Johns Hopkins All Children’s hospital asks St. Petersburg leaders for help hardening campus after storm damage

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital executives told the St. Petersburg City Council that the hospital is operating near capacity, serves a large share of Medicaid patients and needs significant capital to make its campus more storm‑resilient.

Alicia Shuloff, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, said the hospital’s 259-bed St. Petersburg campus “has been near capacity for the last several months” and that more care is delivered through outpatient locations across the region. She told council members the hospital’s patient mix includes “over 60%” Medicaid coverage, producing operating shortfalls that make external support and philanthropy important.

The hospital’s message to the council was twofold: highlight clinical and research work and request support as it prepares a facility‑hardening project. Shuloff said the campus sustained about $1.5 million in damage during recent storms and that hospital staff estimate roughly $33–34 million will be required to harden utilities, replace a vulnerable steam line and protect other infrastructure. She said the hospital expects to apply for grant funding, including a Sunrise St. Pete grant program, to help cover that cost.

Why it matters: Johns Hopkins All Children’s is the region’s largest specialty pediatric provider and a major local employer. Council members and the mayor framed the hospital as a critical community asset whose infrastructure vulnerabilities could affect continuity of pediatric specialty care, neonatal intensive care and cancer services if not addressed.

Shuloff outlined services and planned expansions. The hospital operates a 97‑bed neonatal intensive care unit, multiple specialty institutes (cardiac, oncology, neurology) and a regional outpatient network. She said a Wesley Chapel campus under development will add about 56 beds. Shuloff also described the hospital’s research volume—about 500 studies and more than 50 clinical trials—and cited a 2024 net community benefit figure of roughly $129 million.

Council members responded with praise and questions about clinical programs. Councilmember Corey Givens asked specifically about gene‑ and cell‑therapy work and whether the hospital is pursuing treatments for sickle cell disease; Shuloff said that team leaders, including physician researchers, would provide a standing presentation and that the hospital has a recognized sickle cell program. Several council members and Mayor Kenneth T. Welch offered personal endorsements of the hospital’s work and pledged continued partnership.

The hospital also described nonclinical impacts and next steps. Shuloff said operational improvements and philanthropy helped fund recent expansions and specialty care, but emphasized that capital projects to reduce storm risk will require external support. She asked the city to consider the hospital as an early applicant for relevant grant rounds.

Shuloff closed by inviting council members to visit the campus and by showing patient stories that hospital leaders said illustrate specialized care the hospital provides.

The presentation did not include a formal funding request or vote by council; hospital leaders said they would follow established grant application processes and reach out to city staff for guidance on available programs.

Ending: Hospital leaders said they will provide more detailed project costs and grant applications in follow‑up briefings so the council and city staff can evaluate potential municipal support and any matching or permitting needs.