CONTRIBUTORS
VICTORIA BARDEGA
Victoria Bardega is a content creator based out of Central Florida who is passionate about building community. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations at Southeastern University, and has worked in marketing at a large non-profit and was a leader at a regional digital media company. She is gifted in photography, writing, social media and marketing.
When she’s not photographing a love story or writing lifestyle pieces, she’s making memories with her husband, Alan, and their sweet daughters, Valley and Lucia. She loves team work, the Oxford comma, laughter, and endless cups of tea lattes!
MADI ELIZABETH
Madi Elizabeth is a California-born photographer who now resides in Lakeland. Known for her ability to capture fleeting moments with authenticity, Madi’s work showcases a diverse range of subjects and settings, from landscapes to intimate portraits.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she invites viewers to experience the emotions and beauty of each captured scene. Madi’s talent has gained recognition through features and publications in People Magazine, The Lakelander, Voyage Tampa, etc, solidifying her place as a sought-after artist in the field of photography.
MADDY LAROCK
Maddy was born and raised in Lee, Mass., but has since moved to Lakeland three years ago and is attending Florida Southern College. She is currently pursuing degrees in both graphic design and marketing. Maddy hopes to find a job in the future that allows her to use her digital artistry and creativity.
Outside of graphic design both for the Lakelander and in school, you can find her at the downtown farmers market or enjoying a coffee at Black and Brew.
Randy Herring Founder of Freedom House
WRITTEN
BY
RJ WALTERS
PORTRAIT BY
JORDAN RANDALL
AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RANDY HERRING DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FREEDOM HOUSE
The women in Honduras—they have nobody to stand up for them.”
That assertion from Randy Herring is not hyperbole. It is the fuel that drives him each day to find solutions to get victims of sex trafficking in Honduras off the streets and into a safe place where they can find healing, experience the love of Christ and take steps toward reclaiming their identity.
The 59-year-old Lakelander, who originally moved his family to Lakeland in 1993 to pursue a degree in missions from Southeastern University, recalls the story behind the founding of Freedom House Honduras.
In 2010, Randy and his family were living in Honduras. He and his son were driving to the airport one night in San Pedro Sula. At a red light, they were approached by three girls. In talking with the girls, Randy learned they were 13 and 14 years old. He asked them why they were on the streets so late at night instead of at home. Their answers were the same, there wasn’t any room—the space in the house was for younger siblings. The girls were expected to work and bring back food, but the street was their home.
Once the light turned green, he continued to the airport, but he couldn’t escape the contrast of these young girls trying to survive while his 14-year-old daughter was home sleeping, not only in a warm bed, but in a house full of love, clothing and food.
standards. In cities like Tegucigalpa, the capital, and San Pedro Sula, informal settlements and overcrowded areas are hot-spots for exploitation and sex trafficking. In addition, it is widely believed that 30 percent of women in Honduras experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
For Randy and his family, God’s love and forgiveness is the catalyst for everything they do. Initially, the Herrings invited girls from the surrounding towns to a church service where they provided them with meals, toiletries and other small gifts.
“What can I do to give them hope, to get them out of despair and misery?” he recalls saying to himself.
This challenging question started a journey.
The U.S. Department of State rates Honduras, home to nearly 11 million people, a Tier 2 country for the government’s ability to combat human trafficking. This indicates the Honduran government is making significant efforts to eliminate trafficking but does not fully meet minimum
“We would go into the ‘highways and byways,’ just like the Bible says…and we would invite prostituted girls—we don’t say prostitutes because no one is born a prostitute—and we would invite them to a banquet...”
The purpose was to tell the girls how special they were to them and to God.
“I saw the girls and women lifting their hands in worship and singing all the songs. I asked one of the women, ‘You know these songs?’” Herring says. “She replied, ‘Oh yeah, we go to church as often as we can because we know we’re bad because we do bad things, but hopefully God will forgive us.’”
These meetings were a catalyst to start Freedom House Honduras, a converted hotel that can house up to 15 women at a time. It includes a cooking area, butterfly gardens and a patio with a cabana—with expansion plans that dwarf what currently exists so the ministry can serve more women in the near future.
The success of Kids’ Ark International, a youth camp founded by Randy and his wife, Kandie, in 2002, played a pivotal role in the creation of Freedom House Honduras. Located in Peña Blanca, Honduras, Kids’ Ark provides local underprivileged children with a chance to experience a day camp, which offers food, clothing, toys, and biblical teachings. Over the years, the camp has served nearly 500,000 children, and the support from volunteers and local churches helped establish a foundation of resources that made
Freedom House possible.
