Dedication, compassion, vision and integrity… These are signs of a good leader. These are also characteristics embodied by Florida Medical Centers Chief Executive Officer, Aurelio Fernandez.
Fernandez is so dedicated to being a good leader that he was chosen “Best Hospital CEO” at
Florida Medical Business 16th Annual Golden Stethoscope Awards. The award honors the best CEO as voted by healthcare professionals throughout Florida.
“I definitely didnt expect to be here,” Fernandez said. “Growing up, I always thought I would be in banking and finance.”
Little did Fernandez know that he would become such an influential force in the South Florida healthcare industry.
Originally, Fernandez set out to follow in his fathers footsteps into finance and earned an accounting degree from Florida International University. Instead of becoming a public accountant, he chose to pursue a career within a corporation. This led him to accept a job at Palmetto General Hospital in 1976.
In 1980, he became the Chief Financial Officer at Pan American Hospital. While serving as CFO, his mentors guided him towards hospital management. Fernandez then earned a masters degree in health services administration at Florida International University.
Fernandez was then set to take on the healthcare industry. He became an assistant administrator at Pan American hospital and then moved up to be the Vice President of Financial Operations for American Hospital Management Corporation. Once two of the companys hospitals were sold, it was time for Fernandez to make another move. He accepted a position as Chief Operating Officer at North Ridge Medical Center.
In 1988, Fernandez was approached by colleagues from Palmetto General Hospital with an interesting proposition. He was asked to head a new joint venture between the hospital and a group of physicians. The result was Palm-Med, a partnership that provided outpatient imaging, surgery, labs, and more. Years later, he and a colleague at Palm-Med established PhyChoice, a physician management company which became a subsidiary of Phymatrix. The company eventually became publicly traded.
His leadership abilities were called upon again in 1996 to establish Tenet Network Management, a division that managed a large IPA affiliated with Tenet hospitals. But something was missing.
“After a couple of years, I felt that I really wanted to get back to the hospitals,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez soon became the Chief Operating Officer at Parkway Regional Medical Center.
In 1999, Fernandez took on the job of CEO of Hialeah Hospital. Finally, in 2003, he became the CEO of Florida Medical Center.
Through these experiences, Fernandez has gained knowledge needed to be an effective leader. His strength has proven to be the ability to re-focus organizations and steer them in a more successful path. By helping employees believe in themselves and take pride and ownership in their work, Fernandez has been able to steer hospitals toward excellence.
“Ive always been an advocator for promoting from within and giving people opportunities,” Fernandez said. “Ive been given lots of opportunities in my lifetime and I think its important to give people second chances.”
But its not only at the hospital where Fernandez excels and gives people hope for the future. He dedicates a lot of time and energy to a very worthy cause Boy Scouts of America.
“I believe Scouting builds character,” Fernandez said. “It provides a venue for individuals to share certain values that are important in growing up and being part of society.”
Fernandez serves on the Executive Board of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and helps grow membership, increase donations and serve as a Spanish-speaking role model. Recently, the organization awarded him the Silver Beaver Award in recognition for his hard work.
Anyone with so many responsibilities needs a way to stay healthy and stress-free. For Fernandez, running is what keeps him centered.
“I run a couple of miles every weekday,” Fernandez said “Its the only way to decompress.”
And there is still another side to Fernandez. He is a solid family man, who has been married to his wife, Patricia, for 31 years. He is the proud father of four sons, two grown, one about to graduate college, and the youngest entering his Senior year in high school.
As for Florida Medical Center, Fernandez sees great things in the future. With a top-notch medical staff, the hospital will continue to cater to the needs of a rapidly-changing demographic and growing community.
For more information on Florida Medical Center, visit www.floridamedicalctr.com or call (954) 735-6000.
Aurelio M. Fernandez CEO
Florida Medical Center
Proudest Accomplishment: Raising a family
First Job: Accountant at Palmetto General Hospital
Education: Master of Health Services Administration
What skills do you need to succeed in your job: Get along with people.
Work habit you possess that you are most proud of: Don’t ask someone to do something you are not willing to do.
Most valuable lesson you learned in your career: Everyone needs to work with a common objective.
The toughest part of your job: Balancing cost with diminishing revenues
Your philosophy of success: Honesty, hard work and integrity
One of your goals: Improve efficiencies in the hospital
Person You Most Admire: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Favorite Book: John Adams
Biggest Challenge Confronting Healthcare: The high percentage of uninsured & malpractice crisis
Suggestions on how you would solve a particular problem in healthcare: Have the dollar follow the patient.
Your predictions on the future of health care: Will continue to consume the largest percentage of GNP
Best Thing About Healthcare in South Florida: The market allows for creativity in delivery systems.
Worst Thing about Healthcare in South Florida: Inequities in payment methodology.
What advice would you offer young people considering a career in Health Care: It is here to stay but it will be difficult to maintain sound financial results.
Post Views: 723
