Nelson Lazo is the Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, an affiliate of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization in the region. Doctors Hospital has been providing high-quality care for the community since its inception in 1949. The hospital is also home to Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, one of Baptist Health’s premier Centers of Excellence. As CEO, Mr. Lazo is responsible for overall administrative and operational management for the 281-bed, acute-care hospital and its more than 900 employees.

Mr. Lazo was named to his current position in January 2010 after serving as CEO of Baptist Health’s Mariners Hospital in Tavernier for three years. Prior to joining Baptist Health, he served as chief operating officer for Parkway Regional Medical Center in North Miami Beach; senior vice president and CEO of McNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill.; CEO and regional director of operations for HealthSouth Corporation; director of regional operations for Phymatrix in Atlanta; vice president of healthcare services for the Coker Group in Atlanta; vice president of operations for United Medical Corporation in Orlando; and vice president of support services, as well as, associate administrator for Miami’s Mercy Hospital.

Mr. Lazo received his bachelor’s of science degree from Barry University in 1984. He went on to get his master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship in 1990. He was inducted into the 2010 Miami-Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame in the field of healthcare and honored with Barry University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.

He is active in community organizations, serving as chairman of the board of directors for the Beacon Council, the board of directors for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Coral Gables Community Foundation and Health Facility Authority of Coral Gables. Mr. Lazo also serves as the chairman of the Life Sciences and Healthcare committee of the One Community One Goal program for the Beacon Council and is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee and the American College of Healthcare Executives.  He is the past chairman of the board of the Health Council of South Florida, Inc., and also served as president of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Lazo and his wife, Olga, live in Coral Gables. They are the parents of two grown children. He is an avid sportsman, enjoying activities such as fishing, boating and tennis.