Zach McCluskey (B.S. ‘02/N, M.H.A. ‘07/CHP) was honored this fall as one of VCU’s Alumni Stars. The biennial event, hosted by VCU Alumni, honored alumni from across the university’s academic units for their remarkable personal and professional achievements.

McCluskey began his career as a nurse working with critically ill children at VCU Health and transitioned to hospital leadership out of a commitment to the best outcomes for patients in the community he serves. 

Over the course of his career, he has led larger and more complex hospitals. In November 2021, he was named CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton - Destin Hospital, where he oversees the growing 309-bed, four-campus hospital that serves Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties.

From 2016-21, he served as CEO of HCA Healthcare’s Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Under his leadership, JW was the first hospital in the U.S. to receive The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for brain tumor care. Prior to JW, he was CEO at Parham Doctors’ Hospital, leading it to receive a top 5% national ranking for orthopaedic hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. He also has served as chief operating officer at StoneCrest Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and associate administrator at HCA Healthcare’s CJW Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia.

McCluskey, who met his wife, Amanda, at the VCU School of Nursing, mentors VCU M.H.A. students and is a guest lecturer on hospital operations, particularly on topics that improve patient and employee engagement. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the VCU Foundation Board of Trustees.