Laurel Island enjoys incredible proximity to high-quality healthcare across a broad range of medical specialties.  Jacksonville boasts highly renowned hospitals and medical facilities, including the Mayo Clinic, St. Luke’s Hospital (formerly a Mayo facility), St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and Shands Jacksonville (a teaching hospital for the University of Florida).  Over a million people reside within a 50-mile radius of Jacksonville, making it a prime location for clinical trials.  Ground was broken in 2005 for the Mayo Clinic Hospital, whose 16 floors and 900 beds will combine a hospital with outpatient, research and educational facilities.  Within a short drive of Laurel Island to the southwest lies the medical research center of Gainesville, and the University of Florida, featuring Shands Hospital, Alachua General Hospital, and North Florida Regional Medical Center.