April 2025

When Geness LeBron Bump was considering a career, she definitely had an idea in mind: “I have always had passion for leadership, I wanted to be in a place where I was able to make a big impact. Being here has allowed me to do so.” “Here” is All Star Healthcare Solutions, a healthcare staffing firm launched in 2003 that places professionals into locum tenens as well as permanent assignments within healthcare organizations.

At All Star, LeBron Bump is manager of the Cardiology and Internal Medicine Subspecialty divisions. In this role, LeBron Bump utilizes tools and reports to analyze and develop team members. She works closely with her teams to help members achieve their professional development targets. She is in charge of conducting analysis on the production, financials, and market trends to identify quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year trends, and developing strategies for the team. She also works closely on market trend analysis to uncover areas of opportunities for the team and helps to drive the team toward accomplishing the annual business plan. She explained that she works with team members to help them grow individually and drive them toward adding value to clients and providers. “When our consultants come out of training, I try to help them get the best skillset and knowledge to serve our clients to the highest standard.”

March 2025

Rahat Verma confessed he is an avid traveler, visiting 45 countries and more than 15 states, and he holds a strong appreciation for the influence that the cultures, norms, and values of those experiences have taught him. Verma began life in Chicago but moved to South Florida at a young age, and spent the majority of his life there.

Verma is currently the Vice President of Operations at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami, where he has worked since 2022, starting as an Administrative Resident and then serving as Associate Administrator. Prior to that he worked at an HCA hospital in Los Angeles as an Administrative Intern, a position he held in grad school while attending the University of Minnesota, where he was pursuing a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration.

His current role has him overseeing operations at HCA Florida Kendall, both clinical and non-clinical, including for such departments as imaging services, rehabilitation services, safety and security, communications, environmental services, food and nutrition services, and emergency management, among others.

February 2025

After joining ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives) three years ago, Rocio Diaz is now on the board as a member at large, and she couldn’t be happier. “I don’t (work on) a specific committee, which makes it great for me because I’m able to learn from and contribute to the different committees and initiatives.”

The healthcare landscape has become increasingly complex, making collaboration among all stakeholders – clinicians, administrators, healthcare systems and practices, health plans, advocacy, and community-based organizations – more essential than ever. As the saying goes, “It takes a village” to tackle challenges like improving outcomes, advancing health equity, and enhancing access and affordability.

Women’s health is another passion for Diaz and is something she’d like to focus on this year, saying that women account for half of humanity, yet women’s health has not been historically prioritized. “Women frequently serve as caregivers and primary healthcare decision-makers for their families, often putting others’ needs before their own. I’m really passionate about how can we together address the gaps in care and advance women-centered healthcare.”

January 2025

“An environment conducive to learning and growing together.” As president of ACHE – American College of Healthcare Executives – that is how Brian Altschuler described his goals when taking over the presidency at the beginning of this year. And it’s an evolution of the same goals he had as president-elect in 2024. “As we move into ’25, my alignment of goals remains the same. I believe we keep evolving as an association and are providing key opportunities for healthcare leaders.”

Altschuler said he believes ACHE is the association that brings everyone together for the common good of healthcare in South Florida. “It creates a partnership of healthcare providers who come together to grow professionally, grow personally, and collaborate with each other; even though we’re competitors, it levels the environment to be able to network and share for the betterment of the community.”

In his everyday position as Vice President of Ancillary Operations at Boca Regional Hospital, Altschuler and his team have been working on a master facility plan that is scheduled to open in summer 2026. He said it is going to “revolutionize what we’re able to do for the community. We’re adding 20 new ORs, high-tech procedural areas, new critical care beds, new medical/surgical inpatient beds that will take the hospital to 100 percent private rooms, and new infrastructure that will allow the hospital to be on full generator power in all areas, which is very unusual, for between seven and nine days.”

December 2024

Haroula Norden is just wrapping up her year as president of the South Florida Chapter of ACHE – the American College of Healthcare Executives – and she was able to sum it up in a few words: “There was a lot of great success for the chapter!”

Norden took a moment to reflect more specifically on the happenings and achievements of the past year, starting with sponsorships: “It was a record year for sponsorships, and I really want to thank our sponsors for their generosity. It takes their donations to help us further our mission of educating and networking, and without their support year after year, it would be impossible for us to schedule all of our great events.”

Such events included hosting an education seminar every month, and Norden said she was proud that the chapter was able to have prestigious people on the panels who gave members an opportunity to learn, to meet with other professionals, and to hear about the latest undertakings in healthcare.

November 2024

Ashley Abbondandolo is senior director of strategic growth and development for Memorial Healthcare System, but it’s not a position she was seeking when she started her career. Instead, her progression wound through several other paths until she arrived at this point nearly five years ago. “I started in the healthcare system in 2020 as the administrative fellow, and rotated to all six of our facilities. During that year I gained a lot of experiences that as a young leader I otherwise may not have had. So I started as an administrative fellow, and shortly after, I became a project manager in our corporate finance department, which was definitely somewhere I never thought I’d end up.”

For that reason, Abbondandolo states, “I always tell students when I talk with them, you never know what your path is going to be, just always be open to all sorts of opportunities that may arise. That’s how I ended up in this path of business development and physician relations.”

October 2024

Drew Tyrer’s father was a hospital administrator and his mother was a physical therapist. It’s only natural, then, that he would end up with a career in healthcare, right? Well, yes, but not right away.

Tyrer, chief executive officer at HCA Florida Westside Hospital, admits, “I grew up in a hospital. My dad was passionate about supporting the hospital in our community where I grew up in Frankfort, Kentucky, which was an HCA hospital. “He said throughout his life he realized that he’s very comfortable being in that atmosphere. “I enjoy it, I thrive on the energy and expertise that all of our providers and staff bring to the table.”

That’s why he began his career as a … college golf coach. “I played golf in college and thought I wanted to be coach and eventually an athletic director,” he said. “I loved it, l still love those four years of my life.”

