Thomas Bowden has been named the new President of Rockledge Regional Medical Center.
Bowden served as the managing director and, prior to that, as the hospital’s chief operating officer.
Bowden brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to his role at Rockledge. He joined Steward Health Care in 2014 as Director of Operations and Materials Management at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston.
When Steward expanded out of Massachusetts in 2017, Tom assumed progressive leadership roles at the Central Region operations team and later at Sharon Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania.
Q: Why did you get into this career?
A: Health is complex and challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. I love solving problems and working to operationalize process improvement to make an organization better.
In healthcare, when you get a successful product (i.e. good quality, patient-centric, provider-driven), there is a direct positive impact on the community.
It is gratifying to know that you are involved in helping to improve the lives of your neighbors and your family.
We all need healthcare eventually, and I’m in a position to help ensure the system meets the patient’s needs when they need it.
It drives me to wake up every morning, do my best, so that our patients receive the best.
P: When did you realize this was the right career for you?
A: At the beginning of my professional career. I started in sales and knew relatively quickly that it wasn’t my passion.
At the time, I was also a volunteer ski ranger at a Connecticut ski resort 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 that being a leader of a healthcare organization would be a great way to combine my skills.
After my first day with Steward, I was stuck on that path. Since joining the Steward team, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different roles and live in many different communities that Steward serves.
Every day he reaffirms that this career was the right choice.
P: What is 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 on a daily basis.
At the center, healthcare stays about the patient and delivers a high-quality, patient-centric 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 offering a high quality product at a low cost.
I am honored to be a part of an organization that has been recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of the nation’s leading Responsible Care Organizations (ACO) for quality and cost.
We are proud to provide this high level of excellence to the Space Coast community.
P: What are your hobbies or personal interests?
A family. I have a wonderful wife and two children, a 5 year old and a 2 month old.
Our youngest daughter was born in Rockledge Regional and we had the pleasure of meeting first hand the excellent doctors at the hospital and the family staff at the birthplace.
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 incredible mother and partner and has provided an environment at home that has allowed for our family’s personal and professional success.
Outside of the family, I try to get on the golf course periodically. I love gardening and carpentry.
Healthcare is a challenging industry to work in and having the opportunity to switch off my thinking and work with my hands is important for maintaining mental balance.
I grew up camping, hiking, skiing, biking, and finding every opportunity to be outdoors that I could.
My family and I really enjoy being back on the coast again with such easy access to the beach and we had fun exploring Florida’s many sanctuaries and reserves throughout our area.
Meet your healthcare professional
Name: thomas bowden
- Education: Master of Business Administration from Babson College and BA in History from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
- Location: Rockledge Regional Medical Center, 110 Longwood Ave., Rockledge, FL 32955
- Contact information:
- Telephone: 321-626-2211
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.rockledgeregional.org