Paul Hiltz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Naples Comprehensive Health

Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH), shares insights into the rapid growth and strategic evolution of this independent nonprofit healthcare system in Southwest Florida. As the region's population surges, NCH has doubled in size over five years, achieving over $1 billion in net revenue while prioritizing access to high-quality, year-round care. Hiltz emphasizes two major pivots: expanding women’s and children’s services despite national trends of contraction, and launching a feasibility study for transplant services—both driven by community needs and physician input. He highlights the importance of listening to frontline clinicians, patients, and partners, and investing in leadership development through practical programs like the Physician Leadership Academy and President's Forum of Excellence. These initiatives, paired with a growing residency and fellowship program, reflect a commitment to building organizational resilience and talent pipelines. Hiltz underscores a leadership mindset shift: decisions must be collaborative, not top-down, with frontline clinicians at the table to ensure patient-centered care and clinician satisfaction.