Tampa General Hospital’s Qualenta Kivett Named a 2025 Chief People Officer to Know

Qualenta Kivett has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 Chief Human Resources Officers and Chief People Officers to Know List, reflecting excellence in creating a positive work environment at the academic health system.

Tampa, FL (June 6, 2025) – Qualenta Kivett, executive vice president and chief people and talent officer at Tampa General Hospital (TGH), has been included on Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 list of “Chief Human Resources Officers and Chief People Officers to Know,” marking the second consecutive year Kivett has received this honor. This recognition highlights Kivett’s exceptional leadership and contributions to fostering a thriving and engaged workforce at Tampa General.

“Qualenta’s leadership directly contributes to our ability to provide world-class care to our patients and community, and we are incredibly proud to see her honored with this well-deserved recognition,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “Her dedication to creating a supportive and empowering environment for each individual team member is paramount to our commitment to excellence in all that we do.”

Since joining Tampa General in 2021, Kivett has spearheaded numerous initiatives designed to enhance the Tampa General team member experience and solidify the academic health system’s position as a premier employer in the Tampa Bay region. She has been instrumental in Tampa General’s efforts to cultivate a people-first culture, backed by strategic investments in the well-being and personal and professional development of team members. This approach has created an attractive environment for new hires to join, stay, and grow. And through a loop of open communication and feedback from team members, Tampa General has forged innovative partnerships and implemented new programs originating from team member suggestions to ensure they are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, skills, and support.

Under Kivett’s leadership, Tampa General has consistently been recognized as a top employer both statewide and nationally by Forbes, Newsweek, and Becker’s Hospital Review.

As a result of focusing on team member experience, Tampa General has been positioned to attract and retain top talent through diversified strategies, resulting in an 11% reduction in turnover over two years and a decrease in vacancy by 5%. Understanding that many team members join Tampa General to learn and develop, the health system continues to have a record number of internal promotions and opportunities for team member development. This is accomplished by creating career pathways for team members to progress, offering diverse scholarship programs, tuition and skills reimbursement, and developing mentorship/preceptor programs for continued development of team members. Team members also have free access to the TGH-USF People Development Institute, which enables them to continue developing skills in areas such as leadership, emotional intelligence, finance, and cybersecurity.

Kivett is deeply committed to supporting Tampa General team members, both professionally and personally. One key example of this is the recent redesign and expansion of the McNichols Team Member Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance and resources to employees facing unforeseen hardships, offering support for home repairs after hurricanes, gas cards, computers, school supplies and more. It has provided more than $2.5 million in financial assistance and resources for team members in need. A dedicated full-time team member with specialized expertise in support services now works to identify systemic issues and work with internal and external partners to identify long-term solutions.

Furthermore, Tampa General provides team members with access to employee resource groups and leverages targeted recruitment efforts, ensuring that all team members feel valued and respected. The health system also offers flexible work arrangements where possible, recognizing the importance of work-life balance in attracting and retaining top talent.

“Our commitment to establishing Tampa General as one of the nation’s premier workplaces is unyielding and, in that spirit, our work is never really done because there are always new opportunities to enhance the team member experience and attract world-class talent to our organization,” said Qualenta Kivett, executive vice president and chief people and talent officer at Tampa General. “We believe that by investing in our team members’ well-being and development — both personal and professional — and leading with authenticity and kindness, we are empowering them to provide excellent patient care.”

This recognition follows a string of recent accolades for Kivett and Tampa General Hospital, highlighting their dedication to an exceptional workplace, including Tampa Bay Business Journal’s BusinessWoman of the Year, Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women and Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

Becker’s Hospital Review recognizes CHROs and Chief People Officers who excel in shaping workforce strategies and driving success in health care. These leaders are vital in attracting, retaining, and developing top talent, ensuring exceptional patient care by aligning human capital initiatives with organizational goals.

Kivett and the complete list of 2025 CHROs and Chief People Officers to Know are profiled here.