ORANGE PARK – HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital welcomed Jeff Taylor as the hospital’s new Chief Executive Officer on Friday, Sept. 1.

Taylor has more than 17 years of healthcare administration experience, including his most recent role as CEO at HCA Healthcare’s Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, South Carolina.

“HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital has a proud past of providing extraordinary care to our community. Whether it is celebrating new life or caring for those with life-threatening illness or injury, we proudly care for each patient no matter the circumstance,” Taylor said. “I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this organization into the future. I am impressed with our dedicated and highly skilled medical staff and colleagues and look forward to supporting them as we expand services and programs.”

During his 12-year career with HCA Healthcare, Taylor has served as Chief Operating Officer at Menorah Medical Center, COO of Belton Regional Medical Center, and Administrator for the HCA Healthcare Mid-America Surgery Institute.

“Jeff is a compassionate leader who excels at building relationships with his colleagues, community leaders and physicians,” said Hugh C. Tappan, President of HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division. “He has a track record of success and is a perfect fit for HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital.”

Taylor replaces Lisa Valentine, who retired after being appointed CEO in 2019.

Taylor joined HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital during extensive growth and development.

Over the past couple of years, the hospital has invested more than $220 million to expand capacity and elevate its services to meet the growing needs of its community, completed the five-story, 96-bed East Tower expansion that houses state-of-the-art rooms for medical and surgical patients and opened an additional 20-bed Intensive Care Unit.

Currently, the hospital is working on modernizing and expanding its Imaging assets, doubling the size of the Inpatient Rehabilitation unit and increasing its Cardiovascular Care capabilities.

Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Missouri Southern State University and his Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Missouri.

He will be joined by his wife, Lauren, and their three children in moving to Northeast Florida.