HCA Healthcare and the UCF College of Medicine have named Wendy H. Brandon, FACHE, as CEO of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. Slated to open by the end of 2020, the hospital strives to represent the future of medicine in Central Florida while delivering outstanding training for physicians. Brandon will begin her new role on January 1, 2019.
With more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Brandon has served for 10 years as CEO of HCA鈥檚 Central Florida Regional Hospital, a 221-bed facility in Sanford. Her achievements include overseeing the launch of the hospital鈥檚 Level II Trauma Center, opening the region鈥檚 first freestanding emergency department and leading the development of Oviedo Medical Center. Previously, she led Englewood Community Hospital in HCA鈥檚 West Florida Division.
鈥淲endy is a seasoned, dynamic leader who has played a pivotal role in our partnership with UCF at Lake Nona, and we are excited to have her lead our newest hospital in the Central Florida region,鈥� said Michael P. Joyce, FACHE, President of HCA Healthcare鈥檚 North Florida Division. 鈥淯nder her leadership, we will advance healthcare in Lake Nona Medical City, improve quality of life for the community and provide education that ignites careers in medicine at UCF Lake Nona Medical Center.鈥�
UCF Lake Nona Medical Center, a joint venture between HCA Healthcare鈥檚 North Florida Division and UCF Academic Health, is being built adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine in Lake Nona鈥檚 emerging Medical City and will operate as a community-based teaching hospital. Facility plans will include clinical research and a 21st century learning environment for medical students, future residents and fellows. The UCF and HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Consortium opened 22 residency and fellowship programs in the last two years to address Florida鈥檚 physician shortage and are now training about 350 residents in specialties including internal medicine, psychiatry and surgery.
鈥淭hrough partnership, UCF and HCA Healthcare are providing a new, academic approach to patient care at UCF Lake Nona Medical Center,鈥� said Dr. Deborah German, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the UCF College of Medicine. 鈥淲endy Brandon has the experience, knowledge and community focus to help us lead that effort.鈥�
Brandon earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from the 海角直播 of Tennessee at Martin and her MBA from The Jack C. Massey School of Business at Belmont 海角直播. She serves in leadership roles on the Orlando Economic Partnership Board, CareerSource Central Florida Board, the Sanford Rotary Club and Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board. She recently chaired the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees. Among numerous awards, she was named Orlando Business Journal鈥檚 2017 Businesswoman of the Year and 2015 CEO of the Year honoree.
鈥淯CF Lake Nona Medical Center is the result of a mission shared by HCA Healthcare and UCF to care for and improve human life,鈥� Brandon said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more honored by this exciting opportunity to build and lead a talented, dedicated team that will expand access to healthcare and train tomorrow鈥檚 physicians.鈥