WESLEY CHAPEL — The new Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital under construction in Wesley Chapel has a new name.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano has donated $40 million towards construction of the pediatric hospital near Interstate 75 and Overpass Road, the largest single gift in Johns Hopkins All Children’s 100-year history.
In recognition of the donation, the five-story facility will be named Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Medical Center at Wesley Chapel.
The Wesley Chapel facility also will become part of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, a national network of 21 children’s hospitals that collaborate on and advance pediatric care.
“As a father and grandfather, I’ve seen firsthand what it means for a family to have a great children’s hospital close to home in a difficult moment,” Golisano said. “My hope is that no family, no matter where they live or what they can afford, has to travel far or wonder if their child will get the best care available.”
The 56-bed hospital is part of a more than $300-million investment on a 112-acre property that is on schedule to open in fall 2027.
Construction began last year, with exterior walls, windows and roof now in place, with drywall, electrical, plumbing and other interior work underway. John Hopkins also has begun hiring staff for the new hospital.
The Wesley Chapel hospital is intended to address a shortage of pediatric specialty care in the rapidly expanding region. According to Johns Hopkins All Children’s, 93% of children living in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties currently travel outside the area for pediatric specialty treatment.
The hospital will include a 17-room emergency department, four operating rooms, an infusion center, sleep laboratory, gastroenterology procedures suite and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.
The second floor will feature 25,000 square feet of outpatient care space with 36 rooms. The size of the overall property will leave plenty of room for the medical campus to expand to meet the needs of the quickly growing surrounding community
Hospital officials have said philanthropy is expected to fund a significant portion of the Wesley Chapel project. Golisano’s gift will help accelerate additional fundraising needed to complete the campus, according to hospital officials.
“We will be able to weave the Golisano Children’s Alliance into the DNA of what we do in Wesley Chapel, and we are grateful that Mr. Golisano’s support will help us bring the pediatric expertise that this community needs,” says Joseph Perno, M.D., the chief administrative officer for the new hospital. “We are excited to make the community and the Golisano organization proud.”
The project is part of a larger expansion by Johns Hopkins All Children’s that also includes work at its St. Petersburg hospital and expanded urgent, outpatient and other medical service along Florida’s west coast.