CEO Connection: Ashley Vertuno, HCA Florida, JFK North Hospital

Ashley Vertuno has been the Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital since November 2020. She has been recognized in her organization, HCA Healthcare, as one of the youngest CEOs in the company and an influential leader in driving teams to achieve successful outcomes. Her passion is on rebuilding workplace culture and shaping strategic direction for continued success in local communities through assembling top-performing teams. This has pivoted the JFK North Hospital towards long-term success.

Vertuno was previously the COO at HCA Florida Westside Hospital from October 2017 to October 2020 where she was responsible for overseeing the operations of the facility, including building and opening an $85-million tower with 72 private beds. While leading emergency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, she

successfully partnered with cardiovascular surgeons and interventional cardiologists to launch the structural heart program during a time of crisis. She formerly worked at Desert Regional Medical Center- Tenet Healthcare in Palm Springs, CA as Associate Administrator & Service Line Administrator: Orthopedics & Neurosciences. Preceding the move to Palm Springs, CA, Vertuno served as Practice Administrator with HCA Mid-America Division in Kansas City, MO.

Vertuno’s commitment to improving the healthcare industry and her community across the country is evident in her servant leadership and involvement in numerous organizations, including serving as Go Red for Women Chair in 2022 & 2023 for the American Heart Association of Palm Beach County. She believes in the power of mentorship and has a passion for inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders, so she serves as an advisory board member and mentor for Women in Healthcare Florida, FIU Business Women in Leadership, and the University of Miami’s Herbert School of Business Health Management Policy Advisory Council. She also serves as executive sponsor of the HCA East Florida Division Women’s Colleague Network. Vertuno has been honored by The Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce as a 2022 Young Professional of the Year finalist, 2022 Woman of the Year Finalist; Greater Palm Beach County Chamber 2022 Athena Finalist; Palm Springs Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” and a Healthcare Executive to Know by South Florida Hospital News. Most recently in 2023, Vertuno was named by South Florida Business Journal Forty under 40, and Modern Healthcare’s prestigious list of the Top 25 Emerging Leaders.

In addition, Vertuno is an active member for American College of Healthcare Executives with Fellow status and has facilitated women leadership forums through ACHE and local chapters. She currently services on the colleges Nominating Committee. She recently completed her terms in serving on ACHEs Editorial Committee, Early Careerist Committee, Council of Regents, Regents Selection Committee. Vertuno was the past ACHE Regent for Florida- Eastern.

Vertuno holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, she has a “green belt” in Six Sigma, is a past participant in Tenet Healthcare Leadership Academy and is a past fellow for the American Hospital Association’s Transformational Leadership Program.