AdventHealth has named Michelle Fuentes president/CEO for AdventHealth Castle Rock in Castle Rock, Colorado, effective May 27. She will report to Brett Spenst, president/CEO for AdventHealth’s Rocky Mountain Region.
“Michelle is a trusted health care leader with an ability to lead effective, mission-oriented teams,” said Spenst. “These qualities, coupled with her commitment to our mission, will serve her well as AdventHealth Castle Rock continues to advance the delivery of faith-based, whole-person care to the communities we serve.”
With more than 17 years of experience in the health care industry, Fuentes comes to AdventHealth from California-based Adventist Health, where she currently serves as president for Adventist Health Sonora, a 152-bed acute care hospital in Sonora, California. She assumed that role in 2018, after serving as the vice president of operations for four years. During her tenure, Fuentes oversaw the expansion of several specialty services, including urology, spine care and oncology. She orchestrated the design and opening of the Health Pavilion and Diana J. White Cancer Institute, established the Rural Track Family Medicine Residency Program and improved the hospital’s quality outcomes, achieving the first Leapfrog “A” Hospital Safety Grade in the organization’s history.
No stranger to AdventHealth, Fuentes served as assistant vice president and chief operating officer for AdventHealth East Orlando earlier in her career. In that role she oversaw surgical, ancillary and support services; strategically planned, developed and staffed a new 13,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center; renovated inpatient surgical suites; planned and facilitated the opening of a new 80-bed, 230,000-square-foot patient tower; and established a comprehensive orthopedic center and Women’s Health Pavilion.
“I grew up about 30 miles from Castle Rock in Denver, Colorado. So, this is really like a homecoming for me,” said Fuentes. “I’m honored to join the talented, passionate and skilled team at AdventHealth Castle Rock as we continue extending Christ’s healing ministry in Castle Rock and our surrounding communities.”
Fuentes earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Union College and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University. As an active member of her community, Fuentes serves on the Adventist Health Lodi Memorial Community Governing Board, Adventist Health Membership Committee, Habitat for Humanity Advisory Committee, the California Hospital Council and the Tuolumne County Business Council Executive Committee, to name just a few. She also has served as a California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) Baldrige examiner.