Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Broward Health is proud to announce that Melida Akiti, Corporate Transformation Executive, was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Leading Women for 2025. This prestigious, national recognition acknowledges and honors women executives from all sectors of the healthcare industry for their contributions to care delivery improvement, health equity and policy in healthcare leadership.
“Enhancing access to care and improving health outcomes, especially tackling pressing primary and maternal healthcare needs, is my passion,” said Akiti. “This is an incredible honor, and I’m humbled to be recognized along with this incredible class of leading women in healthcare.”
In her role, Akiti collaborates with executive management and oversees strategic planning and partnerships for Broward HealthPoint, ACO/Population Health, Weston Urgent Care and Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center.
“The roles held by the honorees on our 2025 list of Leading Women and Rising Stars vary greatly but they all have one thing in common — a commitment to helping their organizations reach the clinical, operational and financial goals,” said Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare. “Their leadership and achievements are propelling the industry forward, both in terms of improving the patient experience and serving as mentors for other women in healthcare.”
A longtime South Florida healthcare executive, Akiti feels her years of experience culminated with the launch of Better Together, a new collaboration between Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System that will address remaining health deserts and communities impacted by health disparities by creating brick and mortar, mobile and virtual health delivery models for primary and maternal services.
“Orchestrating a collaboration between these two public healthcare systems that will ensure that people in every corner of the county have access to care feels like a culmination of my life mission to help vulnerable communities,” said Akiti. “We are waging a war against some of the most common barriers to good health, focusing on treating hypertension and diabetes and addressing poor maternal care and food insecurities to improve health outcomes. I know we are going to make a difference.”
Akiti’s success is deeply rooted in her steadfast belief in a mission that transcends personal achievement—serving others. Akiti believes she is not just an advocate; she is a passionate voice for the voiceless, relentlessly fighting for the fundamental right to health for all individuals.
“Melida has been a longtime healthcare champion for our community,” said Shane Strum, President & CEO of Broward Health. “She is a fierce advocate for our underserved and with stealth precision identifies ways to eradicate barriers to healthcare, as evidenced by her creation of a new maternity center for Lauderdale Lakes, a community plagued by lack of OBGYN services. Within months, thousands of women who previously had to travel 30-plus minutes for an obstetrics visit had received care close to home. And certainly, her leadership of Better Together is having an immeasurable impact on the overall health of our community, so we couldn’t be more pleased that her lifelong efforts were recognized by Modern Healthcare.”
Modern Healthcare will honor the 2025 Leading Women at the Leading Women Conference & Awards Luncheon on June 5, 2025, at City Hall Events in Chicago.
To learn more about Broward Health, visit www.BrowardHealth.org.
About Broward Health
Broward Health, founded in 1938 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks among the 10 largest public healthcare systems in the United States. Nationally recognized for its focus on high-quality care for the residents of Broward County and beyond, Broward Health boasts five hospitals, two trauma centers, a dynamic academic partnership with Florida Atlantic University, was the county's first statutory teaching hospital and has an ever-growing graduate medical education program. It includes more than 50 health centers and physician practices covering virtually every healthcare specialty.
Broward Health never stops working toward its mission of Exceptional Care, Extraordinary Compassion and Everyday Excellence. Driven by more than 11,000 talented employees and physicians who deliver care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, Broward Health is one of the largest employers in Broward County with an operating budget of $1.8 billion, and annually more than $470 million of charity and uncompensated care. For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.
About Modern Healthcare
Modern Healthcare is the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare empowers healthcare leaders and influencers to make timely and informed business decisions. To learn more visit modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions.