St. Joseph's Hospital-South

01/06/2026

We’re excited to share the new rendering of the future Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s, opening in 2030. Every detail of the new facility has been intentionally designed with children and families at the heart. From its bold, multicolor exterior with dynamic lighting to playful, family-centered interior spaces, intuitive wayfinding and welcoming common areas, the environment aims to uplift, reassure and inspire hope the moment families arrive. Learn more about the new hospital and design plans: https://bit.ly/4pv8OwL

The future Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s, a freestanding, state-of-the-art facility opening in 2030, will advance pediatric health care across West Central Florida.

01/05/2026

Surgery can be an effective and life-changing tool for those with chronic obesity.

Dr. David Echevarria is a BayCare Medical Group surgeon affiliated with our hospital who specializes in advanced laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery for those with chronic obesity. He has been in practice for more than 30 years. Dr. Echevarria has extensive experience performing the procedures of gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

“Watching a post-op patient transform emotionally and physically has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice,” Dr. Echevarria said.

Dr. Echevarria’s page on the BayCare website: https://baycare.org/doctors/david-echevarria-1811911811

For further information about the nationally accredited bariatric surgery program at our hospital: https://bit.ly/3DA2Bxj

You can also call or email for more information about bariatric surgery at our hospital: (813) 302-8497 and SJHSBariatricSurgery@baycare.org

Another resource about bariatrics and weight management is BayCareWeightLoss.org

01/02/2026

The stork was busy on New Year's Day at our hospital! These babies were born on New Year's Day here at St. Joseph's Hospital-South. Here's to new life, new dreams and a beautiful year ahead! Also, see our post of January 1 with the first baby born here in 2026, a mere 15 minutes after the New Year's ball dropped!

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! We wish our community a year filled with good health, happiness and new beginnings in 2026. We rang in the New Year with the sweetest celebration - the arrival of our very first baby of the year! Baby boy Enzo came into the world at 12:15 a.m., New Year's Day at 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Join us in congratulating parents Jennifer and Robbie and sending love to this tiny bundle of joy! Welcome to the world, little one! Enzo was the first baby born in the BayCare Health System among our seven maternity hospitals!

12/30/2025

We’re excited to soon bring the most advanced, cancer-fighting treatment to West Central Florida. And so are our patients. See this interview from Tampa Bay's Morning Blend to learn how one dad is grateful that BayCare’s expertise in pediatric care led him to proton therapy and why he is overjoyed to have it close to home for anyone else needing advanced cancer treatment. https://bit.ly/4b63nRa

Proton therapy is one of the most advanced cancer treatments available today. Soon, families in the Tampa Bay area will be able to access this care close to home.

12/29/2025

The biggest 2025 St. Joseph's Hospital-South story, both literally and figuratively, was the birth of baby boy Annan on September 3! Annan, born at 13 pounds, 15 ounces, was the biggest baby ever born in the 10-year history of our hospital. Baby Annan was a local, national and international viral sensation appearing on news and social media sites and reports all over the world. On our social media site alone, Annan received more than 9,000 likes/loves, almost 1,000 comments and nearly 600 shares. Scroll through the gallery to see that post and sample some of articles, posts in different languages from many nations. Perhaps the most comprehensive and thorough article appeared on the People website. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4pVEyfm

12/26/2025

This baby boy was born in our hospital on 12.25.25! A Christmas baby! The best Christmas gift wrapped in love and tiny fingers. Congratulations on this Christmas miracle and the most wonderful gift of all!

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from our St. Joseph's Hospital-South family to yours! Many of the Christmas postcards in the gallery are from the aptly named "South Pole" team member family holiday event. After all, we are St. Joseph's "South." The event included a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!

12/22/2025

Nichole, a labor and delivery nurse, recently earned distinction as recipient of a prestigious DAISY Foundation award! DAISY is a national recognition program for nurses and among the highest accolades in the profession. DAISYs honor the “super-human” work nurses do for patients and their families.

Her DAISY story is a poignant one. She was nominated by a mother delivering a baby at our hospital.

The arrival of a new baby is always exciting but this birth was met with some anxiety and grief for this mother. Two years prior, the mother’s daughter died in an accident. Our hospital was where the daughter was born and brought on the night of the accident.

Understandably, the mother was emotional with the birth of a new baby and memories of her daughter.

Nichole was especially attuned to this and included the late daughter in a thoughtful, genuine and impactful way.

“As a grieving mother, all you want is for your child to still be remembered and included and she (Nichole) gave me that gift,” the mom wrote in Nichole’s TMOM nomination documents. “She spoke her name, asked questions about her birth and life and treated her memory with such love and respect.”

The family had a photo of the daughter on a table and whenever the table needed to be moved, Nichole would gently move the photo and let everyone know she was repositioning the photo for a moment. It was a small act of compassion but one that meant everything to all involved.

From Nichole’s DAISY nomination documents: “I carried so much fear and worry leading up to this delivery, but this person’s compassion, presence and support allowed me to breathe again. She (Nichole) helped turn one of the most emotionally complex days of my life into a truly beautiful and memorable experience. I will always be grateful to her for the way she cared for not just me and my newborn, but also for the daughter we carry in our hearts forever.”

Congratulations Nichole on the DAISY and thank you for compassionate care and impact you made on this mother and family.

12/19/2025

Congratulations to Kate Sawa, the president of our St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, for her expanded role with BayCare Health System!

A veteran nonprofit leader and advocate for compassionate care, the St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation president will spearhead BayCare’s regional philanthropic strategy.

12/18/2025

The spirit of Christmas fills our heart and soul when we help those who may be experiencing tough times. One of our activities was helping St. Joseph's Hospital-South team member families needing assistance during the holidays.

We provided Angel Tree gifts and gift cards for families and children. We are grateful to joyfully minister to those in need at Christmas.

May the spirit of Christmas stay with us and you all year long.

Photos include our Angel Tree and some of the gifts staged, prepped and sorted prior to distribution.

12/16/2025

Our Team Members of the Month (TMOM) are 12 All-Stars recognized for displaying the BayCare values and principles of trust, dignity, respect, responsibility and excellence. The surprise announcement and TMOM presentation in front of their teammates and colleagues is always one of the special monthly highlights at our hospital.

Today, we honor TMOM Jessie, an imaging coordinator! This is the second time for Jessie to take a bow! She was also a TMOM in 2022!

Jessie’s TMOM nomination documents for her 2025 award start off with a bang: “Jessie is a can-do, will-do motivator in imaging. Can I say ‘WOW!’”

She is described as reliable, responsible and compassionate. Her team says this about her: “Jessie will do it and get it done.”

Her nomination for 2025 also includes an example of her going the extra mile for a patient with a health scare. The patient was apprehensive and had some fear and concern. Jessie promptly got the patient scheduled for an exam, made the patient comfortable, assisted the patient and created a positive patient experience. The patient compared Jessie’s actions to “moving mountains.”

Jessie’s nomination documents note she does this same compassionate and personalized service for all patients.

Congratulations Jessie, a two-time TMOM, an outstanding accomplishment!