H. Lee Moffitt Named Outstanding Citizen of the Year
You have cancer.
Those words changed H. Lee Moffitt’s life at the age of 29. But he wasn’t alone. He saw the death of friends who could not get the cancer care they needed in Florida, which has the second highest incidence of death from the disease in the U.S.
It fueled his fight to establish a world-class treatment center in his home state.
He championed crucial legislation for all Floridians while he served as speaker of the Florida House. Through tireless advocacy and skillful negotiation, he secured state funding to bring this vision to life. Today, Moffitt Cancer Center serves as a beacon of hope for so many patients across Florida and beyond.
And that’s why Lee Moffitt has been named the Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Tampa Metro Civitan Club, which has given the award annually since 1927. He was recognized at the governor’s luncheon Thursday at the Florida State Fair.
“Lee’s commitment to improving the lives of Floridians has never wavered, and the impact on the Tampa Bay region and the entire state of Florida is immeasurable,” said Patrick Hwu, MD, president and CEO of Moffitt. “He is a dedicated public servant and a tireless advocate for cancer research and treatment. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
In 1986, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute opened its doors. Despite the founder’s objections, the Florida Legislature voted to name the facility in his honor. Today, the cancer center employs 10,000 of the best and brightest minds. More than 97,000 people were treated at the cancer center in 2024. It’s the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Florida, highlighting the depth and breadth of innovative research that is dedicated to finding a cure.
Moffitt Cancer Center continues to expand to reach more patients. Moffitt at SouthShore in Ruskin opened Jan. 27. SPEROS FL, a 775-acre global innovation life sciences campus being built in Pasco County, is poised to become the cell and gene therapy capital of the world. In the first phase, Moffitt is building an outpatient and proton therapy center expected to open in 2026.
Lee Moffitt has received numerous accolades, including the BioFlorida and Leadership Florida Lifetime Achievement Award, Tampa Bay Chamber’s H.L. Culbreath Jr. Profile in Leadership Award and Florida Trend’s Florida Icon profile.
