Chief medical officer position filled at 383-bed hospital

BRADENTON — Earlier this month, the Bradenton-based Blake Medical Center welcomed a new addition to the hospital in the form of a chief medical officer. 

The hospital added Dr. R. Lee Biggs to the team, who was most recently the chief medical officer at Trident Health in Charleston, South Carolina. Before that, Biggs was the chief medical officer for the HCA Healthcare’s Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, according to a statement. 

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Biggs to our Blake family,” says Steve Nierman, CEO and President of Blake Medical Center, in the statement. “His strong foundation of quality and clinical excellence, vision, and leadership will be tremendous assets to our collective work in providing the very best possible care for those we are privileged to serve.” 

Biggs also has served as a chief clinical officer, medical staff president, director for surgical services and department chair of obstetrics throughout his career. According to the press release, Biggs has led innovation in physician development, process improvement, quality, and patient safety. 

“Dr. Briggs is a well-respected physician executive with a strong track record of partnering with other physicians and caregivers to deliver superior patient care,” says Dr. Sebastian Strom, HCA Healthcare West Florida Division CMO. “We are excited that he is joining our leadership team at Blake Medical Center.”

Blake Medical Center is a 383-bed, Level II Trauma Center and one of only six designated burn center programs in the state. The hospital serves patients in Manatee County and along Florida’s West Coast with an array of services including a comprehensive stroke center, heart and vascular center, complex hand repair and microsurgery program, and joint replacement and spine center.