September 2024

In an interesting turn of events, a television show started Laura Denoux on her career path in healthcare. Denoux, vice president & chief development officer at Holy Cross Health – a member of Trinity Health – had previously worked in sales and marketing for leading global companies in the technology and beauty sectors. That was until she became a contestant on the NBC reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser.”

“I was a contestant from 2008 to 2009,” she said. “When I went on the show and lost a significant amount of weight, I said, ‘I’m not going back to my old ways and old habits.’ I wanted to change my life and work in the health and wellness industry.”

The opportunity came when a friend who worked at the American Heart Association was transferring from the Miami to the New York office. She said they were looking for a sales and marketing leader with a passion for improving the health and well-being of the community, and told Denoux she thought she’d be a great fit for the role. “Sure enough I applied and that’s how I started in healthcare.” Denoux spent almost four years there as director of development, then more than 10 years at Baptist Health South Florida as director of development and corporate partnerships, and now nearly two years at Holy Cross Health.

July 2024

Kenneth Jones’ grandmother was a nurse, and because of that, he said he’s always had an interest in healthcare. Now, as Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida NW Hospital, he finds himself in healthcare, but in a different capacity than he expected. “I really didn’t know about healthcare administration until later in my undergraduate progression,” he said, pointing out, however, that he had participated in leadership activities while growing up, including for student government, and served on numerous committees for professional organizations. He said being CEO at the hospital “is really a good mixture of healthcare and business and leadership; it kind of melded two of my passions.”

Jones credits part of his progression with becoming a member of ACHE – the American College of Healthcare Executives – in 2001. He said the graduate school program at the University of Minnesota encouraged students to participate, and he joined because he wanted to take advantage of the organization’s resources – conferences, literature, mentoring opportunities, scholarships. “I wanted to develop my overall leadership skills, and I really have used those resources to become a better healthcare executive.”

He is now putting that leadership into action by handling the day-to-day operations of this 289‑bed, full-service facility. Since being named CEO three years ago, Jones said his focus has been on the culture, the patient experience, workforce and physician engagement, and growth and overall market share in core service lines.

June 2024

Dionne Blackwood, FACHE of Memorial Healthcare System, began her 30-plus-year career in healthcare in IT, moved into finance and more than 20 years in leadership. It wasn’t until she went to Jackson Health System that she found that her passion was not in finance, but in using her experience in finance to provide patients with access to healthcare resources.

As she explained, “I was able to use my experience in finance to enter Jackson Health System and advance my career where I was an administrator for mental health and community services.”

Dionne’s passion is her current position as Vice President, Memorial Primary Care and Ambulatory Services, in which – among other responsibilities – she oversees 15 primary care practices, OBGYN, Podiatry, Sickle Cell Medical Home, and three Urgent Care Centers. She points out, “It’s not just primary care; I’m responsible for the health of the community.” She went on to say, “We are so successful because of our focus on the whole person, not just when we see our patients in the office.” She is very proud of the value-based care program that allows access to all in the South Broward Community. In her spare time, she volunteers as the Vice Chair of the Memorial Financial Credit Union and is a Member of the Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care.

May 2024

Caren Bock explained the simple reason why she chose nursing as a career: “It truly was to give back and to help others.” She said that idea has always been at her core since she was young, and as she developed, she naturally gravitated toward leadership and mentoring others. And she has been doing that for more than 20 years.

Currently chief nursing officer at HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital, Bock has been with HCA for more than eight years and has been in her current position for 1-1/2 years. As CNO, she believes her role and her legacy “is building leaders, and that culture is defined by embracing life and improving life around us. We need to take care of patients; we care like family, truly making sure we’re improving their quality of life.”

She said that in order to do that, it’s important to make sure the right services are being offered, and the highest quality of care is being provided. “The way to do that is to ensure that you are also building up those around you. I’m huge on mentoring others and making sure everybody feels like they belong.”

April 2024

Sandra Tadros could not be more enthusiastic about her role at the University of Miami Health System – often referred to as UHealth – where she serves as the senior administrative officer overseeing the operations of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute and the Executive Health Department. Commuting up to two hours each way from Broward County, she says, “If that isn’t dedication and love for what you do, I don’t know what is.

“The people are amazing and talented; I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with leaders who position their team in a fashion to really be successful as employees and leaders here at UHealth.”

Tadros holds an executive MBA in Healthcare Management and Policy from the University of Miami and was PMP certified in 2017 (project management professional). She started her career in healthcare with a focus on process improvement, which gave her the opportunity to apply her project management skills in different departments such as human resources, in the ER, and surgical services.

March 2024

It hasn’t taken Juan Awad long to become excited about his new job. Having been named a Market Leader just last April by Florida Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, Awad is already saying, “It’s exceeded my expectations!” In his position, Awad is responsible for developing, leading, and executing Florida Blue’s local strategy in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast. The strategy includes the local execution of analytics, products, sales, provider networks, care programs, and local marketing and community relations.

For more than 20 years prior to joining Florida Blue, Awad served in various healthcare leadership positions, mostly for Baptist Health South Florida, and for the past two years as hospital CEO at Ochsner Health, a leading integrated healthcare system in Louisiana. The job at Florida Blue, therefore, is a departure from what Awad had been accustomed to.

February 2024

Elizabeth Rochaine’s journey into the world of healthcare administration is a testament to her passion for people. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center, Rochaine’s career began in audiology. While pursuing her masters at Vanderbilt University, she observed inefficiencies in clinics and, unsatisfied with the status quo, pursued a dual masters, combining audiology with an MBA in Healthcare.

In her role as COO, Rochaine has the responsibility of overseeing the hospital’s day-to-day operations, implementing CEO Pam Tahan’s strategic vision, and ensuring Wellington delivers optimal services to the community. Rochaine thrives on the dynamic nature of healthcare operations, embracing the challenge of improving existing programs and enhancing patient experiences.

