MARY MAYHEW

PRESIDENT & CEO, FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, TALLAHASSEE

The Florida Hospital Association advocates on behalf of more than 200 hospitals and health care systems. Since taking the helm in 2020, Mayhew has advanced policies to strengthen the health care worker pipeline, coordinated natural disaster response and recovery and helped secure critical funding for Florida’s most vulnerable individuals and families. Before joining the FHA, she was secretary of the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration and played a key role in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDUCATION: University of Arkansas (BS)

FIRST JOB: At 17, I served as a Congressional Page in Washington D.C. while also finishing my senior year in high school. I lived in a dorm on Capitol Hill, went to school in the attic of the Library of Congress and then reported to work in the U.S. House of Representatives. I had long been passionate about government and politics, but this experience completely reinforced my career goals.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I would run a farm — working on the land, growing food and caring for animals.

MENTEE IMPACT: One of my former employees is currently working in the White House. He shared with me that his arrival at the White House was greatly influenced by our work together and the purpose-driven approach we took.