History

A History of James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics

The talk of a VA hospital in Central Florida began more than 90 years ago when planners proposed Temple Terrace as part of the site selection process. Alternately they chose Bay Pines, then known as Seminole Point in Saint Petersburg for Tampa bay's first Veterans hospital, which opened in 1933.  It wasn't until the 1960s that the need for a second VA hospital was discussed and another decade beyond that for the Tampa Veterans hospital to see its first patient. The journey that brought us here is a story of striving for excellence and delivering the best health care to Veterans in the Tampa Bay area. That drive for excellence continues to define James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics as we plan for the future.

1966

Thanks to some aggressive action on the part of representative Sam Gibson's, Tampa seems assured of a new, 720 bed Veterans administration hospital to be built on a site adjacent to the University of South Florida.

Tampa was once again put forth as a possible site for a new hospital, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion. The measure passed the house easily and was expected to do the same in the Senate. It took two more years to get final approval and the construction process to begin. Choosing this site next to the new university kept with the VA's preference for locating new hospitals near medical schools. By providing the VA hospital as motivation, the USF medical school that was in discussion for just as long was allowed to move forward as well.

When the first staff were hired, Fowler was just a small, two-lane road with only a few businesses. The outside of the hospital was complete, but the inside was still a shell. A small area had been completed to allow for these first employees to begin the many tasks of setting up a hospital from scratch. Every night, the small group had to leave by 4:30 as the night security for the site consisted of two large Dobermans who took their job very seriously.

1968

It's taken more than 30 years to get a VA hospital in Tampa, but final approvals finally came in 1968. Construction started in November of that year and encountered numerous problems, such as sinkholes filled with lots of concrete and additions to the original plan which all added up to almost a year of delays. The construction was finally considered complete in March of 1972, with the first patients arriving in late August that year. Medical students from the also brand-new USF medical school worked alongside VA physicians from the very beginning, even utilizing VA research facilities into the USF buildings were completed.

1970

After more than four years of construction, played with delays, the Tampa VA finally began taking shape. Once things were running smoothly, the hospital came together quickly. One of the most notable departments of the hospital was the spinal cord injury ward. Previously, injured Veterans would have to travel to Miami or Atlanta for specialized treatment. The first employees were hired in 1971, working as a small group out of what is now the library areas in audiology. This group, along with others to come in the next year, were responsible for turning a brand-new building into a functional hospital. Many of these first employees spent most, if not all of their careers at the Tampa Veterans hospital.

1972

The first inpatient unit was activated on August 21st, 1972. This is generally considered “Opening day” for the Tampa Veterans hospital. The formal dedication took place later that fall, on October 7, 1972. The official dedication was covered by the Tampa tribune. Early on, the clinical staff had little work to do with minimal Veterans on sight. New nurses were taken by bus to Bay Pines every day for training, as there were not enough patients, to train them in Tampa. All doctors took turns on night and weekend calls, since there were no residents to take on that duty yet. This “Hands-on” healthcare delivery to hospitalized patients and instilled a strong sense of identification with the new hospital, a connection that continues today. As the operation of the hospital went on, with many large projects in our urban areas, problems arose that required reworking wards, expanding departments and even moving entire departments around. Such revisions continue today, all in the name of providing the very best care for Veterans.

1970s (72-79)

The brand new, state-of-the-art Tampa Veterans hospital provided care for Veterans across Central Florida, stretching from Tampa to Orlando and north to Pasco County. In contrast to the older Bay Pines, Tampa Veterans hospital did not have large patient wards, instead opting for two to four patient rooms. Private rooms were available as well. One of the major goals of the hospital with emphasis on the spinal cord injury (SCI) unit was to help Veterans learn how to live and thrive within their new physical restrictions. Non-medical therapies such as arts and crafts were one way the staff kept spirits high. Another notable aspect of the SCI unit was an apartment setting, equipped for Veterans and their family members to practice everyday tasks in a controlled setting before being discharged.

