Philanthropists Pam and Les Muma announced a gift of $2 million to create a new women’s health center as a part of a new $15 million gift to the University of South Florida. The announcement was made at the billion-dollar USF: Unstoppable fundraising campaign celebration held Nov. 11 at the Amalie Arena.

A new transformative gift by Pam and Les Muma added an exclamation point to the billion-dollar USF: Unstoppable fundraising campaign milestone. Part of that $15 million gift will fund  a new women’s health center at USF Health.

The Pamela Muma Women’s Health Center at the USF Health South Tampa Center for Advanced Healthcare will open in 2018 to provide one-stop, concierge health services including annual visits, specialty care, lab services, screenings, nutritional and exercise consultations, and other health-related services in a comfortable clinical environment.

“I feel this is a godsend to all women,” said Pam Muma, who first envisioned the center and has worked with USF Health Care over the past two years to bring it to reality. “It’s been a dream of mine, a passion, to build a center of excellence that will treat the primary health care needs of women of all ages in a relaxing and comforting setting. This will provide annual physicals in one facility, where diagnostics and imaging can be done in one day, and most importantly, with the same-day results.”

Members of the Muma Women’s Health Center will have access to nurse navigators and physicians via text, email or telemedicine, with same-day or next-day appointments for urgent needs.

“Pam’s leadership in creating this center has been just incredible,” said Rich Sobieray, CEO of USF Health Care. “In my career, I’ve never worked with someone outside the health care profession who has been so dedicated to improving the patient experience. Pam has already given so much of her personal time and energy to her vision, and now to see her and Les make such a significant gift to bring this to life…it’s amazing.”

Pam and Les Muma

Pam thanked Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, for encouraging her to pursue the idea in conjunction with his patient care leadership team.

“That gave me the confidence to go for it,” said Pam Muma, who was involved in hiring Dr. Emily Haly as the center’s physician director. Dr. Haly will join USF Health in December.

In 2006, the Mumas donated $6 million to endow the Pamela and Leslie Muma Chair in Neonatology and fund the Lisa Muma Weitz neonatal research laboratory at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and to build the state-of-the-art Jennifer Leigh Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tampa General Hospital, which is staffed by USF Health physicians and fellows.

“When Pam sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, she doesn’t hesitate,” said Dr. Lockwood. “So many newborn lives have been saved or improved as a result of the Mumas’ past giving to USF’s neonatology program. We are beyond grateful for her and Les and for this new investment.”

“Pam’s vision will help USF provide outstanding care to women in a unique manner, creating synergy between providers and patients that will further advance the health care quality for all women,” said Cathy Lynch, MD, associate vice president of women’s health at USF Health. Dr. Lynch noted that USF Women’s Health will recognize Pam Muma with its “Remark-a-Bull” award for advocacy and support for women’s health at its annual Women’s Health Collaborative luncheon on May 8, 2018, at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC.

Above and below: Conceptual renderings of the Pamela Muma Women’s Health Center

-Story by Davina Gould, USF Health Development and Alumni Relations