Although she initially loved the patient-facing aspect of her work, Rochaine realized that by stepping into an administrative role, she could indirectly impact far more lives. Her commitment to the hospital’s mission and the thrill of facing new challenges every day fuel her dedication.

January 2024

If you had to use one word to describe Haroula Norden, you couldn’t find a better one than “passionate.” As Chief Operating Officer of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Norden holds the type of position she dreamed about when she was young.

“I started in healthcare when I was 19, and when I was in school, getting my masters degree, I always thought I wanted a position like this. I wanted a position that could affect large groups of people – the patients we serve, the community, our employees – and give me the opportunity to make big decisions on a large scale. I always thought being in a role like this would be something I would enjoy doing, something I would be passionate about.”

In her position, Norden is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hospital, including the centers of excellence, and overseeing the team that oversees the ancillary operations of the hospital. “I always liked that role,” she said. “When I was young, I would look up (at the COO) and think, “What a great job, that person has their hands in everything.”

December 2023

As Vice President of Ancillary Operations, Brian Altschuler is responsible for myriad support services at Boca Regional Hospital, including such areas as pharmacy, laboratory, imaging, construction, security, food and nutrition – in essence, as he said, “all clinical and non-clinical ancillary departments at the entity level.” He acknowledged that encompasses a wide range and explained, for example, “We’re working on a massive facility plan that’s going to include a new bed tower, a new medical arts building, enhancing our infrastructure – basically redesigning our campus. My role on a day-to-day basis can be interacting with our corporate construction groups, and then the next hour I could be dealing with a family that has concerns about their loved one and needs assistance from one of our departments.”

Altschuler likes it that way because, he pointed out, “It’s a nice role because no day is the same, every hour is different.” He said his current role has evolved over the past several years, that he originally worked in the hospitality industry – including for Marriott International and Walt Disney World – and spent much time in operations. He then worked in human resources and organizational development in areas of healthcare, and that eventually expanded into this current role. “My career path is a winding road, I have a lot of diverse work experience and it’s really helped me evolve. I love what I’m doing. I’ve found my passion of interacting more with patients and families in my role, whereas my prior roles were wonderful because I worked a lot with the internal teams. Now I get to work with both.”

November 2023

Arianna Urquia knew from a very young age that she wanted a career in business, but she didn’t know healthcare was also going to be part of the equation. Currently Vice President/CFO of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Urquia provides executive oversight over all revenue cycle functions of the hospital, which include Patient Access, Health Information Management, Billing and Collections. She also supports the executive leadership team in strategic planning and profitability analysis, and manages budget performance.

Additionally, Urquia talked about the current challenges healthcare leaders face today – managing price compression together with unprecedented cost inflation, all while providing high-quality, best-in-class healthcare. Urquia said labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are just a few of the contributing factors to increased costs in the delivery of healthcare.

As to how Urquia got her start, she explained that she began as a patient access representative in the emergency department of her local hospital while in college pursuing a finance degree. “I needed a job that was flexible enough to accommodate school hours, and the emergency department being a 24/7 operation provided just that.” As she was finishing her degree, she began to explore opportunities within her field of study, she said. “During my search, an opportunity became available in the accounting department of that same hospital. I transitioned there, not thinking it would be a permanent move. I thought I was simply getting my foot in the door.”

October 2023

David Zambrana, PhD, DNP, MBA, RN, began his career as a nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and through the years, has advanced to his current position as Jackson Health System’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He said during that progression, “Many people along the way saw in me what I oftentimes may have not seen, and they certainly supported my growth.”

Part of that support came through advice Zambrana received from colleagues. “Early on, every one of my mentors said you’ve got to find a community of individuals along the way who are in similar roles to yourself.” He found that community at the American College of Healthcare Executives. A member for “at least a decade,” he considers ACHE to be an extension of his network – getting to routinely interact with colleagues and make new connections. “That’s what I sought early on, and that’s why I continue to maintain my membership. It’s also why I support others in joining.”

Zambrana said issues in health care are mostly universal, and while there is quite a bit of variability in hospitals, there is a strong sense of camaraderie among industry leaders. “I find great support in connecting with these individuals and sharing and learning from challenges and successes that others in my role or in this field have.”

September 2023

“As much as I would like to plan my day, it doesn’t necessarily go that way.” That’s the way Aganette Parks, MHA, PMP, described her position as the associate administrator at Delray Medical Center.

“I oversee the daily operations for several ancillary departments,” she continued, highlighting surgical services, pharmacy, food and nutrition services, therapy services, the inpatient rehabilitation facility, and environmental services as being among them. She doesn’t do everything every day, but said, “A lot of my work is putting out fires. If any of my departments runs into any issues, I help remove any barriers, and provide them with the resources they need to do their job.”

Parks became interested in healthcare at a young age. She said her parents were Haitian immigrants who came to America before she was born. “I watched at a very young age how my parents, who didn’t speak much English, tried to navigate the healthcare system, and how complex it was.” She noticed the lack of cultural competency within the field, and said, “Seeing that at a young age made me want to get into healthcare and health administration to see if I could make a positive impact, to reach not just the Haitian community, but others within the community and be a representative.”

August 2023

The demand for healthcare services continues to accelerate while pressure is being applied to provide those services on a “do more with less” basis. LeanTaaS offers a service that enables healthcare facilities to do just that.

Combining AI with prescriptive analytics, LeanTaaS is able to help providers be more efficient in scheduling and maximizing OR utilization, making the healthcare experience better for everyone involved. The company is currently working with 700 leading hospitals, 180 health systems – including 16 of the top 20 – and about 5,200 ORs.

As Manager, Solutions Executives at LeanTaaS, Diana Gillogly stated, “With all of the data that hospitals and facilities collect, in the absence of optimization of that data, organizations are frequently information poor.” However, she went on, “Through our tools, and more importantly, our transformation as a service ethos, we help drive optimization of the OR. We address creating more capacity and advertising it to the right providers on the right days; using an innovative, surgeon centric approach to allocating and repurposing blocks more efficiently; increasing visibility and transparency of data for all stakeholders; and taking data for our partners to an information rich state, consistently driving change to improve KPIs.”

