Jacksonville, Fla. – Shands Jacksonville and the University of Florida are pleased to announce the construction of a new facility offering healthcare services to the eastside of Jacksonville. The 12,000 square-foot family practice center will be located on the corner of 21st Street and Phoenix Avenue. The new center will be the first of its kind in the eastside area of the city. Local news media are invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eastside Family Practice Center on Friday, July 12, 2002, at 11:00 a.m.
The Eastside Family Practice Center is funded through a Community Development Block Grant administered by the City of Jacksonville Planning and Development Department’s Community Development Division. A grant in the amount of $254,553 was awarded to Shands Jacksonville for land acquisition and pre-construction costs. An additional $950,000 was awarded for construction of a 7,000 square-foot stand-alone facility. Another 5,000 square feet is planned for phase two.
Under the direction of Eric Stewart, M.D., a UF assistant professor of family medicine, and Elizabeth Means, Shands Jacksonville’s vice president of community relations, the center will offer a variety of medical services, including physical exams, gynecologic exams, pediatric care, cancer screenings, treatment of minor injuries and ailments, and management of chronic illnesses.
Otis L. Story, Sr., interim president and CEO of Shands Jacksonville, said, “we are dedicated to providing quality healthcare, not only on the Shands Jacksonville campus, but throughout the city at our many family practice locations and free screening centers. This new center will offer healthcare from expert University of Florida physicians in a convenient location for those living on the eastside of Jacksonville.”
“We’ve worked very hard to make this new practice a reality and it’s rewarding to know that medical services will be offered to a community with such needs. I work very hard to service all the people,” said Pat Lockett-Felder, Jacksonville City Council, District 7.
The Eastside Family Practice Center is being designed by Gresham, Smith and Partners. Estimated completion of the first phase is scheduled for February 2003.