Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health President and CEO Michael Mayo will retire in December 2026 after more than 32 years in healthcare, according to a Sept. 30 news release. Baptist Health aims to name an internal successor by the end of 2025.
“This announcement of my retirement and transition timeline is part of an intentional, multi-year succession and leadership development process that I have worked on with our board for a very long time,” Mr. Mayo said. “From the moment I became CEO, it was clear that a long-term, structured succession strategy would help ensure Baptist Health would be well prepared with a pipeline of senior leadership for the future.”
After having served as CEO since June 2021, Mr. Mayo, who also holds a doctorate in healthcare administration, plans to step down Jan. 16 and transition into a more narrowly focused executive-in-residence role. He will also fulfill his current terms on the boards of the Florida Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association.
His healthcare experience includes serving as CEO of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, CEO of HCA’s Frankfort (Ky.) Regional Medical Center, COO of Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, and president of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, the flagship facility of the Methodist Health System. Earlier in his career, he held progressive leadership positions with Baptist Health System of Birmingham, Ala.
During his tenure at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, the organization partnered with state lawmakers to secure funding to double the capacity of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health beds in the community and significantly increase the number of neonatal ICU beds, according to the release.
Mr. Mayo also serves as CEO of Coastal Community Health — a regional alliance between Baptist Health and Brunswick-based Southeast Georgia Health System. Baptist Health added that the incoming CEO will also assume that role.