July 2023

Peter Christiaans is quick to point out that ACHE – the American College of Healthcare Executives – is not what one might expect by looking at its name. “As you look at the broad membership, you’ll see that it is not just all hospital administrators; it’s quite diverse. It extends to vendors, suppliers and other industries that have touchpoints in healthcare and have an interest professionally to improve the field.” To realize the truth of that statement, one just has to examine Christiaans’ professional background.

Christiaans is a director at Huron Consulting Group, a management consulting firm that offers services to multiple industries, including healthcare, life sciences, commercial, and higher education. “I’ve been consulting since college,” he said, commenting that his previous experience included working at the Big Four: Arthur Andersen, KPMG, and Deloitte. Christiaans stated that all of it had been consulting work in different industries doing different tasks, “but the commonality that ties them all together is that I’ve been in what’s called the ERP – or enterprise resource planning – state. What that means is that for most of my career I’ve worked with different clients to implement software for their human capital, their financials, and their supply chain.”

June 2023

Ashley Chacko began her career at Cleveland Clinic Florida, advancing from an Office Coordinator position in Neurology to the Director of Executive Administration for the Cleveland Clinic Florida region when she left 8 years later. She left to join Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo), the recognized leader in comprehensive musculoskeletal care delivery, management, and value creation. “HOPCo’s market transformation strategies and musculoskeletal platforms are disruptive, drive stakeholder alignment, and truly change how MSK care is delivered,” Chacko explained.

Chacko is the Vice President of Market Intelligence and Strategic Planning at HOPCo. Her team translates data to drive strategic decision-making and improves HOPCo’s understanding of market opportunities to drive actionable initiatives. “We identify and prioritize business development opportunities, develop growth strategies, and execute tactics for our health system, insurance, and practice partners, and identify and assess markets for HOPCo’s future growth.

May 2023

Monica Puga began her career more than 21 years ago as an RN at Memorial Healthcare System, but since that time has moved into the role of senior vice president & chief nurse executive. As she pointed out, “There are significant alignments between nursing and other healthcare disciplines; we are all a family of caregivers.”

Puga said that when she stepped into this position in October, she brought with her other areas of healthcare that already reported to her, namely population health and value-based care. She also mentioned a new service line called the care coordination center. She likened it to an air traffic control center for a healthcare system, saying that “it manages patient flow and patient throughput, so we are delivering the right care in the right setting at the right time, safely and efficiently.”

April 2023

As the assistant vice president at Baptist Health overseeing system oncology and infusion pharmacy services, Jorge J. Garcia, Pharm.D., MS, MHA, MBA, FACHE, has been at the forefront of how quickly healthcare has evolved over the past few years. As a member and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), he has been able to stay on top of these changes, as well as prepare for what is to come.

“Being a pharmacy leader, during COVID I initially went through bringing vaccinations to the community, and later tried to increase patients’ access to the prophylactic and treatment options available,” he explained. “During this time, healthcare began diversifying sites of care to provide patients with the ability to get infusion therapy at home as well as at other non-hospital-based areas.

March 2023

Jen Connelly-Rosati has recently been taking on a lot of new challenges. Six months ago, she joined Broward Health Medical Center as its new chief financial officer, and just two months ago she became a member and treasurer-elect for ACHE of South Florida.

“I’m still the new kid on the block,” she said about her tenure at Broward Health Medical Center, the largest hospital within the Broward Health System. “The last six months have been a bit of a blur—exciting and wonderful at the same time.”

Connelly-Rosati, who previously worked at Memorial Healthcare System, has spent the past six months getting to know the team at Broward and finding her way through a large onboarding process. “I’m at the point where I feel settled most days, though there are still a few times when I’m not sure what direction is up,” she laughed.

February 2023

Columbia University and NIH trained, Dr. Ochner holds a PhD in clinical psychology, an MS in biostatistics and an MBA with a specialization in healthcare management. His experience includes serving as Division Director of Research for HCA Healthcare, Director and faculty at the Columbia University Medical Center, CEO of a $45M medical research organization, and CEO of a consulting firm for clinical research and healthcare organizations.

After losing his mother to cancer in 2019, Dr. Ochner Co-founded Modern Trials®, which leverages EHR data to identify patients in need of advanced treatment options and match them with appropriate clinical trial opportunities in a HIPAA-compliant manner.

January 2023

As the incoming president of ACHE of South Florida, Jenna Merlucci, FACHE, director of business development and operations for the Cardiac and Vascular Institute at Memorial Healthcare System (MHS), is looking forward to connecting members with the organization, no matter where they may be in their careers.

“Our membership base is made up of 1000-plus people, and my goal is to ensure that they get the most out of ACHE, understanding that what is ‘the most’ for me may be different for somebody else,” she said. “My hope is to continue giving all of our members what they deserve, which is a community for them to connect with.”

During her tenure, Merlucci hopes to get more students involved, as well as encourage members down the fellowship path. She also plans to continue providing members with the high-level education and networking opportunities that make ACHE such an important resource for healthcare professionals at every stage of their careers.

For the past nine years, Merlucci has been in charge of business development, physician relations, finance and budgeting and overseeing the Echo, Cardiac Rehab and Data Registry departments at the MHS Cardiac and Vascular Institute, where she appreciates the opportunity to take care of patients and their families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.

December 2022

ACHE OF SOUTH FLORIDA CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

As 2022 draws to a close, Oyinkansola ‘Bukky’ Ogunrinde, MHSA, president, ACHE of South Florida, is grateful for all that the chapter was able to accomplish this year.

“As the first Black woman to lead this chapter, I came into this role with great expectations and the determination to continue in the steps of those who came before me and to leave it a better organization for the next leader,” she said.

