Joseph Everette is completing a remarkable career circle, returning to serve as chief nursing officer at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital — the same facility where he was born.

• “For me, this one’s a bit more personal because this is truly right there in my backyard,” Everette said. “I can remember going to see Dr. Douglas Rigby as a child near the hospital and my nana living behind Eglin Parkway. So, there’s an undeniable urge to want to make sure that we take care of not only the people at this hospital but in the community as well.”

Everette, who holds a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Central Florida, grew up in Navarre in neighboring Santa Rosa County and is relocating his family back to the area after serving as chief nursing officer at Oviedo Medical Center since May 2023. He also briefly served as interim chief executive officer there from January to March 2025.

His appointment reunites him with Kenneth “KC” Donahey, who was named CEO of HCA Fort Walton Destin Hospital in February 2025. Donahey previously served as the inaugural CEO of Oviedo Medical Center, where he oversaw the hospital’s construction from an empty lot in 2015 and worked alongside Everette.

• “KC truly does have a passion for patients and people,” Everette said. “He and I both share in our leadership style, that ultimately our roles and our responsibilities are to equip our caregivers with the tools to be successful and provide the best level of care.”

His appointment brings proven leadership experience in hospital operations and staff engagement. At Oviedo Medical Center, a 78-bed community hospital, Everette achieved Press Ganey patient experience scores consistently in the top quartile, with 2024 results showing inpatient scores at the 87th percentile and emergency room scores at the 70th percentile.

Under his leadership, the facility significantly improved colleague retention, reducing registered nurse turnover to 7% and patient care technician turnover to 0% — all year-over-year improvements. The hospital also earned a CMS 4-Star Rating in 2024, Leapfrog Straight A Rating for 2023, 2024 and 2025, and Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 2024 and 2025.

Everette led planning and oversight of major facility growth projects, including an $80 million hospital expansion that added two operating rooms, a 14-bay recovery unit, a 14-bed intensive care unit expansion, and an 18-bed fourth floor addition. He also oversaw the opening of two freestanding emergency rooms and managed surgical services that included nearly 1,600 total robotic procedures.

“Always be willing to learn, willing to grow, and willing to adapt. You have to do that in this ever-changing healthcare environment,” Everette said, reflecting on advice for aspiring nurse leaders. “You have to embrace your reality. So, whatever your reality is, you must own it.”

His leadership philosophy centers on staff advocacy and recognition. At Oviedo, he and Donahey launched the FIRESTARTER program, which recognizes employees who cultivate positive department culture and go above and beyond their roles. The hospital also implemented DAISY Foundation awards for nursing staff and Sunflower awards for ancillary personnel.

• “At the end of the day I am championing you. I am your biggest advocate. I am your voice,” Everette said of his leadership approach. “It’s my duty to understand what motivates you, what your challenges are, and what you need.”

This isn’t Everette’s first time working in the Panhandle. His career progression includes emergency services leadership at hospitals in Pensacola and Tallahassee. At HCA Florida West Hospital in Pensacola, he managed emergency services spanning more than 100,000 visits annually and reduced department turnover rates from 33.1% to 10.2% for all skilled staff and from 33.1% to 13.2% for registered nurses.

For his first 90 days at HCA Fort Walton Destin Hospital, Everette plans to meet with colleagues across all departments to gather feedback about organizational needs and challenges. He identified a few services as areas that may need additional support but emphasized the importance of strengthening medical-surgical units where many new nursing graduates begin their careers.

Everette expressed interest in expanding partnerships with local institutions, including potential workforce collaborations with Eglin Air Force Base and continued coordination with HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital as fellow HCA facilities in Okaloosa County. He also praised existing educational partnerships between the hospital and institutions like Northwest Florida State College and the Okaloosa County School District.

• “I believe people forget how much of a teaching hospital we are,” Everette said, noting partnerships that bring students in radiology, nursing, engineering and facilities management, plus a graduate medical education program.

The personal aspect of the move holds special significance for Everette and his family. He said he promised his wife three years ago that he would bring her back to the Panhandle.

“This is actually the first time since we got married that we’ll be able to take residence back in Navarre,” he said. “We’re very excited for our children to go to some of the same schools that we went to and to be taught by people that we grew up with.”

Everette’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Alabama, where he also earned a master’s degree in clinical nurse leader specialty. He began his healthcare studies with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Florida and an associate degree from Pensacola State College.

“I not only professionally look forward to the challenge, but personally I’m extremely excited,” Everette said. “I don’t know where the world’s going to take me or where we’re going to be called, but I feel that this is where we are being led and where we’re needed to be the most.”