Shands Jacksonville’s Eastside Family Practice Center bears a new name celebrating the life and legacy of Elizabeth Means, who passed away on Jan. 27, 2011. Means launched her nursing career at Shands Jacksonville in 1966 and by 1994 she had worked her way up the ranks to vice president of Community Affairs.
More than 100 family, friends and former colleagues attended a special dedication ceremony on Tuesday, May 10 to witness the renaming of the center to the Elizabeth G. Means Community Health Center, located at 1155 E. 21st St. The center is staffed by University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville faculty physicians.
During her 41-year tenure with Shands Jacksonville, Means played a vital role in numerous initiatives throughout the community. She was best known for her creative approach to community service and health education, and was responsible for Jacksonville’s first neighborhood primary care facility, the Shands Jacksonville Wellness and Education Center at The Oaks at Durkeeville. Her goal was to provide access to quality healthcare for everyone in Jacksonville. Even after she retired in 2007, Means served in an advisory capacity to help continue the growth of the many programs she started.
To keep Means’ legacy alive, a memorial fund has been established to support free prescriptions for the uninsured and underserved at Shands Jacksonville’s disparity clinics. Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so by visiting www.shandsgiving.org/means. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the Means family recognizing contributions.