Stephanie D. Conners, an experienced health care leader who began her career as a nurse, has been named the next chief executive officer and president of BayCare Health System, West Central Florida’s largest not-for-profit health care provider and one of its largest employers.
Stephanie D. Conners has been named the next chief executive officer and president of BayCare Health System.
Conners, 50, was selected by the BayCare Board of Trustees following an extensive national search that began in February after Tommy Inzina, BayCare’s current CEO and president, announced his plans to retire by year’s end. Conners will be the 25-year-old organization’s fourth CEO.
Currently, the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Jefferson Health, a large, not-for-profit health care system based in Philadelphia, Conners will join BayCare in October to begin the leadership transition.
“For the board, it was paramount that we find a leader who is committed to BayCare’s legacy of mission-driven, community-focused health care,” said Rick Colón, chairman of the board. “In Stephanie Conners, we see an engaging and compassionate leader who will lead BayCare into its next era of serving the community’s health, our team members and our medical community.”
Conners will oversee a nationally recognized health system with nearly $5 billion in annual revenue, more than 27,700 team members, and relationships with more than 5,800 local community physicians and other providers. Its primary footprint is Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties and includes 15 hospitals; a robust ambulatory division; one of the region’s largest physician groups, BayCare Medical Group; and one of the state’s largest home health services, BayCare HomeCare. BayCare is also the region’s largest provider of pediatric and behavioral health services and operates one of the region’s few 5-star-rated Medicare Advantage plans, BayCarePlus®.
“I am humbled and honored to lead such a remarkable organization,” Conners said. “Its legacy of compassionate care is palpable, and I look forward to helping ensure its future success. It is my personal mission to make a difference in the lives of others.”
