SEARCH TGH  







Support Groups

A.W.A.K.E.
N.O.T.E.
New Patient Weight Loss Surgery Orientation
New Patient Weight Loss Surgery Support Group
Post-Operative Weight Loss Surgery Support Group
Brain Injury Family Support Group
One Breath at a Time, Inc.
"Sweet Ones" Diabetes Support Group
Tampa Bay Stroke Education & Support Group
Burn Survivors Connect / SOAR
Spinal Cord Injury Resource and Support Group
Parkinson's Disease Young Onset Support Group
Ostomy Support Group of Tampa Bay*
Adult Sickle Cell Support Group
Epilepsy Support Group

Tampa Bay Kidney Community (TBKC) Support Group


A.W.A.K.E.
(Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic)

This support group is a resource for anyone with sleep problems.

Dates: Meets 3rd Thursday, every other month (January, March, May, July, September, November)
Time: 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, 1st Floor, West Pavilion, Room B104 (this room is inside the Cafeteria/Food Court).
Contact: Robby Beauchamp, (813) 844-4292; wbeaucha@tgh.org

· Free Parking
· Refreshments & door prizes


N.O.T.E.
(National Organization for Transplant Enlightenment)

This support group provides community education about organ donation, assists patients with immunosuppressive medications and provides assistance in setting up fundraising accounts. The group also offers support for transplant patients, their families and mentors.

Dates: Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Time: Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, 8th Floor, West Pavilion, Room 856A
Contact: Sjonne M. Mabbott, (813) 844-7323; smabbott@tgh.org


New Patient Weight Loss Surgery Orientation

This is a mandatory meeting for pre-surgery patients.

Dates: Meets 2nd Thursday of each month and 4th Monday of each month.
Time: Thursday, 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center
2nd Floor, Rehab Activity Room
Contact: Susan Orellana, (813) 844-7473; sorellan@health.usf.edu


New Patient Weight Loss Surgery Support Group

This support group is designed for those interested in weight loss surgery. Post-op patients share valuable information relevant to pre-surgical and post-surgical issues. Spouses and friends who are part of your personal support system are welcome to attend. Topics discussed are not suitable for children and child care is not provided.

Dates: Meets 2nd Thursday of each month
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Rehab Activity Room
Contact: Susan Orellana, (813) 844-7473; sorellan@health.usf.edu


Post-Operative Weight Loss Surgery Support Group

This support group is designed to provide post operative support to patients who have had weight loss surgery.

Dates: Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Rehab Activity Room
Contact: Susan Orellana, (813) 844-7473; sorellan@health.usf.edu

Brain Injury Family Support Group

This group is designed for families and survivors of traumatic brain injuries and includes speakers, discussion and support.

Dates: Meets 3rd Wednesday of each month
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Curtis Hixon Room
Contact: Angelica Brozyna, PhD, (813) 844-3556; abrozyna@tgh.org

Refreshments provided.


One Breath at a Time, Inc.

This group provides support to lung patients before, during and after lung transplantation.
The group raises funds to assist with needs and works to raise awareness of organ donation.

Contact: Ginger Sims, RN, (813) 844-4815; gsims@tgh.org for information on dates, time and location.


"Sweet Ones" Diabetes Support Group*

This group provides a forum for people living with diabetes and their family/ friends to facilitate self-management.

Dates: January 28, February 25, March 24
Time: 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Location: TGH Community Health Education Center at 740 S. Village Circle, Hyde Park Village
Contact: Laura A. Gil, RN, BSN, CDE (813) 844- 8091; lgil@tgh.org

* NOTE LOCATION: This group does NOT meet at TGH.


Tampa Bay Stroke Education & Support Group

This is an educational support group for stroke awareness, recovery and prevention. The group also discusses community offerings for people with disabilities.

Dates: Meets 1st Wednesday of each month
Time: 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Location: TGH Community Health Education Center at 740 S. Village Circle, Hyde Park Village
Contact: Ann LaPlaca, (813) 844-7641; alaplaca@tgh.org, or Karen Wilson, RN, Stroke Coordinator, (813) 844-8434

* NOTE LOCATION: This group does NOT meet at TGH.


Burn Survivors Connect / SOAR

Burn Survivors Connect is a support group that meets once a month to discuss challenges faced after a burn injury. It's a way for survivors to meet and discuss similar experiences. The SOAR program, Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery, is a peer mentoring program where survivors volunteer time visiting burn patients in the hospital.

Dates: Meets 2nd Thursday of each month
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: TGH Rehab Center, 2nd Floor, Curtis Hixon Conference Room
Contact: burn_support@tgh.org


Spinal Cord Injury Resource and Support Group

This forum provides an opportunity for survivors and their families to learn about and discuss issues specific to SCI.

Dates: Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Rehab Activity Room
Contact: Anthony Radano, (813) 844-4711, aradano@fscirc.com

Refreshments provided


Parkinson's Disease Young Onset Support Group*

This support group is open to young onset Parkinson's disease patients age 59 and younger and their families.  The group discusses ideas and challenges, shares experiences and hears from medical experts.

Dates: January 18
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: TGH Community Health Education Center at 740 S. Village Circle, Hyde Park Village
Contact: Denise Fife, RN, dafife@tgh.org or Eden Feldman, (813) 844-4547

*NOTE LOCATION: This group does NOT meet at TGH.


Ostomy Support Group of Tampa Bay*

This group is for individuals with ostomies (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy) and their caregivers. Please Call to RSVP.

Dates: January 21, March 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Location: 740 S. Village Circle at Tampa General Hospital's Community Health Education Center in Hyde Park Village, Upper Level, Tampa, 33606
Contact: Amy Evans, (813) 844-7597; aevans@tgh.org, or  Molly Holt, (813) 844-7160; mholt@tgh.org

*NOTE LOCATION: This group does NOT meet at TGH.


Adult Sickle Cell Support Group

This group allows those who have Sickle Cell disease and their families an opportunity to share their life experiences and find emotional support and resources.

Dates: Meets the 4th Friday of each month
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, First Floor, West Pavilion, Room B104 (This room is inside the Cafeteria/Food Court)
Contact: sickledcell@yahoo.com,   Facebook: Sickled Cell, or Clinton Squires, RN,  (813) 844-4239


Epilepsy Support Group

This group provides a forum for people who have epilepsy and their families while also providing an opportunity to learn more about epilepsy, the challenges of living with epilepsy and available treatment options.

Dates: Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, 1st Floor, West Pavilion, Room B103 (This room is inside the Cafeteria/Food Court)
Contact: Valerie Kelley, (813) 844-4675; vkelley@tgh.org


Tampa Bay Kidney Community (TBKC) Support Group*

This support group provides education and resources for those with kidney disease and their family members.

Dates: February 23
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 409 Bayshore Boulevard, 4th Floor, Lobby
Contact: Laurie Shore, TGH Renal Transplant Social Worker; ljshore@tgh.org

*NOTE LOCATION: This group does NOT meet at TGH.