In the Heart of the Highlands
Explore a New Regional Hub for Healthcare Combining a Local Staple with a Statewide Leader
PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE
Carlos Carrasco walked through the sun-drenched corridors of the nearly complete Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital in early May, his energy was palpable. He doesn’t just see tile, glass and high-tech life-saving devices; he sees the future “moments that are really important” for the Lakeland community.
Pausing near a state-of-the-art nursing station, he gestures toward the expansive views of the 77-acre campus. “You don’t have to do this work—you get to do this work,” he says, his eyes lighting up as he describes the spaces where doctors, nurses and physicians will soon provide life-changing care in a brand new 558,223 square-foot facility located just south of the Polk Parkway.
For Carlos, president of the new hospital and also senior vice president of the mid-Florida region for Orlando Health, these rooms represent more than just clinical excellence—they are the stages for celebrations, for the relief of pain and for supporting families during their most challenging moments.
A VISION MULTIPLIED
This landmark project, situated prominently off the Polk Parkway at 4000 Lakeland Highlands Rd., has been more than eight years in the making. What began as a concept for a 100-bed facility evolved into something far more significant.
When the decision was made for Orlando Health to enter into a formal partnership with Watson Clinic, a multispeciality medical group founded in Lakeland in 1941, it became a turning point to develop the facility into a 306-bed acute-care facility that can easily handle even greater development in years to come thanks to future-forward engineering.
Carlos views the partnership with Watson Clinic as a “one plus one equals three” scenario, where the combined strengths of Orlando Health’s optimized systems and Watson Clinic’s deep community roots and stable of well-known specialists create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The seven-story, two tower hospital represents one of the largest investments in Polk County in a quarter century, and it shares the property with the brand new 80,000 square foot Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center.
This facility will house many of Watson Clinic’s most popular specialties, including cardiology, general surgery, hand surgery, OB-GYN, orthopaedia surgery & sports medicine, pediatrics, podiatric surgery and urology.
Carlos Carrasco, President of Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, and Senior VP of the Mid-Florida Region for Orlando Health
This landmark project, situated prominently off the Polk Parkway at 4000 Lakeland Highlands Rd., has been more than eight years in the making. What began as a concept for a 100-bed facility evolved into something far more significant.
When the decision was made for Orlando Health to enter into a formal partnership with Watson Clinic, a multispeciality medical group founded in Lakeland in 1941, it became a turning point to develop the facility into a 306-bed acute-care facility that can easily handle even greater development in years to come thanks to future-forward engineering.
Carlos views the partnership with Watson Clinic as a “one plus one equals three” scenario, where the combined strengths of Orlando Health’s optimized systems and Watson Clinic’s deep community roots and stable of well-known specialists create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The seven-story, two tower hospital represents one of the largest investments in Polk County in a quarter century, and it shares the property with the brand new 80,000 square foot Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center.
This facility will house many of Watson Clinic’s most popular specialties, including cardiology, general surgery, hand surgery, OB-GYN, orthopaedia surgery & sports medicine, pediatrics, podiatric surgery and urology.
NAVIGATING THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
The healthcare sector in Polk County is more dynamic—and more competitive—than ever, with several longtime providers expanding their footprints and new players entering the market. Carlos acknowledges this shifting landscape, noting the influx of freestanding emergency departments and plans from other major systems. However, his strategy for Orlando Health is clear: focus on your own race.
“You can get really tied up thinking about what everybody else is doing,” Carlos explains. “But the growth of inpatient beds hasn’t matched the growth of the county”.
According to a report from the Florida Department of Health published in 2023, Polk County was in the third quartile (worst-performing half) of all counties in Florida for the number of physicians per 10,000 population.
Orlando Health tries to set itself apart by leaning into “intentionality.” Carrasco said their interview processes involve a lot of crossover from different departments because the hospital is really hiring for “shared purposes,” and they are consistently creating specialized programs that meet specific gaps in the community.
The new hospital marks Orlando Health’s 14th hospital in Florida. The organization also operates hospitals in Alabama and Puerto Rico, as well as specialty institutes, medical centers and free-standing emergency departments. The private non-profit dubs itself an “integrated academic healthcare system” and manages approximately $14 billion in assets.
