Administrative Profiles

Phone: 561.955.4200 | LMendez@brrh.com

Lincoln S. Mendez is the CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Mr. Mendez has been in this position since July 2019.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Mendez served as CEO of South Miami Hospital for over nine years. Before that, Mr. Mendez held the position of CEO at Doctors Hospital for a total of 14 years. During this period, he was the CEO of HealthSouth Doctors’ Hospital, Inc. for the eight years prior to Baptist Health South Florida’s acquisition of Doctors Hospital in October 2003. Prior to his employment with HealthSouth Doctors’ Hospital, Inc., Mr. Mendez was the Chief Operating Officer at Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami, Florida, from 1993 to 1995.

Mr. Mendez holds a master’s degree in Health Administration from Florida International University and both a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee.

Mr. Mendez is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is licensed as a laboratory supervisor and medical technologist from the Florida Department of Professional Regulations. Mr. Mendez currently serves as Past Chairman of the Board of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association. He is currently serving as an alternate for the American Hospital Association Regional Policy board. Mr. Mendez is currently a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, the South Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Florida International University Council of 100. Mr. Mendez has also served as Adjunct Faculty for the Florida International University graduate program in Health Administration.

Phone: 561.955.5133 | MShikiar@brrh.com

Mindy Shikiar serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. She has been with the organization since 2003 and has held various leadership positions including Vice President for Oncology, Ambulatory Services and Business Development.

Prior to joining the Hospital, Mindy served as CEO and COO of Kindred/Vencor Hospital, a long-term acute care facility for critically ill/medically complex patients in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to overall hospital operations, highlights of her Kindred tenure include expanding clinical services with a bariatric surgical program and outpatient plastic surgery, the development/implementation of a sleep laboratory, a hospital-based ethics committee and the redesign of utilization management and discharge planning processes.

Her 28-year healthcare career is comprised of numerous nursing industry positions including that of Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Director of Quality and Case Management and Adjunct Professor at Barry University in Miami.

Mindy is a licensed Healthcare Risk Manager, and a former diplomate of the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston University and her MBA and MSN from the University of Miami.

Phone: 561.955.4200 | SFahmy@brrh.com

Dr. Sam Fahmy is a board certified internal medicine physician. He has been in practice in south Florida since 2007 and has focused his career on medical education and electronic clinical systems. He is the associate clinical dean for academic affairs at Florida Atlantic University and the Chief Medical Officer at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Dr. Fahmy is also board certified in Clinical Informatics, leading several south Florida hospitals in conversions to electronic health records while maintaining focus on improvement in quality of care.

Phone: 561.955.4177 | BAltschuler@brrh.com

Brian Altschuler serves as the Vice President of Ancillary Operations. In his role, Mr. Altschuler is responsible for overseeing the Hospital’s safety and security functions, facility operations, food and environmental services and acts as a liaison to the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League. In addition to his core role in the Human Resources Department, he is also responsible for the Center for Lifelong Learning’s focus on organizational advancement and leadership excellence.

Prior to joining Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Mr. Altschuler played an integral role in leadership and staff development at both Palms West Hospital and Bethesda Healthcare System. He also spent 10 years with Marriott International in various operational and support positions and at Walt Disney World Resorts.

Mr. Altschuler received his Master of Science in Management with a focus on Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He holds certifications in Situational Leadership and Development Dimensions International. Mr. Altschuler has also achieved certification as a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Practitioner, a Certified Level III Corporate Trainer through Marriott International and a Senior Professional in Human Resources.

During his career, Mr. Altschuler has earned numerous awards and honors, including the 2004 Palm Healthcare Foundation’s Commitment to Community Award and the 2008 Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County’s Human Resources Professional of the Year. In 2013, under his leadership and innovation, Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Human Resources Services Division was named one of the Best Human Resources in Palm Beach County.

A seasoned professional with nearly thirty years in nursing practice and leadership, Melissa Durbin serves as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Boca Raton Regional Hospital which she assumed in 2013. In this capacity, she is responsible for all nursing and other patient-care functions and services within the organization. Ms. Durbin manages the assessment, planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of nursing practices on a facility level. She is accountable for ensuring high quality, safe and appropriate nursing care, competency of clinical staff and effective resource management. She also serves as President of the Nursing Consortium of South Florida.

Ms. Durbin joined Boca Regional in 2006 as Executive Director for the Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute and the Hospital’s Critical Care and Emergency Services. Prior to that post, she was Director of Trauma and Critical Care Services at Delray Medical Center.

Ms. Durbin received her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Nursing Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.

