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Justine Griffin - Medical Reporter
Justine Griffin

Medical Reporter

I cover health and medicine for the Tampa Bay Times. That could be anything related to your health, from the evolution of health insurance to medical marijuana. I'm a native Floridian who grew up in Pasco County. Prior to covering health care, I was a business reporter writing about retail, tourism and other consumer topics. Before joining the Times in 2015, I worked for the St. Augustine Record, the Sun Sentinel and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where I gained national attention for my retail coverage and for a long-form article I wrote about my experience as an egg donor. I'm a graduate of the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!), where I studied journalism. I'm also an equestrian. My horse's name is Mikey.

  1. The new CEO is a former nurse. Sharon Hayes predicts a turnaround at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
    Sep. 14• Health
    Sharon Hayes, the new chief executive officer at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, says she will draw on her roots in nursing as she engineers a turnaround for the hospital.
    The city’s largest hospital has suffered setbacks under a corporate owner, but a new leader says it’s time for an infusion of “love and attention.”
  2. In need of an upgrade, Moffitt Cancer Center seeks millions more from state cigarette tax
    Sep. 13• Health
    An architect's rendering shows part of a planned research center and hospital on N McKinley Drive in Tampa for the Moffitt Cancer Center. During the 2020 legislative session in Tallahassee, the center will seek an increased share of Florida's cigarette tax to finance the McKinley Drive project and other improvements. Moffitt officials said Thursday that the increase initially would finance $205 million, to be paired with $332 million they have already allocated for the project.
    Florida lawmakers are the key to unlocking the money, which would pay for more hospital beds and research space.
  3. The cost to build USF’s new medical school has jumped $16 million
    Sep. 10• Health
    A rendering of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Health Institute, which is expected to open in January. School officials said Tuesday the project will cost an additional $16 million. [Courtesy of Strategic Property Partners]
    School trustees asked for a breakdown of expenses before approving the increase.
  4. Study: Women with post-traumatic stress at higher risk for ovarian cancer
    Sep. 5• Health
    Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa participated in a newly released study that links post-traumatic stress disorder to ovarian cancer risk.
    A researcher from Moffitt Cancer Center participated in the study, which found that those with six or more symptoms of PTSD had double the risk of getting the disease.
  5. Former nurse sues St. Joseph’s Hospital claiming unsafe staffing in emergency room
    Sep. 3• Health
    A trauma room at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where a former nurse alleges in a lawsuit that the emergency room was understaffed.
    Marie David says she quit the hospital in May after taking her concerns to BayCare executives. The hospital disputes her account.
  6. Rain threat from Dorian revives concerns about mosquito-borne illness
    Sep. 3• Hurricane
    While mosquito-borne illnesses have been relatively low across the Tampa Bay area so far this year, the number of cases in other parts of the state are on the rise.
    Heavy rainfall from the hurricane, coming after weeks of wet weather, could create the perfect breeding conditions.
  7. Getting ready for Dorian: Now would be a good time to refill prescription medications
    Aug. 29• Hurricane
    The Florida Department of Health recommends that residents have a minimum two-week supply of all prescription medications when a hurricane is approaching.
    Most major pharmacies provide emergency refills on maintenance medications that are non-controlled substances in advance of a storm.
  8. Shriners, Tampa General hospitals join to treat more children
    Aug. 27• Health
    The entrance to Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, located at 12502 USF Pine Dr. near the University of South Florida. The hospital, which opened in 1985, officially changes to an outpatient facility this month. But Tampa General Hospital will perform surgeries on Shriners' patients, under an agreement announced Tuesday.
    The new partnership follows a Shriners’ decision earlier this year to end inpatient care in Tampa.
  9. Bayfront Health system leader departs after 18 months on the job
    Aug. 21• Health
    Joseph Mullany says he is stepping down as regional president and CEO of Bayfront Health. [Courtesy of Bayfront Health]
    CEO Joseph Mullany said he resigned, becoming the latest executive to depart the bay area network of seven hospitals.
  10. Tampa General’s new ‘command center’ cuts delays, saving millions
    Aug. 20• Health
    Latisha Lynch, a dispatcher in the transport department monitors patients movement inside of the clinical command center at Tampa General Hospital on Tuesday. Tampa General is the fourth hospital in the world, and first in Florida, to open a high-tech, mission control-like command center in partnership with GE Healthcare.
    The hospital joins with GE Healthcare to create a new system that tracks patients at every stop in their care, and intervenes when necessary.