C.J. Gish
UF Health recently named James J. Kelly Jr. as the interim CEO of the hospital following the resignation of Ed Jimenez.
According to a UF Health press release, Kelly, the senior vice president and chief financial officer for UF Health Shands, started in the interim position on July 29.
Jimenez, who submitted his resignation on July 8, served as the UF Health CEO since April 2015.
Kelly joined UF Health Shands in October 2012 and led the Finance & Accounting teams responsible for overseeing revenue cycle, managed care contracting, treasury, accounting, tax and reimbursement, financial planning and analysis and accounts payable, according to the release.
“Jim has been an invaluable part of the UF Health Shands leadership team for a number of years and has been instrumental in the system’s growth and stability,” said Dr. David R. Nelson, senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health, in the release. “I know that Jim, Chief Operating Officer Traci d’Auguste, Vice President of Finance Bob Thornton and our other hospital leaders will work hard to maintain a culture of excellence while focusing on our commitment to delivering the highest-quality care possible and a great patient experience for all who seek our help.”
Kelly earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to joining UF Health Shands, Kelly worked as corporate controller for Partners HealthCare System in Boston.
Kelly serves on the board of directors of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and Oak Hammock at UF. He is also an ex officio board member of the UF Investment Corporation.
“I look forward to collaborating with Dr. Nelson, our hospital leaders and our staff as we continue the great work that makes UF Health Shands one of the top hospital systems in the state and the Southeast,” Kelly said in the release. “I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization and will work hard to ensure our staff are supported in their work as we meet the needs of our patients and the communities we serve.”
With Jimenez at the helm, UF Health has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, opened a 216-bed, $415 million heart/vascular and neuromedicine hospital and launched new services in Alachua and Marion Counties.
Jimenez joined UF Health Shands in 2010 as chief operating officer and was named CEO in April 2015 after he served 10 months as interim CEO. His seven-year tenure followed four years as the chief operating officer and executive vice president from 2010 to 2014.
In March, Memorial Healthcare Systems in south Florida named Jimenez a finalist for its CEO position, but Jimenez was not selected.