Through the camp’s outreach, Randy and his team saw firsthand the needs of vulnerable children and families. This experience, combined with the unwavering commitment to serve the most at-risk individuals, was part of the vision for Freedom House: to offer a safe haven for women caught in the cycle of human trafficking.
Through Freedom House, Herring and his team are determined to help women break free from situations they have been lured into with the expectations of receiving a real job, like working at a restaurant, or women who have been told the lie that the only way to take care of their family that has been torn apart by migration or violence is by perpetually submitting themselves to sexual exploitation.
Certified psychologists and counselors help victims navigate their trauma at Freedom House in a holistic manner that allows for personal development, spiritual growth and physical healing.
As Herring says, defining success at Freedom House can be challenging, because even if you’ve sat with a victim, it’s difficult to truly understand the reality of their situation.
“[Success is] when we see a girl coming out of her misery and she starts talking again, she starts smiling… even if it takes two months. She starts enjoying her food, gaining weight; you can see she’s fixing her hair, and she wants to talk about her life again,” he says.
Currently, the need for these types of services far outweighs what Freedom House can offer. Herring said it’s normal to receive 30-40 requests per week for the home. His goal is to expand the facility to 50 beds and build a vocational training center where residents can learn a trade and become self-sustaining when they re-integrate themselves into society.
The cost to serve a woman at Freedom House is approximately $550 per month, a modest cost to provide the opportunity for a woman to be rescued out of trafficking or abuse and have the opportunity to one day start anew with the tools and spiritual foundation needed to overcome their past.
“We would go into the ‘highways and byways,’ just like the Bible says…and we would invite prostituted girls—we don’t say prostitutes because no one is born a prostitute—and we would invite them to a banquet...”
The work being done at Freedom House is not just about offering refuge to women—it’s about restoring dignity, offering hope, and empowering them to reclaim their lives. For every woman rescued from the streets of Honduras, a new chapter begins, where healing is possible and a brighter future awaits. But the need continues to grow and without support many women remain trapped in despair.
Randy Herring and his team have shown that with love, faith and dedication, even the most broken lives can be mended. However, they cannot do it alone. Every donation, every prayer and every act of support plays a vital role in helping these women break free from the chains of trafficking and find their way back to a life of purpose and freedom.
Since his family moved back to Lakeland in 2010, Randy makes monthly trips to Honduras to continue this mission. While in the States, he enjoys speaking to churches, community groups and individuals about the opportunity to partner with Freedom House to increase the organization’s impact. He is willing to meet one on one with anyone who might be interested in partnering with the ministry in any way.
“You have the opportunity to be a part of this lifechanging work of standing for freedom and creating a lasting, eternal impact,” Herring says. “It not only changes the lives of women in Honduras, but it will bless you as well.”
Together, individuals, churches and organizations can offer women hope, healing and a chance for a new beginning—a freedom everyone deserves the opportunity to experience.
Stand for Freedom
Learn about ongoing projects, make a gift to the ministry or sign up for their newsletter.
863-660-1003
info@freedomhousehonduras.com freedomhousehonduras.com
How Dr. Asia Standifer’s passion for preventive medicine is making a big impact in Polk County.
WRITTEN BY KATY LISTER
PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH
DESIGNED BY MADDY LAROCK
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH POLK CONCIERGE MEDICAL GROUP
With great family and a whole lot of faith and hard work… you’ll be able to get through anything” says Dr. Asia Standifer, DNP, APRN, Nurse Practitioner, the owner of Polk Concierge Medical Group.
This independently owned medical practice specializes in weight loss, testosterone replacement, body contouring, and general internal medicine. Standifer, a 2003 graduate of Mulberry Senior High
School who earned her doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, began her concierge medical practice with just a few clients in April of 2023, but now, just two years later, she has more than 1,100 patients in her care.
In general, Standifer’s background is in internal medicine, but her passion–and the mission of Polk Concierge–is preventative medicine, which could mean weight loss for one patient, but could mean optimizing hormones or vitamins for another. When working in the critical care unit at Tampa General Hospital earlier in her career, she found herself asking “How do I keep people out of my ICU?” Polk Concierge Medical Group was truly born out of Standifer’s own experience. Several years ago she was struggling with her weight and high cholesterol, and she was on blood pressure medication. She quickly realized that she had to make a change to improve her health in a permanent way. She worked hard–using a combination of nutrition and medication–to lose 60 pounds, which made her realize that she could help other people find the same success.
