The Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong spoke at the UF Health Pediatrics Gerold L. Schiebler Children’s Medical Services Center on Thursday to celebrate something he called nothing short of remarkable.
He was referring to the transfer of ownership of the UF Health Pediatrics Gerold L. Schiebler CMS Center from the Florida Department of Health to the university.
"It’s an opportunity for UF pediatrics and Ped-I-Care to continue to grow and meet the needs of the children of Florida."
Ped-I-Care, a program that provides health insurance plan benefits to children with special health care needs, is one of the many programs housed in the now-UF-owned building.
Dr. Scott Rivkees, physician in chief at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, said this transition is an example of how UF and the Florida Department of Health work together.
"This building really has been a beacon of excellence in pediatric care," he said.
The UF Health Pediatrics Gerold L. Schiebler CMS Center opened its doors in 1991 and has since served tens of thousands of children with special health needs, Rivkees said.
The building ownership transfer saves UF $12 million, Armstrong said. Rivkees said UF students should care about this transition because the center is a hub for education for medical students and undergraduates.
Armstrong said this transition gives UF’s department of pediatrics the opportunity to continue to grow and become more innovative.
Contact Alexandra Fernandez at afernandez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @alexmfern
