HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Taps Stephanie Tijerina as COO
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital has named Stephanie Tijerina its new chief operating officer, an appointment that became effective October 5, 2026, according to a hospital announcement.
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In her new role, Tijerina is responsible for supporting the Gainesville-based hospital's day-to-day operations, strategic initiatives, and growth. She moves into the position from another HCA facility, HCA Florida Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, where she also served as COO.
"Stephanie is an accomplished healthcare executive who brings extensive operational experience, a strong understanding of HCA Healthcare and a demonstrated commitment to supporting physicians and colleagues in delivering high-quality care," Gabe Bullaro, chief executive officer of HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital, said in a statement. Bullaro added that her leadership will be a "significant asset as the hospital continues to expand its services," according to news reports.
Tijerina’s tenure at the 288-bed Northside Hospital included serving as interim CEO from May through July 2026 during a leadership transition. According to reports, she was credited with helping to advance growth in surgery, cardiovascular services, and neurosciences. She also managed more than $21 million in capital improvement and facility modernization projects. Following Hurricane Milton, she played a role in the temporary relocation of a regional transplant program, which enabled 16 organ transplants to be completed, according to the hospital's social media and news reports.
Her career with HCA Healthcare includes more than 19 years in leadership roles. Before her post at Northside, Tijerina was vice president of operations and assistant administrator at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital. Her earlier positions included roles with HCA Florida Physicians Services Group and the HCA West Florida Division, where she focused on physician development, care coordination, and performance improvement, according to HCA Florida Healthcare.
Tijerina has also served in the United States Navy Reserve since 2012. She currently holds the rank of commanding officer and serves as a healthcare administrator involved in planning operations, logistics, and medical intelligence, according to MainStreet Daily News. She earned a master's degree in health services administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor's degree in healthcare management from Southern Illinois University.
**Why it matters:** HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, also known in Clinical Terminal records as North Florida Regional Medical Center, is a 381-staffed-bed acute care hospital in Gainesville, Florida. The hospital's parent company, HCA Healthcare, is a Nashville, Tennessee-based health system with 720 member facilities and 42,038 staffed beds, according to Clinical Terminal data.