Philip Koovakada named new president of Orlando Health - Health Central Hospital in Ocoee

Orlando Health recently announced the new president of the Health Central Hospital in Ocoee. 

Philip Koovakada will serve as the senior leader of the location as well as coordinate the region’s operations with Orlando Health’s senior executive team. 

“Philip comes to us with an outstanding background with broad experience in acute and outpatient care, quality improvement, strategic development, and operational and financial management,” said Jamal Hakim, chief operating officer at Orlando Health. “He will be a dynamic, optimistic, forward-thinking leader, and I’m eager for him to join our team.”

Koovakada has an impressive background and has served in healthcare for many years. 

He earned a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of St. Francis, a master’s in nursing and a master’s in healthcare administration from California State University Long Beach. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

His experience in leadership ranges from serving as president and CEO for St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, to serving as the chief executive officer for NMC Health Network in Texas, and other various leadership roles for Tenet in Nacogdoches and Palm Springs, California. 

The new president will play a large part in contributing to the new freestanding rehabilitation facility in Ocoee, which we told you about here. 

The new venue will open as a 54-bed inpatient facility, in early 2023, and will form from renovations and upgrades on the Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation located on the campus of the organization's Health Central Hospital at 1300 Hempel Ave.

Koovakada will begin his new role on Monday, April 18.