Being a concierge medical group means that insurance is not accepted and all services offered must be paid for by the patient. Being a concierge practice actually gives Standifer and her team the freedom to evaluate why a patient may be feeling off without restrictions from insurance companies or the need to document a specific diagnosis. A patient at Polk Concierge is able to be at the center of their own wellness journey–whether that means forming better sleep habits, sticking to a nutritional plan, or combining medication with lifestyle practices.
Dr. Standifer is proud of the place she calls home. “My family has been here for generations,” she explained. “It’s the heart of who I am.”
Pictured from left to right: Kaniya, Jasmine, Ysatis, Dr. Standifer, Anton
She considers herself lucky to be able to serve the community where she grew up and she sees Polk Concierge as an opportunity to give back. One of the ways she does this is through the Gibson-Standifer Scholarship Foundation, which provides funding for students pursuing degrees in healthcare. She is also looking forward to helping out at the Boys and Girls Club once the organization’s new Workforce Readiness Center opens in Mulberry. Standifer wants students from Polk County to understand that they don’t need to go to a big university in order to have a big impact.
Polk Concierge Medical Group is for anyone who wants personalized care. Standifer and her team take a one-on-one approach with clients based on listening and creating a plan together because they understand that there is no one medical plan that works for everyone. Standifer explained that she will not prescribe GLP-1 medication (i.e. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) to patients who are not the right candidates for it. When talking with a patient, she determines if they are in the right place, mentally and physically, to start a weight loss journey. She also ensures that a patient understands the side effects of their medications and how to mitigate them. Accountability is also important according to Standifer. She and her team are always accessible by phone call, text, or email to advise patients and remind them they are not alone.
“My family has been here for generations. It’s the heart of who I am.”
Ysatis Hernandez, MSPAS,PA-S Physician Assistant, discusses medication plans with Christina.
Connecting with patients and hearing their stories is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job for Standifer. When Christina EdouardBouldin became a patient, they bonded over the fact that both of their daughters are in nursing school. Standifer said that it is people like Christina who give her the confirmation that this is what she is supposed to be doing full-time.
Christina was happy to talk about the care that she has received at Polk Concierge. She appreciates the professional atmosphere and the fact that the providers are attentive to her distinct personal needs and willing to work around her busy schedule.
Standifer is well-aware that talking about weight and hormones can be a difficult or embarrassing experience for a client. Polk Concierge is a safe space for people to bare their souls on these topics and get the personalized help that they need to feel better and to embrace their own wellness. She appreciates that her patients allow her to care for them and refer their friends and family.
Standifer’s daughter, Kaniya, is even following in her mother’s footsteps by working at Polk Concierge as a medical assistant while attending nursing school at Polk State. Her husband, Anton, and cousin, Jasmine, are part of the ‘family business’ as well. At Polk Concierge Medical Group, patient safety comes first and the team will do whatever they can to make sure their patients feel supported, cared for and heard.
Dr. Ana Lipson Owner of Lipson Pain Institute
WRITTEN
BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIPSON PAIN INSTITUTE
When Ana Delia Hernandez arrived in Spain after fleeing the communist rule of Fidel Castro in Cuba with her young daughters, Ana and Teresita, she didn’t have a dollar to her name, but she had a plan.
She went to the abbess of a convent and proposed to offer the nuns her professional services in exchange for a place for her and her daughters to live.
“She went out for her day job, but she was on-call for all the nuns 24/7,” Dr. Ana Lipson said of her mother, who was an OBGYN physician. “In exchange, we got a room, we got food and we got free babysitting because when she went to work we got to hang out with the nuns.”
More than five decades later, that anecdote explains a lot about how a young lady from Cuba who earned a doctoral degree from a university in the Dominican Republic became a trusted leader in pain management by making a plan to overcome the odds and building the right relationships to do that.
Since 1999, Lipson Pain Institute has brought patients hope by managing pain through a multifaceted approach. To diagnose and treat patients, Lipson Pain Institute uses a comprehensive method that includes evaluation and diagnosis, medication management, targeted procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, regular exercise, psychological support and specialist coordination.
