Nabil El Sanadi, MD, president and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health, was found dead in his condominium from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday.
Authorities responded to a 911 call just before 4 p.m. Saturday regarding a person who reportedly fell in the lobby restroom in a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea condominium. A spokesperson from the sheriff's office confirmed to the Sun Sentinel that a self-inflicted shooting occurred at the building and the victim, later identified as Dr. El Sanadi, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dr. El Sanadi, 60, was an Egyptian immigrant who moved with his family to Cleveland in the 1960s to escape religious persecution. He served as president and CEO at Broward since 2014, and he also served as chief of emergency medicine for the public health system.
Broward Chairman David DiPietro told the Sun Sentinel that Dr. El Sanadi underwent a triple bypass procedure approximately 10 days ago. COO Kevin Fusco has overseen the system in Dr. El Sanadi's absence. Mr. Fusco will now serve as acting CEO.
Several people who worked with and knew Dr. El Sanadi expressed shock and sadness regarding his death. Sources describe the executive as upbeat, charismatic and someone who did not show signs of being troubled, although his health concerns were cited as a recent stressor.
Dr. El Sanadi assumed his leadership position at a challenging time for Broward. The health system had been under a federal investigation for about four years regarding allegations that the system held improper contracts with physicians to submit tens of millions of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid. In September 2015, the system ended the five-year investigation by agreeing to a $69.5 million settlement with the government. The settlement agreement, signed by Dr. El Sanadi and lawyers for the district, said the illegal scheme went on from 2000 until 2014.
Mr. Di Pietro described Dr. El Sanadi as the champion of Broward Health. "If we needed to do something, like vaccinate children of less means, he would be the first guy I'd call. This is a loss not only to Broward Health, but to the whole community," he told the Sun Sentinel.