Support Groups
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
Sjonne M. Mabbott, (813) 844-7323; smabbott@tgh.org
Pre-Surgical Bariatric / Weight Loss Surgery Support Group
Patients in the bariatric surgery process MUST attend this support group meeting. 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. Registration is required.
Date/Times: Meets 1st Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m., and 4th Friday of each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: Harbourside Medical Tower, 5 Tampa General Circle, Suite 410
Contact: (813) 844-7473; bariatriccenter@tgh.org.
Post-Operative Bariatric / 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: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Harbourside Medical Tower, 5 Tampa General Circle, Suite 410
Contact: (813) 844-7473;bariatriccenter@tgh.org.
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. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Curtis Hixon Room
Contact: TGH Psychology Services, (813) 844-3541
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: Meets October 27 and November 17
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: Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, R200
Contact: Ann LaPlaca, (813) 844-7641; alaplaca@tgh.org, or Karen Wilson, RN, Stroke Coordinator, (813) 844-8434
Burn Survivors Connect
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: Tampa General Hospital. For room location please contact (813) 442-1035
Contact: Patty or Raina, (813)844-7706; panderson@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: Meets May 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.
Ostomy Support Group of Tampa Bay*
This group is for individuals with ostomies (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy) and their caregivers. Please Call to RSVP.
Dates: Meets May 18
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Location: TGH Community Health Education Center at 740 S. Village Circle, Hyde Park Village
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.
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, Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor, Rehab Activity Room
Contact: Valerie Kelley, (813) 844-4675; vkelley@tgh.org
Liver Transplant Support Group
The TGH Transplant Support Group is open to persons in the Tampa Bay area who are anticipating or have already undergone a liver transplant, and the families and/or principal supports of these persons. Our objective is to provide these people with an open forum in which they can share their experiences and their observations with each other, thereby helping both themselves and others to better understand the many feelings and processes that they may be experiencing.
Dates: 1st and 3rd Friday of each month
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Tampa General Medical Group, 409 Bayshore Boulevard, 4th Floor Conference Room
Contact: Sandy Hawthorne, (813) 844-4090; shawthorne@tgh.org
Lung Transplant Support Group
This a support group intended for pre and post lung transplant patients and their families.
Dates: Meets The fourth Tuesday of each month
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa General Hospital, 1st Floor, West Pavilion, Room B104 (this room is inside the cafeteria/food court)
Contact: Michael Mendoza, PsyD, (813) 844-7712; mjmendoza@tgh.org