“I wanted to bring a different perspective to chapter activities, a goal that was met even beyond my expectations,” she continued. “And I attribute this success to a great team of fellow board members and committee volunteers, and our engaged membership.”

Ogunrinde’s goals focused around five core concepts: innovation, collaboration, connection, inclusion and well-being.

November 2022

François Sainfort, Ph.D., FACHE, has always had an interest in healthcare and hoped to follow his older brother into medical school. But as a student in France, he was encouraged to pursue other opportunities.

“When it was time for me to decide what to do after high school, I wanted to go to medical school, but in France, if you were good in math, they sent you into engineering,” Dr. Sainfort explained. “I went obediently, but I very quickly found a way to get into healthcare by doing systems engineering to try to improve complex health systems.”

For the past 35 years, Dr. Sainfort has been working in academia, and five years ago became the director of the Complex Health Systems Program in the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), where he also serves as professor and chair of the Department of Management. In addition, he is a professor of Population Health Sciences in the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine.

October 2022

As the IT controller at Health Choice Network (HCN), a nationwide collaboration of Community Health Centers (CHCs) and partners that provide community health services to 44 safety-net provider organizations, Niurka (Nikki) Diaz, MBA, BSIE, is responsible for overseeing all the financial aspects of IT, including accounting and purchasing. As the first funded health center-controlled network (HCCH), HCN serves more than 2.6 million patients in 16 states and territories.

While she enjoys her role in supporting the company’s financial infrastructure, Diaz said that what matters most to her is how CHCs can be cost-effective as a result of the services pricing provided by HCN.

“I like that as a not-for-profit, HCN helps CHCs serving underserved patients by leveraging technology to lower their day-to-day costs,” she said, noting that the company was a pioneer in transitioning all of the centers to the cloud and in implementing Epic (EHR) throughout the network. “If you have good technology, you are able to make ever-greater advances, and I enjoy finding ways that we can accommodate their budgets to embrace the latest technology.”

September 2022

Enrique E. Serrano RT(N), MBA, originally planned to study business after graduating from high school. But a part-time job in an imaging facility led him on a different path, piquing his interest in healthcare while building his leadership skills.

“I was working as a tech assistant at an imaging facility, and found myself really loving what I was doing,” he explained. “When the opportunity presented itself for me to earn a two-year degree and become a nuclear medicine technologist, I decided to convert to health care.”

Serrano worked his way through the ranks at the imaging facility and was soon taking on a leadership role. “I met the owner of the center while doing clinicals; he was in the X-ray program and I was in the nuclear medicine program,” said Serrano. “He was starting to offer nuclear medicine services to the public and I was given the opportunity of opening his first nuclear medicine lab in Miami Lakes.

August 2022

Though Marie Sandra Severe, Ph.D., MPH, senior vice president and chief executive officer of Jackson North Medical Center, first considered a career in law, her decision to pursue a master’s degree in public health before taking the LSAT changed her mind.

“I didn’t know that I’d fall in love with the field; after earning my MPH, I let go of the law school plan and went directly into healthcare,” said Severe, who had been introduced to the field as a high school student in HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America).

After moving back to Miami from New Orleans where she attended Tulane University, Dr. Severe began working at Miami Children’s Hospital and says she hasn’t looked back since. She joined Jackson Health System eight years ago and is now leading one of the system’s four acute care hospitals toward a number of goals.

July 2022

Darrell Leggett, II, has been associated with the ACHE since his student days at Baylor University, Texas. He credits mentoring, networking and educational programming with grooming his evolution from initial clinical aspirations to an administrative healthcare career with a foundation in the sciences, along with a rich exposure to the humanities and focus on relationships and experiences in the changing nature of healthcare in the 21st century.

As a student member, he found ACHE member executives willing to mentor him and share feedback on his goals. He also enjoyed participating in developmental programming and networking which was valuable to matching him with his current four-year association and growth with HCA, America.

After earning a BA in Medical Humanities and an MBA with Healthcare Administration specialization and serving as an HCA administrative resident, then practice manager positions in Texas and currently Director of Physician Services in Palm Beach, he learned the value of using listening skills from ACHE guidance.

June 2022

As a registered nurse, Rudy Molinet was able to follow his passion for helping people. And while he appreciated being able to play an important role in patients’ lives, he realized that a career in healthcare leadership offered the opportunity to make a difference in an even bigger way.

“As a nurse, I was having a one-on-one impact on patients and families, but as a healthcare leader, I could make a difference to an even larger group or an entire healthcare system,” he said.

Molinet returned to school to earn his master’s in healthcare administration at Columbia University, and worked in healthcare operations, marketing and sales, and strategic planning before starting his own consulting company, Artemis Synergies. He now provides services in all aspects of management, including strategic planning, management development, corporate restructuring and reorganization, executive coaching and more.

May 2022

Jessica Miller, BSN, MBA, is passionate about the healthcare industry. She is not only committed to making sure that patients receive the best possible care today in her role as the chief nursing officer at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, but to ensuring that the industry moves forward as well.

“As a nurse, you take care of individual patients, but as chief nursing officer, I am responsible for taking care of many patients and my nurses,” said Miller. “I love the fact that as an administrator, I can have an impact on their quality of care from where I sit. While it’s been challenging throughout the pandemic to retain nurses who are feeling burned out, my job is to keep them engaged and passionate about patient care while trying to provide optimal resources,” she added.

Miller, whose parents were both nurses, knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a healthcare career. “My mother is a hard-core, bedside clinical nurse, and my father took the administrative route,” she explained. “This was what we talked about at the dinner table while I was growing up.

April 2022

When Arianna Silcott Lo, HCMBA, LSSGB, decided to pursue a career in healthcare, she had a number of role models to follow, including her mother, who was a nurse for 30 years; her aunt, a nurse for 20 years; and her uncle, who was a doctor. But it wasn’t until she joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) that she realized how many other healthcare paths there were to explore.