“It’s like a toolbox, and we have just so many tools, and we want to optimize all the tools so we can get the best outcome. Our goals are to treat pain, make [patients] more functional and provide a better quality of life.”
Her approach focuses on getting to know a person by examining their medical history, understanding the nuances of their daily experience and developing a plan of action with each patient to address their specific needs.
“It’s like a toolbox, and we have just so many tools, and we want to optimize all the tools so we can get the best outcome,” says Lipson, who is married to Dr. Eric Lipson, a pulmonology doctor at Watson Clinic. “Our goals are to treat pain, make them more functional and provide a better quality of life.”
Lipson said her team also helps patients navigate emotional disturbances that can come with chronic pain that includes impacts to relationships from loss of an active lifestyle or disruption to normal routines.
Her practice is distinctive, in part because of how she has taken her experience from residency programs in internal medicine and anesthesiology, as well as a fellowship in pain management at the University of South Florida, and melded it together to create best practices that created lasting results for patients, even through many changes she has experienced in the medical field.
Lipson officially entered the pain management arena in the late 90s, a time when there were only two pain management specialists in the Lakeland/Winter Haven area. To complicate matters, Florida became a breeding ground for the proliferation of “pill mills” in the early 2000s until the mid 2010s. That crisis led to many preventable deaths, so the pendulum swung back to where almost no one except pain management doctors could prescribe opioids, with many restrictive measures in place, giving Lipson Pain Institute the opportunity to stand out as a trusted community leader.
The Institute has established itself by becoming a preferred provider of a tight-knit network of healthcare professionals in Central Florida, in part because they pride themselves on being extremely responsive to referring physicians and to their patients. They receive referrals from a wide spectrum of specialists including but not limited to neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, oncologists and thoracic spine surgeons.
Lipson Pain Institute works with people experiencing everything from acute pain that can occur after operations or from diagnoses like sciatica to chronic pain that includes neck and back pain, as well as pain caused from cancer treatments and disorders like fibromyalgia.
Dr. Lipson and her staff help patients develop realistic expectations for pain management from the beginning and share how things like restorative sleep and diet play significant roles in long-term outcomes.
Dr. Ana Lipson credits much of her success to the wonderful example of her parents, Dr. Ana Gonzalez and Dr. Manuel Hernandez, whose stethoscope she proudly displays a on the wall of her office.
One of Dr. Lipson’s great joys is supporting and mentoring other female physicians in Central Florida, including through leading the Polk County Women’s Physician Group, which some members of are shown here during a Galentine’s Day event earlier this year. Right: Ana with her son, Mark, daughter, Rebeccah, and husband, Eric. Lipson Pain Institute
“Often I tell them, you’re never gonna be pain free—I can’t guarantee that I can fix your problem,” she says. “But I tell them, I want to improve the quality of your life in some way and I know I can do that. So if they can feel hopeful, that is huge.”
One of the great joys for Dr. Lipson in this season of her career is leading the Polk County Women Physician’s Group, a growing group of nearly 150 female physicians that Dr. Lipson started in 2022 alongside her good friend Dr. Ritu Aparajita.
“The main purpose is to provide support, network and educate, as well as have a voice in the community,” she says. “When I was growing up, the doctors would have all these social functions to network…I remember my parents would have gatherings and they would go out to dinner with all their colleagues. We really support each other, we refer each other and we work together to strengthen our community.”
Dr. Lipson is genuinely appreciative of and humbled by the success she has had, in part because she intimately understands the hard work it took to get there—and not just hers. In Dr. Lipson’s office hangs a framed stethoscope, a memento from her late father, Dr. Manuel Hernandez, which is placed between photos of her parents, as well as their diplomas from medical school.
“I feel so humbled that I’m able to do this and that life has set me on this journey,” Lipson says with a warm, appreciative smile. “With a lot of struggle because obviously there was a lot of struggle to get there because my parents came from a communist country and there was a chance I would’ve never made out of the country—and to be able to come to this country and have this opportunity. I am just grateful and humbled and happy.”
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH, JORDAN RANDALL, AND PROVIDED BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
hile you may have questions about the infrastructure, how congestion will be managed, the quality of care that will be provided and the types of specialists who will be located in which facilities, the underlying cause of the healthcare explosion in Lakeland and Polk County is simple: the population has been growing for years at a rate that has been impossible for providers to match.
