Rick James
Executive Vice President for Strategy and Operational Excellence
Miami Connection
James significantly expanded HCA Healthcare's presence in Miami-Dade and surrounding areas, driving growth in hospitals, physician practices, and urgent care facilities that serve millions in South Florida. His leadership enhanced healthcare access and economic impact through a $5 billion revenue network employing thousands locally. At NSU, he bolsters operational excellence, supporting education and health services critical to the Fort Lauderdale-Davie community.
About
Rick James served as Chief Development Officer for HCA Healthcare's East Florida Division, overseeing business growth across a region from Vero Beach to Miami, managing 14 hospitals, 12 surgery centers, 98 physician practices, and 60 urgent care clinics with over 22,000 employees and $5 billion in revenue. He joined Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in January 2024 as Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for NSU Health. In 2024, he was promoted to Executive Vice President for Strategy and Operational Excellence, responsible for NSU’s long-term strategy, operational reliability, and performance across academic, clinical, research, and administrative units. His deep ties to South Florida stem from his HCA role focused on the region's healthcare expansion. Currently, he leads university-wide initiatives from NSU's Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus.