Since January 2019, Ms. LaBarbera has served as the first woman president and CEO in the 120-year history of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare. The health system is a nonprofit rehabilitation-focused system comprising a long term acute care hospital, a network of outpatient orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation clinics, a burgeoning research institute, a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program, a center for education and one of largest adaptive sports programs in the Northeast. Ms. LaBarbera’s tenure as president has been marked by a number of successful initiatives aimed at expanding strategic programmatic growth, delivering exceptional clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction scores that exceed national benchmarks. One such success was the 2023 launch of The Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation, a hub for collaboration, innovation, investigation and education.
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Becker's Recognition
Sonja LaBarberahas been named a Becker's honoree on the lists below.
2024 Winner

Executives
Women Hospital CEOs to know
The women leading these hospitals and health systems are passionate about care access, equity and diversity, and the overall improvement of healthcare delivery.
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2025 Winner

2026 Winner

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236 Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know
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