SYNERGY - Juneteenth 2022

Sam Boadi

Story By: Beth herbert

C that values health care, teaching and spiritual work, Samuel Boadi has chosen a career path that allows him to encompass these values as a leader. His family is originally from Ghana, but Boadi grew up in Tennessee; he went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee, then earn his Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Memphis. After completing his fellowship then working in an assistant administrator role, he was accepted into HCA Healthcare’s Executive program, which helped him land his current role. Boadi has helped contribute to the healthcare system by working with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and, today, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital.

While working with CEOs of other HCA locations in Nashville, Boadi’s leadership skills were recognized and he was encouraged by many of his superiors to continue on the path towards health administration. After working on projects with his sponsor, Tom Ozburn, and falling in love with what this line of work has to offer, Ozburn guided Boadi and helped kickstart his career.

The Executive team at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital as well as CEOs from other organizations also helped to expedite Boadi’s career, but his greatest supporter and influence would be his father. Boadi expresses that his father, a Biochemistry Professor, was strategic in how he raised him as he highlighted the importance of intelligence. Because of this, his father’s leadership qualities, hard working mentality and strong mind are reflected in Boadi, today.

Boadi’s accomplishments have caused him to recognize that landing a leadership role takes patience, diligence, and stress management. The healthcare system has been changed by the pandemic as it has created challenges like lack of resources and supplies, minimal staff, and reduced capacity to take on more patients. Whenever he encounters a roadblock, Boadi maintains his confidence as a leader by reflecting on his previous success stories. Using critical thinking, long term goal setting and planning, and finding the proper tools to manage his stress have helped him grow as a leader and rarely experience discouragement when he is faced with a challenge.

Because leadership is a full time job, Boadi encourages aspiring and current leaders to assess how much they are willing to dedicate to leadership, and never stop asking how the role fulfills their life. Every decision that a leader makes has a ripple effect on those they are leading; because of his position at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, Boadi has been able to shape and change the lives of his colleagues by assisting in their development, which has allowed him to create future leaders. He values health, wealth, love and happiness and uses those principles to build upon his personal and professional relationships, while also acting as a mentor for his subordinates. Through his tenacity, hard working mentality, and fearlessness, he has been able to become a strong leader in the healthcare system during a time when they are needed most.