Phone: 561.955.3593 | ACole@brrh.com

Amy M. Cole has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, management and administration. Prior to arriving at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Ms. Cole served as Director of Operations for Physician Practices at the non-profit Summa Health System in Northeast Ohio, where she was responsible for the strategic planning and development of both primary care and specialty groups across a seven-hospital system, growing the hospital-integrated, multispecialty group from eight physicians to over 320 physicians.

Her healthcare experience also includes Administrator for the Department of Neurology at the not-for-profit University Hospitals of Cleveland. In this academic-practice setting, Ms. Cole oversaw the department’s administrative, financial and strategic functions as it related to University Hospitals Health System, Inc., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and University Hospital Faculty Services.

During her time at OhioHealth, she oversaw its Family Medicine residency program, turning around operations from a highly subsidized group to a profitable entity within the first year of her tenure, enabling the program to more than double in size and expand to a brand-new health center.

A registered nurse in two states, Ms. Cole has served in hospital leadership roles at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Meridia Hillcrest Hospital in Cleveland; as well as Broadfield Manor, a 154-bed geriatric, quadriplegic, extended recovery and MRDD facility in Madison, Ohio.

Ms. Cole earned her Bachelor of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration in Management degrees, both with honors, from California Coast University in Santa Ana. She is certified in both Lean Six Sigma and as a Six Sigma Green Belt, and is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and American Medical Group Association.

Phone: 561.955.5204 | MLarkin@brrh.com

Mark Larkin serves as the President of Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Foundation. In his role, Mr. Larkin is responsible for leading the organization’s fundraising efforts, including major gift and donor cultivation, capital campaigns, special events and other philanthropic initiatives.

Mr. Larkin joined Boca Regional after serving for 18 years at CentraCare Health in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There, he spent 12 years as Vice President for Philanthropy and was responsible for growing CentraCare’s Foundation and enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency across the organization’s enterprise, establishing major gift protocols, expanding their donor base, growing the Foundation’s assets materially and completing two significant and successful capital campaigns.

Prior to his position with CentraCare, Mr. Larkin was Vice President of Resource Development for United Way of the St. Paul Area.

Mr. Larkin is a graduate of the University of Iowa, a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a Board Member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy.

Phone: 561-955-4510 | Email: WElliott@BaptistHealth.net

Wendy Elliott, MBA/HCM; M.A. CCC-SP is the Assistant Vice President of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Baptist Health South Florida.

Wendy has the oversite and overall responsibility for the 20 bed Neuro ICU/stepdown unit, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, eight pre/post-operative beds and four operating rooms with both intraoperative MNI and CT capability, 20 bed med/tele unit, and the neurology, neurosurgical, spine and pain clinical practice with 15 physicians. She oversees the Comprehensive Stroke program as well as the Center of Excellence for Spinal Care. With plans to oversee the expansion of services into the Boynton Beach area. Wendy also oversees inpatient rehab and the Gloria Drummond Rehabilitation Center which includes cardiac and pulmonary rehab, wound care/hyperbaric treatment, aquatics, physicial therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy.

Wendy previously served as the AVP of the Neuroscience Institute at Advent Hospital’s Central FL Division, where she had direct oversite, strategic planning and visioning for expanding domains of care of the ten acute hospitals and three freestanding emergency rooms for their neurological and behavioral health programs. There she helped achieve the top ranking in the US News and World Report several years in a row for neurological care. Wendy worked in collaboration with both community and employed physician practices at all locations that included neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedic-spine, psychiatry, and pain medicine.

Before returning to Florida in 2014, Wendy worked for Banner Health in Phoenix, AZ, where she was the Associate Administrator for Banner Health Thunderbird. Wendy was responsible for environmental services, dietary services, lab, respiratory care, acute and outpatient rehab services, cardiac service line and system oversite for the neuroscience programs. Prior to that, Wendy served as the Director of Neuroscience and Rehab at Banner Desert and Cardon Children’s Hospital. Prior to working with Banner, she was the Director of Rehab and Neurosciences at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in which she provided direct oversite for acute rehab services, IRF and outpatient pediatric rehab services as well as taking on the the neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedic, general pediatric (which also included pediatric residency program) and rheumatology physician practices.

Wendy holds several advanced degrees in both the clinical field of Speech/Language Pathology, in which she practiced for many years in acute hospital, acute rehab and Outpatient settings. As well as an MBA focused in Healthcare Management.

