Ashley Vertuno, CEO of HCA FL JFK North Hospital is the recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives 2024 Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive.

March 26, 2024 – Ashley Vertuno, FACHE, chief executive officer of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach, has been awarded the esteemed Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). This prestigious accolade recognizes exceptional achievement in healthcare management, specifically honoring individuals under 40 years old who hold CEO or COO positions in healthcare organizations and are Fellows of ACHE.

Ashley Vertuno’s selection for this honor underscores her remarkable journey in healthcare leadership. Her dedication and vision have made a profound impact on the healthcare industry and the community.

ASHLEY WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF ACHE

During the 67^th ACHE Congress Ashley was able to celebrate receiving this award with family, former and current bosses, mentors and colleagues.  Carolyn Caldwell, President Chief Executive Officer of Dignity Health St Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California (former HCA CEO) was Ashley’s first boss and was there to cheer her on.  When asked by Carolyn what Ashley wanted to be when she grew up, Ashley looked at her and said, I want to be you, CEO of a major Healthcare organization. And as we can see Ashley is living her purpose and continues to make significant strides in the healthcare industry.

In November 2020 Charles Gressle, HCA East Florida Division President appointed Ashley Vertuno as CEO of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital. At the time Ashley was HCA Healthcare’s youngest CEO. Charles Gressle’s belief in Ashley’s abilities reflects HCA Healthcare’s commitment to nurturing and empowering emerging leaders.

Ashley has cultivated a culture of excellence, assembled high-performing teams, and championed strategic initiatives to enhance healthcare delivery in West Palm Beach.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ashley’s dedication to community service is exemplary. She has served in leadership roles for various charitable organizations, including the American Heart Association and the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. Ashley’s commitment to mentorship and support for emerging leaders is evident in her involvement in local Women Colleague Networks and advisory boards.

Ashley’s contributions to the healthcare industry have been recognized through numerous accolades, including being named a Young Professional of the Year finalist by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and a recipient of the “40 Under 40” award by Palm Springs Magazine. Her inclusion in Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders for 2023 further highlights her role as a trailblazer in healthcare innovation and excellence.

Reflecting on her journey, Ashley acknowledges the importance of mentorship and pays it forward by nurturing a culture of support for future leaders. “My mentor was an incredible source of inspiration and guidance on my journey towards breaking the glass ceiling,” she says. “I will always be committed to paying it forward by fostering an environment of support and mentorship for those who come after me.”

As Ashley continues to make strides in healthcare leadership, her impact on the community and the industry is poised to grow exponentially. Her dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence serve as a beacon for aspiring healthcare executives nationwide.

About HCA Healthcare

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services comprising 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44%. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 37 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.

About HCA Florida JFK North Hospital

Serving Palm Beach County for close to 50 years, HCA Florida JFK North Hospital is a 280-bed full-service acute care hospital accredited as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. Within minutes of I-95, the hospital’s 24-hour emergency room provides specialized hospital services for adults and children of all ages. Our hospital specializes in emergency services, in-patient and out-patient behavioral health services for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients, spine surgery, general surgery, gastrointestinal including manometry/motility. Interventional radiology, orthopedic surgery, including minimally-invasive robotic surgery, urology and vascular, provide high-quality patient care to residents of West Palm Beach and the surrounding communities.

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