Lakeland Regional Health and Tampa General Hospital Partner to Enhance Cancer Care and Research

The partnership increases access to subspecialized cancer care throughout the region.

Lakeland, Fla. (January 7, 2026) –Lakeland Regional Health’s Hollis Cancer Center (LRH) and the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute (TGH) are partnering to expand subspecialized cancer care across the region, increasing research capabilities and advancing clinical trials through a robust, collaborative agreement between Lakeland Regional Health and the TGH-USF academic health system. The partnership will streamline care and broaden access to specialized clinical expertise, making it more convenient for patients to receive world-class, complex care within their community.

“We are very excited to collaborate with the TGH Cancer Institute, which is widely recognized as a national leader in cancer care and research,” said Danielle Drummond, MS, FACHE, president and CEO of Lakeland Regional Health. “Our goal is always to provide the highest level of care to our patients close to home, and we are confident that combining our resources and expertise will offer tremendous benefits for our patients.”

The addition of TGH oncologists will allow even more patients to receive specialized care close to home at Hollis Cancer Center. Subspecialists bring expertise in specific types of cancer and access to cutting-edge research, leading to improved patient experiences and more personalized treatment plans.

“I am impressed by the innovation and the dedication to the community that I’ve witnessed at Lakeland Regional Health,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General. “When health care professionals work together to advance research and improve outcomes for cancer patients, everybody wins.”

“We are excited to partner with an organization that shares our values and strategic priorities for the future of cancer care,” said Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president, chief of oncology and co-vice president of Clinical and Translational Research, TGH | USF Office of Clinical Research. “As physicians, we know that patients and their caregivers benefit when we combine our resources and expertise to expand opportunities to access world-class care and clinical trials. We look forward to the positive impact the TGH Cancer Institute and Hollis Cancer Center can make together through this innovative partnership — both advancing clinical research and patient outcomes with personalized cancer care.”

Both Hollis Cancer Center and the TGH Cancer Institute have earned national recognition for outstanding cancer care.

The Hollis Cancer Center holds top-tier Gold Status Accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Hollis’s Radiation Oncology program has been awarded the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s Accreditation Program for Excellence, and the Breast Cancer Program is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancers. The Lung Cancer Alliance has designated Hollis Cancer Center as a Screening Center of Excellence, and Lakeland Regional Health has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s High Performing for Colon Cancer Surgery list for several years.

The TGH Cancer Institute is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer and is one of Florida’s few cancer centers backed by academic medicine. The Institute has been ranked among the Top 10% in the nation for Cancer Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026. Last fall, the Cancer Institute joined the Association of American Cancer Institutes, which recognizes excellence in cancer research, treatment, education, and community outreach and engagement. The TGH Cancer Institute is certified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology for meeting the strict standards required by the society’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative program and was awarded accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, a testament to the academic health system’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and patient safety in stem cell transplant and cellular therapy for the treatment of aggressive blood cancers. TGH was named one of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for Oncology by Newsweek.