Dennis R. Markos, a Vietnam War veteran, serves as CEO of Baker County Medical Services in Macclenny, Fla.
BCMS was established in 1993 to operate Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital and W. Frank Wells Nursing Home, both in Macclenny. BCMS also operates the Dopson Family Medical Center, which provides residents in the region with primary and specialty physician services.
When Mr. Markos joined BCMS as CFO, the medical center was financially ailing, with the emergency department as the only department running full-time. Mr. Markos guided the medical center back to the black, and when he became CEO, BCMS was completely debt free.
Under his leadership, the medical center has added many specialty physicians and services, and eventually built an entirely new campus consisting of the medical center, nursing home and two medical office buildings. Mr. Markos also implemented a $3 million EMR system.
Mr. Markos is greatly admired by his colleagues for his leadership style and for creating a family-like culture at BCMS. Even through financially shaky periods, Mr. Markos never laid off personnel or implemented salary cuts. Many employees have remained with BCMS since its establishment.
For 10 years prior to joining BCMS, Mr. Markos worked in an administrative role at University Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. During his last three years at the hospital, Mr. Markos served as assistant vice president and was responsible for managing nine departments. He also served as a partner with the private consulting firm Gordon Management Services, where he first met his wife, Valerie, who later joined Mr. Markos at BCMS as CNO.
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