SPECIALIZED CARE FOR THE REGION
The hospital is designed to fill critical gaps in local care, focusing on what Carlos calls “hearts, brains and babies.” This is not to say these services do not exist through other care providers, it just recognizes the reality that more beds and more specialized care for Lakelanders is a must with its growing population. The new facility includes:
Women’s and Children’s Care: Featuring eight labor and delivery beds, 28 post-partum beds, and a 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the hospital taps into the expertise of its Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.
Advanced Diagnostics: The campus houses a state-of-the-art diagnostic and testing laboratory and two high-speed MRI machines (1.5 and 3 Tesla) designed to provide faster, easier testing for patients.
Comprehensive Surgery: With 13 regular operating rooms, two C-section rooms, and two heart catheterization labs, the facility is equipped for a wide range of complex procedures.
Emergency Services: A robust emergency department features 49 exam beds, 5 fast-track beds, 20 observation beds, and a dedicated ground helipad for rapid transport.
SAYING '“YES” TO HARD THINGS
Carlos Carrasco’s path to leading this massive undertaking is rooted in a three-decade tenure with Orlando Health, a rapidly growing organization that was originally founded in 1918, a time when people in the United States were ravaged by a deadly flu pandemic.
Originally an occupational therapist—a field he entered following in his father’s footsteps—Carlos found his calling in high-stakes environments like burn units and trauma centers.
“I wanted to get as much complicated clinical exposure as I could,” he recalls of his early days at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC).
His career has been defined by a readiness to say “yes” to the hard things. From building tele-ICU and telestroke programs that connected hospitals across Florida to serving as the Chief Operating Officer of ORMC during significant community tragedies, Carlos has learned that healthcare is as much about culture as it is about process.
He brings this philosophy to Lakeland, emphasizing that while disciplined processes are vital, a team must have the “psychological safety” and “creativity” to make the right decisions when those processes meet their breaking point.
“You don’t earn trust by a thousand surveys. You earn trust by [taking care of people.] ”
JOINING THE LAKELAND FABRIC
Since moving to the area nearly two years ago, Carlos has embraced Lakeland’s “incredibly welcoming” and diverse community. He dismisses any notion that recruiting top-tier talent to the area is a challenge, instead seeing it as a destination where medical professionals want to live and work. He is also prioritizing local roots through partnerships, such as the collaboration with the George Jenkins High School Medical Academy, to inspire the next generation of healthcare workers.
Long-time Lakelanders will see a continuity of services from many familiar and beloved physicians and healthcare professionals from Watson Clinic. They will also recognize familiar names in varying leadership roles outside of the clinical setting with staff members like Community Relations Manager Dawn Willis, Katie Worthington Decker, VP of the Orlando Health Foundation for the Mid-Florida region, and Kimberly Moore, public affairs and media relations manager.
Carlos is focused on earning the community’s trust one patient and one family at a time. “You don’t earn trust by a thousand surveys,” he explains. “You earn trust by [taking care of people.]”
He is eager for the hospital to not only serve the immediate neighborhood but to act as a regional hub that draws specialized care into Polk County, rather than seeing patients travel out of the county for it.
Many locals are also excited about the announcement Concord Coffee made via social media on May 8, sharing they would be building out a new cafe in the hospital:
“We’re incredibly honored to be part of a space built to serve, heal, and care for the community in such a meaningful way. From early mornings with hospital staff to families, visitors, and neighbors passing through, we can’t wait to create a place that brings a little comfort and connection through great coffee.”
A FINISH LINE AND A BRAND NEW BEGINNING
The finish line is finally in sight. After years of construction and a massive hiring effort to bring approximately 1,500 new team members into the fold, the hospital is set to officially open its doors on July 8, 2026.
For Carlos Carrasco, this opening isn’t just about a new building; it’s about fulfilling a mission to improve the quality of life for his new neighbors. As Lakeland prepares for its first new hospital in more than a century, they can expect a facility that combines cutting-edge technology with a culture deeply rooted in the “honor” of taking care of people when they need it most.