Just south of the Polk Parkway, cranes have been setting in place concrete beams and steel girders for months on a sevenstory building; from I-4 you can’t miss Lakeland Regional Health’s Kathleen Campus, a state-of-the-art location that opened in late 2023 to provide primary care and family medicine services; and amongst all of its strip malls and fan favorite chain stores and restaurants, Florida Avenue is finally getting standalone emergency rooms to serve the thousands of families whose lives intersect with the arterial road daily.
And Orlando Health just announced on March 11 that it is joining forces with Watson Clinic in a partnership that will be actualized in June 2026 with the opening of the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.
U.S. News and World Report gives Polk County a score of 43 out of 100 for “overall population health,” which doesn’t necessarily take into account all the nuances of a county as large and diverse as Polk County, but does utilize reliable data from sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
For years it has been known that access to medical care, especially primary care physicians, has been lacking. A 2020 study by the Florida Department of Health revealed Polk County had a population to primary care physician ratio of 2,030:1, nearly double the national benchmark of 1,050:1, and that was before the explosive population growth during and after the pandemic.
Health care can sometimes feel like a riddle to be solved. We all want the access to the best, most effective care, but most people would prefer to avoid hospitals and medical clinics as much as possible; every health care system wants to serve all needs from birth to end of life, but limited facilities, a changing workforce and technology and training all play a role in the different specialties and associated rankings and credibility each provider can offer; and within the most reliable, credible health care systems there are bound to be problems, just as a system perpetually rated below average by people online can be home to tremendous medical professionals.
Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) is in its 110th year of providing care locally and is expanding rapidly, evident by the fact it has grown from approximately 5,000 employees to nearly 8,000 employees in a little more than a decade, and it has opened a center for behavioral wellness and launched a graduate medical education program in the last three years, among a multitude of other shifts.
Directly off the Lakeland Highlands Rd. exit of the Polk Parkway, a 302-bed, 580,000+ square foot hospital is being constructed. The Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital is expected to open in June 2026.
Bartow Regional Medical Center is in the midst of a $110 million expansion project that increase the number of beds from 72 to 90 and double the size of its ICU department.
LRH CEO Danielle Drummond, who has worked at the hospital since 2013 and been at the helm as CEO since 2020, says meeting the evolving needs of healthcare locally requires grassroots efforts combined with highlevel strategic planning.
“I [ask myself], ‘What is it that our community needs when it comes to healthcare services so that we can allow them to lead their healthiest life?,’” Drummond says. “And I think that starts with making sure that there’s good access locally. We want our patients to be able to get in timely and to get into the types of services that they need here.”
That’s the impetus for new locations like the Kathleen Campus that opened in 2023 to provide primary care, family care, specialty care and urgent care to people on the North side, as well the new standalone ER on South Florida Ave. in South Lakeland that opened on March 10.
Drummond often acknowledges she feels very fortunate to have what she deems a “very experienced board of directors” that consists of local leaders who understand the pulse of the community. While LRH doesn’t have as many capital assets as some of the larger health care systems opening new facilities in Lakeland— like AdventHealth, BayCare and Orlando Health— Drummond said her leadership’s passion to bring excellence to all aspects of the community is a driving factor for future success, and could be seen as an upper hand because they have more intimate knowledge of our population.
BayCare plans to start construction on a freestanding ER this year at 5501 S. Florida Ave that is slated to open in 2026.
“Something that makes Lakeland Regional Health special is we are very mission driven and we’re trying to meet all the healthcare needs of our community, regardless of what the financial ROI might look like on the services,” Drummond says.
She notes that LRH’s expansion of behavioral services since the opening of the Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness is a clear example of that. Many times reimbursements from insurance providers do not cover the cost of care, but LRH continues to make significant investments in those services because of how vital they are to the community’s long-term health.
“We continue to see 25 to 30 percent year over year growth in that facility so we’re continuing to add services that we haven’t had previously,” she says. “We recently started an intensive outpatient therapy program where patients that are not in the category of needing to be hospitalized are able to come to us several days a week for several hours at a time.”
Just down the road from LRH’s new South Lakeland ER will soon be BayCare’s freestanding emergency department, the third such department in Polk County opened by the largest health care provider in West Central Florida, but its first in Lakeland.
Its construction is concurrent with a $110 million expansion of Bartow Regional Medical Center that will increase it from 72 to 90 beds and upgrade its catheterization lab, surgical services and emergency department.
Why is the not-for-profit health care system that consists of nearly 32,000 team members and operates 16 hospitals keen on being part of the health care boom in Polk County?
