Florida State University Announces Plan to Build “FSU Health” Hospital in Panama City Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 26, 2025--

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe”) is excited to share that Florida State University (“FSU”) has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art acute care hospital in Panama City Beach under the “FSU Health” name to serve the residents of Bay and Walton counties. View the full release here: Florida State University News.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326670399/en/

“Access to quality healthcare is essential for the well-being of all residents in Northwest Florida,” said Jorge Gonzalez, Chairman, President and CEO of St. Joe. “FSU Health is meeting a critical need for more healthcare options in tandem with education and research opportunities for students, which is transformative for the region.”

“The new hospital is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and quality care to the community," FSU President Richard McCullough said. "We are creating a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the community's needs, support local physicians, and prioritize an outstanding patient experience, enhancing the overall health and well-being of our residents."

“Northwest Florida has long needed access to high-quality healthcare services,” said Florida State Senator Jay Trumbull. “For years, our communities have faced challenges related to limited healthcare infrastructure, provider shortages, and long travel times to receive specialized care. This has created a critical gap in meeting the needs of our growing and aging population. With the partners involved, we now have tremendous opportunities for collaboration in research, education, and clinical care—opportunities that I’m confident will not only improve health outcomes, but also strengthen the economic vitality and long-term well-being of Northwest Florida.”

Philip “Griff” Griffitts, Member of the Florida House of Representatives shared his support for the announcement. “As someone born and raised in Bay County, I recognize the increased need for additional medical care in our community and I’m incredibly grateful that FSU chose Panama City Beach as a foundation for expanding healthcare options and educational opportunities in Bay County and beyond.”

According to Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer, “Panama City Beach is a beautiful place to live and a wonderful place to visit. The new hospital, along with the primary and urgent care services now available, helps people enjoy life here with quality care close to home, while also creating local jobs and strengthening our year-round economy. It’s a huge win for the Beach, residents, and visitors.”

“Located in Panama City Beach but serving the greater Bay County area and beyond, the hospital will enhance and expand the medical services already available in the county,” said Doug Moore, Chairman of the Bay County Commissioners. “We are fortunate to have great medical facilities in Bay County and as our population and annual visitation continues to grow, so does the demand for more services and the need to supplement our existing healthcare system.”

According to the announcement, construction of the hospital is anticipated to begin soon with plans to be open in 2028.

About The St. Joe Company

The St. Joe Company (“Company”) is a diversified real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations in Northwest Florida. The Company intends to use existing assets for residential, hospitality and commercial ventures and has significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements. The Company actively seeks higher and better uses for its real estate assets through a range of development activities. More information about St. Joe can be found on its website at www.joe.com.

©2025 The St Joe Company. “ St. Joe ®,” “ JOE ®,” the “Taking Flight” Design ®, and “ St. Joe (and Taking Flight Design) ® ” are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company.

A rendering of the planned FSU Health Hospital in Panama City Beach, Florida.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Duke’s stream of long, tall NBA-ready standouts smothered Alabama and papered over Cooper Flagg’s rough shooting night to lift the Blue Devils to the program's 18th Final Four with an 85-65 victory Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament's East Region final.

Flagg made only 6 of 16 shots, including a brick that got stuck in the flange of the rim, but still finished with 16 points. Kon Knueppel, another potential lottery pick, led the Blue Devils with 21 points.

But the most important stat: Alabama's nation-leading offense, one coming off a record-setting night from 3 in the Sweet 16, failed to crack 70 points for only the second time this season.

The Crimson Tide's 35.4% shooting from the floor was their worst all season and their 25% from behind the arc (8 for 32) matched their fourth-worst showing of 2024-25.

Mark Sears, who came one short of a tournament record with 10 3s two nights earlier, finished with one and only six points against the Blue Devils (35-3), who won their 15th straight.

At the Final Four in San Antonio, top-seeded Duke will play the winner of Sunday's game between Houston and Tennessee. Its win erased any chance of an all-Southeastern Conference show at the Final Four, but with No. 1 Florida winning earlier, it kept alive the prospect of all four top seeds playing on the sport’s biggest stage for only the second time.

Khaman Maluach scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Duke shot 53.6% despite its best player’s rough night.

Flagg was hardly bad in this one. He had nine rebounds, three assists and one mega-block that sent Mouhammed Dioubate's floater flying over press row.

But in a game in which both teams were focused on taking away the other’s best player, it was Duke that did it more effectively, switching off on Sears, locking down the perimeter and never letting him find breathing room.

The fifth-year senior's first bucket of any kind came nearly 18 minutes into the game and the shot was a 16-footer from the elbow — the exact kind of midrange shot Nate Oats’ team of dunkers and 3-point specialists avoids.

Sears’ first 3 came with 16:19 left in the game. His final line: 2 for 12 from the floor, 1 for 5 from 3. He also had six assists. Labaron Philon led the second-seeded Crimson Tide (28-9) with 16 points. Not a single Alabama player made more shots than he missed.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer, leading the program to the Final Four for the first time since his predecessor Mike Krzyzewski’s last season in 2022, has up to six NBA prospects on his roster.

They all chipped in on offense — Tyrese Proctor had 17 points — and even moreso on defense, where Alabama looked nothing like the team that set tournament records for makes and attempts by going 25 for 51 from 3 against BYU.

The only other Final Four to feature all No. 1 seeds was in 2008 when Kansas, Memphis, UCLA and North Carolina made it. The site: San Antonio.

It wasn’t a totally lost night for Tide fans. Shortly before tipoff, the Alabama women’s wheelchair hoops team beat Texas-Arlington 67-52 for its fifth straight national championship.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Alabama's Grant Nelson (4) dunks the ball in front of Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) in the first half of an Elite Eight round NCAA college basketball tournament game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)