ÂÜÀòÂÒÂ×

Thabata Ford works for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville Florida as the Vice President of Operations and System Pulmonary. Thabata has been with Baptist Health for eight years and has served in progressively expanding management roles for WCH, BMCJ and Baptist Health. Thabata oversees the day-to-day administrative operations of WCH and is also responsible for clinical operations of numerous areas within WCH including: the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute; the Walter and Michelle Stys Neuroscience Institute; the Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute; Regional and International Outreach, Satellite Centers and Hospital Affiliations; the Bower Lyman Center for the Medically Complex Child; the Snyder Family Cleft and Craniofacial Center; and the Duran Genetics Center. Thabata also oversees the BMCJ and WCH Auxiliary/Volunteer services, and on a system-wide basis she is responsible for overseeing and developing Neurodiagnostics services and Pulmonary services at all Baptist Health locations.

Prior to joining the Baptist Health in 2013 Thabata worked as a Health Care Policy Analyst for the Florida House of Representatives. During her time in the House she worked on many health care issues including: Medicaid Reform, Family and Child Welfare, and Hospital and Facility Regulation. Prior to working in the House, Thabata worked for the Florida Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Florida Department of Health.

Thabata serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Episcopal Children’s Services. She is a member of the Florida Chapter of the College of Health Care Executives, where she serves as the Communications Director for the North Florida Chapter. Thabata received the ACHE Regent’s Award in 2018. Thabata was recognized as one of Jacksonville’s 40 under 40 in 2019.

Thabata Batchelor is a two-time graduate of Florida State University. She graduated in 2010 with her Master’s in Public Health and in 2006 with her Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Criminology. Thabata was born in Miami and raised in Florida. Thabata is married to Valentino and they have two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, exercising and is an avid lover of Florida State football.