Chief Executive Officer Broward Health’s Imperial Point Hospital

Jonathan E. Watkins is an accomplished healthcare professional who began his leadership career in Memphis, TN with the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system. There he quickly earned the respect and support of peers, physicians, and the system’s senior executives, and in 2013 was named Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Methodist North Hospital. In 2016 he joined Kaiser Permanente as the Chief Operating Officer of Northern California’s Central Valley Service Area. There he directed and coordinated the day-to-day operations of the area’s hospitals before moving back to the southeast where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Broward Health’s Imperial Point Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Jonathan holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with a certification in Health Administration, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and Planning from Tennessee State University. He is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Jonathan is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is a past president of the Memphis chapter of the National Association of Health Service Executives (NAHSE) and was named NAHSE’s Young Healthcare Executive of the Year in 2013. In 2015 he received an American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Tennessee Regent’s Award, and in July of this year was honored with an ACHE Service Award. Jonathan is a past Regent-at-Large for ACHE’s District 5. Currently he holds a seat on the Board of Directors for the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association, but would say that his greatest achievement came earlier this year as he and his wife, Jeshenna, welcomed their first child, Jenna.

Jonathan Watkins was encouraged and motivated to join ACHE by two senior executive healthcare leaders that he had the privilege of working with very early in his career. Dr. Michael Ugwueke and Mr. Kevin Spiegel were CEOs within the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system and veteran ACHE Fellows that to this day remain active mentors in Jonathan’s life. Both gentlemen attributed the educational opportunities and access to a network of healthcare leaders far greater than one could imagine as keys to their successful careers. In a desire to learn more and pave a similar career path for himself, Jonathan joined ACHE and not only became a member, but was extremely active within the organization locally and nationally. He attended Congress annually and found it to be even more inspirational and informative than Dr. Ugwueke and Mr. Spiegel described. He eventually became a Fellow and served as chair of the Early Careerist Committee and authored articles for the Early Careerist Newsletter. Early this year Jonathan had the privilege of being sworn in as Regent-at-Large for District 5. A post that, unfortunately, he had to resign after relocating to South Florida to realize the dream of becoming a hospital CEO.

“Membership with ACHE has been invaluable to my career,” states Jonathan. “The breadth and depth of the educational offerings during Congress, and at the local chapter level are phenomenal. The topics discussed routinely provide me with the most current and up to date insight from some of the industries leading thought leaders and subject matter experts,” he adds. Jonathan believes the ability to connect with other executives from across the country through ACHE has been a tremendous benefit. He has connected with CEOs, COOs, and executives from across the country that to this day are friends and mentors who can be counted on for guidance and a listening ear. “I can very comfortably and honestly say that ACHE has served as an excellent GPS for my journey to the c-suite.”