KRISTEN GERKING
Fleming Island,FL
Summary
Healthcare operations leader with 12+ years of progressive experience providing enterprise and regional oversight of acute and post-acute rehabilitation services. Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic growth initiatives, expanding inpatient rehabilitation footprints, optimizing operating models, and improving margin performance while maintaining high-quality, compliant care delivery. Licensed Physical Therapist with an MBA, recognized for leading multi-site teams, partnering with joint-venture and physician stakeholders, and driving measurable performance outcomes across complex health systems.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Clinical Operations, Rehabilitation Service Line
Ascension – Florida Market
03.2022 - Current
- Provide facility-level leadership and strategic oversight for rehabilitation
- Serve in an acting regional oversight capacity for inpatient rehabilitation (IRF) clinical operations and program development.
- Lead development and implementation of strategic inpatient rehabilitation care models aligned with organizational growth, access, quality, and financial objectives.
- Serve as a key liaison with hospital leadership, physicians, and cross-functional service line leaders to support post-acute care and inpatient rehabilitation strategy.
- Establish, monitor, and report performance metrics related to quality, throughput, length of stay, readmissions, patient experience, and financial performance.
- Directed the startup and go-live of a 22-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, overseeing licensure, regulatory compliance, staffing, operational readiness, and capital planning.
- Optimize utilization of clinical and operational resources to improve efficiency, outcomes, and margin performance.
- Oversee multi-million-dollar operating and capital budgets, ensuring disciplined expense management and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Recognized with Newsweek Best Physical Rehabilitation Center awards in 2024 and 2025 (Top 20 in Florida).
Director, Rehabilitation Services & Clinical Leadership Roles
Orange Park Hospital – Orange Park, FL
02.2013 - 03.2022
- Directed rehabilitation services across a 365-bed acute care hospital, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation.
- Led operational strategy, staffing models, and care delivery redesign to improve efficiency, access, and quality outcomes.
- Spearheaded the development and launch of a 20-bed freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital, collaborating with executive leadership and physician partners.
- Implemented and sustained regulatory and quality initiatives including DNV Stroke Certification, NICU feeding protocols, and IDDSI standards.
- Partnered with physicians and interdisciplinary leaders to expand referral relationships and improve continuity of care across the post-acute continuum.
- Drove change management initiatives to standardize workflows, elevate performance metrics, and strengthen accountability structures.
Staff & PRN Physical Therapist
.
01.2008 - 01.2013
- Delivered patient-centered care across outpatient, skilled nursing, and acute care settings in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
- Developed individualized treatment plans to enhance patient mobility and recovery outcomes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient care and treatment strategies.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to improve therapy effectiveness and patient satisfaction scores.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Chadron State College
12.2024
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) - undefined
University of Nebraska Medical Center
01.2008
Bachelor of Science - Health Sciences
Chadron State College
01.2006
Skills
- Rehabilitation Services Operational Oversight
- Strategic Growth, Market Expansion & Footprint Development
- Inpatient Rehabilitation (IRF) Startup & Scaling
- Operating Model Design & Margin Optimization
- Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance (CMS, DNV, Joint Commission)
- KPI, Quality & Performance Metric Development
- Budgeting & Capital Planning (Multi-Million Dollar)
- Physician Partnership Collaboration
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement & Governance Support
- Multi-Site Team Leadership
Affiliations
- Graduate, Ascension Roots of Ministry Leadership Cohort – 2024
- Ascension Financial Acumen for Leaders Program – 2024
- Crucial Conversations Training – 2025
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification – expected 2026
- Guest Speaker, Clay County Council on Aging – 2022
- Volunteer, Feeding Northeast Florida – 2024
Certification
- Licensed Physical Therapist – Florida (through 11/2027)
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer (through 01/2028)
- BLS Certified – American Red Cross (through 08/2027)
SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS
Newsweek Best Physical Rehabilitation Center (2024 & 2025) top 20 in Florida within first 3 years of operation, Managed $3M+ operational budgets aligning capital investment with quality and growth objectives, Sustained 5-star patient satisfaction ratings for inpatient rehabilitation services across multiple years
Timeline
Director of Clinical Operations, Rehabilitation Service Line
Ascension – Florida Market
03.2022 - Current
Director, Rehabilitation Services & Clinical Leadership Roles
Orange Park Hospital – Orange Park, FL
02.2013 - 03.2022
Staff & PRN Physical Therapist
.
01.2008 - 01.2013
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) - undefined
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Bachelor of Science - Health Sciences
Chadron State College
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Chadron State College