Wendy has won several awards around innovation and a received a grant to design a tele psych program for inpatient care called the VIP (Virtual Inpatient Psychiatric) program. Wendy has been asked to speak at multiple conferences both as a clinical leader and as an expert in mentoring and leadership. She has participated as an expert in several advisory boards focusing on neuroscience trends and process improvements to continue to be aware of cutting edge advances in neuroscience care.

Wendy has served on multiple boards both in AZ and Florida and co-founded a non-profit that provides training and education to all ages (focused on K-12) and professionals (focused on healthcare providers) on Human Trafficking.

Wendy is a multiple bestselling author and publisher, a John Maxwell success coach/speaker, Certified Genotype Change Therapist, LifeWork Leadership graduate and Life skills mentor-leader.

Phone: 561-955-5718 I GCollins@BRRH.com

Gwenesia S. Collins, PharmD, serves as Assistant Vice President of Clinical Ancillary Services Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Respiratory at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. She also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor for many Colleges of Pharmacy. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Services.

She began her professional leadership experience at CVS Pharmacy, serving as the Regional Pharmacy Supervisor. After two years, she transitioned to a clinical pharmacist position at Henry Ford Fairlane Home Infusion Services. She continued to diversify her work experience by accepting a position with St. John’s Main Hospital as a Clinical Pharmacist. In 2007, Dr. Collins accepted a clinical pharmacist position at POH Regional Medical Center where she quickly became the Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator. In 2009, she became their Director of Pharmacy. Before joining BRRH, she served as a partner of Tri-Unity Infusion Services, LLC a Michigan based business for 12 years.

One of Dr. Collins’ distinguished honors was in August 2007 when she was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Michigan Board of Pharmacy for a four-year term. In 2011, she served as Chairman of the Board. In April 2009, Florida A&M University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences honored Dr. Collins for her induction into the Gallery of Distinction. In 2010, Home Healthcare Services named her as their Cambridge Who’s Who - Professional of the Year.

In 2012, Florida A&M University recognized her as one of their 125 Distinguished Alumni. Her leadership training includes being a graduate of the American Society of Health System Pharmacist (ASHP) Leadership Academy, Leadership Detroit Class of Thirty-one, the Pacific Institute Executive Strategic Leadership Program, and Leadership Boca Class of 2017. In March 2019, Dr. Collins became certified by the John Maxwell team as a speaker, trainer and leadership coach. She has been an avid volunteer at her church St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church where she teaches New Members Orientation and provides leadership development classes for the leaders and members.

Dr. Collins has served on several community boards throughout her career. Beginning in 2005, she served as a board member for Hidden Jewels International Ministries, Total Health Care Quality Assurance Board, and Katie’s Wings Foundation. Currently, Dr. Collins serves as Vice President of the Faulk Center for Counseling Board of Directors. Dr. Collins serves on the Florida A&M College of Pharmacy Advisory Committee and the National Alumni Government Relations Committee. She is a member of several professional pharmacy organizations. Her pride and joy is being a wife to Dr. Corey Collins and their two children Luke and Leah Collins.

Phone: 561-955-5426 I PCooper@BRRH.com

Pua Cooper serves as the Assistant Vice President & Chief Clinical Informatics Officer for Boca Raton Regional Hospital where she is responsible for the oversight of the Clinical Informatics, Quality and Infection Prevention departments. She joined the organization in September 2004 first serving as the Director of Critical Care and Dialysis.

Mrs. Cooper is a seasoned nurse with over 30 years of leadership & clinical experience. She holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in Nursing Informatics from Walden University. She is recognized as a Certified Healthcare IT Executive (CHCIO) through the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives-better known as CHIME.

Mrs. Cooper is an active member of the Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS). In 2017, she was recognized as a HIMSS Fellow and currently serves on the South Florida HIMSS Board of Directors as the chapter’s past president. At the national level, she is a member of the HIMSS Chapters Task Force assisting with chapter relations to enhance the relationship between HIMSS and its 57 chapters.

Most recently, she was recognized as the HIMSS 2020 Chapter Leader of the Year recognizing an individual who demonstrates significant leadership, extraordinary contributions to HIMSS Chapters, the society, and a commitment to driving thought leadership within the industry. In 2014, her team was recognized as one of eight national finalists in McKesson’s Distinguished Achievement Award for the innovative use of technology to advance care.

She has been a speaker on how to leverage technology to improve organizational performance and clinical practice at various local and national conferences including HIMSS, South Florida Organization of Nursing Executives (SFONE), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HMFA), and the Nursing Consortium of South Florida.

Phone: 561-955-5437 I SGonzales@baptisthealth.net

Shelly Gonzales is the Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, where she is responsible for operations of the inpatient nursing units, Perinatal Services, Nursing Administration and Education and Professional Development. She has been with the organization since 2013.

