A new chief executive officer has been appointed at West Marion Community Hospital.
Ocala Health, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, announced the appointment Monday afternoon of Gabe Bullaro, effective immediately. He most recently served as chief operating officer at Ocala Health, a 430-bed two-campus facility.
During Bullaro’s time at Ocala Health he led the aggressive construction efforts happening across the organization’s campuses, adding 114 beds, 20 emergency department bays and six operating rooms. He also oversaw the expansion of the Summerfield Freestanding Emergency Department by eight bays, as well as the construction and opening of the Maricamp Freestanding Emergency Department in August of 2019.
Bullaro has executed many initiatives resulting in program and hospital growth, operational enhancements and significant physician recruitment efforts, most notably leading the establishment and certification of Ocala Regional Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2019.
“Gabe’s familiarity with West Marion, established relationships with physicians in the community and excitement related to the expansion of healthcare services offered in this community has West Marion well positioned for continued growth under his leadership,” said Chad Christianson, CEO of Ocala Health.
“I am honored to have been selected to lead such an outstanding team,” Bullaro said. “After having worked with West Marion for over two years, I’m confident that the team is top-notch. They drive exceptional quality care and consistently offer an outstanding patient experience.”
Bullaro earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University. In between his time at those universities, he served as the operations officer for the U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron, flying relief missions in response to Hurricane Katrina and the Indonesia Tsunami.
Bullaro and his wife, Jennifer, have three children – Grace, Gabe III and Olivia.
Ocala Health encompasses Ocala Regional Medical Center, a 256-bed facility located in the heart of Ocala; West Marion Community Hospital, a 174-bed facility located in west Marion County; Summerfield ER, a freestanding emergency department located in southern Marion County; and Maricamp ER, a freestanding emergency department located on Maricamp Road in Ocala.
Ocala Regional Medical Center is a Level II Trauma Center and a Comprehensive Stroke Center. The hospitals offer a host of other quality and award-winning services including orthopedic care and joint replacement, robotic surgery, cardiac and vascular services including open heart surgery and interventional procedures, emergency, neurological and rehabilitation services, and bariatric surgery.
Ocala Health has the only Commission on Cancer-approved cancer center in Marion County. The organization’s outpatient facilities include Family Care Specialists, a primary care network of six locations throughout Marion County; Advanced Imaging Centers; a freestanding Wound and Hyperbaric Center; a Senior Wellness Community Center; and three surgical and physician specialty practices.