Administration

Hospital President

Michael A. Mayo, FACHE, joined Baptist Health as Hospital President of Baptist Medical Center in July 2011. From 2008 to 2011, he served as President of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, a 515-bed teaching hospital and the flagship facility of the Methodist Health System. Mayo also served in leadership from 2001 to 2008 at several hospitals operated by the Hospital Corporation of American (HCA), including as CEO of Orange Park Medical Center from 2006 to 2008, and as Senior Vice President/COO of Memorial Hospital Jacksonville from 2002 to 2003.

Mayo has been with Baptist Health before, serving as Vice President of Operations at Baptist Medical Center from 2000 to 2002, and as Vice President of Ancillary Operations during Baptist and St. Vincent's merger period of 1999 to 2000.

Mayo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He has a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman's University in Denton. He is board-certified in Healthcare Management and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Mayo also is a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2009.

Active in the Dallas community, Mayo served on the Board and as Chairman-Elect of the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council, and on the Board of the Southwest Transplant Alliance OPO.

Vice President, Patient Care Services

Nancy Simon, BSN, MA, NEA-BC, FACHE, has more than 28 years of experience in multiple nursing leadership roles. Prior to joining Baptist, she served as system senior vice president for Nursing for Methodist Health System in Dallas, as well as chief nursing officer for its flagship hospital, Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Simon has served in many other leadership roles, including as chief nursing officer for Orange Park Medical Center. Simon received her bachelor of science in Nursing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and her master's in Health Services Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Simon is board-certifed in advanced nursing administration with the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is board-certified in healthcare management and is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Vice President, Operations, and Chief Resource Officer

Marianne Hillegass began her employment with Baptist Health as a Financial Analyst in 1987 and has served in her role as Vice President of Operations and Chief Resource Officer since 1997. She is responsible for Materials Management; Accounts Payable; Safety, Security, and Parking; Laundry/Linen; Environmental Services; Food and Nutrition Services; Laboratory Services; and Property Management/Space Planning.

Hillegass teaches Leadership Business and Finance Series classes for Baptist Health leadership, as well as the Finance Series for the "Emerging Leaders" Program. She earned her Green Belt certification in 2008 as part of the Operational Performance Improvement (OPI) Initiative and facilitates several OPI Teams.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Hillegass served as Contracts Administration and Finance Manager for Americorp, Inc., managing government contracts for Base Operating Services at many military bases across the country. Previously, she was employed by Florida Publishing Company, then publishers of The Florida Times Union, holding positions in Human Resources, Financial Planning and Purchasing.

Hillegass earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from Jacksonville University, and her master's in Health Administration from the University of North Florida (UNF). She also received an "Award for Academic Excellence" in Graduate Studies from UNF.

Hillegass is a member of American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Association and Leadership Jacksonville Alumnae Association. She served as a Board Member and Tribute Event Chair for Community Connections of Jacksonville; Board Member, Selection Committee Team Captain and Selection Committee Chair for Leadership Jacksonville' and Chair of the Volunteer Accounting Committee, Member of the Resource Management Cabinet and Finance Committee for the United Way of Northeast Florida.

Vice President, Operations and Behavioral Health

Michael Lanier, MA, joined Baptist Health in 1994 as Executive Director of Psychological Association, a division of Baptist Medical Center. Previously, he was Associate Director of Psychological Associates before it was purchased by Baptist Health. He was named System Director for Behavioral Health in 1998, and served in this role for eight years before being promoted to Vice President of Community Health. In January 2012, he was named Vice President of Operations and Behavioral Health.

Lanier has a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida (UNF). In addition, he is a licensed mental health counselor, as well as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Lanier, who was in Leadership Jacksonville, Class of 2009, serves on the Dean's Council of Arts & Sciences for UNF, and was on the Jax Care Health Care Management Committee from 2004 to 2007. He also served as Chair of Baptist Health's Capital Campaign in 2003, and the 2000 and 2001 United Way Campaign for the organization.

Lanier has been widely published on community health and mental health topics. Awards he has received include the Community Connections Leadership Award and the University of North Florida Distinguished Alumni Award.

Vice President, Operations and Specialty Services

Nicole B. Thomas, MBA, joined Baptist Health in 2011 as Vice President, Specialty Services. She is responsible for program development of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics for the health system. She also is responsible for leadership and management of the hospital's ancillary and outpatient departments, including Imaging, the Hill Breast Center, Pulmonary and Sleep Services and Neurodiagnostics.

Thomas came to Jacksonville from St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston, Texas, a 1,200-bed, four-hospital health system, where she served as Assistant Vice President of Physician Operations. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Administration from Dillard University in New Orleans, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

Thomas is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and a member of the Medical Group Management Association. She serves on the Board of Directors of the North Florida Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Previous honors include the National Women of Achievement Profiles of Prominence recognition and the 2003 ACHE Regent's Young Healthcare Executive Award.