Nov. 25, 2025 – HCA Florida Mercy Hospital announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: City of Miami Fire-Rescue Chief Robert Hevia, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, J.D., and Ron Winston, Ed.D., Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College.
Their collective expertise in public service, education, healthcare, and emergency response will provide essential guidance as HCA Florida Mercy Hospital advances its mission of compassionate, high-quality, faith-based care. Their leadership comes at a pivotal time as the hospital celebrates 75 years of serving the Miami community.
Meet the New Trustees
Robert Hevia, DNP, MBA – City of Miami Fire-Rescue Chief
Chief Robert Hevia brings more than three decades of leadership in public safety, healthcare, and emergency response. His connection to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital dates back to the early years of his career, when he worked at the hospital alongside community cardiologists. Throughout his distinguished career with the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department, he has served in progressive leadership roles including firefighter, chief fire officer, assistant fire chief, and deputy fire chief. As the City of Miami’s emergency manager, he played a pivotal role in leading the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A board-certified nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Masters of Business Administration, Chief Hevia uniquely blends clinical expertise with operational leadership, advancing community health, emergency preparedness, and first responder readiness.
Raquel Regalado, JD – Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Commissioner Regalado is the first Miami-born Hispanic woman to serve on the Miami-Dade County Commission, where she has become a leading advocate for families, seniors, and vulnerable populations across the county. She also shares a personal connection to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, where both of her children were born. A champion for disability rights, senior services, affordable housing, and transportation accessibility, she has long worked to expand essential resources for residents. Prior to her election to the County Commission, Regalado served on the Miami-Dade County School Board, where she spearheaded a historic bond initiative to modernize district schools and championed access to exceptional student education services. Her media work in Spanish-language television and radio has made her a trusted voice for civic engagement and community information in Miami.
Ron Winston, Ed.D. – Dean, School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College
Dr. Winston is a respected higher education and healthcare leader with a strong record of academic innovation, leadership development, and student success. Most recently serving as Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College, he led academic and clinical programs that helped shape the region’s healthcare workforce. His career includes senior roles across both public and private academic institutions, where he has strengthened academic operations, expanded program excellence, and supported faculty and student achievement. He is widely recognized for his commitment to mentorship, fostering resilience, leadership, and career readiness in the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“We are honored to welcome these exceptional leaders to our Board of Trustees,” said Allyssa Tobitt, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Mercy Hospital. “Their expertise, commitment to service, and shared passion for our community will strengthen HCA Florida Mercy Hospital’s mission as we continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate care rooted in our faith-based legacy. Their guidance will be instrumental as we shape the next chapter of our future.”
About HCA Florida Mercy Hospital
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, a comprehensive medical facility serving the healthcare needs of South Florida for 75 years, is a part of HCA Florida Healthcare. The 488-bed, acute care hospital is an award-winning facility that specializes in emergency services that are kid and senior friendly, maternity with level III NICU, general and robotic surgery, hyperbaric and wound care center, cardiology, cancer care, orthopedic and spine, primary stroke center, weight loss programs and more. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital is Miami-Dade’s only catholic hospital and provides patients with the best quality care in a compassionate and caring environment. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital is located in the heart of Coconut Grove, FL with a bayfront property that makes it the only hospital in Miami to be accessible by land, air and sea.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As one of the state’s leading healthcare networks, HCA Florida Healthcare’s 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues work together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 12 million patient encounters annually. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. In 2024, the network provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.7 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly trained specialists, including the state’s most comprehensive cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leader in training future healthcare professionals, offering 151 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at 27 different hospitals with more than 2,400 residents. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
