ACHE of South Florida (ACHE-SFL) is the local official chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and provides members with educational programs, networking and volunteer opportunities, career and advancement resources and the ability to connect with healthcare executives.
Learn MoreAs a member, you'll join more than 48,000 healthcare leaders from across the country and around the world who are dedicated to improving health. If you want to connect with local healthcare professionals, join ACHE and select ACHE of South Florida as your home chapter.
Learn MoreWe invite you to attend the many events we host throughout the year, including educational programs, networking events, webinars, seminars and much more.
ACHE of South Florida Members,
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Spring is upon us—and so is Hospital Week. Two great reasons to write my next chapter president’s letter.
Spring is a time of renewal and growth. It’s a season that invites reflection—on both the personal and professional experiences that have shaped the year so far, and on how we can continue to evolve into the next chapter of our lives. Whether or not you celebrate Hospital Week directly, it stands as a reminder of the many designated weeks throughout the year that honor the professionals making a difference every day in South Florida’s healthcare landscape.
At the heart of ACHE of South Florida is our mission to engage, educate, and provide networking and fellowship opportunities, all with the goal of connecting healthcare leaders throughout our region. In that spirit, I thought I’d use this letter to look back—and then ahead.
This year began like a thrilling ride at your favorite amusement park. On a personal note, I got married! We hosted an intimate wedding on Fort Lauderdale Beach while simultaneously planning a semi-intimate installation dinner for 300 people. Professionally, I took on the honor and responsibility of leading a 1,000+ member chapter of ACHE. I also had the privilege of delivering my first national speaking engagement at ACHE Congress in Houston, where I gained insights from healthcare experts across a wide range of disciplines. If you missed Congress this year, I highly encourage you to take advantage of early-bird pricing—it’s a “don’t miss” event for 2026.
Locally, we’ve expanded our programming by offering both in-person and virtual opportunities for members to engage. Topics have included AI, digital health, green healthcare initiatives, and our future healthcare business leader strategy competition. It’s been a strong start to the year—and while it’ll be hard to top, I remain focused on reflection and growth.
Personally, I hope to grow as an even more supportive husband. Professionally, I aim to learn something new from a colleague and help our board and members achieve their goals. In support of this, many of you will soon receive a formal member survey from ACHE. This is your chance to share how we can better align with your needs and expectations, so please take a moment to respond.
Looking ahead, we have many exciting ways for members to get involved. Rocio Diaz, one of our Board Members-at-Large, has developed a plan to kick off volunteer committees focused on programming, networking, and social media. Many of you have asked how to become more engaged—or even take steps toward joining the board—this is a great place to start. Keep an eye out for more details soon.
Upcoming events can be found at www.acheofsouthflorida.org under the “Events” tab. Here are a few highlights:
No matter which events you attend, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to connect with some of the more than 1,000 dynamic healthcare leaders in our chapter. And as always, if you have ideas, suggestions, questions, or simply want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at baltchuler@baptisthealth.net.
Best,Brian Altschuler, FACHE
Chapter President
ACHE of South Florida
Let's Connect
Paul Hakimata is a problem solver. Hakimata currently works in Precision Care at the Molecular Genetic Pathology Lab at Memorial Regional Hospital South and is also a principal investigator for the Memorial Cancer Institute and Florida Atlantic University collaborative. As a specialist in molecular genomics, he explained, “What we do is very complex testing; we look at the DNA and RNA of patients, and we look at mutations and try to match targeted drugs to them.”
He said those in the lab try to determine what the mutations mean, and the information then goes into databases where the drugs are listed, and are matched with the particular drug – if one is available. “My role is to implement new tests, develop protocols to troubleshoot, and streamline the turnaround time.”
Hakimata pointed out that normal turnaround time is about 30 days, whereas most other lab tests are done in a day. “As a field we’re far behind, but simply because it’s very complex and the work flow itself is very difficult. I come up with strategies to streamline so the patients can actually get their medications faster. That’s something I took on myself, and it influences everything we do.”
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“Great leaders possess rare and invaluable qualities such as integrity, courage, empathy, compassion and an innate desire to do far more for the greater good than for self. They are visionaries who inspire and empower and are inclusive and collaborative in all things.”
“ACHE has been more than a benefit to my career, it has been the leading driver and foundation to my career and network.”
“The Fellowship (FACHE) designation is important because it adds a level of credibility to your resume. When interviewing for this position, it was a very important credential for the Memorial Healthcare System—it is considered the gold standard for leaders.”
“I became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in 2015, because as I continued to take on more leadership roles, I wanted more professional growth and development opportunities. ACHE was a very well-respected organization, and several mentors of mine were Fellows, so it was something to which I aspired.”
“ACHE of South Florida has felt like family to me since I joined several years ago. It’s a privilege to be part of an organization of like-minded leaders who truly care about serving our community and making a positive impact on our healthcare delivery. ACHE has provided me with a diverse network full of knowledge and resources to maximize my skill set and contributions throughout my career.”
“ACHE of South Florida has helped me advance in my professional journey by providing the opportunity to learn alongside my colleagues in the healthcare industry, as well as expand my professional network. Lifelong learning is an essential element of continued development and advancement in this industry, and ACHE of South Florida’s educational programs have truly supported my growth in that regard.”
“ACHE has been a great partner throughout my professional journey. Early in my career, I sought the FACHE credential as a way to enhance my knowledge of healthcare management. I maintain my designation in order to stay current with all the new developments in our industry. Being part of the ACHE family is very rewarding as we nurture long lasting relationships. I usually call other fellows for advice while pursuing new endeavors, and I love connecting members with similar goals. As leaders, we should always mentor colleagues as well as young professionals and ACHE is the perfect platform to do that. If you are passionate about healthcare and want to make an impact in your communities, the FACHE credential is a must have, it will give you the skills and network to help you succeed.”