Tampa VA and DOD Uniting Under One Roof: Sabal Park Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Located just five minutes east of Hillsborough County’s Veterans Memorial Park, the clinic now shares space with the MacDill Air Force Base, 6th Medical Group and Tampa Bay Vet Center.

To make health care more accessible to Veterans, the clinic offers a range of services including mental health, primary care, dietetics and more. By being co-located, services are streamlined and Veterans will not face interruptions in care due personnel changes. Altogether, the facility supports military personnel, Veterans, and their families.

“Our bottom line is to provide the finest care of America’s Veterans, military personnel and their families,” said David Dunning, JAHVH executive director. “The best interest of the all the people we will service is at the heart of this innovation and in the teamwork of each employee.”

Attendees of the ceremony included the keynote speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Veterans Integrated Service Network 8’s Director David B. Isaacks and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Edward Cutolo and Defense Health Network Central Director Maj. Gen. Thomas Harrell. The director and commander of the 6th Medical Group, Col. Erich Schroeder, the commander of 6th Air Refueling Wing were also in attendance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by retired Maj. Gen. James Hartsell, the director of the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs.

“As the Veteran population continues to increase in the Tampa Bay area, it’s imperative that we continue to connect Veterans to the best health care – as close to home as possible,” said Dr. Elnahal. “This expansion means access to work-class care for Veterans, and there’s nothing more important than that.”

The Sabal Park clinic is a healthcare facility that is currently occupied by the 6th Medical Group and Tampa VA that provide services for enrolled beneficiaries, retirees, and Veterans. The Tampa VA provides primary care, mental health counseling, social work aid and dietary guidance for the Veterans, whereas the 6th Medical group provides Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Immunizations, Laboratory, basic radiology, and limited pharmacy services for service members and their beneficiaries. The clinic is unique because among the two agencies that share the 31,000 square foot facility, Veterans with dual eligibility can be seen by providers without gaps in their care.

“I’m excited for the population of Veterans served by the collective of medical professionals gathered for our common goals,” said Dunning. “I commend the great work they’re doing and look forward to being a part of what’s to come.”

For more information about Sabal Park VA clinic, visit: www.va.gov/tampa-health-care/locations/sabal-park-va-clinic/