“We’re really about smart growth and what the community needs. What are the services that we need to come in to help compete and provide for those who live in the community?”
Chief Ambulatory Services Officer Todd Jones asks, noting the population of Polk County is expected to grow roughly 10 percent over the next five years. “The beauty of being part of a healthy system is [our] protocols help drive connectivity…and if a higher level of need is not being met currently in the community we know where they can get that care. That part of the connection to being part of the health system.”
Jones mentions how pediatric patients in Lakeland and Bartow have continuity of service with St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and touts the Family Medicine Residency Program sponsored by Florida State University at Winter Haven Hospital.
He said BayCare is actively looking for the right location to expand into the Kathleen area because the population continues to be underserved, and its proximity to I-4 makes it accessible from many surrounding municipalities.
While the majority of BayCare’s team members live outside of Polk County, the local hospital boards are made up of community members who live and work in the communities
they serve. Jones said recently he and other staff visited Gospel Village, a local nonprofit BayCare supports that provides housing and employment opportunities for individuals who were formerly homeless.
Another health care powerhouse that originates from beyond the Polk County line is Orlando Health. They seek to accelerate their influence and their offerings in Lakeland through a formal affiliation with Watson Clinic that is part of the roll out for the 300+ bed Lakeland Highlands Hospital that is expected to open in summer 2026.
“By combining our respective strengths, we are able to provide a level of care and service that expands both our capabilities while enhancing patient care,” said Carlos Carrasco, senior vice president, Orlando Health Midwest Region, in a press release.
No details were immediately available regarding what that would mean for Watson Clinic patients or staff until the new facility opens, but in a press release CEO Jason Hirsbrunner said patients can expect “expanded access to the doctors and care they trust the most.”
When complete, the 580,000+ square foot Lakeland Highlands Hospital will have 69 emergency and observation beds, 11 operating rooms, an 18-bed ICU and 16 patient rooms to support a women’s birthing program.
Affiliations, partnerships and even mergers are common these days. In 2021, AdventHealth and Bond Clinic in Winter Haven announced an affiliation to improve access to primary and specialty care. In 2023, the Winter Haven-based Gessler Clinic was acquired by BayCare to bolster its offerings in Polk County.
AdventHealth will be a significant player in the future of health care for Lakelanders, after receiving approval last year from the Lakeland City Commission for a 400-bed hospital with a
Central Florida Health Care is in the process of constructing a 34,000 square foot health clinic just west of Bryant Stadium next to its current two-story building. The nonprofit serves more than 74,000 patients per year.
helicopter pad at the southeast corner of Harden Blvd. and Frontage Rd./Polk Parkway.
The site plan includes 200,000 square feet of medical office space, as well as roughly 200,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.
At a City Commission meeting, AdventHealth Director of Real Estate Michael Lawson said the emergency department for the hospital could open as soon as late 2026, with the rest of the build out to follow.
When you add in the fact a brand new Veteran Affairs clinic opened in South Lakeland in 2024 and Central Florida Health Care is tripling the size of its Lakeland clinic to provide health care and dentistry services to low-income families, it’s clear that the health care competition is in full force.
“From a consumer/patient perspective, this really is good,” Jones says about so many entities working diligently to be the preferred provider of families in Lakeland and Polk County. “Whenever we are competing to provide those services it helps to drive to make us better. We have always had top level performance and quality and patient safety indicators and patient experience.”
Drummond said that LRH is highly in tune with the daily experiences of its employees because a healthy culture is a necessity to be able to expand and serve the community at a higher capacity in the future. “Job number one for me is to make sure that we understand what’s important to our team members to want to work at Lakeland Regional Health to feel like they’re bringing their best self to work every day,” she says.
“Something that makes Lakeland Regional Health special is we are very mission driven and we’re trying to meet all the healthcare needs of our community, regardless of what the financial ROI might look like on the services.”
- Lakeland Regional Health CEO Danielle Drummond
AdventHealth, which has plans to build a 400-bed hospital at the southeast corner of Harden Blvd. and Frontage Rd./Polk Parkway, has medevac crews stationed at Lakeland International Airport.
GROWING EXPERTISE FROM THE INSIDE
If knowledge is power, then Lakeland’s health care providers can unequivocally say they are powering up.
AdventHealth offers more than 25 ACGME-accredited Graduate Medical Education programs and has had more than 1,000 physicians complete its wide array of programs the past 50 years.
