April 1, 2026 — HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Cory Mead as its new chief executive officer, effective March 30, 2026. Mead brings more than a decade of leadership experience within HCA Healthcare and a strong record of driving operational excellence and strategic growth.
Mead most recently served as chief executive officer of HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital in Tamarac, a 271-bed acute care facility serving Broward County. During his tenure, he led several key initiatives to strengthen operations and advance patient care. He also oversaw more than $60 million in capital projects, including the opening of a new cardiac catheterization laboratory in 2025.
Prior to his role at HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital, Mead served as chief operating officer at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas, a 343-bed hospital within HCA Healthcare’s Midwest Division. He also held leadership roles as chief operating officer of TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and associate chief operating officer at Reston Hospital Center in Virginia. Mead began his career with HCA Healthcare in 2013 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mead earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Iowa.
“We are excited to welcome Cory to HCA Florida Palms West Hospital,” said Nisha Mills, chief operating officer. “His leadership experience and commitment to excellence make him well suited to guide the hospital into its next chapter.”
During the leadership transition, Mills served as interim chief executive officer, helping ensure continuity for colleagues, physicians, and patients.
As HCA Florida Palms West Hospital celebrates 40 years of caring for the community, the organization continues to invest in its future. Last June, the hospital broke ground on a new 42-bed patient tower, a major expansion that will transform the campus and help meet the growing healthcare needs of the western communities of Palm Beach County.
About HCA Florida Palms West Hospital
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is a 206-bed full-service, acute care hospital specializing in emergency, pediatric, intensive care, orthopedic and spine care, maternity and level III neonatal care services, and minimally-invasive and robotic surgery. With more than 1,200 colleagues and 945 medical staff, we care for more than 14,000 admitted patients and more than 62,000 emergency room patients annually. HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is home to the only dedicated Women’s and Children’s Center in the western Palm Beach County community.
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 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.