Florida State University (FSU) has appointed Jeremy Slaga as its inaugural Vice President and Chief Clinical Operations Officer, a position designed to enhance the university’s healthcare initiatives. Richard McCullough, the President of FSU, announced the decision, highlighting Slaga’s extensive experience in the healthcare sector and his crucial role in advancing the university’s health enterprise.
Slaga, an alumnus of FSU, currently holds the position of Chief Integration Officer at Temple Health, overseeing six hospital campuses and a network of more than 1,550 physicians and scientists. He is set to assume his new role at FSU on January 5, 2026. McCullough expressed confidence in Slaga’s leadership, stating that he is a “visionary healthcare leader” who will significantly contribute to the university’s efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and quality across the state.
In his new capacity, Slaga will report directly to McCullough and collaborate closely with FSU’s top administrators as well as key healthcare partners in the region. Slaga remarked on the potential of FSU Health, stating, “This offers an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact by collaborating with clinical, research, and educational partners throughout the region.” He emphasized his enthusiasm for joining the university and the chance to develop a transformative network focused on enhancing health services.
The initiative for an academic health center at Tallahassee Memorial Health (TMH) has been a topic of discussion for over a decade. The TMH Board of Trustees first articulated this vision in its strategic plan in 2008. Since then, TMH has established multiple residency programs in specialties such as internal medicine, general surgery, and psychiatry. Recently, the Florida Legislature and Governor allocated $125 million to support the construction of an academic health research center on the TMH campus, scheduled to open in 2026. The facility will feature 140,000 square feet of clinical research space, a family residency practice, laboratory facilities, and other resources aimed at bridging academic research with patient care.
In addition to the TMH project, FSU announced plans in the spring to construct a new hospital in Panama City Beach. The university has been proactive in recruiting talent through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, TMH, and the Andrews Institute. Recently, FSU also launched the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases and the Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health), both aimed at addressing critical healthcare needs within the state.
With 18 years of experience in prominent academic healthcare organizations, including Emory Healthcare and UPMC, Slaga’s expertise encompasses strategic planning, IT optimization, procurement, and value-based care administration. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from FSU in 2002 and holds a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.
As FSU continues to expand its healthcare initiatives, the appointment of Jeremy Slaga marks a significant step toward enhancing healthcare services and engagement within the community and beyond.