“ACHE’s mentoring program was very important to me because it showed me how many different ways there are to get into healthcare, and how many different routes you can take,” explained Silcott Lo, whose original plan was to study to become a trauma surgeon. “It helped me to figure out what my niche was.

“I’m more interested in operations and strategic planning, but someone else might be more interested in the financial aspects of healthcare or supply chain management,” she continued. “Working with mentors in the field can help you figure out what route is most beneficial for you.”

March 2022

In February 2022, Jorge Paoli-Bruno, M.D., MBA, FACHE, CPE, FAAFP, became the medical director at Anthem, Inc. Healthsun Plans, one of the largest health benefits companies in the United States. His background as a family physician, a health systems administrator and financial expert helped prepare him for his new journey, as did his relationship with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

“I spent the last seven years working for Jackson Health System in the Corrections Health Services section, running services to the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, one of the largest correctional systems in the United States,” said Dr. Paoli-Bruno, who served as both the medical director and interim chief medical officer for the organization. “In addition, I continued visiting clinics and supervising mid-level providers at health care clinics and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities on the outside.

February 2022

In January, Oyinkansola “Bukky” Ogunrinde, MHSA, became president of ACHE of South Florida, the first African-American woman elected to the position in its 50-year existence. Not only does she bring a multitude of experience to the role, having been a member of ACHE for the past 16 years, but she also brings a wealth of new ideas.

“I am very excited to be named president of this chapter, and it means a lot to me,” she said. “I believe I will bring a different perspective to the presidency, and I’ve got a number of themes—including innovation, connection, collaboration, inclusion and well-being—that I hope will resonate.”

n addition to strengthening connections with all ACHE members, Ogunrinde wants the organization to collaborate with other healthcare entities and community organizations.

January 2022

Happy New Year from the American College of Health Care Executive of the South Florida Chapter!

Since the start of his term as president of ACHE of South Florida, Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE, has been inspired by a strong desire to deliver a mission-driven and member-focused year. “In a new virtual world pushed upon us by the pandemic, we needed to find new ways to celebrate and engage with our members and supporters,” said Wong.

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations.

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December 2021

Since the start of his term as president of ACHE of South Florida, Kenneth C. Wong, FACHE, has been inspired by a strong desire to deliver a mission-driven and member-focused year. “In a new virtual world pushed upon us by the pandemic, we needed to find new ways to celebrate and engage with our members and supporters,” said Wong.

During his tenure, Wong continued to lead the chapter’s rebranding efforts and communications following the name change last year from the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum to ACHE of South Florida. This included continuing to improve the chapter’s new website and increasing its digital presence. Wong also began promoting members’ accomplishments through LinkedIn, almost tripling the number of followers since December of last year.

December 2021

In 2021, Ken Hetlage, LFACHE, retired from Memorial Healthcare System after 33 years. The ACHE and ACHE of South Florida Life Fellow, who has been involved in healthcare since working as a paramedic while in college, says that while it feels pretty good to be retired after more than 45 years of working in the field, he couldn’t have made a better career choice. “It’s been a great ride; I couldn’t have chosen a better field,” said Hetlage, who was recruited for an administrative role at Barnes Hospital while earning his MHA at Washington University in St. Louis. “The biggest advantage now is that I have more time to do what I want to do when I want to do it; the biggest drawback is that I forget what day of the week it is, but that’s still a good thing.”

November 2021

Although Zeff Ross, LFACHE, is now retired after working for almost three decades for Memorial Healthcare System, he is hardly resting on his laurels. The former executive vice-president of Memorial Healthcare System and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Memorial Regional Hospital is still passionate about being a lifelong learner and helping others to succeed in the healthcare industry.

“I stayed at Memorial for almost 30 years because of its culture and the constant challenges, as well as the difference that I could make for patients,” he said. “I was always doing something new and learning something that helped me develop as a person. I also took the opportunity to help others develop during that time.

October 2021

Dr. Jeff Ritter, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Master of Science in Health Service Administration Programs (MSHSA) at Barry University, first became interested in a career in healthcare at a young age.

“As a child, I had a number of ailments that required clinical care, and I developed a great respect for the clinicians, physicians and nurses that treated me,” he explained. “That drove me to pursue a career in healthcare after college.”

September 2021

Kristen Palanza knows the importance of finding common ground between different groups of healthcare professionals.

As the vice president of development for Park Shore Drug Inc., a privately owned long-term care pharmacy, she straddles the line between internal pharmacy operations and external client affairs. As a board member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) for the past nine years, she also understands how interconnected every aspect of the healthcare field is.

August 2021

As a pharmaceutical sales representative, Stephen C. Quintyne, FACHE, saw firsthand the difference that behavioral health professionals could make in the lives of patients. And while he worked in other areas of healthcare, including at a med-surg hospital, he felt drawn to try to help this underserved market.

“Though I originally stumbled into the behavioral health field when I was working in pharmaceutical sales visiting psychiatric facilities, prisons and long-term state hospitals, as I learned more about this niche I was attracted to what I saw as an area that had been lacking in resources for a long time,” he explained. “I wanted to advocate for patients to get them the help that they needed.

July 2021

When Ralph Rios, FACHE, commits to something—either personally or professionally—he goes all in, whether it’s skydiving, scuba-diving, piloting a plane or providing the highest level of care to patients at Baptist Health facilities.

“When I’m involved in an activity, I want to reach the highest level of certification/accreditation available,” he explained. “That’s why I join the associations or organizations that support those activities and take an active role.”

June 2021

When Randy Gross, FACHE, CEO of Broward Health Imperial Point, joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) as a graduate student in 1997, he hoped that it would help him learn more about the healthcare field. What he didn’t realize then was that it would open the door to his current position.