Prior to joining the hospital, Shelly worked for 20 years at Delray Medical Center, where her career was comprised of numerous nursing positions including that of charge nurse of Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Director of Trauma Services and Director of Education and Professional Development.

Shelly is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, where she serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. She is also a member of the local chapter, South Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, where she serves as Secretary. Shelly is currently a member of the American Association on Critical Care Nurses and serves as a board member of the local chapter for Palm Beach County.

Shelly has obtained her Certification in Executive Nursing Practice as well as her Certification in Critical Care Nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University.

Phone: 561-955-3760 I KHammonds@BRRH.com

Kevin R Hammonds is the Assistant Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of Baptist Health Physician Group (BHPG) and has been in his position since March 2019.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Hammonds served as VP - Physician Enterprise for the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, GA for 3 years. Before that, Mr. Hammonds held positions with Ascension Health in Jacksonville, FL as VP - Finance and System Director - Finance. His healthcare career began with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in 2000 where he implemented their original decision support system and established the first cost accounting model for their health system.

Mr. Hammonds holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Wright State University and is near completion of his Masters in Healthcare Administration at the University of Central Florida.

Kevin is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and has served as the Finance Chair for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. He serves as the Treasurer for a youth non-profit organization and coaches a travel softball team.

Phone: 561-955-3772 I MMann@BRRH.com

Maureen G. Mann, MS, MBA, FACHE is the Assistant Vice President of the Lynn Cancer Institute and Lynn Women's Health and Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, where she is responsible for the strategic and daily operations of one of the largest cancer centers in Florida and a comprehensive women’s center that provides more than 100,000 patient visits and services annually. Prior to joining Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Mrs. Mann served in many oncology related roles in the national, state and local community. Prior to joining BRRH she was the Executive Director of the Bienes Cancer Center at Holy Cross Hospital for fifteen years.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, she has been a very active volunteer throughout her 35 year healthcare administration career. She has been an American Cancer Society volunteer for more than 20 years, including membership on the Florida Division Board of Directors, the Broward County Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. Maureen is a Past Chair of the Florida Division Board of Directors and she serves on the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) National Board of Directors where she was the Secretary for 2016-2017, Treasurer for 2018-2019 and she is currently the Vice Chair of the Board. She is also the past Treasurer of the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2017 she received the prestigious St. George National Award from the American Cancer Society and in 2018 she received the top national volunteer award from the America Cancer Society Cancer Action Network - the Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy.

Maureen also served on the national editorial board of the Association of Community Cancer Centers and she is a past appointee of the Florida State Cancer Plan Council. She served on the Board of Directors of Gilda's Club of South Florida for 10 years and is a member of Leadership Miami - Class of 1995, Leadership Boca - Class of 2018 and the Junior League of Ft. Lauderdale. Maureen received a B.A. from Harvard University and M.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology. Since graduation she has served on the local Harvard Club Schools and Scholarships Committee annually conducting off campus alumni interviews for the college. In 2012, Maureen completed her first half marathon in a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She also enjoys swimming and traveling the world with her husband.

Phone: 561-955-7733 I Email: BertM@baptisthealth.com

Bert Mosley is Assistant Vice President of Baptist Health Physician Group. BHPG is the newly-formed entity composed of all Baptist Health South Florida employed providers in North Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Prior to joining Baptist Health South Florida, Bert served as Administrator for several large physician groups owned by Community Health Systems. During his eleven years with CHS, Bert operated multispecialty physician groups in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Illinois. Bert's experience includes many years on the hospital side as well, having served in C-suite roles for Tenet and HCA.

Bert is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Regis University, and hold certifications in Physician Practice Management and Physician Recruitment and Retention.

Phone: 561-955-4375 I Email: JPacheco@BRRH.com

Jennifer Pacheco is the Assistant Vice President of Critical care Services. She has been in this position since February 2020.

Prior to her AVP role, Jennifer served as the Director of Critical Care at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, where she oversaw MICU, SICU, CVICU, CV step-down unit and Interventional Radiology. She has been at BRRH since 2009. Prior to joining Boca Raton Regional, she was the Director of CVICU and CV Stepdown at the Bethesda Heart Institute from 2007 to 2009.

Jennifer completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership from Walden University in 2015. She graduated from Massachusetts Bay College of Nursing in 1998. After graduating, she accepted a job at Massachusetts General Hospital where she worked in the Cardiac Surgical ICU as a post-open heart and transplant nurse until she relocated to Florida in 2006.

Jennifer is a current member of the AACN and SFONE.