1980s

Visitors to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital throughout the years have been numerous and varied. Celebrities, national heroes, and many others have graced the halls of the hospital. Astronaut Millie Hughes-Fulford was NASA's first female payload specialist to go into orbit, and the first woman who was not a professional astronaut. She also traveled on the shuttle Columbia in 1991. She was the first astronaut to represent the VA, as she was working as a Molecular biologist at the San Francisco VA.

1982

Ten years in the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital had only grown and the 10th anniversary was celebrated with an eye to the future. Staff and volunteers were asked to rededicate themselves for another 10 years to the same spirit of care, concern and compassion on behalf of patients throughout the first ten years. Just the year before, the Veterans Administration celebrated its 50th anniversary. The hospital celebrated with a dedication of the avenue of flags in front of the hospital. 

After 10 years of operations, looking forward to the next decade involved several expansion projects for the hospital. First on the list was a nursing home, now called Haley’s Cove or the Community Living Center. Other additions planned would expand the hospital to over 1000 beds in various departments, making it one of the largest in Florida, possibly overtaking Miami upon completion of the various projects.

1984

The nursing home had been in the works since the beginning of the hospital planning, and groundbreaking finally took place in January of 1983. Dedicated in November 1984, the new nursing home was designed to be as home-like as possible, with recreational activities and resident lounges that allow residents some freedom in their day-to-day activities. Many social activities are also planned, with weekly socials as well as holiday celebrations.

1986

The Tampa VA always looked for ways to improve how we care for our Veterans, including bringing in the latest in teaching technologies such as “Harvey” the cardiac patient.  A JAHVH nurse received a grant for her work with “Harvey” and the USF medical students that come through the hospital. JAHVH was also the first hospital in Tampa to inflate a computer-controlled pacemaker.

1988

JAHVH has sponsored many different events throughout the years. A Tampa based wheelchair sports team challenged those who do not rely on a wheelchair to roll a mile in their chairs.  An obstacle course was set up to allow participants to experience what those in wheelchairs deal with on a daily basis and how important it is to provide accessibility for everyone.

From the beginning, USF and James a Haley Veterans’ Hospital have been ideologically linked and in 1988 they were finally physically linked, removing the need to try and cross the busy Bruce B. downs Boulevard. This walkway was years in the making; looking to reduce the danger faced by those who moved back and forth between the institutions.

1989

 James A. Haley staff always strive to provide the best possible care for Veterans with a deep sense of caring and dedication. Nurses demonstrated this by winning the hospitals “Hands and Hearts” award. 

1990s

The 1990s were a time of change and advancement for the world, and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital was no exception. Innovation is central to ensure that Central Florida Veterans receive the best care.  James A. Haley is always looking for ways to better serve our patients. Offering new procedures that reduce recovery time from surgery while still addressing the issue is one area of innovation. 

New technology assisted doctors in learning, allowing students to become familiar with anatomy before interacting with patients. This gives students much greater confidence when they do work with patients. The hospital was the first in the VA to implement a telemedicine service, allowing doctors to connect with patients and reduce hospital visits for routine appointments. Telemedicine provides convenience and increased access to health care, especially for patients with mobility issues or who live a great distance from the hospital or clinics. With the Gulf War spinning up, the hospital was called to be ready to receive stable wounded from MacDill Air Force Base should hospitals in Europe become crowded.

1991

As the hospital's mission and patient population continue to grow, it needed to physically grow as well. JAHVH moved into the new Millennium with big plans.  Included in these plans were an entirely new building for the Spinal Cord Injury Center, a power plant to help the hospital become more self-sufficient, a huge addition to the surgery wing and a parking garage to help alleviate some of the parking woes that plagued the hospital for years. It would take more than six years for everything to be completed.

1998

The first step in the major expansion of James A. Haley Veteran's hospital was the addition of a Power Plant. This allowed cost savings, as well as insurance against power outages that could impact patient care due to the hospital having to rely much less on Tampa city power grid.

