Amy Keller Pickford, the new chief executive officer of AdventHealth Winter Garden, introduced herself to the City Commission and described expansion plans intended to keep more care in the Winter Garden community.

"I'm the new chief executive officer of AdventHealth Winter Garden," Pickford said, noting she has worked at AdventHealth for more than three decades and recently transferred from the Altamonte Springs campus. She told commissioners the hospital has a tower project underway that will add progressive-care beds, a mother-baby unit and a neonatal intensive-care capability for the community’s smallest patients.

Pickford said the additions — including a cancer institute that will expand breast and colorectal care — are intended to reduce transfers to Orlando for many services and to allow patients to receive more care close to home. She said the hospital’s goal is that "all babies go home with mom and dad" when safe and appropriate, while noting higher-acuity cases (for example, open-heart surgery or complex neurosurgery) may still require transfer.

Pickford said she looks forward to working with city leaders and community partners on the projects. The presentation was introductory; no formal action or city funding decisions were recorded in the transcript.