Heather Bentley Long, M.S.N., appointed CEO of UF Health Central Florida

Heather Bentley Long, M.S.N., has been named chief executive officer of UF Health Central Florida.

"In Heather's new role, we are positioned to accelerate growth and ensure the best possible patient experience and quality outcomes in the Central Florida communities, a focus that is at the heart of our mission and our deep commitment to the region," said David Nelson, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health.

Long will guide UF Health Central Florida, which includes UF Health The Villages® Hospital, UF Health Leesburg Hospital and the UF Health outpatient network, to improved operational efficiencies and enhanced quality of care to best meet the needs of our patients and will continue to situate these large community hospitals for long-term success, Nelson said.

"Local leadership and management are best positioned to address these needs while leveraging the advantages an academic health system offers, including rapid access to specialty and subspecialty care and to clinical trials not available elsewhere," he said.

From the moment she joined UF Health Central Florida in June 2021 as chief operating officer, Long has had a singular focus on cultivating a culture of excellence and nurturing teamwork and employee engagement across all facets of the health care system in Central Florida.

This natural evolution after a time of assessment and evaluation reflects Long's leadership of UF Health Central Florida's clinical and operational response throughout the pandemic. She has also spearheaded significant operational improvements, including the recent launch of EPIC, the new electronic health record.

"I am excited about the foundation we have put in place to take us into the months and years ahead, with the primary goal of advancing the quality of the care we offer and improving our patient experience journey," Long said. "We have a phenomenal chance to explore and expand innovative approaches to care locally, while also furthering research opportunities and supporting a healthy lifestyle. This will allow for expanded health and wellness services to be made available locally to area residents, while providing convenient access to more complex care should it be required. My goal is to ensure each and every individual who comes to us for care receives compassionate care with the highest level of skill and competency, along with an experience that I would expect for my own family. We will not settle for anything less than the best."

With a direct reporting relationship to UF Health Shands interim CEO Jim Kelly, Long will continue to be responsible for leading activities to facilitate seamless patient care across service lines while optimizing financial performance, business growth and quality outcomes rooted in collaborative and interdisciplinary processes focused on safety and evidence-based care.

"Heather strives each day to ensure she is helping to create environments that allow clinicians and those who support care at the bedside to do their best work, providing exceptional care and finding purpose and value in all they do," Kelly said.

Long has more than 30 years of experience in nursing and hospital operations and previously served in a number of executive leadership positions with AdventHealth, including as system senior vice president, clinical services and chief nursing officer of acute care services for the Central Florida–South Region. During her tenure with AdventHealth, she oversaw the construction of a new multispecialty patient tower and successfully led several initiatives that grew overall patient admissions and significantly improved the organization's employee engagement metrics and national quality ratings.

She earned a master's degree in nursing from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, a bachelor's degree in health care administration from Webster University in Orlando, and an associate's degree in nursing from Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg. Long is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was a nominee for Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare Award in 2019.

"As we enter the next phase of UF Health Central Florida's growth, we are confident that with Heather at the helm of our Central Florida-based executive team, we are well positioned to provide excellent patient care to the residents of The Villages® and the Lake, Sumter and surrounding communities," Kelly said.

Added Nelson, "I look forward to working with her and the talented physicians, nurses, health care providers and staff in Central Florida in support of our ongoing efforts to deliver on our promise for all who seek our care."

Media contact: Andrea Sellers, [email protected], 352-323-5527