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Michael H. Covert, F.A.C.H.E., came to Palomar Pomerado Health as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2003, bringing more than 36 years experience in healthcare administration, including serving the last 25 years in the capacity of CEO. Ever since receiving his initial training in the field as an Administrative Resident with Hillcrest Medical Center (OK) following the completion of his graduate studies in Health Administration, Mr. Covert has assumed a personal responsibility of training the next generation of healthcare professionals by offering Administrative Fellowships. Mr. Covert takes great pride in mentoring and to his testament he has trained 29 Fellows over the last three decades, many who have gone on to assume various leadership roles in the healthcare industry.
His previous positions include President and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System from 1992 to 2000; acting Director of the Public Health Department, Wichita, Kansas; Executive Director of the Ohio State University of Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio; Chief Operating Officer at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas; and Senior Vice President of Physicians Corporation of America, Wichita, Kansas. Most recently, Covert served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., one of the 10 busiest hospitals in the United States and the largest in the DC/Maryland area.
Covert has also remained active in healthcare outside of his regular roles. Currently, Covert is Chair of the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, a member of the Board and Executive Committees of the California Hospital Association and VHA Western Region, and a member of the American Hospital Association Health Systems Council Board.
Covert previously served as Treasurer of the D.C. Hospital Association, Regent for the Western Florida region of the American College of Health Care Executives; 1999 Chair of the Board of the Association of Community Hospitals and Health Systems of Florida; and Chair of the Academic Advisory Council for the University of South Florida, Sarasota Campus. He also held faculty appointments at Washington University and Ohio State University Schools of Medicine.
Covert was also a member of the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board; past Chair of the Washington University School of Medicine Health Administration Program Alumni Board; and 1995-1996 Chair of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
Additionally, he is the past Chair of the Accreditation Commission on Education for Health Services Administration, which is responsible for accrediting all graduate programs in health administration in the United States and Canada. Covert was also a member of the VHA-Florida Board of Directors and Executive Committee and was the 1998-1999 Chair of the board for the United Way of Sarasota County.
Covert received a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and is a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives. | 