Jack O. Bovender, Jr. T'67, G'69

Jack Bovender is retired chairman and chief executive officer of Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America, the nation's leading provider of healthcare services.  HCA owns and operates approximately 163 hospitals and approximately 105 freestanding surgery centers in the United States and London, England.

Mr. Bovender is a 40-year veteran of the healthcare industry.  He began his hospital administrative career in 1969 as a lieutenant in the United States Navy stationed at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va.  He later served as chief executive officer of Medical Center Hospital in Largo, Florida and West Florida Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, both owned by HCA.

From 1985 to 1992, Mr. Bovender held several senior-level positions with HCA.  In 1992, he was named executive vice president and chief operating officer.  Following HCA's merger with Columbia in 1994, he retired and served on the boards of several public and private companies, including Quorum Health Group, Inc., American Retirement Corp. and Nashville Electric Service.  He returned to HCA in 1997 as president and chief operating officer.  In 1999, Mr. Bovender was appointed to HCA's board of directors.  In 2001, he was named president and CEO, and he served as chairman and CEO from 2002-2009.

Mr. Bovender received a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1967 and a master's degree in hospital administration in 1969, both from Duke University.  At Duke, Mr. Bovender serves on the Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors.  He is a former member of Divinity School Board of Visitors and former chairman of the Duke University Divinity School Capital Campaign Committee.  He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Duke Annual Fund. 

In 2007, Mr. Bovender was bestowed the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Gold Medal Award, recognizing his significant career-long contributions to the healthcare profession.  He was lauded by Institutional Investor magazine as "Best CEO in America" for healthcare facilities in 2003, 2004 and 2005. 

Mr. Bovender and his wife, Barbara, live in Nashville.  He is a founding member of the Nashville Health Care Council and has served on the boards of several Nashville human service and arts organizations.  The Bovender's son, Richard, received an MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business in 2008. 

Mr. Bovender was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2007 and currently serves as vice chair of the Board, chair of the Audit Committee, vice chair of the Business and Finance Committee, and a member of the Executive Committee.  Mr. Bovender also serves on the board of the Duke University Health System.

 July 2012