Delray Beach, Fla. – Delray Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer, Maria Morales Menendez,is selected as a member of Modern Healthcare’s 2022 class of Top 25 Emerging Leaders. Modern Healthcare, a leader in healthcare business news, research and data, annually honors emerging leaders all age 40 or under, making significant contributions in the areas of innovation and financial, operational and clinical excellence early in their careers.

“We are proud of all of Maria’s accomplishments that have led to her well-deserved career advancement from administrative resident to chief operating officer during her tenure with the Palm Beach Health Network,” said Maggie Gill, chief executive officer of the Palm Beach Health Network and Delray Medical Center. “She was appointed COO at one of the most challenging times facing any healthcare professional. Despite being in the early stages of her career, she has proven to be an excellent leader, overseeing programs to enhance quality of care, patient safety, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to our employees and medical staff. Maria is a strong female role model for future healthcare leaders in our community.”

Morales Menendez was promoted to her current position as COO in the fall of 2021.  She is responsible for oversight of daily operations and development and implementation of long-range plans, goals and objectives at Delray Medical Center. As an integral member of the Palm Beach Health Network leadership team, Maria has led the charge on multiple operational enhancement projects including:

• Expansion of cath lab suite for EP and radial cases
• 2nd floor tower expansion to create 48 private rooms for surgical patients
• Expansion of main operating room suite for robotic complex spine/neuro surgery
• New satellite procedural suite for GI, urology, ortho & general surgery
• Network LEAN, Throughput and Cost Efficiency initiatives

 “The men and women who make up this year’s class of the Top 25 Emerging Leaders have certainly risen to the challenges hospitals have faced over the past two years.  Even in their young careers, these healthcare professionals all have impressive track records of innovation and accomplishment,” said Aurora Aguilar, editor for Modern Healthcare.  “The profiles of this year’s honorees, all age 40 or under, display the breadth of diversity and talent in this generation of healthcare leadership. Congratulations to all.”