These programs, along with a number of fellowship options continue to expand into more specialties in more locations, which could be an indicator that down the road AdventHealth’s presence in Lakeland could include these formative career opportunities.
BayCare has a goal of having more than 600 residents in its GME program by 2029, according to Jones. One of its flagship programs is its Family Medicine Residency Program at Winter Haven Hospital sponsored by
Florida State University.
As part of its evolution, LRH launched a GME program in 2023, and it now offers eight specialties with plans to add more. A new psychiatry residency clinic is slated to open soon on Missouri Ave. downtown.
Drummond says the GME is a great pipeline for physicians that helps them envision a future where they want to stay and practice in the community. It also provides better overall quality of care for patients because it allows for more patient-staff interactions throughout the care process.
“The best hospitals are teaching hospitals and you add the research,” Drummond says. “And it for sure helps with the reputation of our institution.”
Inside the newly opened Lakeland Regional Health emergency department at 6150 South Florida Ave. patients are provided with care that rivals LRH’s main campus including X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound services, plus a 24/7 laboratory.
MAY THE BEST EMPLOYER WIN
More beds at more hospitals and more examination rooms at more clinics means jobs galore. It’s no coincidence that Polk State College is investing more resources in developing health care degree programs than ever before and Polk County Schools continues to announce partnerships with local health care providers they hope will be a catalyst to develop future leaders of health care.
A quick online search reveals that, as of March 10, LRH had more than 200 job openings and BayCare had more than 150 jobs listed for its Bartow, Lakeland and Winter Haven locations.
Hundreds of more jobs in the medical field are expected to be in the mix soon as Orlando Health prepares to open its hospital in South Lakeland.
Drummond said LRH is constantly looking for the finest health care professionals locally, regionally and nationally, and a key aspect of expanding effectively is first taking care of the individuals already on your payroll.
“We’ve been focusing a lot on culture. How do we do events that allow the team to feel like they’re engaged with each other?” she says. “We really have been purposeful in trying to celebrate successes, recognizing team members that do a great job.”
LRH also hosts events like team member marketplaces that allow employees to show off their crafting, baking or entrepreneurial skills to encourage camaraderie and build stronger connections.
Jones said one reason many BayCare staff members love their employer is because of its commitment to giving back to the community, evident by the $557 million the health care system states it provided in 2023 through charity care, uncompensated care and investment in public health strategies.
BayCare is actively recruiting physicians for family medicine, internal medicine, pediatric care and anesthesiology among other specialties, and there are dozens of other positions
“Our CEO loves to say that patients come for the physicians and they stay for the staff,” he says. “I totally agree with her because once you get there, it’s how you’re treated and the experience that you have.”
Inside the construction of the 580,000+ square foot hospital located on Lakeland Highlands Rd.
A rendering of the expected final build of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.
WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BARDEGA
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
InLakeland, the farm-to-table movement is more than just savoring fresh, locally grown food — it’s about nourishing the soul of the community, deepening connections and embracing the beauty of sustainability. As local farmers pour their hearts into every harvest, Lakeland is blossoming into a sanctuary for those who cherish mindful choices and a healthier, more harmonious way of life. Together, we’re cultivating something beautiful.
At the heart of the farm-to-table movement in Lakeland are the local farms and food producers who make it all possible. These local vendors supply fresh produce, dairy, meats and more to markets and residents. The connection between local growers and residents is crucial for ensuring that the food on plates reflects the local landscape, offering flavors that are both fresh and representative of the region’s agricultural diversity.
Our Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market is a prime example of Lakeland’s local food movement, held every Saturday. This locally-favored market has become a central hub for both farmers and consumers, offering everything from fresh vegetables
and fruits to homemade jams, artisan breads, eggs, meats, and flowers. Shoppers can connect directly with farmers, learn about sustainable farming practices, and purchase items grown right in their community. For many, the market is not just about accessing fresh, healthy food, but also about supporting local businesses and contributing to a more sustainable food system.
Several local farms in the area also specialize in raising livestock, making it possible for you to serve meat in your home that is grass-fed, hormone-free, and raised with care. Farms like Regeneration Family Farm and A Land of Delight are committed to providing high-quality, ethically raised or grown goods. Whether you’re purchasing fresh chicken thighs or delicious strawberries and oranges, locals can walk away putting a face to a product—knowing where it’s made, who made it and how it was made.
