Ben Spence, MHA
Chief Operating & Financial Officer
Ben Spence serves as Lee Health’s Chief Operating & Financial Officer and is a senior executive team member. He joined Lee Health in 1995 and has served in many key roles during the course of his healthcare career.
Leadership Responsibilities
Ben is responsible for the oversight of the systemwide clinical and financial operations, facilities management, information technology services, supply chain management, analytics and revenue cycle management. Ben collaborates with the organization’s leaders, medical staff, employees, patients and community in a variety of activities dedicated to ensuring operational effectiveness and efficiencies, optimal health outcomes and experience of our patients, employees and providers.
Professional Experience
Ben has more than 29 years of extensive experience in healthcare finance and administration, serving as Chief Financial & Business Services Officer from 2014 to 2024. He began his career as a reimbursement clerk in the financial services department in 1995. Since 2000, he has held various management roles, including system director of reimbursement, controller of Lee Memorial Hospital and CFO for the health system’s Federally Qualified Health Clinic Look-Alike clinics. In December 2024, Ben was named Chief Operating and Financial Officer.
Ben has led initiatives and programs that consistently delivered strong financial results, enabling Lee Health to improve its S&P credit rating to A+ and increase its positive cash flow to more than $300 million per year, with annual revenues in excess of $3.2 billion.
In his tenure as CFO, he helped lead the system's strategic growth capital plan to ensure greater access to high-quality care by expanding existing and new primary and urgent care services, ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient services. He also expanded acute care facilities and beds, as well as post-acute services. He supported investments to improve care through state-of-the art technology, virtual care and hospital at home services. He also helped develop and launch Medicare accountable care organization, a Medicaid provider sponsored plan, a direct-to-employer health network, a specialty pharmacy, physician and pharmacy residency programs, and value-based contracting with payers.
Education
Ben is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1992, with a dual major in Finance and Real Estate and Urban Analysis.
He completed his graduate studies in 2010 at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers where he earned his Master of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Health Services Administration.
Memberships/Community Involvement
Ben is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). He serves as Vice Chair for the Lee County Horizon Council and sits on several boards, including Best Care Collaborative, LLC, Community Healthcare Innovations, LLC, LeeSar, and Cooperative Services of Florida. Ben also enjoys volunteering for Grace Church as a group leader for young adults and for Junior Achievement, a nonprofit empowering young people with skills for economic success.