The addition of a power plant also looked toward future expansion, allowing JAHVH to power new buildings independent of the city's power grid. Generating power independently is important because hospitals can use more than twice the amount of electricity of an office building of the same size. 24/7 operations include running energy-intensive medical and lab equipment, laundry, food services, refrigeration, sterilization machines, computers and computer servers.

2001

Starting in 2001, the JAHVH nursing staff was awarded the Magnet Designation by the American nurses credentialing center. This award recognizes healthcare organizations that truly value their nursing staff, or in the words of the ANCC, “Organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nurses’ strategic goals to improve the organization's patient outcomes is most important.” JAHVH Nursing has maintained this award since 2001, including multiple Magnet Prize awards for exemplary innovations.

2002

Starting in the early 2000s, James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital began expanding, looking towards the future of the hospital. Multiple construction projects were finalized and moved into the construction phase. This was the only the beginning of JAHVH growth, with many more projects to come. In this same time frame, the Orlando VA was separated from the James A Haley system into its own VA hospital system.

2007

Groundbreaking for the first JAHVH Fisher House took place in 2005, the ninth such facility to be built at a VA hospital. Opening in 2007, the Fisher House provides no cost lodging to family members of those being treated at the hospital, both active-duty military and Veterans.

2008

The first expansion of the Spinal Cord Injury Center of JAHVH was the addition of a new long term care wing with equipment designed to help Veterans in long term care live more comfortably.

2009

Thanks to his efforts to secure funding for the expansion of the James A. Haley Spinal Cord Injury Center, the center was dedicated to congressman Michael Bilirakis. Congressman Bilirakis served from 1983 to 2007 and again in 2025.

James A Haley Veterans Hospital was awarded the prestigious Carey Performance Excellence Award, as well as designation as a Magnet Hospital; the first VA hospital to be recognized as such, and only of only 324 worldwide. JAHVH received this award for the programs here that improve the lives of Veterans every day in the staff that embraced the mission of honoring America's Veterans by providing exceptional healthcare every day, every step of the way. The Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program is the largest in the VA, and the only one accredited multiple times by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. It is also one of six in the US and the only VA program designated as a Clinical Center of Excellence by the American Pain Society.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Awards are presented to recognize organizations that have demonstrated performance excellence in seven areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, knowledge management, workforce resource focus, process management, and results.

The award is dedicated to the late Robert W. Carey who as the Director of the Veterans Affairs regional office and insurance Center in Philadelphia, PA, was recognized as a quality leader and champion for excellence in the federal government.

2011

Being the busiest VA in the nation, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital has always had issues of not having enough parking. So much so that even in the mid-1990's the Tampa Tribune was running stories on the difficulty of finding a parking space during peak times. Over the years, land was purchased for parking, expanding the JAHVH campus, but with all the new construction projects upcoming, parking was about to be at even more of a premium. Finally, in 2011 a parking garage was added at the southwest corner of the campus that added 1,500 spaces of parking, both regular and handicapped.

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Spinal Cord Injury Center opened in 2002 as one of the four Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation centers in the VA, but it quickly became apparent that to continue providing the very best care, more room was needed. Construction began in 2010 on the second and third floors, continuing the expansion from 2008 that added a long-term care wing to the SCI. The new addition included more patient rooms, gathering spaces such as Main Street, and more potential activities for rehabilitation such as a climbing wall, dedicated state-of-the-art physical therapy spaces, and spaces for technology-based therapies such as virtual reality. The addition also added a therapy pool area and outdoor space with basketball hoops, a putting green and various surfaces to help patients proactively practice movement in different situations.

2013

Tampa and JAHVH were proud to host the 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games in 2013. The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the world's largest annual wheelchair sports event solely for military Veterans, started by the VA in 1981. Through adaptive sports, the games helped Veterans become more active in their lives and communities and made them more willing to take on challenges in the spirit of opportunity rather than limitation. The games have expanded over the years, starting with 7 events and less than 100 athletes in 1981. The 2022 games in Arizona had 22 events and more than 500 athletes participated.

