UF Health has named Heather B. Long, M.S.N., senior vice president and Central Florida regional president for UF Health hospitals in The Villages and Leesburg and outpatient locations throughout Lake and Sumter counties. 

Long has served as CEO of UF Health Central Florida since December 2022, overseeing UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital, UF Health Leesburg Hospital, and the growth of a number of other clinical facilities and programs, including a freestanding ER and emergency and urgent care centers throughout the health system’s service area. 

Her new position is one of three expanded roles within the UF Health system. The other two market regions are Northeast Florida and Greater Gainesville.The regional alignment of the UF Health clinical system is an important step designed to help manage the significant expansion of clinical programs, services, and facilities in each of the markets. 

“UF Health has entered an exciting new phase as part of our long-term journey to unify our clinical system of care into a cohesive enterprise with a corporate structure that complements our academic and research endeavors,” said Stephen J. Motew, MD, MHA, FACS, president and system CEO of UF Health. “I am confident this change recognizes the wide responsibilities of our leaders at a system level and will help ensure that we reflect the voices and experiences of faculty, community physicians, and staff across the organization, as well as those we collaborate with in the community, leading to a more aligned and patient-centered UF Health focused on clinical excellence.” 

Long said she is looking forward to continuing to collaborate with local officials and community leaders to shape the future of health care in the region and bring the best and brightest minds to addressing patients’ challenging health needs. 

“This is an exciting new chapter, not only for UF Health, but for the communities we have the privilege to serve,” said Long. “Unifying our clinical system of care allows us to continue to expand innovative approaches to care locally, while leveraging the advantages of an academic health system, including clinical trials not available elsewhere. For decades, our hospitals in The Villages and Leesburg have been pillars of trusted care for Lake, Sumter, and surrounding counties, and I’m thrilled to continue to build on that proud legacy. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our dedicated physicians and staff, whose unwavering commitment to excellence continues to transform the lives of our community.” 

Along with Long’s new role, similar changes have been made across the UF Health clinical network. Patrick L. Green, FACHE, will become the SVP and Northeast Florida regional president for a new hospital structure encompassing UF Health Jacksonville and UF Health St. 

About University of Florida Health 

UF Health is a world-class academic health center that combines leading-edge research at campuses around Florida with outstanding clinical care at a network of hospitals around the state. The flagship is UF Health Shands Hospital, part of Florida’s preeminent health system, with 9 adult and pediatric specialties ranked among the nation’s elite top 50 programs in the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Best Children’s Hospitals surveys. 

With main campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville as well as satellite sites in Central Florida, St. Augustine, and other locations, UF Health provides world-class health care to patients across the third-most populous state in the nation. UF Health consists of six health colleges, 10 research centers and institutes,12 hospitals — including two teaching hospitals and five specialty hospitals — and a host of physician medical practices and outpatient services. 

The backbone of UF Health is a talented and dedicated workforce of more than 30,000 people who provide lifesaving care and research breakthroughs for more than 4 million patients who come to UF Health each year from around the U.S. and more than 40 countries. 

UF Health is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. Annually, UF Health contributes more than $4.6 billion to Florida’s overall economy. 

Our mission is to promote health through outstanding and high-quality patient care, innovative and rigorous education in the health professions and biomedical sciences, and high-impact research across the spectrum of basic, translational and clinical investigation. Visit www.UFHealth.org to learn more. 

About UF Health Central Florida 

UF Health Central Florida is an award-winning, not-for-profit health care system and the largest, most comprehensive provider of health care services in the region. We care for patients in Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties through inpatient acute hospital services at UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital and UF Health Leesburg Hospital, inpatient rehabilitation services at UF Health Spanish Plaines Rehabilitation Hospital, 24/7 emergency care at UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital Freestanding E.R. at Brownwood, and diagnostic laboratory services at several locations. 

As a premier health care provider, UF Health Central Florida takes pride in providing progressive, innovative technology, along with building strong relationships with patients, families, physicians, and residents of the communities we serve. Visit https://www.centralflorida.UFHealth.org/ to learn more.