FHA's NeSmith to retire in 2008

Florida Hospital Association President Wayne NeSmith, 65, will retire after his contract expires in late 2008. The Tallahassee-based trade group, which represents 158 hospitals, formed a search committee in December, said Sue Brody, president and chief executive officer of 400-bed Bayfront Medical Center, St. Petersburg, Fla., and immediate past-chair of the FHA’s board of trustees, who is overseeing the hunt for NeSmith’s successor. NeSmith became FHA president in 2001 after roughly 22 years with the Association of Community Hospitals and Health Systems of Florida, which represented not-for-profits. The FHA, ACHHS and Florida League of Health Systems merged in 2001. -- by Melanie Evans