Kidada Hawkins
Community-Minded Healthcare Activist
About KIDADA HAWKINS
Based in Auburndale, Florida, Kidada Hawkins stands as a triumphant figure in the realm of healthcare leadership, boasting an extensive and diverse career journey. Having attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Morehouse College, Kidada furthered their education by acquiring a dual set of qualifications: a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Services Administration from the esteemed University of Alabama at Birmingham. These academic achievements were complemented by a series of certifications that have significantly augmented their knowledge reservoir.
Commencing in 2007, Kidada Hawkins embarked on a robust trajectory in healthcare administration, primarily centered in Alabama. A substantial period was spent at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital, where they delved into recruitment and various administrative domains. Subsequently, a shift to St. Vincent’s Health System marked a pivotal juncture, positioning Kidada Hawkins in their inaugural executive role. Over the course of five impactful years, their contributions resonated across two distinct facilities, manifesting as heightened employee engagement, the transformation of one facility’s financial performance from loss to profit, and a remarkable enhancement in patient experience evaluations.
The narrative evolved as Kidada Hawkins transitioned to Shoals Hospital, this time in the capacity of CEO. Here, their unwavering efforts catalyzed a reversal of financial downturn, a positive shift in community perceptions surrounding the institution, and the amelioration of relationships with physicians. A tenure spanning three years bore witness to a 47% reduction in severe safety incidents, diminished turnover rates, and elevated inpatient satisfaction measures. The zenith of this accomplishment was Kidada Hawkins’ elevation to the role of Market Chief Operating Officer at Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Overseeing operations at both Walker Baptist Medical Center and Princeton Baptist Medical Center, they persisted in their trajectory of elevating patient experience and vital performance indicators.
A perusal of Kidada Hawkins’ professional odyssey unequivocally underscores their prowess as an effective leader, a catalyst for tangible outcomes, and a nurturer of teams’ latent potential. They have been instrumental in resurrecting multiple institutions from the clutches of financial adversity and negative public perception, transforming them into thriving medical bastions. Their versatile experience spans both for-profit and not-for-profit systems, affording them a unique vantage point into the mechanics of these divergent models. Notably, Kidada Hawkins’ laurels extend beyond organizational borders, meriting inclusion in Becker’s Hospital Review as a prominent African American healthcare leader in both 2019 and 2020.
Despite Kidada Hawkins’ resounding impact on the professional front, their benevolence transcends these endeavors. They have generously devoted time to various nonprofit and philanthropic boards, notably including the FORGE Breast Cancer Survivor Project and Kid One Transport. Their dedication to enhancing healthcare accessibility for community members radiates through these acts of altruism.
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