Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital To Announce Major Gift to Polk State Colleg

Who: Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital and Polk State College
What: Announcement of a major gift from the hospital to the college
When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Where: The main lobby of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, 4000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland, FL
Who should attend: The media is invited. Check in at 8:45 a.m.
RSVP to Kimberly Moore at 863-944-2915 or kimberly.moore@orlandohealth.com
 
LAKELAND (September 18, 2026) –– Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital and Polk State College on Tuesday, September 22, will announce a transformational educational partnership that will shape the future of healthcare in Central Florida.
Together, the two institutions are working to close the healthcare education gap, meet critical healthcare workforce needs and build a healthier, more prosperous future for Polk County –– a legacy that will last for generations.
Journalists are invited to attend the announcement. Please, park in designated media parking. (See Map)
About Orlando Health: Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $15 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 24, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Watson Clinic: As one of the largest multispecialty medical clinics in the southeast, Watson Clinic provides comprehensive healthcare services to residents of Lakeland and surrounding communities. First established in 1941, Watson Clinic has grown to include over 200 board-certified physicians representing more than 40 medical and surgical specialties. The Clinic is proud to deliver quality healthcare to every generation from our 21 convenient locations throughout Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. More information is available at www.WatsonClinic.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Polk State College: Established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 20,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as a wide range of certificate and workforce training options. The College also operates three charter high schools. The college has campuses in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow and Lake Wales, with a new campus being built in the Haines City-Davenport area