avenue hospital leaders and lawmakers are working to address the medical workforce shortage in Florida.
“This week we were able to talk about the expansion of GME programs at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and at AdventHealth Tampa, where the hospital recently opened an OBGYN Residency Program at the start of 2025,” said Wangsness. “This is all part of our work to continue investing in our community and address the state’s need for quality health care workers.”
Leadership also asked legislators to support the health care provisions of the Rural Renaissance Bill (Senate Bill 110 (2025) – The Florida Senate) which looks to offer more support and partnerships for rural communities. The bill aims, in part, to expand access to quality health care in rural areas of Florida. Senate President Ben Albritton, who represents Hardee and Charlotte Counties, and part of Polk County is spearheading this measure and has made support for economies in rural parts of Florida a priority for his tenure.
AdventHealth leaders also talked about advocating for the expansion of funding opportunities for allied health professionals, which include medical experts like, pharmacy technicians, lab scientists and respiratory therapists.
AdventHealth Florida Division President and CEO Randy Haffner was also in attendance and collectively, our executives participated in more than a dozen meetings with local legislators and their offices.
AdventHealth will continue to closely collaborate with lawmakers on follow-up actions while advocating for key issues throughout the legislative session, which will conclude May 2.
— Provided by AdventHealth