“I joined Broward Health Imperial Point in December of 2019, and two months prior, I’d been at an ACHE-sponsored CEO forum where I participated in a two-day interactive workshop that included the CEO of Broward Health,” explained Gross. “A couple of weeks later, the job opened up at Imperial Point and I applied, and the fact that I’d gotten to know the CEO in that type of setting assisted with the interview process.”

May 2021

Ademola Ayo Akinkunmi, PMP, FACHE, MHA, CCM, RN, describes himself as a mosaic of many pieces that is still being built. He says that he is eternally grateful to God and to those who have contributed to making him who he is, and for the myriad opportunities he has had in his healthcare journey.

March 2021

As the co-owner of JKARE, a company that offers clinical respiratory care services and home medical equipment and supplies in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Karen Alba is responsible for making sure that patients with respiratory issues and chronic conditions have access to the care they need. The mother of a son with cystic fibrosis, she also serves as a patient advocate in Tallahassee, FL and Washington, DC, working with policymakers to provide insight into the needs of people with chronic conditions.

February 2021

When Francis Afram-Gyening became the new CEO of Camillus Health Concern in 2017, he had a lot of big goals in mind. And not only has he succeeded in growing the Miami agency, which delivers healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, but he has been able to ensure financial stability while expanding services—even during the COVID-19 crisis.

January 2021

ACHE of South Florida Responds to Pandemic by Providing Members with Financial Awards and Assistance

ACHE of South Florida has always been focused on supporting its members, and that mission didn’t change during the pandemic. In fact, the organization offered eligible members two financial awards programs in 2020; one to recognize those going above and beyond, and the other to help those who might be struggling during these troubling times.

December 2020

Rudy Molinet, 61, is a firm believer in the value of lifelong learning. Now in his “fourth career,” the adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) understands the importance of surrounding himself with knowledgeable professionals, and of joining organizations that can provide a wealth of resources for him and his students.

November 2020

Despite the fact that Rob Rosenbaum, FACHE, has been in the healthcare field for more than 30 years, it wasn’t originally the career he planned.

Ocotber 2020

For more than 25 years, Paula M. Zalucki, FACHE, FACMPE, has served in consulting and senior leadership roles in medical groups, large integrated delivery systems, and community hospitals. As the senior manager at ECG Management Consultants, she is focused on performance improvement among medical groups, specifically those that are part of hospital systems.

September 2020

As the chief operating officer at Hialeah Hospital, Shirley Adkins is responsible for the daily operations of the 256-bed acute care facility, as well as for patient, physician and community engagement. Having held this role for the past two years, she understands the importance of learning from a vast array of subject matter experts, both within and outside of the hospital.

August 2020

There are a lot of challenges facing healthcare administrators today, including those who are tasked with raising funds for hospitals and patient care. Michelle Boggs, president of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation, has found that having a resource like ACHE of South Florida has provided her with the tools she needs to keep up-to-date on the latest industry news.

July 2020

Jorge J. García, PharmD, MS, MHA, MBA, FACHE, is a strong believer in lifelong learning and the value of continuing education. Since coming to the U.S. from Cuba at the age of 15, he has made it his goal to become a leader in the field of healthcare, and today he is a sought-after expert in the field of pharmacy charge integrity and revenue management in the health system setting, as well as in the areas of alternative payment models, biosimilars, and value-based oncology care.

June 2020

When Peter Powers, FACHE, moved from a job at a hospital in Denver, CO to become CEO of Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, he expected his new position to be a challenge. What he didn’t expect was to begin his tenure during the COVID-19 crisis.

May 2020

Mari Pantoja-Smith, MSN, RN, defines herself as a “nursy nurse” - someone who has a passion for taking care of others, and who believes that nursing is more of a calling than a job.

“Nursing is not something that you go into for the money,” explained the 22-year nursing veteran. “It’s not easy to go to nursing school or to take care of patients, but it’s what you do when you want to help people.”

April 2020

One of the best ways to break into the healthcare job market or to move ahead in one’s career is to establish connections within the industry. This is why it’s especially important to join organizations that provide networking events, educational opportunities and mentoring programs, such as ACHE of South Florida.

March 2020

Attila Hertelendy, PhD is a big believer in individuals broadening their horizons, whether through education, networking with peers or exploring faraway places. Having lived in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and numerous places in the U.S., he understands the importance of making personal and professional connections. The professor, who has taught finance, healthcare reimbursement, and organizational behavior at FIU for the past five years, started his career in emergency services, working as a paramedic/firefighter before being promoted to fire chief. He worked as an emergency management advisor for large oil and petrochemical companies such as Aramco and SABIC before moving into healthcare administration, where he managed emergency departments, ICUs and trauma services.

February 2020

According to Wellington Regional Medical Center (WRMC) Associate Administrator Diego Perilla, one of the keys to being successful in the healthcare field is to never stop learning. While participating in the Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) COO Development Program, he also oversees hospital operations at Wellington, supporting 10 departments throughout the hospital including procedural areas, ancillary services and clinical support areas.

January 2020

ACHE of South Florida (ACHE-FL) is the local chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). ACHE’s mission is to improve healthcare delivery by providing members with access to educational, networking and career development activities.

December 2019

With healthcare always evolving, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. And one of the best ways to do this is to have a network of colleagues in different areas of the industry that can offer information and advice.

November 2019

Heather Havericak’s health care journey started at the age of 12, when her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer. Though she had originally planned to go into elementary education as a college freshman, she soon changed her major to nursing, and began working her way up the ranks as a nurse while earning more advanced degrees.

October 2019

Sometimes the best way to advance in a career is to follow in the steps of those who are successful in the field. Zunner E. Soliz, CPA, FACHE, manager of accounting services at Broward Health, first joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) after realizing that her company’s CEO was a Fellow; since then, she has continued to take advantage of the mentoring services provided by the organization.

August 2019

One of the most unique and challenging facets of healthcare is that it is every-changing, which means that healthcare administrators need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and news affecting the industry. One of the ways in which to do this is through the South Florida Healthcare Executives Forum (SFHEF), which provides a wide range of educational opportunities to its members.