More Farm-to-Fork Options to Visit at the Local Markets
Eco Farm
Jon and Debbie Butts have been growing vegetables, fruit trees and ornamentals in Plant City since 1985. Check out their fruiting and edible plants, plus market favorites like basil, okra and sweet potatoes.
Sprout Up Urban Farms
Based in Orlando, this local farm focuses on producing nutrient-rich micogreens utilizing organic and chemical-free growing practices. Known for broccoli microgreens, sunflower shoots, cantaloupe, red acre cabbage and more.
@sproutupurbanfarm
Vita Produce
For more than two decades, Vita has offered farm fresh fruits, vegetables and fruit cups. Some of their top offerings are the following: Florida avocados, peaches, yellow tomatoes, watermelons and dragon fruit.
@vitaproduce
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
AsFloridians it’s easy to take our most famous fruits for granted, but when looking for healthy and affordable ways to satisfy your taste buds it’s worth squeezing the most out of citrus to create bright flavors that turn simple recipes into go-to favorites that are perfect for picnics or at-home cookouts. Try some of these fun, citrus-filled recipes to add some color and zest to your meals.
Recipe from allthehealthythings.com
2 1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened dried blueberries plus 2 tsp, divided
1/2 cup unsalted almond butter
4 pitted Medjool dates
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup hemp seeds
6 tbs lemon juice plus 3/4 teaspoon, divided
2 tbs confectioners’ sugar
Recipe from amyshealthybaking.com
1. Combine oats, 1/2 cup dried blueberries, almond butter, dates, almonds, hemp seeds, lemon zest, 6 tablespoons lemon juice, honey and salt in a food processor; process until a thick paste forms, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
2. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop 16 rounded portions of the oat mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Using clean hands, roll each portion into a ball. Refrigerate the balls, uncovered, until cool to the touch, about 20 minutes.
3. Finely chop the remaining 2 teaspoons dried blueberries. Whisk confectioners’ sugar and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon lemon juice in a small bowl until no lumps remain.
4. Drizzle the lemon glaze evenly over the chilled energy balls (about 1/4 teaspoon glaze each). While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle evenly with chopped blueberries.
Recipe from keepingthepeas.com
1. In a high speed blender or food processor add peeled and ripened avocado.
2. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime, and add to the blender.
3. Add almond milk, minced garlic clove, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste. Blend on medium speed until smooth.
4. Transfer to a glass container. Top with a touch of black pepper.
One ripe avocado
One lime
Minced garlic clove Almond milk
Salt Pepper Cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups quinoa
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cloves garlic or roasted garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp salt
2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
1 ripe avocado, sliced or cubed
1/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (packed)
1 tbs orange juice
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs honey
Recipe from sallysbakingaddiction.com
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Transfer cooked quinoa to a large bowl and let cool.
2. Pour olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and roasted garlic, stirring it all around to coat with oil. Sprinkle it with smoked paprika and salt. Stir and cook until chicken is done, about 8 minutes.
3. Add cooked chicken, oranges, and avocado to the quinoa. Stir to combine. Set aside.
4. Whisk the dressing ingredients together. Pour over salad and toss to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
3 ¾ cups (450g) white whole wheat flour or gluten-free* flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
4 tsp vanilla extract
5 tsp liquid stevia
1 cup nonfat milk
4 tbsp orange zest (about 2 gigantic or 3-4 medium oranges)
4 large egg whites, room temperature
¾ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Recipe from amyshealthybaking.com
1 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 gigantic or 3-4 medium oranges)
3 tbsp (45g) confectioners’ style erythritol 2 ½ - 2 ¾ tsp freshly squeezed orange juice
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F, and generously coat a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or nonstick cooking spray with flour.
2. To prepare the cake, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Once thoroughly combined, whisk in the orange zest. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, egg whites, vanilla extract, and stevia. Stir in the Greek yogurt, mixing until no large lumps remain. Stir in the orange juice. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, and stirring just until incorporated. (For best results, add the flour mixture in 3 equal parts.)
3. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until the top feels firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Once the cake has completely cooled to room temperature and just before serving, prepare the drizzle. Stir together the erythritol and orange juice in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to a zip-topped plastic bag, cut off a tiny piece of one corner, and drizzle over the cooled cake.
The Lakeland General Hospital, formerly Morrell General Hospital, is photographed beside the hospital expansion on Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library Lakeland Memorial Hospital Complex
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