According to Wellington Regional Medical Center (WRMC) Associate Administrator Diego Perilla, one of the keys to being successful in the healthcare field is to never stop learning. While participating in the Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) COO Development Program, he also oversees hospital operations at Wellington, supporting 10 departments throughout the hospital including procedural areas, ancillary services and clinical support areas.

“I love every aspect of my job,” explained Perilla of the position that he has held for the past year. “I get energized by collaborating with leaders across the hospital to continuously find better ways to provide great quality care for our patients. And I enjoy developing strategies with our teams and helping our staff execute these initiatives throughout the year.”

Before joining WRMC, Perilla spent the majority of his career at Cleveland Clinic, in both Florida and Ohio. He led the Digestive Disease Institute as the administrator for Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCF) for three years, prior to which he worked in various roles within regional administration and process improvement in Ohio, leading Lean Six Sigma projects across all Cleveland Clinic regional hospitals.

According to Perilla, he was interested in the healthcare field from an early age.

“I have a passion for helping others develop their careers as well as helping people obtain the best care possible,” he explained, adding that he felt his skills and interests would be best applied in a healthcare leadership role. “I am fortunate enough to impact lives daily by empowering members of my team to provide the best care possible to our community.”

Perilla first joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) 12 years ago, and became a Fellow (FACHE) last year. He strongly believes in continuous self-improvement, and actively encourages those in healthcare to take advantage of the expertise of those working in the field.

“I joined the chapter as a graduate student to meet like-minded individuals who might offer good advice, and I was fortunate enough to have met great mentors,” he said of his time in ACHE and the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum (SFHEF). “Now I want to make sure that I am a good mentor for others as well.”

“To fully grow in any career, you need to surround yourself with experienced professionals that you can learn from,” he added. “I think anyone interested in healthcare management will benefit from the collaboration and idea-sharing that takes place in ACHE events. Moreover, I highly recommend that members pursue FACHE distinction to develop a deeper understanding of healthcare trends and public health needs.”

No matter where an individual is in his or her career, Perilla believes that an ACHE/SFHEF membership can help them move forward.

“I am grateful for the connections that I have made and for the many mentors that have helped me advance in my career,” he said. “I encourage future leaders to reach out to me directly or to connect with me in person if I may be able to provide any advice for their career development.”