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SFHEF Spotlight: Let’s Connect:

Lincoln Mendez SFHEF Spotlight

Association Memberships working opportunity ,” he explained. “It is invaluable as a way to meet
colleagues from various healthcare industries, and to gain a better under-
standing of the challenges involved in healthcare today .
Key to Professional Growth “The SFHEF does an excellent job of coordinating services, presenta-
tions and networking events for its members, providing the opportunity
BY VANESSA ORR for young professionals interested in healthcare management to learn
first-hand from those who have already walked down that road,” he

With healthcare ever-evolving, it’s imperative to stay on top added.
Mendez gives the example of presentations by Frank Sacco, former
of the latest information and to reach out for peer-to-peer sup- president and CEO of Memorial Healthcare System, and Jerry Fedele,
port. This is one reason why it’s so important to belong to CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, who spoke at recent SFHEF annu-
organizations that connect healthcare professionals with each
other and with up-to-date, industry-specific knowledge. al dinners.
“Members of SFHEF were able to hear from these two industry leaders
Lincoln Mendez, CEO of South Miami Hospital, part of about the growth of their careers, and how they were subsequently able
Baptist Health South Florida, believes strongly in the benefit of Lincoln Mendez to become heads of such incredible organizations,” said Mendez. “They
these types of memberships. “When I first started transition- talked about the challenges that they’d faced, and how they and their
ing into an administrative role back in 1991, I was coming teams were able to build these health systems into two of the premier healthcare
from a lab; as a clinician, I didn’t have a business background,” he explained. “By get-
ting involved in healthcare associations, I was able to get the exposure I needed to the providers in South Florida.”
business aspect of the profession by attending seminars and educational programs. As past chairman and long-time board member of the South Florida Hospital &
And I was able to meet people in the field who were willing to provide support and Healthcare Association (SFHHA), Mendez believes that it is also important for those
who have progressed in their careers to give back.
mentorship along the way .” “As established healthcare leaders, we have a responsibility to make sure that we
As a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Mendez
took advantage of opportunities for professional growth, and he advises the younger pass on our knowledge and experience to others, regardless of which organizations
generation of healthcare professionals to do the same, both on a local and national they belong to,” he explained. “Ultimately , it is all about taking care of the healthcare
level. needs of the community .”
“The benefit of joining organizations such as the South Florida Healthcare
Executive Forum (SFHEF), a chapter of ACHE, is that it provides an incredible net- To learn more about the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum, visit www.sfhef.org.

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4 April 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News