JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida will break ground Thursday morning for the new Leon L. Haley Jr. Emergency and Trauma Center, which was given its name to honor the former UF Health CEO who tragically died in a personal watercraft accident in July 2021.
Press play above to watch the groundbreaking ceremony live
According to the University of Florida, the center will “dramatically upgrade the region’s only Level I trauma facility” while also expanding the hospital’s emergency department.
“The center is being named in honor of Dr. Haley, whose vision and passion for health care and the Northeast Florida community were crucial to the project,” UF said in a press release, adding that the facilities will add 35,000 square feet to the existing trauma center.
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Dr. Haley’s family will attend the groundbreaking along with leaders across Florida, including Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
The event will be held at UF Health’s Jacksonville location, 655 W. 8th St., beginning at 10 a.m.
Officials said that $80 million in state funding, which was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April 2022 during a visit to UF Health, was added to city funding and made building the new center possible.
