North Florida Hospital announces the appointment of Gabe Bullaro as chief executive officer
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital today announced the appointment of Gabe Bullaro as chief executive officer, effective April 14, 2025. In his new role, Bullaro will oversee the 523-bed, full-service medical and surgical acute care center, its affiliated freestanding emergency rooms: HCA Florida Gainesville Emergency, HCA Florida Millhopper Emergency, HCA Florida West End Emergency and HCA Florida Starke Emergency, and its outpatient centers.
“Gabe is a dedicated leader who has served in multiple leadership roles across HCA Healthcare for more than a decade,” said Brian Cook, president, HCA Healthcare North Florida Division. “His commitment to elevating his team, strengthening engagement and providing exceptional quality of care to his community will be invaluable at this pivotal time for growth and innovation at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital.”
Bullaro most recently served as the CEO of HCA Florida West Hospital. Under his leadership, the hospital launched its comprehensive stroke and transcatheter aortic valve replacement programs while continuing to advance the hospital’s emphasis on high-quality patient care. Bullaro oversaw several major expansion initiatives including the launch of a $130 million expansion of hospital services, a new six-story parking garage and a $5 million expansion of HCA Florida Perdido Bay Emergency. Additionally, Bullaro’s focus on Graduate Medical Education resulted in four more residency programs during his tenure.
Previously, Bullaro served as CEO of HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, where he executed several strategic and operational initiatives and prioritized a culture of service and quality. A trustee at the College of Central Florida, he and the board worked to strengthen the area’s workforce pipeline by expanding key health sciences programs. Bullaro also served as chief operating officer at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he led major hospital expansion projects including the addition of 114 beds, 20 emergency room bays and six operating rooms. He led the expansion of HCA Florida Summerfield Emergency by eight bays and the opening of the HCA Florida Maricamp Emergency in 2019. Bullaro assisted in the establishment and certification of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital as a Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2019, now one of HCA Healthcare’s largest stroke programs. Additional experience includes multiple leadership roles at an HCA Healthcare hospital in California.
“It is an honor to have been chosen to lead HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and its exceptional care team into our next chapter of service to our community,” said Bullaro. “We have exciting and important work ahead. As we prepare to open HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital early next year and build upon our transplant and cellular therapy program through the HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, in addition to ongoing expansions and enhancements to our outstanding subspecialty services, we will continue to elevate the standard of excellence in healthcare for the north central Florida community and beyond.”
Gabe earned a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a Master's in Business Administration from Duke University. Between degrees, Bullaro, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, served as operations officer for a helicopter detachment flying relief missions in response to Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.