Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital today announced that it is gifting $1 million to Polk State College over five years. In recognition of the commitment, the Radiography Suite at the soon-to-open Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus will be named the Orlando Health Radiography Suite.
“For years to come, people will look back on this moment and recognize the lasting impact Orlando Health is making on healthcare education in Polk County,” said Carlos Carrasco, President of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital. “Together with Polk State College, we are building a stronger partnership rooted in a shared vision for a healthier future. What began as two organizations working alongside one another has grown into a meaningful partnership that will strengthen clinical training, prepare future Orlando Health team members and clinicians, and expand the skilled healthcare workforce our community will depend on for generations to come.”
The hospital is now a partner with the college in a transformative educational endeavor that will shape the future of healthcare in Polk County.
Polk State’s new Haines City-Davenport campus is poised to become a beacon of opportunity for one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and its more than 80,000 nearby residents. The Orlando Health Radiography Suite is a symbol of progress, community investment and a shared commitment to health and education in Polk County.
“As Polk County grows, preparing skilled healthcare professionals is essential. We are grateful for Orlando Health’s partnership, gift, and trust in Polk State College to train the highly skilled workforce our community needs,” said Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas. “Polk State’s partnership with Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital connects education with the experience and expertise of a major healthcare employer, helping ensure our students graduate prepared for the workforce and ready to provide the care our residents depend on.”
Strategically located near the intersection of I-4 and U.S. Highway 27, Polk State’s 75,000-square-foot facility sits on a 7.8-acre property purchased by the College in 2009 after a 2006 needs assessment, bringing a 20-year vision for Polk County to reality when doors open in January thanks to the support of the Polk County Legislative Delegation.
This state-of-the-art facility will consolidate Polk State’s renowned Health Sciences programs, currently spread across multiple locations, into a single, cutting-edge hub, with space to expand the number of students it can serve in these limited-admission programs. It will also house Central Florida’s first public interdisciplinary simulation hospital, offering immersive, real-world training for students in:
- Cardiovascular technology
- Diagnostic medical sonography
- Occupational and physical therapy
- Radiography
- And respiratory care
Polk State College celebrated 154 students graduating from its health sciences programs this past spring, along with 171 nursing graduates. All health sciences and nursing degree programs boast a 100% licensure pass rate. This accomplishment underscores the excellence of the College’s instructors, curriculum, and hands-on training that prepare students to successfully meet Polk County’s growing healthcare demands.
The new building is a launchpad for the next generation of healthcare professionals and a space where students balancing jobs, families, and aspirations will find the resources and inspiration to thrive.
“The best partnerships don’t start with an ask. They start with listening, building relationships, and finding where our priorities come together,” said Steve Warner, vice president, Resource Development, and executive director, Polk State College Foundation. “That is what we have done with Orlando Health. This $1 million investment grew from conversations about our students, the health care workforce, and how we can work together to strengthen our community.”
Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital is the first new hospital in Lakeland in more than a century. It opened its doors in July and sits on nearly 80 acres, is 558,233 square feet, serving patients on seven floors. There are 306 patient beds and 49 emergency room beds. The hospital employs more than 1,500 people,
The hospital and college are both mission-driven institutions dedicated to workforce development and community investment. Together, the two will close the medical education gap, meet critical healthcare workforce needs and build a healthier, more prosperous future for Polk County –– creating a lasting legacy.
The $1 million foundational gift is just the latest agreement between the hospital and college. Polk State College entered Orlando Health’s Preferred Education Program last year. The program is administered by Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions and allows Orlando Health team members, including part-time, to pursue a degree or certificate at Polk State. The program pays 100 percent of the cost of tuition and books directly to Polk State College, so team members pay nothing out of pocket.
“For our students, access to a quality education can change the direction of their lives and create greater stability for their families,” said Bo Boyte, Chair of the Polk State College Foundation Board of Directors. “Orlando Health’s generosity supports that opportunity. We are grateful for a partner that believes in our students and recognizes how much they have to contribute to this community.”
About Orlando Health: Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $15 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 24, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Watson Clinic: As one of the largest multispecialty medical clinics in the southeast, Watson Clinic provides comprehensive healthcare services to residents of Lakeland and surrounding communities. First established in 1941, Watson Clinic has grown to include over 200 board-certified physicians representing more than 40 medical and surgical specialties. The Clinic is proud to deliver quality healthcare to every generation from our 21 convenient locations throughout Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. More information is available at www.WatsonClinic.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Polk State College: Established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 20,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as a wide range of certificate and workforce training options. The College also operates three charter high schools. The college has campuses in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow and Lake Wales, in addition to the new campus being built in the Haines City-Davenport area.