Mr. Sabina joined HCA Healthcare in 2017 as assistant vice president of strategic planning for the Gulf Coast division. In January, he transitioned from COO of HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe (Texas) to CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center, a 372-bed acute care hospital.
“There’s a robust network of programs and people that can help individuals prepare for and then facilitate the transition into leadership roles,” Mr. Sabina told Becker’s. The network includes leadership institutes, nurse leader certification programs, executive development programs and formal mentorships.
“Specific to the transition, there are very well-structured transition plans,” he said. “The support framework offered by HCA Healthcare is, in my experience, unparalleled in preparing leaders to take on roles of increasing responsibility.”
Mentorship, both internal and external, has been particularly impactful during his transition, he said.
“I can’t say enough about the divisional and group leadership within the structure of HCA Healthcare, and in particular, the peer network of leaders, CEOs, and other chiefs, whom I’ve met with in my first 60 days in the role and learned from their experience and guidance in that formal mentorship relationship,” he said.
First 90 days: Setting a foundation
In the early months of his tenure, Mr. Sabina has prioritized meeting with bedside colleagues, board members and leadership teams to assess the hospital’s needs, opportunities and history of performance.
To align his leadership team, he has focused on setting clear priorities, utilizing data in decision-making, and creating shared accountability and cadence around organizational objectives.
“I believe that any transition, leadership or otherwise, begins with listening and learning,” Mr. Sabina said.
In 2025, Mr. Sabina is prioritizing programmatic expansion, with a focus on building acuity and depth of the hospital’s cardiovascular services line and advancing general surgery, complex GI and colorectal service lines through robotics and other technological and process investments. He is also looking at expanding surgical oncology services and orthopedic and spine programs to offer more complex care.
Healthcare workforce sustainability
Addressing workforce shortages is also top of mind, Mr. Sabina said.
“I’m fortunate to be part of HCA Healthcare — this organization has taken a lead role in addressing some of these issues, both through direct intervention, as is the case in the development of resident education programs to address physician workforce shortages, but also through partnerships,” he said.
One example is HCA Healthcare’s partnership with Louisville, Ky.-based Galen College of Nursing, which is aimed at strengthening nursing education and workforce pipelines. The system became the college’s majority owner in 2020, establishing the largest academic-practice partnership in the nation, Mr. Sabina said.
Since then, Galen has expanded through opening or announcing 16 new campuses. HCA Healthcare also offers the Galen College of Nursing Grant, enabling colleagues to complete an online RN to BSN degree with zero out-of-pocket tuition costs.
“Our collaboration with Houston Community College around accelerated CT programs is another example of how we’re addressing shortages,” he said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 12 at 11:17 a.m. Central time.
