Tampa General Hospital Leadership Named to List of Tampa Bay’s Most Influential Business Leaders

The academic health system’s president and CEO, chief academic officer and several of its board members are recognized for contributing to a positive and successful local economy through innovative initiatives.

Tampa, FL (March 27, 2025) – John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center, which comprises a portfolio of organizations, including Tampa General Hospital (TGH), Dr. Charles Lockwood, executive vice president and chief academic officer at Tampa General, the executive vice president of USF Health, and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM), and several members of the Tampa General board have been named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Power 100 list for 2025, including Drew Graham, board chair; Blake Casper, vice-chair, treasurer, finance & nominating committee chair; Gregory Celestan, corporate secretary, audit & compliance committee chair; Oscar Horton, USF appointee (ex-officio); and T. Corey Neil, investment committee chair.

The Power 100 identifies Tampa Bay’s most influential leaders, who are driving change and shaping the business landscape. Their inclusion underscores their collective leadership in transforming health care delivery and fostering innovation across the industry.

“Through disruption and transformation, we’re defining a new standard of health care in Tampa Bay. And that would not be possible without the wisdom of our leaders, the collaboration of our team and the willingness of the community,” said Couris. “I am proud to be recognized alongside Dr. Lockwood and an impressive slate of our board members, each of whom has played an integral role in strengthening our unique value proposition as the region’s only university-affiliated academic health system.”

Under this team’s leadership and guidance, Tampa General has achieved national recognition for exceptional patient care and team member experience. Accolades include being named the #1 hospital in Tampa Bay, #3 in Florida and a top 100 hospital nationally by Newsweek for 2025; the #1 hospital in Tampa Bay, #2 in Florida and a top 50 hospital nationally by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025; and a Tampa Bay Business Journal 2024 Inno Award for its innovative TGH at Home program.

Tampa General is spearheading the development of the Tampa Medical & Research District, a burgeoning health care ecosystem poised to become a global leader in clinical care, research and biotechnology. In partnership with USF Health and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, this initiative is projected to generate billions of dollars in economic impact and create thousands of jobs across the region.

“I am proud to be part of an exceptional team whose collective commitment to delivering world-class care is fueling unprecedented growth and directly translating into better outcomes for our patients,” said Graham. “Under John’s leadership, and with support from our board, Tampa General has established a culture built on shared values – authenticity, kindness, transparency, vulnerability and empathy – that yields results, and we see the positive effects of that culture reverberating throughout our region.”

The Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 list is curated by an internal team that assesses several traits, including leadership status, philanthropic endeavors and business savvy. The list recognizes Tampa Bay’s most disruptive, innovative leaders who have a positive, long-term economic impact on the region.

Couris, Lockwood, Graham, Casper, Celestan, Horton, Neil and the complete 2025 Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 honorees are profiled here.