Health Pro Q&A: Rockledge Regional's new president followed passion in healthcare field
Thomas Bowden has been named the new president of Rockledge Regional Medical Center.
Bowden had been serving as the chief administrative officer and, before that, as the hospital’s chief operating officer.
Bowden brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to his position at Rockledge. He joined Steward Health Care in 2014 as the Director of Operations and Materials Management at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston.
When Steward expanded outside of Massachusetts in 2017, Tom took on progressive leadership roles within the Central Region operations team and then at Sharon Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania.
Q: Why do you go into this career?
A: Healthcare is complex and challenging but also incredibly rewarding. I love solving problems and working to operationalize process improvement to better an organization.
In healthcare, when you achieve a successful product (i.e., good quality, patient-focused, provider driven), there is a direct positive impact to the community.
It is rewarding to know you are involved in helping to improve the lives of your neighbors and your family.
Eventually we all require healthcare, and I am in a position to help make sure the system meets the needs of the patient when they need it.
It drives me to wake up every morning, give it my best, so our patients receive the best.
Q: When did you realize this was the right career path for you?
A: Early in my professional career. I started in sales and knew relatively quickly that was not my passion.
At the time I was also a volunteer ski patroller at a ski resort in Connecticut and loved working with patients and helping people in their time of need.
The business side of healthcare was fascinating to me and I felt like being a leader of a healthcare organization would be a great way to combine my skillsets.
After my first day with Steward, I was locked in on this path. Since joining the Steward team I have had the opportunity to experience different roles and live in multiple different communities that Steward serves.
Every day reaffirms this career was the right choice.
Q: What’s the latest advancement in the medical field that will benefit patients?
A: Technology in healthcare is constantly changing. There are new devices and techniques to help address the chronic and acute issues our patients deal with daily.
At the core, healthcare remains about the patient and delivering a high-quality patient centered experience.
Our goal at Rockledge, and across the Space Coast with Steward, is to focus on meeting the needs of our patients by providing compassionate, patient centered care and delivering a high-quality product at low cost.
I am honored to be part of an organization that has been recognized by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of the top Accountable Care Organization’s (ACO) in the country for quality and cost.
We are proud to provide this high level of excellence to the Space Coast community.
Q: What are your hobbies or personal interests?
A: Family. I have a wonderful wife and two kids, a 5-year-old and a 2-month-old.
Our youngest daughter was born at Rockledge Regional, and we had the pleasure of experiencing the hospital’s outstanding physicians and family birthplace team firsthand.
In the evening or on the weekend you will find me reading books with my daughters, playing with dolls or going to the park.
We love to laugh together. My wife, Charlotte, is our rock. She is an amazing mom and partner and has provided an environment at home that has allowed personal and professional success for our family.
Outside of family, I try to get on the golf course periodically. I love yard work and carpentry.
Healthcare is a challenging industry to work in and having the opportunity to turn my thinking cap off and working with my hands is important for me to maintain mental balance.
I grew up camping, hiking, skiing, biking and finding any opportunity to be outside I could.
My family and I have really enjoyed being back on the coast again with such easy access to the beach and we’ve have had fun exploring Florida’s many sanctuaries and preserves throughout our area.
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Name: Thomas Bowden
Education: Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Location: Rockledge Regional Medical Center, 110 Longwood Ave., Rockledge, FL 32955
Contact Information:
Phone: 321-636-2211
Website: rockledgeregional.org
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Thomas Bowden is the new president of Rockledge Regional Medical Center
