Las Palmas Medical Center CEO resigns, takes job at Sierra Providence’s new teaching hospital

Hank Hernandez, CEO at Las Palmas Medical Center for the past 20 years, has taken a job as CEO and Market COO of Sierra Providence Health Network’s new teaching hospital.

Las Palmas Del Sol officials announced Tuesday that Hank Hernandez has submitted his resignation as chief executive officer, effective immediately.

C. David Huffstutler, Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare CEO, released the following statement:

“I am grateful for Hank’s leadership and for his 20 years of service to HCA, and I appreciate the many contributions he made to Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare during his tenure with us. We are initiating a search for a new chief executive officer of Las Palmas Medical Center, and I am confident that we will find a capable individual who will continue to build on Hank’s successes. Don Karl, chief operating officer of Las Palmas Medical Center, will assume the duties as interim chief executive officer until a successor has been named. We expect to continue, without interruption, the exceptional care and service to our patients and physicians during this transition.”

Hernandez will join SPHN on June 22 as head of its new Transmountain Campus, which is scheduled to open in early 2017.

Additionally, Hernandez will serve as the Sierra Providence Health Network market chief operating officer. As CEO, Hernandez will lead the construction of the facility and oversee the direction, strategies and operations for the new teaching hospital, created in partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

“Hank is an accomplished leader with a strong track record of success in healthcare,” said Eric Evans, chief executive officer of Tenet Healthcare’s Texas Region. “His experience and insight will be invaluable as we continue to raise the level of care provided to the El Paso community and train the next generation of medical professionals.”

Prior to joining Las Palmas, Hernandez held various healthcare positions in the U.S. Army and received several military awards for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Overseas Ribbon.

“Hank’s two decades of experience meeting the healthcare needs of our community will serve him well as we begin to establish a patient-focused culture at the Transmountain Campus,” said Sally Deitch, chief executive officer of SPHN. “He shares our system’s focus on quality, service and compassionate care. I am confident in his leadership as we expand the medical services offered to the rapidly growing communities of northwest El Paso.”

Hernandez received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a master’s degree in health services management from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, and a master’s degree in hospital administration from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.