Parker Pridgen named CEO for AdventHealth Apopka

AdventHealth has named Parker Pridgen CEO for AdventHealth Apopka, effective Sept. 25. He will report to Kari Vargas, who serves as CEO for AdventHealth Winter Garden and for the West Orange/South Lake market.

"Parker is a purpose-driven, people-centric leader dedicated to our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ,” said AdventHealth President/CEO Terry Shaw. “As he steps into this new role, we look forward to the impact he will make on our operations, our teams and the communities we serve in Apopka.”

With more than 10 years of health care experience, Pridgen currently serves as chief financial officer and chief operating offer for AdventHealth Central Texas and AdventHealth Rollins Brook, where he provides market leadership to the multi-campus network of acute, outpatient and physician services. He previously served as CFO for Central Texas Medical Center between 2017 and 2019, and as assistant CFO for Willamette Valley Medical Center between 2014 and 2017. He started his career as a financial auditor at the Adventist Health corporate office in Roseville, Calif., in 2010.

“I’m excited to have Parker join our West Orange/South Lake team and lead our Apopka campus,” Vargas said. “He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience in health care operations and finance, and is committed to developing strong teams and building momentum toward organizational goals.”

Pridgen has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in accounting with an emphasis in finance from Walla Walla University. He is also a graduate of AdventHealth’s Executive Leadership Program.

"Every day, I’m inspired by the way our health care teams come together to make a lasting impact on our patients,” he said. “I know the AdventHealth Apopka team is special, and I’m honored to serve them as we work to deepen our impact on the local community through the delivery of consumer-focused, whole-person care.”

Pridgen and his wife Kimberly are the happy parents of two boys, Preston, 4, and Pierce, 2. In their spare time, the family enjoys camping, cycling, road trips, beach days and other outdoor adventures.