Let’s keep Golisano’s services and specialties intact
As someone who has worked for decades to make Florida the premier destination for working families and business, I’ve watched the recent tug-of-war over the Golisano Children’s Health Center with concern and hope.
For years, Kim and I worked to expand care for kids with autism through efforts like championing a new Autism Collier Charter School and serving on boards like Florida’s Achieving a Better Life Experience. Golisano has partnered with the autism community by delivering specialized autism services — sensory rooms, behavioral therapies, and dedicated navigators — that families here depend on.
When Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, which holds the master lease on Golisano’s Pine Ridge Road location, tried to evict Lee Health by April 4, it wasn’t just a lease dispute. It threatened to upend the lives of thousands of kids, including those with autism who have nowhere else to turn in Collier County. A few weeks ago, Nicklaus moved to end Golisano’s sublease with little notice. For the 65,000 families who relied on the clinic in 2023 alone, this could’ve been devastating. Picture parents of children with autism, already navigating complex care plans, or kids in cancer treatment, suddenly forced to travel hours for help.
Lee Health, which runs Golisano, fought back with a lawsuit, and Nicklaus wisely paused the eviction. Common sense won the day, at least for now. Here’s where things stand. Nicklaus has stepped back from their immediate threat and is reportedly eyeing another building in Naples to expand their services. That’s a win — more pediatric care in our growing county is something we can all get behind.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t over. The lease dispute between Nicklaus and Lee Health remains unresolved, leaving families without the certainty they deserve. Parents need to know these services — 20-plus specialties like oncology, pulmonology, and autism therapy — aren’t going anywhere, not next month or next year. This scare was a wake-up call. Golisano has been a lifeline for a decade, backed by $6.3 million in local donations and $5.4 million from Lee Health for cutting-edge upgrades. When Nicklaus tried to reclaim the space, they underestimated how deeply our community relies on it. Now, with Nicklaus planning their own facility, we have a chance to make this a win-win.
The solution is straightforward: Nicklaus should release the lease back to the landowner so that Golisano can negotiate a long-term lease while Nicklaus works to settle into another building space. That’s not just practical — it’s the right thing for families who’ve built their lives around this care.
Collier County doesn’t need more uncertainty. I know how hard families fight to get their kids the right care. Golisano’s 33 doctors and 100-plus staff aren’t just numbers — they’re an essential member of our community’s pediatric care, from autism therapy to lifesaving treatments. Nicklaus can expand, and they should, but not by disrupting what’s already working. There’s room for both. No more legal sparring — focus on the kids. Parents shouldn’t have to wonder if their next appointment is in jeopardy.
Let’s keep Golisano’s services and specialties intact, let Nicklaus grow their presence, and make Collier County a place where every child gets the care they need. As a community leader who’s seen the difference Golisano makes, I believe we can get this right if we put our kids first.
Gary Price is a former Naples city councilman.
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