Tampa General Hospital’s John Couris Named a Great Leader in Health Care by Becker’s Hospital Review

The academic health system president and CEO is recognized for his visionary leadership, innovation and commitment to transforming the health care industry.

 

Tampa, FL (April 11, 2025) – John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center, which comprises a portfolio of organizations, including Tampa General Hospital (TGH), has been named a Great Leader in Healthcare for 2025 by Becker’s Hospital Review. This recognition honors Couris’ exceptional leadership, commitment to innovation and transformative impact on health care in the Tampa Bay region and beyond.

Since joining Tampa General in 2017, Couris has spearheaded significant growth and innovation in the academic health system, expanding the organization’s footprint from 17 care locations to over 150 across Florida, supported by nearly 15,000 team members and providers. In 2023, he led the successful acquisition of the Bravera Health Network (now TGH North), strengthening the organization’s market position despite broader market challenges. Under his leadership, Tampa General recently announced its partnership with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide administrative leadership, operational management and strategic support for Lakeside Medical Center, the Health Care District’s public teaching hospital in Belle Glade, Florida, enhancing quality of care and access to health care services in rural areas of Palm Beach County. Additionally, the academic health system last month announced plans to expand its ongoing partnership with Mass General Brigham by opening a radiation oncology center in Palm Beach County, ensuring access to industry-leading oncology expertise from two of the nation’s preeminent academic health systems on Florida’s east coast.

Couris has also driven continuous improvements in the quality of care delivered, realizing tens of millions of dollars in organizational savings and decreasing the average length of stay systemwide by reducing operational inefficiencies. Under his leadership, Tampa General achieved the top 20% (decile) in all internal quality metrics as measured by Vizient, a leading health measurement firm.

“Under John’s leadership, Tampa General has fostered a culture of excellence for all of our team members,” said Drew Graham, chairman of the board of directors at Tampa General. “His visionary approach and dedication to continuous improvement have made Tampa General a leading health care provider in the region, and we are proud to see him recognized as a Great Leader in Healthcare.”

Couris has spearheaded the strategy and execution of the largest master facility plan in the academic health system's history, inclusive of a $550 million capital commitment to bring the most advanced technology and innovative care to Tampa by creating the ever-expanding Tampa Medical & Research District, a growing hub of world-class clinical care, academics, research and biotechnology anchored by Tampa General and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

Additionally, Couris has evolved the academic health system’s approach to care coordination in an effort to increase the value and improve the experience delivered to patients, while reducing the overall cost of health care. He has forged strategic partnerships with leading technology companies – both within and outside of the health care industry – including Palantir Technologies. Most recently, the two organizations are collaborating to reimagine the health system’s CareComm Command Center as the Care Coordination Center (C3), which will leverage Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) to build upon foundational work from the health system’s use of Palantir’s Foundry technology and ultimately encompass the entire health system, broadening beyond the flagship academic medical center.

“I am incredibly honored to be included alongside an impressive cohort of my colleagues across the health care industry,” said Couris. “To have Tampa General represented is a direct result of our team’s collective commitment to transforming health care and delivering exceptional, patient-centered care and reflects our shared vision of being one of the nation’s most innovative health systems.”

Couris has played an integral role in shaping the health care landscape both in Florida and nationally by partnering with lawmakers at all levels of government, as well as other industry and community stakeholders, to advocate for the advancement of academic medicine and continued investment in health care innovation, earning him an appointment to the Florida Health Care Innovation Council by Senator Kathleen Passidomo, Immediate Past President of the Florida State Senate.

In 2024, Couris also advocated for increasing access to behavioral health care services in Florida and strengthening the pipeline of dedicated behavioral health care professionals. Under his leadership, Tampa General recently opened its freestanding TGH Behavioral Health Hospital, the first of only four to be certified as a behavioral health teaching hospital in Florida statute, in partnership with Lifepoint Behavioral Health and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

This accolade from Becker’s Hospital Review follows Couris’ recent recognition by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of the region's “Most Admired CEOs” and by Becker’s Hospital Review as an “Academic Medical Center CEO to Know,” and a “Top CEO Influencer.”

Couris and the complete list of 2025 Becker’s Hospital Review Great Leaders in Healthcare honorees are profiled here.