National publication names the duo of Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division executives among top-56 females in health care around the country.

TAMPA (November 21, 2011) – Becker's Hospital Review, a bi-monthly publication featuring up-to-date business, legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems, has named a pair of female executives within the Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division as some of the top women in the health care industry, according to its “Top-56 Women and Health Care Leaders to Know” list in its September 2011 edition. Florida Hospital Tampa Pepin Heart Institute & Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute chief operating officer Brigitte Shaw and Christy Kindler, regional chief information officer for the Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division, are listed with 54 other hospital and health care executives from across the U.S.

Ms. Shaw has been with the hospital organization for 26 years and opened the Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute in 2006. Her daily responsibilities include overseeing all operations of the freestanding digital heart hospital and its cutting-edge research that currently involves more than two dozen clinical trials to better understand and cure heart disease. Under her direction, the hospital became the third “paper-less” digital heart hospital in the United States showcasing General Electric Clinical Information Systems. Previously, Ms. Shaw held various vice president positions and operational roles for the former University Community Hospital prior to her current COO role at Pepin Heart. Those areas of responsibility included the creation and development of many of hospital’s Centers of Excellence including Women’s Services, the Diabetes & Endocrinology Institute and the Don Lau Family Center for Cancer Care. Prior to a health care profession, Ms. Shaw worked for Unisys Corporation as an Industrial Engineer and Proposal Negotiator for new product launches. Ms. Shaw earned a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and her MBA from the University of South Florida. Professional and community affiliations include Board Member of the American Heart Association, “Go Red” Chair for American Heart Association and Healthcare Business Women’s Association Board Member.

Ms. Kindler currently serves as Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division Regional CIO. She is a highly recognized technology executive known for successfully leading organizations on their “digital” journey. Ms. Kindler was recruited from Indiana Heart Hospital, where she led its transition to becoming one of the first all-digital heart hospitals in the U.S. Ms. Kindler was hired by University Community Health, now part of the Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division, to assist with the opening of Pepin Heart Hospital and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute. In 2008, she was named the vice president/chief information officer, becoming the first female hired into this role in the hospital’s then-40-year-history. Today, Ms. Kindler continues to lead the transition as the newly-appointed Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Division CIO. She received her Bachelor of Science & Nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and her MBA from Anderson University. She has published several articles and has spoken nationally on the topic of technology and healthcare.

Becker’s Hospital Review is geared toward executive level hospital leaders and aims to provide valuable content, including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance on a bi-monthly basis. Each issue of Becker's Hospital Review reaches approximately 15,000 people, primarily acute-care hospital CEOs and CFOs from around the U.S. For a complete list of names and brief biographies on the Top-56 female executives, please visit the Becker's Hospital Review website.