Jewels Stark joins AdventHealth Lake Wales as Chief Nursing Officer

AdventHealth has announced that Jewels (Julie) Stark has accepted the role of Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Lake Wales, effective April 21. She will report directly to Royce Brown, President and CEO of AdventHealth Lake Wales.

Courtesy AdventHealth

Julie Stark has been named the new Chief Nursing Officer at the AdventHealth Lake Wales hospital. Stark will be responsible for all nursing services including quality of patient care, treatment and service delivered, staffing, regulatory readiness and financial sustainability. She will also partner with colleges and universities to increase the workforce and develop and mentor nursing leaders.

In this role, Stark will be responsible for all nursing services including quality of patient care, treatment and service delivered, staffing, regulatory readiness and financial sustainability. She will also partner with colleges and universities to increase the workforce and develop and mentor nursing leaders.

Most recently, Stark served as AVP of Nursing Services at AdventHealth Sebring, where she collaborated with other nursing leaders to ensure efficient and effective use of resources in the coordination and facilitation of patient flow and day-to-day staffing initiatives. Jewels also developed goals and managed the fiscal activities of the department.

Under her leadership, AdventHealth Sebring achieved multiple Leapfrog "A" Hospital safety grades, was recognized by Healthgrades as one of the top 100 hospitals in America for coronary intervention and welcomed the first LPN-RN transition cohort.

Before that, Stark served as the Director of Med/Surg Nursing at AdventHealth Celebration for more than two years. Jewels is no stranger to Polk County, having served for nearly three years in leadership roles at Lakeland Regional Health before her time with AdventHealth.

Courtesy AdventHealth

AdventHealth Lake Wales is the first-line medical facility for residents of fast-growing southeastern Polk County.

"I am thrilled to serve the warm and vibrant community of Polk County once again through this incredible opportunity with the AdventHealth Lake Wales team," Stark said. "I see it as both an honor and a responsibility to cultivate the next generation of health care professionals. I am committed to enhancing clinical training and Medical education while actively engaging with colleges and universities to recruit and mentor aspiring nurses."

Jewels has both a Master's of Business Administration and Management and a Master's of Health Care Administration and Management from the University of St. Francis. She is also a Board Certified Nurse Coach.

Jewels and her husband Jeff have a son, Josh, 29, and a fur baby named Greta. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, participating in half marathons, going to the ocean, and spending time with her family.