Shands Jacksonville is now UF Health Jacksonville and other aspects of the UF&Shands health care system have adopted new names to more clearly reflect the system's affiliation with the University of Florida, officials announced Monday.
"People here in Jacksonville just don't know the University of Florida is here. We are just changing our name to recognize that we are a part of the University of Florida. UF Health is that recognition," said Russell Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville.
The overall health care system in Jacksonville is now known as UF Health at Jacksonville.
The system's Gainesville counterparts will combine the old and the new, with the Shands name remaining a part of the brand, for example UF Health Shands Hospital and UF Health Shands Children's Hospital.
Armistead explained the new name was the only change coming from the announcement.
The University of Florida and Shands remain legally separate organizations with their own governance and leadership structures.
"It's the same place. The same high quality of care," said Armistead.
The rebranding will involve changes to signage and identification badges, among others. A cost for the changes was not available Monday.
Internal discussions about a rebranding effort began about a year ago, said Dr. Dan Wilson, vice president of health affairs and dean of the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville.
The rebranding effort will position the organization more powerfully among its peers and competitors and attract and retain staff, students and research, according to a news release on the rebranding.
Wilson was not able to answer questions whether the changes would include adjustments to leadership of either organization.
"We hope not," said Wilson
"There is really no structural change coming from this," said Armistead.
The change does not represent a merger or acquisition or affect day-to-day operations, the release said.
During his first year in Jacksonville, Wilson said he has been impressed with the staff and surprised that the level of expertise on staff at UF Health Jacksonville isn't more widely known.
"I've been here for about a year and I have become impressed with the quality of the faculty and the staff at this hospital. There are some of the best doctors in the country are at the University of Florida, more than 700 are here in Jacksonville. That's a very well-kept secret that needs to change in Jacksonville," said Wilson.
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