Joanie Jeannette

Joanie Jeanette has been named as the Interim CEO at Lehigh Regional Medical Center, according to an announcement by Robert L. Hammond, Health Management Associates (HMA) Division 5 vice president.

She replaces Chris Rackunas of Punta Gorda who has left the hospital.

Jeanette comes to take over the helm of LRMC with a varied and impressive background of leadership positions.

Hammond said Jeanette has served in several roles in acute care facilities and with HMA.

Her career began as a registered nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashvile, Tenn.

After moving back to Florida and starting her family, Jeanette worked as a nursing supervisor at the HMA facility in Sebring, Fla.

According to a prepared news release announcing new executives at LRMC from Hammond, Jeanette was promoted to director of Women’s and Children’s Services in Sebring where she was involved in the building of a women’s pavilion. She transferred to a HMA facility in Statesboro, Ga., to serve s the assistant director of nursing and later became the chief nursing officer when she was awarded Chief Nursing Officer of the Year for HMA.

Hammond said that after building a replacement facility in Statesboro, Ga., Jeanette was promoted to a new HMA acquisition in Lebanon, Tenn., and then to another new acquisition in Venice, Fla.

Jeanette has served as a chief operating officer at a de nova facility in Naples and the chief operating officer at Peace River Regional Medical Center.

Jeanette took over the LRMC leadership role at the Lehigh facility last week. She said she likes Lehigh and believe LRMC to be a good hospital.

“We are here to serve our community and we want to get to know the people in Lehigh,” she said.

In addition to Jeanette, a Interim CFO has been named, too. He is Bo Pulley, whose experience includes working as a comptroller at Spring Hill Regional, Brooksville Regional and most recently at Charlotte Regional.

Pulley comes with a MBA in marketing and finance from the College of William and Mary.

Jeanette received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and went on to earn a masters in science degree of nursing – health systems management from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

She has served on the HMA corporate Nursing Task Force, is a member of American College of Healthcare Executives and American Organization of Nurse Executives.

Jeanette has been active in her community, having served as chairperson for the March of Dimes March for Babies in Charlotte County. Presently, she and her husband and son, live in Venice and they love such activities as triathlons and running.

In addition to Jeanette and Pulley, Shannon Magee has been named as the Interim Chief of Nursing. She has been with HMA for 12 years functioning in various roles from staff registered nurse to nursing supervisor, ER director and assistant chief nursing officer. She is originally from New Brunswick, Canada, and is married with four children and two grandchildren.