The State of Florida has recognized BayCare’s commitment to behavioral health by designating St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa as the BayCare Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital at St. Joseph’s. This designation highlights BayCare’s efforts to improve mental health care, workforce training, and innovation in West Central Florida.
This new status is the result of a partnership with the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Center for Behavioral Health Integration. The teaching hospital designation, which is renewable every two years, comes with competitive grant funding aimed at expanding and improving behavioral health services.
Stephanie Conners, president and CEO of BayCare Health System, stated: “Our designation as a behavioral health teaching hospital is a recognition of all the hard work BayCare and its team members have been providing for years to meet our communities’ behavioral health needs. We know there’s no health without mental health. This honor reflects our unwavering commitment to improving the health of all we serve and to building a stronger, more resilient community.”
The collaboration between BayCare and Florida State University builds on their previous joint effort that began in 2018 with a family medicine residency program at Winter Haven Hospital focused on underserved areas. The current partnership will combine the university’s expertise in education and research with BayCare’s clinical operations and graduate medical education programs.
Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine, commented: “There is a dire need for behavioral health services throughout the state. I am delighted that this partnership will not only lead to more access to these services, but it will also help us train the next generation of behavioral health care providers. This will benefit patients in the region and expand educational opportunities for medical residents sponsored by BayCare, residents in the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Psychiatry Residency Program and the college’s medical and physician assistant students who will have an opportunity to gain first-hand experience working alongside physicians in the community.”
BayCare remains one of West Central Florida’s largest providers of behavioral health services, offering inpatient care, outpatient therapy, residential programs, as well as initiatives serving veterans, schools, and first responders. Recent projects include opening Florida’s first behavioral health urgent care center and planning an expansion for a Central Receiving Facility in Pasco County.
Since 2022, BayCare has operated its own psychiatry residency program designed to attract new graduates into local mental healthcare roles.
Additionally, Gail Ryder—BayCare’s vice president of Behavioral Health—was named 2025 Health Care Leader of the Year by the Florida Hospital Association for her leadership and advocacy across Florida.
For further details about BayCare’s behavioral health offerings or its mission within the community visit BayCare Behavioral Health.
