HCA Florida announced Monday that Gabe Bullaro is now the new CEO of HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville, along with the company’s other healthcare centers in Alachua County.
Bullaro started in the position Monday, and former CEO Eric Lawson has retired from HCA after nearly 36 years with the company, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Lawson also serves as chair of the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Authority. He told Mainstreet that he planned to finish his term on the board.
“I plan to continue to serve on the GRU Authority through the end of my term and am excited about being able to devote more time to supporting GRU and its mission,” Lawson said in an email.
In January, Lawson quietly announced his retirement in an internal message to hospital colleagues. He said at the time that he looked forward to spending more time with family and “finding new ways to make a difference in the world.”
“Leading HCA Florida North Florida Hospital has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Lawson said in the memo obtained by Mainstreet.
He said the hospital and its parent company, HCA Healthcare, “offer limitless ways to grow your career, whether it is in leadership or in clinical specialization. My advice: Go for it!”
HCA made no mention of Lawson in its Monday press release. Reached Monday afternoon, spokesperson Lauren Elliott did not comment on the circumstances of Lawson’s retirement or its omission from the hospital’s news release announcing a new boss.
“After 36 dedicated years of service to HCA Healthcare, Eric Lawson announced his retirement,” Elliott said in a text message. “We are grateful for his service.”
Lawson’s departure comes 15 months after HCA Florida North Florida Hospital abruptly shut down elective surgeries in January 2024. Lawson personally told Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus to divert critically ill patients elsewhere while the hospital addressed persistent, widespread issues with dirty medical instruments being delivered to operating rooms.
Lawson and other hospital administrators faced criticism from surgeons for failing to properly staff and train the sterile processing department and provide tools needed for operations. Patients also criticized how the hospital handled the surgery closure and its lack of communication.
In December 2024, a former Gainesville police officer sued the hospital because of the longstanding sanitary concerns with surgical tools.
Bullaro arrives in Gainesville after spending a decade working for HCA Healthcare and growing his career there. Most recently, he served as CEO of HCA Florida West Hospital in Pensacola. He held that position for almost three years, and Bullaro has also worked in Marion County as CEO of HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
While in Marion County and Pensacola, Bullaro led capital projects like a $130 million expansion of hospital services, a new six-story parking garage and the addition of 112 beds to the company’s Ocala hospital.
In a press release, Brian Cook, president of HCA Healthcare North Florida Division, called Bullaro a dedicated leader.
“His commitment to elevating his team, strengthening engagement and providing exceptional quality of care to his community will be invaluable at this pivotal time for growth and innovation at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital,” Cook said.
Bullaro said in the release that he was honored to be selected for the role and HCA has exciting work ahead in Alachua County, including the opening of the new HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital off Archer Road.
“As we prepare to open HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital early next year and build upon our transplant and cellular therapy program through the HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, in addition to ongoing expansions and enhancements to our outstanding subspecialty services, we will continue to elevate the standard of excellence in healthcare for the north central Florida community and beyond,” Bullaro said in the release.
— With reporting by Gary Nelson
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include Eric Lawson’s comments to Mainstreet, the internal memo from January and Lawson’s continued role on the GRU Authority.