2014

With the official dedication and opening of the second and third floors, JAHVH got a chance to demonstrate the wide range of rehabilitation offerings in the newly expanded Spinal Cord Injury Center. The ribbon cutting for the newly expanded center celebrated the opening of the aquatic therapy pools, the rock-climbing wall and the SCI Basketball court which included a courtyard, a putting green and a multi service practice area for Veterans. 

2017

April 7, 2017 - Hospital leadership and community partners, including congresswoman Kathy Castor and Colonel Thomas Wilford, Deputy Commander of the 6th Medical Group at MacDill Air Force Base, kicked off construction with a groundbreaking ceremony for the second Fisher House.

2018

July 31, 2018 – New Bed Tower Groundbreaking Ceremony. The groundbreaking ceremony kicks off a three-year construction project for the hospital’s new Bed Tower. This project is the first of its kind in which the VA is partnering with the US Army Corps of Engineers and marks an important new phase of our expansion. It is located on the main campus adjacent to the Community Living Center (Haley’s Cove) adding approximately 245,000 square feet over 4 floors. Other features include 96 medical-surgical and 40 ICU single patient rooms, a new Canteen with an outdoor dining area, and a healing garden to provide a calm outdoor space for everyone to enjoy. 

2019

February 27, 2019 – Fisher House II Dedication Ceremony. This home will provide lodging for an additional 16 families of Veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved ones at the most stressful time – during their hospitalization at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. 

2020

Every two years JAHVH works with Hillsborough County, the Air National Guard, and other organizations to put on a full-scale emergency exercise focused on assisting other areas with evacuees impacted by natural disaster. In these exercises mannequins and live actors are “triaged” and sent to local hospitals for treatment. James A. Haley is designated as a Federal Coordinating Center, which is a federal facility - either Department of Defense or VA - located in a major metropolitan area that is responsible for receiving, triaging, staging, tracking and transporting patients affected by a disaster or national emergency.

COVID

COVID-19 changed a lot about how JAHVH approached everyday situations. #TeamTampa came together and faced the situation head on. Procedures were quickly put into place to protect Veterans and staff. The procedures were adapted as new information was available, ensuring that JAHVH remained a safe place to receive health care but even our most vulnerable Veterans. As vaccines became available, JAHVH led the distribution efforts, including more than 35,000 vaccines in partnership with Hillsborough County and USF.

2021

In 2021, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) awarded 19 JAHVH services with a three-year accreditation - the highest possible accreditation that a (CARF) awardee could receive. CARF accreditation signals a service provider's commitment to continually improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. CARF accreditation recognizes organizations through a consultative peer-review process that demonstrates their commitment to the continuous improvement of their programs and services with a focus on the needs and outcomes of the person's served. CARF was formed in 1966 by the Association of Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) and the National Association of Sheltered Workshops and Homebound Programs (NASWHP) to help set a standard for rehabilitation programs. CARF has accredited more than 60,000 rehabilitation programs worldwide and has worked with the VA to continually improve services since 1997.

March 2021 – Having proved its resolve as an efficient distributor of vaccines, JAHVH was asked to partner with Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Health to expand its operations to include non-VA patients.

2022

April 19, 2022 - Temple Terrace VA Clinic Groundbreaking Ceremony.  The groundbreaking ceremony kicks off the construction project that will consolidate multiple Mental Health programs into one 137,000 square foot facility in Temple Terrace. Services provided will include a full range of outpatient care including substance abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and treatment of a wide array of general mental health conditions. The facility will include a 30-bed residential substance abuse program that will offer detox and comprehensive treatment. The design of the building is intended to offer this care in an inviting environment that will include healing garden, passive meditation walkway as well as basketball courts, and grills in the community spaces associated with the residential areas. 

