North Florida Regional Medical Center CEO to retire after 25 years

The CEO of Gainesville’s largest private hospital is retiring.

North Florida Regional Medical Center’s president and CEO Ward Boston, who served in the capacity 25 years, recently announced he will retire in October.

A new CEO has not yet been selected, but Boston will remain on as a temporary consultant to aid the transition until April.

“I will not miss our challenging daily pace, but I will miss our great medical staff and employees,” Boston said in a news release. “I will not miss the ‘red tape’ of today’s healthcare environment, but I will miss seeing our newborns in the daily rounding that has become a part of my routine.”

Michael P. Joyce, president of Hospital Corporation of America’s North Florida Division, said Boston guided the hospital in many notable areas.

“During Ward’s tenure, North Florida Regional Medical Center has achieved key milestones and accomplishments,” he said.

Boston said the hospital’s most significant stride achieved under his purview was collaborating with doctors, employees and volunteers to provide quality care for patients. That outcome was realized when the hospital received Key Quality Performer recognition from the Joint Commission for three years.

Other hospital milestones that coincided with Boston’s time in the position include securing more than $100 million for expansion to 432 beds and receiving The Leapfrog Group’s highest safety rating.

Boston has lived in Gainesville since he took the post more than two decades ago. Now, he said, he’s looking forward to more time with his wife Mary Anne, three grown children and two grandchildren.

“Retiring from a career that has meant so much to me is not easy,” he said in the release.  “However, I welcome more family and personal time that retirement makes possible.”

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