July 2019

When opportunity knocks in the healthcare realm, you have to be ready. And one of the best ways to be prepared is to establish connections in the industry who already know your skills and work ethic.

June 2019

When opportunity knocks in the healthcare realm, you have to be ready. And one of the best ways to be prepared is to establish conIn her role as the physician liaison at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, which is part of Tenet Health, Geness LeBron Bump understands the importance of connecting with leaders in the healthcare field. Not only does she work with both physicians and the executive team at the hospital to improve operability, but she also uses their input to help educate the community about Tenet’s service lines.

May 2019

The South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum, Inc. (SFHEF) is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. While its members come from many different backgrounds, board member-at-large Simone Fearon, MD, would like to see more participation from physicians, whom she believes could benefit from the support that the group offers.

April 2019

The South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum, Inc. (SFHEF) is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. While its members come from many different backgrounds, board member-at-large Simone Fearon, MD, would like to see more participation from physicians, whom she believes could benefit from the support that the group offers.

March 2019

For the past 43 years, Aurelio Fernandez III, FACHE, has worked in healthcare in the South Florida area, spending the past 12 years with Memorial Healthcare System (MHS), and serving as its president and chief executive officer for the past three years.The system includes Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar, Memorial Hospital Pembroke and Memorial Manor nursing home.

January 2019

Roy Hawkins, Jr. became CEO of Jackson North Medical Center in September of 2017. A Miami native, his healthcare experience includes working for the Department of Veterans Affairs before transitioning to HCA in Richmond, VA where he served as chief operations officer.

December 2018

A seasoned healthcare professional with more than 25 years of experience leading large hospitals, Jonathan Turton joined Broward Health Medical Center in September 2018 as chief executive officer. In this role, he oversees the overall administration and management of the 716-bed acute care hospital, trauma center and related operations.

November 2018

Leah Carpenter’s career spans over thirty years in healthcare with exceptional leadership experience in a variety of healthcare settings. She has been part of the Memorial Healthcare System for the past fourteen years. Leah joined the Memorial Healthcare System in 2002 as the Chief Nursing Officer of Memorial Hospital Pembroke and was appointed as the Chief Nursing Officer of Memorial Hospital Miramar in 2004 where she played an integral part in the design, construction and opening of this new facility.

October 2018

Jonathan E. Watkins is an accomplished healthcare professional who began his leadership career in Memphis, TN with the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system. There he quickly earned the respect and support of peers, physicians, and the system’s senior executives, and in 2013 was named Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Methodist North Hospital. In 2016 he joined Kaiser Permanente as the Chief Operating Officer of Northern California’s Central Valley Service Area. There he directed and coordinated the day-to-day operations of the area’s hospitals before moving back to the southeast where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Broward Health’s Imperial Point Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

September 2018

Elizabeth Paine, MS, MBA, is an assistant administrator at Wellington Regional Medical Center. In this role, Paine works closely with the chief executive officer and the chief operating officer in the planning, coordination and supervision of hospital expansion and renovation projects and assists in the daily operations of the facility.

August 2018

Ashely Vertuno is the Chief Operating Officer at Westside Regional Medical Center, East Florida Division with HCA since October 2017. She is responsible for overseeing the operations of the facility including a $85M,72 private bed tower construction project. She formally was at Desert Regional Medical Center, a for-profit Tenet facility in Palm Springs, CA as Associate Administrator. Her primary responsibilities included oversight of the orthopedic and neuroscience service lines, robotics service line, surgical clinical excellence, investor owned surgical panel (21 surgeons), facilities management, facility physician contract negotiations, capital construction oversight- approx. $52M in 2 years, food and nutrition and environmental services..

June 2018

I was first introduced to SFHEF and ACHE in 2014, when I was invited to serve on a panel to discuss the importance of patient segmentation in healthcare marketing. Since then, I have remained a strong supporter of SFHEF’s mission and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2018, tasked with planning the educational events for the chapter. This exciting role allows me to highlight “hot topics” in healthcare, recruit experts to address those topics, and share that knowledge with our members. As someone who loves learning and connecting people, I truly enjoy this responsibility and am grateful for this opportunity.

May 2018

Allyssa Tobitt is the Assistant Vice President of Operations of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, a 407-bed acute care facility of HCA East Florida. As Assistant Vice President of Operations, Tobitt leads process improvement and special projects in support of the Chief Operating Officer for all Ancillary, Support and Peri-Operative services.

April 2018

Urmala Roopnarinesingh currently serves as the Program/Faculty Development Chair for the University of Phoenix, School of Health Services Administration. In her role she is responsible for supervising faculty, faculty development, student engagement and numerous other activities related to the delivery of quality education. Prior to accepting this position she instructed Health Administration courses for Keiser University. Her previous career expertise includes 10 years as brand manager for a major pharmaceutical distribution corporation in the Caribbean.

March 2018

Haroula Protopapadakis was born and raised in South Florida. Growing up her mother worked in healthcare, and she always wanted to emulate that and also have a career in healthcare. Haroula attended Nova Southeastern University where she received a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare. Haroula is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

February 2018

Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes joined MEDNAX National Medical Group in 2016 as VP of Quality and Safety to lead all clinical multi-specialty quality and safety initiatives, as well as to facilitate the design and implementation of value based payment models. She also provides oversight for all research, education, and innovation activities that fall under the auspices of the MEDNAX Center for Research, Education, Quality and Safety. After receiving her medical degree in Europe, she completed her post-graduate residency and fellowship training at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2003, and earned her Executive Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami in 2011.

January 2018

Adrian Parker, director of business physician development and strategic planning for Jackson North Medical Center, part of Jackson Health System, takes over the reigns as president of the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum, Inc. (SFHEF). The organization serves as a primary resource for education to local healthcare business professionals, offering quality opportunities for continuing education, supporting learning efforts of membership across the span of their careers.