News Releases

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 7, 2026) – Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, today hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Betty and Jack Demetree Family Center for Otolaryngology, a state-of-the-art facility that will provide world-class ear, nose and throat (ENT) care to pediatric patients in the region.

Spanning more than 8,500 square feet, the new center features upgraded clinical spaces that increase patient capacity by 30%. The center is also home to the area’s largest cochlear implant program and the only pediatric balance disorder specialty program in Northeast Florida. It will serve as a robust research and training hub for future ENT physicians and audiologists.

“The opening of the Betty and Jack Demetree Family Center for Otolaryngology strengthens our ability to meet the growing needs of children and families across Northeast Florida,” said R. Lawrence Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO of Nemours Children’s Health. “By expanding access to essential ENT care, we are laying a foundation for children to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential. It reflects what is possible when clinical excellence and community generosity come together.”

Thursday’s event was the culmination of a multi-year $6 million capital campaign for the center’s  redesign and renovation. The Jack C. & Betty A. Demetree Family Foundation played a leading role in making the center a reality donating $2 million in Fall 2025.  

“We are honored to support the new ENT Center, which will offer children access to state-of-the-art technology and exceptional physician care,” said Lisa Demetree, President of the Jack C. & Betty A. Demetree Family Foundation.

Other major contributors include the Alfred I. duPont Foundation, Hugh and Wendy Durden, the Fowler Family, the Jaguars Foundation, the Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Foundation and Ring Power.

The design of Betty and Jack Demetree Family Center for Otolaryngology creates spaces that are comfortable and have a home-like feel that will be supportive of the needs of the whole family, ensuring the best possible outcomes for children.

ENT conditions are among the most common health challenges children face. Without early intervention, they can lead to lifelong health complications, including learning and communication difficulties. As the largest ENT care provider for local children, Nemours Children’s now offers a modernized space to serve more families in need of ENT diagnostic and treatment services. New features include:

• Three new audiology rooms to test for hearing problems
• 12 new exam rooms
• New rotary chair, a state-of-the-art computer-controlled device used to diagnose inner ear disorders through vestibular (balance) function testing
• Updated communications technology to serve the needs of children with hearing loss
• Increased research capacity to develop better therapies for ENT disorders, hearing loss and related conditions

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About Nemours Children's Health 

Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two freestanding children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children’s needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing Whole Child Health. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website with health information written for parents, kids and teens, Nemours KidsHealth. 

The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.