Prepared for Hurricane Season
11/1/2025
This article first appeared as a column in the 2025 November issue of South Florida Hospital News
By Mary Mayhew, FHA President and CEO
Last month at the annual meeting of the Florida Hospital Association, the state’s largest hospital association, hospital leaders had the distinct privilege of recognizing two individuals with the association’s highest honors, Caregiver of the Year and Health Care Leader of the Year.
Each year, FHA receives nominations from hospitals across the state for these prestigious awards, and each year, the commitment, care, and leadership demonstrated by the nominees serve as an inspiration. From the bedside to the back office, the nominees represent the diverse clinical, operational, and strategic work that goes into sustaining a modern, sophisticated, and compassionate health care system. These dedicated individuals who choose to give their time, talent, and service to Florida’s hospitals, patients, and communities are the reason Florida is leading the way in health care innovation and outcomes.
This year, Gail Ryder, vice president of behavioral health at BayCare Health System, was chosen as FHA’s 2025 Health Care Leader of the Year, and Dr. Alfred Gitu, family medicine physician and chief academic officer at Lee Health, was chosen as FHA’s 2025 Caregiver of the Year.
The FHA Health Care Leader of the Year Award honors a hospital or health system leader who has contributed significantly to the health of the community with their leadership and guidance. The panel of judges chose Ryder in recognition of her visionary leadership to advance timely behavioral health access across Florida communities.
Over more than 30 years, Ryder has lived the mantra that “there is no health without mental health.” She spearheaded the health system’s Behavioral Health Integration program, enhancing early detection and intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes. She cultivates strong partnerships with law enforcement, public health agencies, and community organizations to promote coordinated and proactive care. Her leadership brought to life the West Central Florida region’s first-of-its-kind urgent behavioral health care center, improving patient outcomes and alleviating pressure on emergency departments.
Her work also extends to serving as a tireless advocate for mental health policy reform. Collaborating with local and state leaders to secure funding, improve access, and reduce stigma, her advocacy has led to significant and tangible improvements that benefit countless individuals and families.
The second award is the FHA Caregiver of the Year. It recognizes individuals for outstanding patient care services and for exemplifying a commitment to quality patient care.
Dr. Gitu has led Lee Health’s Family Medicine Residency Program since 2018 in partnership with the Florida State University College of Medicine and was instrumental in incorporating lifestyle medicine into the family medicine curriculum. Under his leadership, the graduate medical education program has maintained a 100 percent board pass rate with zero citations and increased the number of residents from 24 to 33 per year. In his most recent role as chief academic officer, Dr. Gitu oversees education, research and training programs to ensure the highest standards of academic and clinical excellence. As his team wrote in the award nomination, “[Gitu’s] mentorship and leadership cultivate an environment that values patient satisfaction, professional development, and community health …. And his dedication extends beyond our hospital.”
FHA proudly recognizes and thanks Dr. Alfred Gitu and Gail Ryder for their service and leadership. They embody the innovation and drive that are so vital to transforming our health care system, making Florida the best in the nation for health care access and outcomes and ensuring Florida’s hospitals are among the best in class.