Officially in his new role for only hours, it was clear Patrick L. Green, FACHE, the new chief executive officer at UF Health Jacksonville, was at ease, embracing every interaction with hundreds of employees who came out to meet him. First on the downtown campus, and then a few days later at UF Health North, Green took time to meet the people he was now leading.

Green brings a wealth of health care and leadership experience to his new position. For more than 25 years, he has committed himself to exhibiting quality leadership to guide and improve health systems and academic medical centers across the country.

Now he will lead UF Health Jacksonville and focus on making a positive and lasting impact on health care in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.

In a matter of weeks — with the shaking of hands, rounding and consistent communication with employees — Green has made it clear that he is a leader who values the people he serves. To underscore the collaborative work environment within health systems, he makes it a point to address all personnel as associates as we work together to achieve a common goal.

“Being the CEO is a remarkable responsibility. We get a lot of the credit when things go well — sometimes too much,” Green said. “At the end of the day, it’s not about me; it’s about the people who care for our patients. We exist to serve the patient population of Jacksonville and surrounding areas. A big part of my role is to support our associates and collectively work together so we can build high-quality clinical programs that we can be proud of and educate the future clinicians and physicians of tomorrow.”

Green has already immersed himself in the organization, spending a significant amount of time rounding on clinical floors during all shifts and on the weekends.

Prior to coming to Jacksonville, Green served as executive vice president of the Yale New Haven Health system, the largest in Connecticut. Within that organization, he also led Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, Connecticut, as president and CEO.

Prior to Yale New Haven, Green served as interim chief executive officer at Centura Health in Lakewood, Colorado, after holding roles as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. His experience also included senior leadership roles at Denver Health and at UW Medicine (University of Washington) in Seattle.

Throughout his career, he has embraced hospitals that care for the most vulnerable and underserved.

“I’ve always been drawn to mission-driven organizations,” Green said. “When I arrived here, I could sense the spirit of commitment and dedication that staff have toward our patients, this community and this organization. I am certain together we can continue to have a positive impact on population health by working to eliminate health disparities and bringing out the best in people as we serve the greater Jacksonville community.”

Green has set ambitious goals for himself to ensure that the organization remains healthy and thriving. Top priorities include evaluating all aspects of the organization, including clinical care, patient experience, financial health, and employee and community engagement. He will do that with what he calls “listening sessions.”

Feedback given at these sessions will help in the development of a strategic plan for the future of the organization.

“I want to devote my first 60 to 90 days to listening and learning more about UF Health Jacksonville,” Green said. “This allows me to hear the collective voices and expectations of those who play a significant role in the success of the organization. It is also necessary to engage the community leaders, so that they know that I am committed to partnering with them to improve this community while being a strong advocate for this health system and those in our care.

“The leadership team and I will also be reviewing the goals and expectations for the new fiscal year; this is especially important to ensure our success in the coming year. Focusing on our people and operational performance is what you can expect in our first few months together as a team.”

Green said he will focus on growth, which he sees as imperative to executing on the vision of becoming the region’s most valued health care asset. By focusing on data to identify areas of strength and opportunity, he believes the organization can be the No. 1 health system, and that includes having a better understanding of the needs of the community it serves.

“It will be necessary to be data-driven as we identify areas where we can improve,” Green said. “That requires the evaluation of the needs of the community — whether that is access, patient experience, or quality and safety — understanding our current performance will help inform our growth plan. We want to be the health system that people come to first because they know we are providing the best possible care and doing so with clinical excellence.”

Green will tell you that he is a family man who cherishes that aspect of his life. He has been married for 25 years and is the proud father of a 16-year-old son.

“I am very blessed to have a great family,” Green said. “They are the center of my life. I would not be where I am today without my wife, who has been a supportive partner from Day 1. We are so proud of our son, who is a great student and has a love of sports.”

Another important member of the Green family is their four-legged Labradoodle named Caz, who is known to “run the house.”

The Greens are excited to start their journey in the River City and honored to be part of the UF Health family.