Who we are…

We welcome you to the St. Petersburg Florida Ostomy Support Group. We are an affiliate of the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) and are one of hundreds of ostomy support groups in the U.S. As a volunteer-based support group, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people who have had or will have a continent or conventional ostomy through education, information, and advocacy.

What we do…

As an ostomy support group, we offer moral and educational support to those who are facing or have had ostomy surgery. It is perfectly normal to have fear, anxiety and concern for your new lifestyle. We offer support through monthly meetings and mailings. We also offer an ostomy visitor’s program with your consent to have a fellow ostomate visit you prior to surgery or post-surgery.

Support meetings…

Note: Meetings are currently cancelled until further notice due to the Covid pandemic.

We meet monthly on the last Sunday of every month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Ground Floor, Auditorium (see map). Call Millie Parker at 727-687-7584 or Bill Schmidt at 727-657-0998 for detailed directions. Our meetings include practical ostomy care information, ostomy supply updates by manufacturer reps and suppliers, guest speakers, round table discussions, and social time. We welcome all ostomates – continent and conventional – their families and friends.

Our meetings are free and are open to the public. If you choose to become a member, you may do so at one of the meetings. Our annual membership fee is currently $15 per year. We always encourage our members to subscribe to the Phoenix Magazine, a quarterly magazine which has a wealth of current ostomy information.

Questions you may have…

There are many questions and anxieties when entering life with an ostomy. Our group will help in answering these questions and giving support and understanding. We also have an ostomy nurse, Suzie McKibben, WOCN, at our monthly meetings.