New CEO Named for Florida Hospital DeLand

DELAND, Fla., March 28, 2016 Lorenzo Brown has accepted the position of CEO for Florida Hospital DeLand, effective May 1. He replaces Tim Cook, who is transitioning to serve as senior vice president for Florida Hospital Apopka and Florida Hospital Winter Garden.

Brown currently serves as vice president of operations for Florida Hospital Kissimmee, a role he has held since 2012. Working closely with the chief executive officer and chief nursing officer, Brown has helped improve employee engagement and patient safety, launch a new cardiovascular program, and introduce a performance management system that has produced a three-year positive trend across five core areas. In addition, Brown provided executive oversight for a $72 million hospital tower and emergency department expansion that opened in July 2015.

Lorenzo's talents in strategic planning and team building have led to measurable quality and process improvements in all of the places he has served while instilling our mission, said Don Jernigan, president/CEO of AdventHealth.

Browns past experience includes serving in a variety of roles at Florida Hospital Orlando: assistant vice president of radiology enterprise (2008-2012), director of system operations (2006-2008), facility expansion project director for the Altamonte campus (2004-2006), assistant director of physician recruitment (2002-2004), and physician relations manager for Florida Hospital East Orlando (2000-2002).

It is clear to everyone who meets him that Lorenzo is an excellent leader and problem solver, said Rob Fulbright, president/CEO of AdventHealth East Florida Region. Our hospitals have benefited greatly because of this, and we feel blessed that he has accepted the call to serve at Florida Hospital DeLand.

Brown holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Ohio University. In addition, he is a member of the Association of Cancer Executives.

Its truly a joy to help teams grow and become more effective at carrying out our mission, Brown said. I am eager to begin working at Florida Hospital DeLand in a way that will enable us to continue delivering exceptional patient care.

Effective April 4, Cook will be based at Florida Hospital Apopka where he will replace Jennifer Wandersleben who is transitioning to serve as administrator for Winter Park Memorial Hospital. Amanda Maggard will continue to serve as vice president/administrator for Florida Hospital Winter Garden, reporting to Cook.

Tim is a mission-focused leader who cares deeply about people. He has a unique ability to build community and bring people together toward a common purpose, said Don Jernigan, President/CEO of AdventHealth. He has had tremendous impact in the facilities and communities he has served, and I look forward to his contribution in the Central Florida Region.

Cook has been CEO of Florida Hospital DeLand since 2013, and during that time, implemented physician-nurse rounding, opened a new progressive care unit, and led the team in enhancing patient experience and patient safety scores, as evidenced by an A grade in the most recent Hospital Safety Score by the Leapfrog Group.

I had the privilege of working with Tim and witnessed firsthand his incredible skill and dedication as a servant leader. Florida Hospital Apopka and Florida Hospital Winter Garden, and the communities they serve, will benefit from Tim's exceptional leadership, said Daryl Tol, president/CEO of Florida Hospital and AdventHealth Central Florida Region.

Prior to his role at Florida Hospital DeLand, Cook served as CEO of the Florida Hospital Heartland Division from 2007 until 2013, and as CEO of Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital in Illinois for four years before that. His career has been rooted in health care highlighted by earlier roles with Adventist Midwest Health including vice president of development, regional vice president of human resources, risk management, and customer service excellence, and chief operating officer. Cook holds a Bachelor of Arts in theology and pastoral ministry from Pacific Union College and a Master of Arts in religion from Andrews University.

It has been a privilege to serve at Florida Hospital DeLand and to have had the additional opportunity to assist in the development of the Volusia/Flagler market, said Cook. I will miss the team and the community, but am excited for this new opportunity God has provided in Central Florida.

About Florida Hospital DeLand

Florida Hospital DeLand is a member of AdventHealth, a faith-based health care organization with 44 hospital campuses and nearly 8,300 licensed beds in 10 states. With 156-beds, Florida Hospital DeLand is one of the five Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 787 beds, 5,000 employees, and 650,000 patients annually. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements.