South Florida Baptist Hospital Names New President

PLANT CITY, Fla., Feb. 19, 2014 — South Florida Baptist Hospital announces the appointment of Karen Kerr as the new President of its 147-bed hospital in Plant City. 

Kerr has served as Interim President since Aug. 2013, when former South Florida Baptist President Steve Nierman assumed the role of President of Winter Haven Hospital.  From 2002 to 2013, she was employed as Director of Patient Care Services at South Florida Baptist Hospital, overseeing clinical and operational departments of the hospital.  She also held this position at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, and prior to that served as Assistant Administrator of Patient Services at South Florida Baptist Hospital. 

“Karen is a dynamic leader with a true passion for serving patients and their families and has earned the support of the board, medical staff, team members and community leaders,” said Glenn Waters, president of BayCare’s Hospital Division.  “She has worked to develop new programs and initiatives for neurospine, surgery, obstetrics, radiology and patient experience.”

Kerr received her Bachelor of Science/Nursing degree from the University of South Florida, Tampa, and a Masters of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale.  She has served as Past President of the Tampa Bay Organization of Nurse Executives, Past Chairman of the Plant City Family YMCA, and Past Chairman and Multiple Paul Harris Fellow of the Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club.

“I am excited and honored to be selected to lead South Florida Baptist Hospital into the future,” Kerr said.  “We have a very talented medical and hospital team, and have the services to provide our community with top notch care.   I look forward to continuing our growth and involvement in Plant City.”

Kerr has been a resident of Plant City for 20 years and begins her new position immediately.