Health Care Hall of Fame Past Inductees

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Inducted in 2015

Bovender, former chairman and CEO at HCA, held many roles at the company, spending 37 of his 40 years in the industry there. He took over as the for-profit chain's president and CEO in 2001, retiring as chairman in 2009. During his tenure, he played crucial roles in helping to get the company back on track in the aftermath of a merger with Columbia Hospital Corp. that ultimately led to large legal settlements with the federal government. HCA also continued to grow through mergers and acquisitions, notably with the addition of Health Midwest of Kansas City, Mo., in 2003.The company also was a leader in promoting diversity, especially through its COO Development Program, which Bovender championed. It served as a launching pad for young executives, including many minority candidates, speeding up their rise in the leadership ranks. Bovender named himself chief diversity officer to oversee implementation of the program, which became a model for the industry.