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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
Liver Disease/Hepatitis Support Group
New Moms' Group
One Breath at a Time, Inc.
"Sweet Ones" Diabetes Support Group
Tampa Bay Stroke Education & Support Group
Burn Survivor Group / SOAR
Spinal Cord Injury Resource and Support Group
Parkinson's Disease Young Onset Support Group
Brain Aneurysm Support Group
Ostomy Support Group of Tampa Bay*
Adult Sickle Cell Support Group
Epilepsy 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: Rebecca McAlaster, (813) 844-7759; rmcalast@tgh.org


Liver Disease/Hepatitis Support Group

This group provides information and support to individuals with liver disease.

Dates: Meets 1st Wednesday of each month
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, 3rd Floor, West Pavilion, Room B301
Contact: Valerie Anderson, (813) 844-7799; vanderson@tgh.org


New Moms' Group*

This group provides new mom's the opportunity to discuss issues that come with being a new mom, share advice and offer support. Bring your new baby and enjoy exchanging ideas with other new moms.

Dates: Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, except holidays.
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: Agnes Darland, (813) 844-8945; adarland@tgh.org

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


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: July 24, August 28, September 25
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 Survivor Group / SOAR

The burn survivor group 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, except July
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital 1st Floor, West Pavalion Room B10 (The room is inside the Cafeteria / Food Court)
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, Curtis Hixon Conference Room
Contact: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, (813) 844-4286

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: July 28 and September 22
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.


Brain Aneurysm Support Group

This group allows those who have had aneurysms and their families an opportunity to share their experiences and find emotional and medical support and resources.  Refreshments will be provided.  Please call to RSVP.

Dates: Meets August 25 and September 29
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Contact: Patricia Pendry, ARNP, (813) 844-7696, pspendry@tgh.org or Paulette Levy, (813) 844-8375, pplevy@tgh.org


Ostomy Support Group of Tampa Bay*

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

Dates: July 17, September 18, November 20
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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 for more information


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: July 26, August 23, September 27
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: TGH Community Health Education Center at 740 S. Village Circle, Hyde Park Village
Contact: Valerie Kelley, (813) 844-4675