SE02 E01 Lead With Purpose | Ashley Vertuno

Welcome back to season 2 of Wondermous: A Healthcare Leadership Journey! In this episode, host Merikay Hunt sits down with Ashley Vertuno, FACHE, CEO of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital, for an honest conversation about the mindset, habits, and relationships that shape great healthcare leaders. Ashley shares how her background as a competitive soccer player forged the discipline, coachability, and team-first mentality she carries into every leadership role — and how those athletic instincts translate directly into running a high-performing hospital.Ashley opens up about the importance of servant leadership, building a personal board of directors, and what she calls "strategic empathy" — the ability to hold both outcomes and humanity in the same hand. From embracing failure as a growth tool to championing diverse thought and unified teams, she offers a grounded, practical perspective on what it means to show up for your people every single day. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a practice manager wondering if you should raise your hand for that next role, this episode will remind you why taking the shot is always worth it.Connect with Ashley Vertuno, FACHE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyvertuno/HCA Florida JFK North Hospital: https://hcafloridajfknorthhospital.comIf this conversation resonated with you, give it a like, leave a comment below, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Wondermous: A Healthcare Leadership Journey.To learn how Merikay Hunt helps individuals and organizations breakthrough to the next level performance and unlock true leadership potential, please visit https://www.coachmkay.com/To discover Merikay's leadership journey, order your copy of My Year on the Inside, Creating Catalysts for Change: https://www.coachmkay.com/store/We hope you enjoyed this episode of Wondermous! – Merikay and the Wondermous podcast teamConnect with Merikay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merikay-hunt-s-coach-mkay-company-773b575/Visit the CoachMKay website here: https://www.coachmkay.com/Listen to Wondermous on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ODZVx09pxS97tqzn0ynWx Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wondermous-a-healthcare-leadership-journey/id1829913569 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dbdbb496-2f8a-4d09-9d98-1c046d4420aa#healthcareleadership #leadershipjourney #healthcarepodcast #executivestorytelling #medicinemeetsleadership #coachmkay #wondermous #healthcaregrowth #purposefulleadership #leadinginmedicineWondermous is the go-to podcast for healthcare professionals, medical executives, and conscious leaders navigating change. Hosted by Merikay Hunt, this weekly show highlights inspiring leadership journeys in healthcare, medicine, and business. Each episode features real conversations with hospital executives, physicians, innovators, nurse leaders, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of care.Topics include healthcare leadership, team culture, medical innovation, executive decision-making, personal development, burnout prevention, emotional intelligence, and strategic growth in the healthcare space.Whether you're a health system leader, a physician executive, or a rising healthcare professional, you'll discover actionable insights, relatable stories, and proven leadership strategies to help you grow.Subscribe now to stay updated on new weekly episodes that explore the human side of leadership in healthcare.