A Truly Golden Celebration
St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital Celebrates 50 Years of Serving the Community
Fifty is a milestone birthday for anyone. Imagine the impact when that milestone celebrates not a person, but a hospital that has served as the birthplace for hundreds of thousands of Tampa Bay residents.
“Legacy is the word that comes to mind,” says Sarah Naumowich, president of St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and St Joseph’s Children’s hospital. “What a tremendous legacy and impact the hospital has had on our broader community.”
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What started as a community hospital in 1974 and joined the St. Joseph’s family in 1993 has grown into a cutting-edge health care institution that uniquely serves the needs of women and children. “St. Joseph’s was the first hospital that was dedicated to women in Tampa Bay,” Naumowich is proud to say. “We continue to be that destination. It is the best place to have a baby – the best place for women of all ages to receive care.”
Babies who were born at the women’s hospital have grown up and come back to have their own children there; many even work here as physicians now. Recently, at the annual fashion show that supports St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, a show of hands was asked for of people who were either born here or gave birth here. “The number of hands was phenomenal,” Naumowich says.
And something that phenomenal deserves an appropriate celebration. Throughout this month, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital is hosting a series of events to mark the momentous occasion, including a community-focused event Nov. 9 that seeks to include as many “BayCare Kids” as possible.
Recognized by The Joint Commission as a Level 4 maternal level of care, the maximum level possible, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital can treat the highest acuity moms and pregnancies across the board. St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit allows access to an incredible range of services and treatment, including highly specialized care such as that for congenital heart defects.
“We are invited into people’s lives during some of the most momentous moments – and some unfortunately when the outcome wasn’t what they expected,” Naumowich says. While she loves the happy “BayCare Kid” birth stories, she is especially proud of how the staff deals with situations where the outcomes are not what anyone expected. “During a stressful and challenging time in life, the way the team makes people feel lasts a lifetime. That speaks to the heart of who we are.”
As well as cutting-edge surgical care, including robotic surgery and a 24-hour obstetrical emergency department, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital also offers an array of specialty OB GYN services and post-baby and pelvic health care. At the Shimberg Breast Center, which was founded in 2011, women dealing with a potential diagnosis of breast cancer can find everything they need in one location instead of navigating multiple facilities.
“We are the experts on women,” Naumowich says. “Any time in health care when you can have a dedicated focus audience, it allows you to build infrastructure and support that is customized to them. It’s tailored to their needs comprehensively and more thoughtfully. It’s a facility that not only feels pretty and relaxing (the environmental piece) but provides clinical expertise with care teams of the highest skill.”
As the Tampa Bay community grows, Naumowich says the hospital will continue evaluating its evolving needs with a priority to bring healthcare to an increasingly busy population.
“High level, quality healthcare is the cornerstone of a healthy community,” says Naumowich. “What a privilege to be there for people at every moment.”
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*Presented by BayCare | Originally published in the November 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.