Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Broward Health Medical Center is pleased to announce the arrival of two new leaders. Michele Thoman, MBA, RN, has been named chief operating officer (COO), and Jose Martinez-Elejalde, M.D., FACC, FACP, has been named chief medical officer (CMO).
Broward Health’s flagship hospital, under the leadership of CEO Manny Linares, has quietly been building a powerful leadership team with extensive executive experience.
"It is an incredible time for Broward Health’s flagship hospital,” Linares said. “These dynamic new leaders are infusing our hospital with innovative new approaches. Their knowledge of our industry and the regional marketplace will continue to drive the growth we’ve been enjoying the past few years while helping us think more creatively about enhancing the patient experience.”
Thoman began her career in healthcare as a registered nurse and has two decades of experience in healthcare administration. Most recently she served as COO for Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Her prior experience includes chief nursing officer (CNO), then COO at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. Michele also held the positions of system CNO and COO at Naples Community Healthcare System in Naples.
Thoman holds a Master of Business Administration in Executive Healthcare from Baldwin Wallace College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Akron.
A cardiologist by training, Dr. Martinez has more than 24 years of experience in the healthcare in South Florida. He most recently served as an occupational health physician at Baptist Health and previously held the position of CMO at HCA Healthcare. Dr. Martinez is an assistant professor of internal medicine and course director of cardiovascular and respiratory systems at Florida International University.
Dr. Martinez earned his doctorate at Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and holds a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from Florida International University, a Master of Arts in Theology Studies from St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach and a Master of Science in Bioethics from St. Thomas University in Miami. He completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiology and interventional cardiology at University of Miami/Jackson Health System Jackson in Miami.
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 $1.6 billion, and annually provides almost $225 million of charity and uncompensated care.
For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.