Ask the Times

By Times Wires
Published September 18, 2007

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How did Shands at the University of Florida at Gainesville get its name?

It's named after Florida Sen. William A. Shands, who grew up in Gainesville and attended the University of Florida. As a state senator, his primary goal was to get a medical facility for his city. He succeeded; the University of Florida Teaching Hospital opened in 1956. In 1965 it was renamed in Shands' honor as the W.A. Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics.

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