Dakota Redd, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer [Photo by Steven Martine Photography]

Steven Martine Photography

CLEWISTON — Hendry Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has much to celebrate as it enters 2026, marking 75 years of service to the community. The milestone year will begin by honoring one of its own—Dakota Redd, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer—who is celebrating 50 years in healthcare.

To commemorate this extraordinary achievement, HRMC will honor one of its Nursing Scholarship recipients in Mr. Redd’s name, ensuring his commitment to nursing excellence continues to inspire future generations. The celebration will also include a special reception with hospital staff and advisory board recognizing his decades of service and leadership.

Mr. Redd has served in his current role as Chief Nursing Officer since March 2021, and in August 2025 expanded his leadership responsibilities to include Chief Experience Officer. His journey at HRMC began on April 3, 2018, when he joined as Emergency Department Director, followed by roles as Nursing Supervisor and Patient Safety Officer in November 2020.

In 2023, Mr. Redd was recognized by the Florida Rural Health Association as a “Healthcare Hero”, honored for his leadership and courage in transforming hospital culture and strengthening rural healthcare.

His healthcare career spans more than four decades, beginning with 18 years in critical care nursing, initially focused on cardiovascular care. His extensive leadership experience includes nursing supervision and department director roles across cardiac care and emergency services. From 2004–2006, he served as Interim Chief Nursing Officer for a 167-bed community hospital. He later transitioned into post-acute care as Chief Nurse Executive for two Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH) in the St. Louis area and was named Chief Nursing Officer of a 100-bed rehabilitation hospital in 2012—a joint venture with Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Today, Mr. Redd’s primary focus centers on hospital culture and helping people thrive at work. Drawing on research from Shawn Achor’s "The Happiness Advantage", Dr. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability and trust, and leadership principles from Simon Sinek and Jim Collins, he is deeply committed to combating workplace incivility and bullying, reducing burnout, and building sustainable cultures rooted in trust, authentic communication, respect, inclusion, innovation, and excellence.

“As HRMC celebrates 75 years of caring for our community, it is only fitting that we honor a leader whose career has been dedicated to caring for others and uplifting the profession of nursing,” said David Theroux, CEO at HRMC.

Hendry Regional Medical Center is proud to recognize Dakota Redd’s remarkable legacy and looks forward to continuing its mission of quality, compassion, and innovation—guided by leaders like him—for generations to come.