Chief Executive Officer of West Boca Medical Center, Walt Mickens’ strength as a leader is multi-layered. In all he does, he demonstrates a genuine concern for and commitment to the needs of the community he serves.
Mickens has been the lead sponsor for The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation for five years. The foundation offers genetic testing free of charge annually. He will be honored at The Victor Centers for Jewish Genetic Diseases annual See the Light Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Mickens and West Boca Medical Center are committed to several charitable causes, including Boca Helping Hands, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March of Dimes and the American Heart Association. He has been selected as the Committee Chair for the March of Dimes’ 2008 Mothers March.
On December 17th, 2007 West Boca Medical Center participated in a food drive for Boca Helping Hands, a community food bank. Walt and his dedicated employees donated 3,300 lbs of food.
“Although Boca Raton is an affluent area,” Mickens noted, “There are a lot of families in need. We are happy to pitch in and help.” As part of their efforts, the Tenet Healthcare Foundation additionally contributes a dollar for each donated pound of food. This year, Boca Helping Hands will receive a check for $3,300.
In addition, during their annual employee holiday party, Mickens and his staff collected 425 toys for the Caridad Center, a charity which serves the health, educational and living needs of the children and families of agricultural workers, laborers and the underserved.
Walt is an active participant of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce serving on The Board of Directors. He enthusiastically chairs the West Boca Business Council.
He also works hand-in-hand with the Rose and Adolf Levis Jewish Community Center, partnering with them on a multitude of events and programs.
Mickens cites his greatest accomplishment as CEO is having the opportunity to lead so many fine employees in their mission of providing the highest quality, compassionate care to the community. Hes also proud to offer the latest technology and services such as robotic surgery.
In January of 2007, West Boca Medical Center was the first in Palm Beach County to acquire the new daVinci S Surgical System a computer-enhanced system that puts a computer between the surgeons hands and the tips of electromechanically-enhanced, micro instruments.
The innovative, advanced technology enables the surgeon to perform minimally invasive surgery, thereby enabling patients to recover faster and with fewer adverse side effects. “We expect this cutting-edge technique will improve patients experiences and become a vital tool in treatment regimes for prostate surgery and invasive gynecological surgery.”
His greatest challenge as CEO is to maintain and build a provider network. The national nursing and physician shortage is a challenge felt by all administrators. Mickens meets this challenge by aggressively recruiting talent in and out of state.
A native of Long Branch, New Jersey, Mickens began his 25-year healthcare career in the same hospital where he was born. He began as a mailroom clerk and worked his way up the ranks. He received his B.A. in Business Administration at Lebanon Valley College in Central Pennsylvania. He went on to earn an M.B.A. at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
He was named CEO of West Boca Medical Center in September 2003 after serving as Chief Operating Officer of Parkway Regional Medical Center in North Miami Beach. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and a board and executive committee member of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association.
His goal for 2008 is “to continue offering outstanding service and meeting the healthcare needs of his community.”
Chief Executive Officer of West Boca Medical Center, Walt Mickens’ strength as a leader is multi-layered. In all he does, he demonstrates a genuine concern for and commitment to the needs of the community he serves. 
