Hayley Gilbert: Neonatal Pediatric Specialist, Registered Respiratory Therapist NICU/PICU Transport Coordinator, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital

ABOUT ME

I moved from Charleston, South Carolina, to the Tampa Bay area in 2011 and fell in love. I love the proximity to beautiful beaches, the outdoor lifestyle and the great food scene.

I’ve always wanted to take care of people, especially in their time of need. In my line of work, what should be the happiest day of a parent’s life — their baby’s birth — is suddenly taken from them. It is turned into the scariest day of their life in an instant. I am happy to show them it’s not so scary and that they can lean on me if they need to. I like to talk to them and get to know them. We sometimes take care of infants from birth until they are a year old.

I remember quite vividly that, when I was a student, I was not looking forward to my rotation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It had a reputation for being intimidating, and the nurses were very territorial. I remember one day I was taking care of a twin baby girl. She ended up having heart surgery, and she was maybe 2 pounds at the time. I remember coming in the next day and being so worried about her. When I put my hands through the portholes in the incubator to perform her cares and put my finger next to her hand, she immediately grasped it and peeked one eye open at me. She was telling me, “I’m OK.” It brought tears to my eyes.

From that moment on, I wanted to be the one to be strong for these tiny, fragile babies and walk them through this difficult time. I wanted to be a calming presence for the families and help them.

MY LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

My favorite hidden-gem spot in Tampa Bay is Uncle Funz in St. Pete Beach.

I’m excited for O-Ku. An upscale sushi experience is always a win in my book. I am also excited for Tokyo Swim Club in Ybor City. I think the concept sounds exciting and will add an element of cultural elevation to the area.

For a casual lunch, my favorite spot is Lucky Tigre. I’m getting any of the bao buns and the spicy tocino pork dumplings — and ube cheesecake if it’s available.

I love a simple black cold brew with light ice from Buddy Brew Coffee. I like to go there with my husband and our Yorkie-poo, Teddy, when I’m off work.

If I were designing a day out with family, I would start with Boulon Brasserie and Bakery because they have a little bit of everything for everyone, maybe a banana bread latte and croissant. Then we could take an early walk on Bayshore Boulevard before it gets too hot. If it’s a Sunday, I love to take people to Wat Mongkolratanaram, the Thai temple on Palm River Road. They have so many authentic homemade Thai dishes, such as Thai coffee, fresh shrimp rolls and mango sticky rice. Then you can take your food and sit at one of the picnic tables by the water. They also sell exotic plants and all sorts of orchids you’ve never seen. We could then head to Hyde Park Village and check out some of the shopping. Dinner at bartaco to cool down with some fresh margaritas on the patio.

When visitors are in town, I bring them to Anna Maria Island, a beautiful beach town. They have so many cute local businesses, and I love the laid-back lifestyle. What could be better than driving a golf cart to dinner and getting ice cream with your family? Sometimes the simple things are the best!

For a special occasion, Bern’s Steak House has the best dining experience all around. From the dry-aged steaks to an ice-cold martini to the Dessert Room, you can’t go wrong. The service is also light-years above any other restaurant.

To experience art or culture, I’m going to the Tampa Museum of Art. They have some great events for the community, such as City Fashion and PAVILION. The Straz Center and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg are also favorites.

My husband and I love to go to concerts. We saw Khruangbin at BayCare Sound. They have such a cool, psychedelic sound.

For a workout, I love Bayshore Fit on Gandy Boulevard. It’s locally owned, and they have great amenities such as a recovery room, infrared sauna, outdoor turf gym and cold plunge.

For date night, Noble Rice has amazing fresh sushi and great energy in the restaurant. Maybe go to Bern’s Dessert Room afterward to get a Grasshopper cocktail or Cappuccino Bern’s and the macadamia nut ice cream sundae.

For a night on the town, I would start with a good drink at Palihouse Hyde Park Village, then make my way to Water Street Tampa. I would sit at the bar at Ash, get the whipped ricotta and focaccia with a martini, meet up with some friends at Predalina and enjoy the ambiance. Then we could stop by Alter Ego late-night to check out the music and dance the night away!

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.