April 22, 2022 – Lakeland VA Clinic Groundbreaking Ceremony. The groundbreaking ceremony kicks off the two-year construction project that will consolidate and expand the current VA facilities in Lakeland. When completed, the clinic will feature 92,600 square feet of new usable space. Benefits to patients include increased access to Primary Care, increased access to Mental Health care, audiology, an eye clinic, specialty clinics including Podiatry and Home Oxygen, Prosthetics, and Physical Therapy.

August 21, 2022 - The 50th anniversary of the James A. Haley Veterans hospital was celebrated. The last time a milestone was commemorated was the 25th anniversary in 1997. From the beginning, JAHVH has always endeavored to deliver high-quality health care to Veterans in the Tampa Bay area.  We continually strive to advance our operations in the service of our nation’s heroes. We embrace continuous improvement.  We look forward to serving Veterans in Tampa Bay for another 50 years and beyond.

November 2022 – Emily Skjerve, an innovation specialist at the hospital, was named Central Florida Employee of the Year for Innovation for her contributions to veteran services.

2023

January 21, 2023 – New Bed Tower Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  The ribbon cutting marks the culmination of Tampa VA’s construction project that began in 2018. The Bed Tower is a four-story building that adds 245,000 square feet of new space and another 5,000 square feet of renovated space to the hospital. It includes 96 medical-surgical single patient rooms and 40 intensive care unit beds. The Bed Tower also includes a new cafeteria, outdoor dining area and retail store, as well as assorted support offices.

November 2023 – The Robotics and Advanced Technology Center, opened Apr 2022, had treated ~50 veterans to help restore mobility through robotic therapy.

2024

Jan 19, 2024 – Temple Terrace VA Clinic Ribbon Cutting.  The ribbon cutting ceremony completes the construction project that consolidates multiple Mental Health programs into one 137,000 square foot facility in Temple Terrace. Services provided will include a full range of outpatient care including substance abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and treatment of a wide array of general mental health conditions. The facility will include a 30-bed residential substance abuse program that will offer detox and comprehensive treatment. The design of the building is intended to offer this care in an inviting environment that will include healing garden, passive meditation walkway as well as basketball courts, and grills in the community spaces associated with the residential areas. 

May 13, 2024 – Sable Park Clinic Grand Opening.  The partnership will address the escalating demand for health care services in South Hillsborough County to meet Veteran needs. The clinic intends to expand its offerings to encompass laboratory services, pharmacy consultations, nutritional support, and social work assistance. The clinic will serve Veterans in metro Tampa and surrounding areas of Hillsborough County.

Jul 26, 2024 –Lakeland VA Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ribbon cutting ceremony completes the two-year construction project that consolidates and expands the current VA facilities in Lakeland. The new clinic has 121,000 square feet of new usable space. Benefits to patients include increased access to Primary Care, increased access to Mental Health Care, Audiology, an Eye Clinic, Pharmacy, X-Ray, Mammography, and many specialty clinics including Podiatry and Home Oxygen, Prosthetics, and Physical Therapy.

Oct 2024 – The hospital activated its Incident Command System during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, safeguarding patients and staff through coordinated emergency response.

2025

April 2025 – Introduced Accure laser treatment for severe acne, expanding dermatology services.

April 24, 2025 – Conducted a mass-casualty preparedness exercise to test surge capacity.

May 2025 – Hosted a 100-Year VA Research Celebration, focused on AI, innovation, and honoring researchers. It included poster exhibits, education sessions, and AI-focused panels. Dr. Risa Richardson received the William Fields Caveness Award for brain-injury research.

July 31, 2025 – Hosted Military Day at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp, honoring Veterans and staff.

August 22–24, 2025 – Hosted Veterans Health Hackathon with Microsoft and MIT, using generative AI and de-identified VA data to prototype veteran-care solutions.

2026

June 27 – July 2, 2026 – James A. Haley will host the 40th National Veterans Golden Age Games in Tampa.