A Look Back on My Five Years on the Island

I was walking on the island the other day, passing the construction site where the new Clinic of the Future is taking shape, when I stopped for a moment to take it all in. It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since I arrived on Gasparilla Island. What a journey it has been.

When I started as CEO in 2020, the world — and our island — looked very different. We were in the early days of the pandemic, and like so many organizations, we had to find our footing fast. The Clinic had closed its doors to patients, and the path forward wasn’t yet clear. But our team rallied. Together, we developed safety protocols, created new ways to deliver care, and launched drive-through vaccination clinics that became a model that built trust. Those many long months forged a deep connection between the Clinic and the community that continues to this day.

Since then, challenges have kept coming our way. We faced a historic hurricane season in 2022 with Ian, and then Helene and Milton back-to-back in 2024. Each storm brought new tests of endurance — and new examples of compassion and resilience. Our physicians were busy mending broken bones, tending to falls, bites, and scrapes — the kinds of injuries we see after every major storm. Even when power was out and access to the island was limited, our team made home visits and provided care wherever and however we could.

Over the years, we’ve not only rebuilt — we’ve advanced, earning accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) not once, but twice. Each time, the rigorous review affirmed that our quality, safety, and patient-care practices meet nationally recognized standards. Together, these milestones reflect our ongoing commitment to doing things the right way and continuously improving how we care for our patients.

We also improved governance. Clearer structures and roles, a forward-thinking strategic plan, and active committee work — including a board quality committee that reviews care monthly — have strengthened accountability and kept our focus squarely on our mission and patients.

This year, the launch of MyChart (Epic) marked another important advance. For patients, MyChart offers one secure place to see test results, visit summaries, and appointments — and to message our team. For physicians, Epic provides a unified, real-time view of each patient’s information and automates routine tasks, freeing more time for conversation, examination, and thoughtful care. And because many seasonal residents see doctors off-island, it helps us coordinate care when they’re away so things feel seamless.

As the Clinic of the Future nears, the promise of even better care is becoming reality. We’re expanding laboratory and imaging capabilities — including CT and ultrasound — for faster results and fewer trips off-island. A dedicated telehealth room will help patients and caregivers connect easily with specialists, while new negative-pressure exam rooms will further strengthen infection control. The onsite pharmacy will make filling prescriptions simpler and faster, just steps from your doctor. And dedicated space for physical, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy — complete with modern equipment and a hydrotherapy pool — will support recovery and wellness here at home. Together, these improvements will make it easier to get the care you need, when and where you need it — with the same personalized care and 24/7 access to a physician that our patients have always counted on.

We’ve weathered a pandemic, endured hurricanes, achieved national recognition, strengthened our governance, and laid the groundwork for the future of healthcare on this remarkable island. It has been the privilege of my career to serve this community and help guide the Clinic through these transformative years.

There are still challenges ahead, no doubt — and many more walks around the island. If you see me out there, lost in thought, I’m likely thinking about how to make the work ahead the very best it can be for our patients, our staff, and our island community — so please stop and say hello.

About the Author

Mark Driscoll

Chief Executive Officer

Mark began leading the Clinic’s operations in July 2020. He brings with him more than 30 years of healthcare experience in service line administration, practice management, managed care, and business development. His strengths as an entrepreneurial-minded, financially grounded executive with strong performance and achievement drive and exceptional team-building skills are invaluable in his role as […]