Chairman of the Board

Ralph E. Lawson, FHFMA, CPA

Ralph Lawson is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Baptist Health South Florida, Inc. Baptist Health is the largest, not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida, comprised of seven hospitals and more than 30 outpatient facilities spanning three counties. With more than 16,000 employees and 2,200 physicians, Baptist Health is considered one of the nation’s top employers, according to well-known workplace surveys such as Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. In addition, Baptist Health hospitals were recognized for high quality and patient safety with numerous national and regional awards from U.S. News & World Report.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Mr. Lawson spent 17 years at Deloitte, the last eight years of which were as a partner responsible for the Florida healthcare practice.

Mr. Lawson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Colorado and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from The Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Lawson also serves as Chairman of the Board of Catholic Health Services, which employs over 2,500 people. Catholic Health Services is the largest post-acute continuum of care provider in the southeast United States, caring for over 6,500 people of all faiths on a daily basis, through eight different service lines in healthcare and social services.

Ralph Lawson is a past National Chair of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). HFMA has over 40,000 members and 68 Chapters throughout the United States. HFMA is one of the most recognized sources for unbiased information as to how to reform and improve the United States healthcare system.

Mr. Lawson is the National Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Ralph Lawson is a well known U.S. healthcare executive. He is a frequent speaker at industry and civic meetings throughout the country and has been featured on the cover of Modern Healthcare magazine.

Ralph is married to Barbara Lopez Lawson and resides in Parkland, Florida. They have five children and 7 grandchildren.