Tampa General Hospital Named a Lymphatic Disease Center of Excellence

The national recognition reflects a full spectrum of lymphedema care, from advanced surgical innovation to a new research center built in collaboration with USF Health. 

Tampa, FL (Sept. 25, 2026) — Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has been named a Comprehensive Center of Excellence by the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), the leading nonprofit advancing research, education and advocacy for lymphatic diseases. The designation recognizes institutions that deliver the full spectrum of lymphedema care under one roof, from diagnosis and imaging to surgery, genetics and research.

To earn the center of excellence designation, TGH met rigorous standards, including a minimum of three certified lymphedema therapists on-site, and demonstrated proficiency across more than a dozen clinical and operational areas. The LE&RN Centers of Excellence program aims to increase access to the best possible multidisciplinary care for individuals affected by lymphatic diseases.
Lymphatic diseases affect the lymphatic system, the network of vessels and nodes that help move fluid throughout the body and support the immune system. When this system is damaged or blocked, fluid builds up in the tissues, causing a condition called lymphedema, which most often appears as painful swelling in the arms or legs.

A New Center for Lymphatic Research
The recognition arrives alongside a major research milestone. TGH recently secured funding to establish the Center for Lymphatic Education and Research (CLEAR), backed by the University of South Florida research office. This multidisciplinary initiative unites clinicians, scientists and educators to advance treatment, awareness and innovation for lymphatic diseases.
The one-year, $150,000 Interdisciplinary Center Preparation Grant supports the formal development of CLEAR. The grant also lays the groundwork for future National Institutes of Health (NIH) applications, including Program Project and T32 Training Grants focused on lymphatic research and physician-scientist training.

Built on Clinical Innovation with USF Health
CLEAR builds on the program TGH launched in 2024 with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. TGH and USF Health were the first in the Southeast to offer robotic-assisted lymphatic microsurgery using the Symani Surgical System. This platform lets surgeons suture vessels as small as 0.2 millimeters in diameter. TGH has led the nation in robotic microsurgery volume using the Symani system for three consecutive quarters and recently completed its 100th robotic microsurgical case.

The momentum continued in 2025 when TGH was selected as a site for the PRECISE trial, the largest U.S. study evaluating this next-generation robotic platform for complex tissue transfers and lymphatic surgeries.

That same year, the Plastic Surgery Institute launched its Microsurgical Plastic Surgery Fellowship under Dr. Nicholas Panetta, director of the USF Cancer Related Lymphedema Program at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The Florida Department of Health also awarded Panetta a grant to develop clinical pathways for the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Up to one-third of breast cancer survivors who undergo axillary lymph node dissection may develop lymphedema. Advanced microsurgery can restore lymphatic function for some patients, but access remains limited because these operations require rare supermicrosurgical expertise.

Care Centered on You
“This designation reflects the extraordinary commitment of our entire team to advancing lymphatic care for patients across the region,” said Panetta, also vice president and chief of the TGH Plastic Surgery Institute and chair of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Plastic Surgery. “Lymphedema can profoundly affect a patient’s quality of life, particularly after cancer treatment. Being recognized as a Comprehensive Center of Excellence by LE&RN means our patients have access to the full spectrum of care, from early detection and conservative management to the most advanced surgical options available anywhere in the country, all in one place. That kind of coordinated, specialized care leads to better outcomes, and that is what drives everything we do.”

“Earning this designation is a reflection of the dedicated team we have built and the systems we have put in place to make sure every patient receives coordinated, compassionate care from day one,” said Leah Toms, senior administrator, Adult Health Services and TGH Plastic Surgery Institute. “From your first appointment through rehabilitation and beyond, our team works together across specialties to support you at every step. For patients living with lymphedema, that kind of seamless, patient-centered care makes a real difference, and we are proud that LE&RN recognizes Tampa General Hospital as a place where that standard of care is met every day.”

The TGH Cancer Institute and the Plastic Surgery Institute are jointly pursuing National Cancer Institute designation to further expand advanced reconstructive services for cancer patients. The TGH Cancer Institute ranks among the top 10% for cancer care nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report.

To learn more about lymphatic care at Tampa General, visit www.tgh.org.