TAMPA, Fla. — When Malee Brookbank felt the symptoms of a heart attack, she had no way of knowing how quickly her life would change.
A Hillsborough County schoolteacher, Brookbank was in the right place at the right time: AdventHealth Carrollwood.
Within moments, her care team began chest compressions.
She was quickly transferred to the cardiac catheterization lab, where Humberto Coto, MD, found Brookbank had a complete blockage of a major coronary artery, often referred to as a “widow maker” heart attack, and performed an emergency procedure that saved her life.
Today, Brookbank stands as a reminder of what timely, expert care can mean in a moment of crisis. And as she shared her story during a recent community conversation, her experience became something more—a glimpse into the future of care for the growing Carrollwood community.
“I’m just so grateful,” she said, reflecting on the team that acted without hesitation. “They were there when I needed them most.”
Just a few miles north of downtown Tampa, AdventHealth Carrollwood has long been known for high-quality care across cardiac, stroke, orthopedic and surgical services. But as the community continues to grow, so does the need for more advanced, accessible care.
More than 300,000 residents now live within a short distance of the hospital and demand for complex inpatient services continues to rise.
For some, that has meant traveling outside the area to receive the level of care they need. That’s about to change.
AdventHealth Carrollwood will soon begin construction on a major expansion designed to meet the evolving needs of Central Hillsborough County—ensuring more patients can receive the care they need closer to home.
At the heart of the expansion is a new six-story patient tower that will increase inpatient capacity and enhance surgical and specialty services. The project also includes a new cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab, expanded surgical support areas and flexible space to support future growth.
For patients like Brookbank, those additions represent time saved, access improved and lives changed.
During the June 18 community conversation, physicians, patients and local leaders reflected on what this growth means—not just for today, but for the years ahead.
“This expansion represents our commitment to caring for our neighbors—body, mind and spirit—by bringing more complex care closer to where they live and work,” said Joe Johnson, president and CEO of AdventHealth Carrollwood.
As the AdventHealth network continues to grow across Tampa Bay, the expansion will also strengthen coordination between care teams—helping ensure patients experience a seamless journey, from emergency care to recovery and beyond.
It’s all part of a broader commitment to whole-person care, meeting not just physical needs but supporting the emotional and spiritual well-being of every patient.
For Brookbank, that care is already deeply personal.
During the community conversation, she shared her gratitude not only for the team that saved her life, but for what the future holds for others who may one day find themselves in a similar moment.
Because when seconds matter, where you are—and the care you can access—can make all the difference.
Construction on the expansion is set to begin soon.
A new parking garage will open ahead of the patient tower, which is expected to welcome patients in 2029.
And while the buildings are still to come, the impact is already taking shape—in stories like Brookbank’s, and in the lives that will be touched in the years ahead.
Dr. Bob Rohrlack with the Tampa Bay Chamber moderates a community conversation on AdventHealth Carrollwood’s investment in the community.
Malee Brookbank, a Hillsborough County School teacher, shared how team members at AdventHealth Carrollwood helped saved her from cardiac arrest.
Clinical team members learned about the impact of this expansion, from what it means for patients, to how it will help them provide whole person care to the community.
From left: David Ottati, president and CEO of AdventHealth West Florida; state Rep. Susan Valdes; Joe Johnson, president and CEO of AdventHealth Carrollwood; Dr. Bob Rohrlack, Tampa Bay Chamber president; and state Sen. Brian Nathan.
Bob Rohrlack, CEO of the Tampa Bay Chamber, moderated a community conversation about the hospital expansion, featuring insights from Jill Mendez, AdventHealth Carrollwood chief nursing officer; Dr. Krishen Patel, gastroenterologist; and former patient Malee Brookbank, who shared her lifesaving experience.
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