Joined the Board of Directors in July 2024
Kenneth West II
Board Member
President and Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida JFK Hospital located in Atlantis, FL.
Why I Support the Community Foundation
“As a CEO in the community and a board member, I believe deeply in the power of community to drive sustainable change. The Community Foundation plays a critical role in fostering collaboration and innovation, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most. Supporting this foundation is not just an opportunity, but a responsibility to contribute to the well-being and future of our community. I’m proud to stand with an organization that is so dedicated to making a meaningful impact.”
Joined the Board of Directors in July 2024
Community Foundation Involvement
Ken currently serves on the Georgetown University School of Health Board of Strategic Advisors and Health Systems Administration Advisory Board as well as the Louisiana State University College of Agriculture Alumni Board.
He served on the California Hospital Council-Northern & Central California Board of Directors, the American College of Healthcare Executives Board of Governors Exam Committee, Louisiana State University A.P Tureaud Chapter Alumni Board, Georgetown University Health Systems Administration-Executive Mentor, Pasco County Economic Development Council, Pasco County-Ford Next Generation Career Academy Advisory Committee, Georgetown University HSA Alumni Association Board, Spotsylvania Education Foundation Board, and Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area Board.
He has a passion for mentorship, technology, travel, and the arts. Ken lives in Palm Beach County, FL with his wife Erica and two children, Penelope, and Kenneth III.
Career Prospectus
Ken West currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida JFK Hospital located in Atlantis, FL. HCA Florida JFK Hospital is an affiliate hospital of HCA Healthcare based in Nashville, TN where over the past 15 years, Ken has advanced with increasing responsibilities in operations. His roles have included Administrative Resident, Assistant Administrator, Associate Chief Operating Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and CEO of hospitals in Virginia, Florida, and California. His areas of experience include general operations, P&L management, strategic planning, service line development, technology evaluation, labor union management, real estate development and over +$700M in healthcare construction.
Ken earned a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA where he served as President of the Student Dietetic Association, was a member of Leadership LSU and awarded the Louisiana Dietetic Association’s Most Outstanding Dietetic Program Student Award. As a Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar, he co-authored three abstracts and two manuscripts through the school of Human Ecology and College of Agriculture. He later completed a Dietetic Internship with North Oaks Health System in Hammond, LA where he was also awarded the Louisiana Dietetic Association’s Most Outstanding Dietetic Intern Award.
He holds a master’s degree in health systems administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C where he attended as a fully funded HCA, Inc. Corris Boyd Scholar and served as President of the Healthcare Executives of Georgetown University. He completed post-graduate training in Operations Integration at Johns Hopkins Health System and holds a certification in Lean Healthcare from Belmont University Massey Graduate School of Business in Nashville, TN. He is a board-certified healthcare executive and a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives. He holds memberships in the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Healthcare Executives, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Community and Philanthropic Highlights
- Ken has been recognized as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Power Leaders in Healthcare, Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders, Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 under 40, Northern California’s Top 50 Diverse Leaders.
- He has been awarded the ACHE Service Award by the America College of Healthcare Executives and the California Association of Healthcare Leaders and featured by Becker’s Hospital Review Rising Stars: Top 25 Healthcare Leaders under 40.
- Within HCA Healthcare, Ken serves on the Black Senior Leaders Council, the Leadership Institute Advisory Board and previously, as a Division Lead for the Chief Operating Office Development Initiative, Executive Mentor for the HCA Healthcare Leadership Excellence Program and HR (Human Resources) Leadership Development Program. He has also served on the Ethics and Compliance Officer Advisory Committee multiple times.
