IT'S HISTORY IN THE MAKING

By Randy Noles

The next time a major breakthrough is achieved in the treatment or prevention of cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease or any one of countless other maladies, don’t be surprised if the announcement originates from Lake Nona.

It is, after all, the home of Medical City, where the possibility of life-changing discoveries — both now and generations from now — is increasing by the day.

Medical City was still basically a concept when the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (now the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute) opened a Florida campus at Lake Nona in 2008.

But look at it now. Seriously, look at it now. If you haven’t been to Lake Nona lately, you’ll barely recognize the place. 

What was once a super-exclusive gated golf community surrounded by pastures and forests is now a world-class life-sciences destination, bustling with eclectic neighborhoods, lively businesses and state-of-the-art anchor facilities, including hospitals, research centers and a medical school.

We’ve been updating Medical City’s progress every year since 2009. Without question, more has happened during the past two years than in all the previous years combined.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Joe Lewis should be ranked right alongside Walt Disney as the individual who has done the most, albeit in very different ways, to reshape Central Florida.

The British billionaire is the principal owner of Tavistock Group, a private investment company with interests in more than 200 firms nationwide. Lewis is the founder of the Tavistock Group, a subsidiary of which is Lake Nona Property Holdings.

Tavistock was instrumental in laying the groundwork for Medical City through its donations of land and cash, its work with local planning and economic development organizations, and its significant investments in health-oriented companies.

Thanks in large part to Lewis and his partners, Central Florida will soon be as world-renowned for its leading-edge medical research, treatment and educational facilities as it is for its theme parks.

As usual, this annual special section offer a big-picture overview. Read it and enjoy it. But better still, take a short drive and actually see history in the making.