Five AdventHealth CEOs named to national list of top women leaders

ORLANDO, Fla. – Five AdventHealth leaders have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 list of Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know. The annual list highlighted more than 200 women across the country who are making big strides in expanding access to care and driving innovation.

These leaders are making a real impact on their teams and in their communities. Their dedication, vision and compassion are helping shape a healthier future that focuses on healing the body, mind and spirit – ensuring that every patient and team member who steps through their doors feels whole.

Here is a closer look at the honorees from our AdventHealth Central and East Florida Divisions:

Denyse Bales-Chubb is the president and CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast, and market CEO for Flagler and St. Johns Counties. Ms. Bales-Chubb oversees strategy and daily operations of AdventHealth’s care network across two of Florida’s fast-growing counties. She leads two hospitals, three outpatient centers, and expansion efforts to meet the region’s rising demand for healthcare services. Since taking on her current role in 2022, she has led several major projects to improve access to care, including investing more than $200 million in the local care infrastructure. In 2023, she oversaw the opening of AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, a 100-bed hospital built to relieve capacity pressures in the area. Earlier this year, the Freytag Cancer Center in Palm Coast opened, bringing enhanced radiation therapy and oncology services to the community. Earlier this year, she led groundbreaking for AdventHealth’s first facility in St. Johns County, a 12-bed offsite emergency department. Ms. Bales-Chubb’s career spans more than 30 years, including previous CEO roles at AdventHealth Tampa (Fla.) and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (Fla.). In an earlier leadership position in California, she helped integrate new hospitals into a larger system. In addition to her operational work, she serves on the board of Florida Hospital Association’s rural hospital council, helping ensure the voice of her community is heard at the state level. 

Kay Barnett is the CEO of AdventHealth Minneola. Ms. Barnett is committed to enhancing the wellbeing of the communities served by AdventHealth. In her role, she leads a high-performing healthcare team serving South Lake County. Ms. Barnett is focused on bringing AdventHealth’s whole-person care model to the new hospital by prioritizing clinical excellence, expanding access and delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Under her leadership, the organization is driving strategic growth in the county, with more than $300 million in investments over the past year. A seasoned health care executive with 13 years of experience in business development, strategic planning and operations, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the AdventHealth Central Florida Division and positioning it for continued growth.

Amanda Maggard is the president and CEO of AdventHealth Celebration, a 357-bed acute care hospital that draws patients from all 50 U.S. states and more than 50 countries. The surgical team at the facility’s Global Robotics Institute has performed more than 19,000 prostatectomy procedures, believed to be the most in the world. The hospital’s Nicholson Center trains surgeons from around the world in the latest technology and techniques. Nationally, AdventHealth Celebration has been recognized as one of “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” by Newsweek, in addition to earning recognition for 11 specialties. Ms. Maggard has nearly 20 years of experience working within the Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth system. Prior to joining the AdventHealth Celebration team, she served for six years as the CEO for AdventHealth Zephyrhills (Fla.) and AdventHealth Dade City (Fla.). Her background includes hospital operations, organizational development, patient experience, marketing and fundraising.

Sheila Rankin is the CEO at AdventHealth Kissimmee, overseeing the strategic direction of both the hospital and the Partin Settlement emergency room. She is passionate about providing high-quality healthcare services for the community in Osceola County and has improved the hospital safety grade from Leapfrog “C” to “A”. During her tenure, the hospital experienced significant transformation. The footprint doubled, revenue tripled and operating margin grew by 500%. In 2025, Ms. Rankin’s growth-mindset and approach to developing access and networks of care has resulted in continued expansion of the hospital’s surgical footprint. AdventHealth is also extending services into an emerging market with the addition of an offsite emergency department in Poinciana. Ms. Rankin joined AdventHealth as an entry-level finance analyst and has honed her healthcare leadership skills over the last 20 years.

Kari Vargas is the CEO of AdventHealth Winter Garden and AdventHealth Central Florida Division’s Northwest market. In her role, Ms. Vargas is responsible for the operations of AdventHealth Winter Garden, as well as the strategic vision and oversight of system operations in the northwest market, which includes hospitals and ERs in Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Clermont and Lake Mary. Ms. Vargas directs AdventHealth’s growth strategy in these rapidly growing markets with more than $400 million in investments in the last year. Under her leadership, AdventHealth is also building new facilities in Minneola and Orlando’s Millenia community. Her expertise in business development and physician relations has been pivotal to the system expanding access, specialty services, and inpatient and outpatient care to burgeoning regions. Ms. Vargas’ passion for community health extends to her volunteer roles with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Foundation for a Healthier West Orange and the American Heart Association. 

Click here to see the full list of honorees.