Tenet Florida and Scripps Research Announce Collaboration to Build Academic Medical Center

Tenet Florida Inc. and The Scripps Research Institute have announced a collaboration to develop an academic medical center. The proposed state-of-the-art facilities, for which Tenet has submitted a Letter of Intent to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), would be located on up to 30 acres of land on the Scripps Florida campus on Donald Ross Road between I-95 and Military Trail.

"It is our vision that this new center would expand the opportunities for clinical research, graduate medical education and medical and surgical services while providing even better access to state-of-the-art medical care," said Marsha Powers, senior vice president, Tenet Florida.

Plans for the new center include an 80-bed acute care hospital, as well as specialized medical/surgical services in orthopedics, oncology, senior care and digestive diseases. Through a consortium of area medical facilities, the hospital would also afford residency and internship opportunities for medical students enrolled in the newly accredited Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Medical School, which offers a joint MD-PhD program with Scripps Florida.

"The location of a cutting-edge medical center next to our current research facilities in Florida would help us continue to build bridges between science and medicine," said Scripps Research President Richard A. Lerner. "This collaboration offers opportunities to further key aspects of our mission—to create knowledge in the biosciences to improve human health, as well as to train the next generation of scientific leaders. In addition, we are delighted by the prospect of furthering economic growth and biotech development in Palm Beach County and the State of Florida."

"One of my goals for this state has been to grow other sectors of our economy that have potential," said Florida Governor Rick Scott. "Research and development is one of those areas, and this Tenet-Scripps announcement is a great example of the business world and the academic world, working together to make that happen."

Palm Beach County estimates that the total local economic impact will be $402 million over a five-year period. This includes the creation of 150 to 200 full-time construction jobs and 250 to 300 full-time health care-related jobs.

"The construction of this facility is a key component to the success of our bioscience cluster," said Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners Chair Karen Marcus. "It enhances Scripps Florida's drug discovery program and solidifies our commitment to translational research and educational collaboration."

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Speaking at the August 8 press conference were (left to right): Shelly Vana, county vice chair commissioner; Marsha Powers, Tenet Florida senior vice president of operations; Douglas Bingham, Scripps Research executive vice president and COO; and (not pictured) Mary Jane Sauders, president of FAU.