Edison Festival of Light Underway in Fort Myers
Fort Myers is currently hosting its annual Edison Festival of Light to celebrate the legacy of inventor Thomas Edison. The grand parade featured Lauren Taylor, the youngest president in the festival's history, highlighting Edison's long-standing connection to the city.
- Thomas Edison first visited Fort Myers in 1885, purchasing 13 acres along the Caloosahatchee River to escape northern winters; his "Seminole Lodge" estate was completed in 1886. His friend Henry Ford later purchased the adjacent property. In 1947, Mina Edison deeded the estate to the city of Fort Myers for the public's enjoyment. - The Edison Festival of Light, which began in 1938, is an annual event that honors Thomas Edison's contributions to the city and brings significant economic activity to the region. - The Fort Myers healthcare landscape is dominated by Lee Health, a non-profit system that is the largest employer in Lee County. Its facilities include Lee Memorial Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and HealthPark Medical Center. - In response to regional growth, Lee Health is developing a new 53-acre campus, Lee Health Fort Myers, set to open in phases starting in 2028. The $820 million project will include a hospital with up to 260 beds, a 44-bed emergency department, and a medical office building that will house the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute. - The outpatient imaging market in the Fort Myers area features several key players, including Lee Health's network of facilities and the independent Radiology Regional, a LucidHealth company. Lee Health operates numerous outpatient centers, some branded as Florida Radiology, to offer lower-cost options for patients with high out-of-pocket expenses. - Radiology Regional has been expanding its footprint, opening its 14th outpatient diagnostic center in Fort Myers at Hope Preserve in early 2023. This new facility offers 3T MRI, CT, Ultrasound, 3D Mammography, and various breast biopsy services. - To enhance its diagnostic capabilities, Lee Health has partnered with the Southwest Florida Proton Center to offer advanced imaging, including the region's first outpatient 3T MRI, which provides higher-resolution images than standard 1.5T machines. - The competitive landscape includes NCH Healthcare System, which partners with ProScan Imaging to operate 10 centers in Southwest Florida, and various other independent and hospital-affiliated clinics providing a range of diagnostic services.
