Biography
Barbara Fonte is a distinguished healthcare executive with over two decades of leadership driving strategic growth, financial sustainability, and community health integration. As the Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer for Jackson Health System, Miami-Dade County’s premier public academic health system, Fonte spearheads initiatives that bridge high-level operational strategy with measurable community wellness.
A fierce advocate, convener, and thought leader, Fonte uses her platform to champion vulnerable populations and elevate regional well-being. Throughout her career, she has been a pivotal force in transitioning from volume-based to value-based care, leading critical advocacy efforts that address mental health and homelessness at the intersection of clinical care and the social drivers of health. Reflecting her commitment to local empowerment, she established an annual scholarship at her high school alma mater in honor of Shannon Melendi, who like Fonte, served as senior class president, to invest in future leaders.
Beyond her executive role, Fonte serves as Board Chair for the Health Foundation of South Florida, guiding regional investments to advance health equity. She holds an MBA from the Miami Herbert Business School, an MHA from Barry University, a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, and is a Carol Emmott Fellow. Above all, Fonte is driven by family; she is a proud wife, mother, and bonus mother to four accomplished children.