There’s something big coming to Central Florida! Moffitt Cancer Center just recently announced it is building a new outpatient center that will serve people in Polk, Orlando, and beyond. That new center will be built on 34 acres on Bartow Road in Lakeland.
In the initial phase, the new outpatient center will offer cancer screenings, clinical trials, diagnostic imaging, labs, infusion services and radiation therapy. According to Moffitt, a subsequent phase will include a surgery center and a wellness and research education center.
The driving factor behind this expansion into Central Florida, Moffitt says, is the overwhelming need for care and services. Moffitt treats patients from every Florida county, all 50 states, and more than 130 countries. Add to that the more than 1,450 new patients from Polk who were cared for at Moffitt in 2025, and it’s easy to see the demand.
Local philanthropists Wesley and Ashley Bell Barnett donated $10 million to help bring the center to Polk County.
Construction on Moffitt’s Central Florida Campus is set to begin in 2027, and the outpatient center is expected to open in 2029.
If you’ve ever had to travel to Tampa to get care at Moffitt or to be with a loved one who is undergoing treatment, then you know frequent treks on Interstate 4 aren’t for the faint of heart. This new location will be a game-changer for many, bringing critical care a whole lot closer to home.