• Tampa General Hospital CEO John Couris has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Great Leaders in Healthcare” list for the second consecutive year.
• The recognition comes on the heels of his efforts to transform health care delivery and access, and his role in developing the Tampa Medical and Research District.
• Under his leadership, TGH is in the midst of a $550 million facility expansion, which includes new patient and emergency facilities, a cancer institute and several strategic partnerships. 
• Last year, Couris also earned national recognition as a “Top Innovator,” in part due to his work guiding the hospital and the Tampa Bay region through the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the second year running, John Couris, CEO of Tampa General Hospital (TGH), has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Great Leaders in Healthcare” list. In 2022 Becker made the same list while also earning a slot on Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Innovators” list in 2022.

John Couris

According to a press release from the company, the 2023 award recognized Couris’s efforts to “empower his team” and efforts to “transform health care delivery and access.” Also noted: Couris and his team’s work to develop the Tampa Medical and Research District, which houses a growing hub of world-class clinical care, academics, research, and biotechnology anchored by Tampa General and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

At the helm of TGH since 2017, Couris has focused his tenure on transforming care delivery for patients and increasing access to leading-edge care in the region and state through strategic partnerships. Under his leadership, TGH is executing a $550 million master facility expansion, the largest in its history. The plan includes a new 500,000-square-foot patient tower with 136 additional in-patient beds, a freestanding emergency department, a TGH Cancer Institute hub, an administrative building, a sterile processing facility, and renovated main operating suites.

Already, TGH has opened a new ICU, renovated its regional Burn Center and Burn ICU, and built a 2,000-space team member parking garage. The hospital has also established alliances with the Cancer Center of South Florida, TGH Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches, TGH General Surgeons of the Palm Beaches, Tower Radiology, and Palm Beach Radiology. Couris is also credited with creating the Tampa Medical and Research District, a hub for clinical care, academics, research, and biotechnology. The district is anchored by Tampa General and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

During his tenure, Tampa General has been recognized nationally a top workplace by Newsweek and Glassdoor.

Couris’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic earned him “Top Innovator” accolades from Modern Healthcare last year. Under his leadership, the TGH team implemented data-sharing systems among regional health networks and early warning virus hotspot detection that helped the region allocate resources to respond to the disease. He also oversaw a partnership between TGH and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine to become the first health system in Florida to provide monoclonal antibody infusion treatments, reducing the severity of COVID patients’ symptoms and avoiding extended hospital stays. Couris’ team spearheaded the development and execution of a program offering COVID-19 expertise and guidance to organizations seeking to safeguard their team members and patrons while helping them manage their operations under rigorous safety protocols.

In 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged Couris’ innovative approach to the pandemic by personally selecting him to join the pandemic re-opening task force.