Update: Broward Health CEO Dr. Nabil El Sanadi Commits Suicide

 

BY BUDDY NEVINS

 

 

Broward Health’s CEO Nabil El Sanadi was found in his condominium Saturday dead from a self inflicted gun shot wound.

 

Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, MD, MBA, FACEP, FACHE Broward Health President CEO Photographed in the Lobby of the Broward Health, Fort Lauderdale.

Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, MD, MBA, FACEP, FACHE
Broward Health
President CEO
Photographed in the Lobby of the Broward Health, Fort Lauderdale.

 

“We are deeply saddened by this devastating loss and our prayers go out to his family at this time,” David DiPietro, chairman of the Broward Health Board of Commissioners, told Local 10 News an hour after Browardbeat.com broke the news.

El Sanadi, 60, apparently killed himself at his Lauderdale-by-the-Sea condominium building and was found late Saturday afternoon, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Ron Gunzburger, general counsel of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, wrote on Facebook late Saturday after news of the death was posted, “This is shocking and sad news. Nabil was a friend, he’s been my doctor for several years, and he was just a smart, charming, upbeat, wonderful guy. Doc was also part of our Broward Sheriff’s Office family and a longtime friend of law enforcement. He will be missed.”

Tom Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida issued a statement on Sunday:

“Florida’s safety net hospitals are deeply saddened today by the news of Dr. Nabil El Sanadi’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and the countless patients whose lives he touched and made better. Dr. El Sanadi was an active and collegial member of the safety net hospital alliance board and both his contributions and his friendship will be missed.”

 

His death comes at a time when the public health authority for the north two thirds of Broward County is undergoing intense financial challenges.  The hospital district is coping with increased competition from private hospitals and tougher scrutiny of payments for services by insurance companies and governments.

Broward Health operates four public hospitals and numerous health clinics and has revenues of just over $1 billion annually.  It had an operating loss of $155 million in the 2015 fiscal year, which was mostly offset by $140 million in property taxes collected in the portion of Broward County that is roughly north of Griffin Road.

The district also recently settled a whistleblowers lawsuit for $70 million.  The suit alleged an illegal “scheme of mutual enrichment” between the hospital system and its physicians, according to court documents quoted in Floridabulldog.org.

There has also been reoccurring talk in political circles of continued corruption at Broward Health concerning contracts steered to vendors favored by the Board of Commissioners, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to oversee the public health care system.

Before being named CEO in December 2014, El Sanadi, an Egyptian immigrant, was chief of emergency medicine for Broward Health. He continued to serve as emergency medical services medical director for several municipalities and the sheriff’s department at the same time he ran Broward Health.

 

 



25 Responses to “Update: Broward Health CEO Dr. Nabil El Sanadi Commits Suicide”

  1. Reprehensible says:

    Wow! Can you give a little respect to his family and wait for the facts to come out and the man to be buried before you toss mud for a good story. Very sad.

  2. David Erdman says:

    You’re a real piece of work Buddy. Maybe you could have shown a little respect to Nabil’s family and friends before you published your well placed sources information. i don’t know how you sleep at night. I hope you never find yourself experiencing a horrible tragedy and find it posted on some local gossip column website.

  3. Ghersam Jonas says:

    A nice, kind man. This is very sad. My heart goes out to his family.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The depression that causes many if not most suicides is an illness that can be treated. Talk to someone. Get help. Don’t try to cope on your own.

  5. Ha Ha Ha says:

    If you or someone you know, is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, please reach out for hope by calling:

    1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

    24 hours a day; 7 days a week

    http://www.floridasuicideprevention.org/region_10.htm

  6. Lorraine says:

    An upbeat intelligent man that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. This is very sad news and a loss to all the life’s he touched. He will be missed and my sympathies go out to his family. Rip doctor

  7. Mike Ryan says:

    Words are hard to describe the measure of this loss to our community.

    Dr. El Sanadi was a tireless and sincere advocate for public health. Many have already said this but it worth saying again — his passion was emergency services and protecting the public health, whether in hospitals, through the delivery of EMS services … or if you had a question about your own health. Many are reflecting on a personal level this morning that they lost a medical advocate in their own lives.

    Whenever there was an opportunity to improve the delivery of health services or protect the public health, Nabil was there – as a speaker, advocate, advisor, ally, supporter or just as someone to send along a positive message to someone else doing similar work with words to the effect, “Good job …. Let me know how I can help”. Fighting synthetic drugs. Using modern technology to link bystanders to those needing immediate CPR. System improvements for victims of domestic violence. Regional E911 communications. Every project was impacted by his vision and passion for public health.

    He was a talented and wonderful medical director for EMS because he had consummate knowledge and experience along with good judgment and insight into the real life field conditions. From emergency rooms to fire-rescue stations to city halls, many are feeling this loss today.

    His gentle spirit was magnetic and his humility was infectious. His intellect was superior and his messages always well thought out, with sensitivity to the dignity of those listening. Nabil always made everyone who came in contact with him feel like they were the most important. Seeing him again, he made you feel like you were long lost friend with his warm embrace and broad smile – even if it had only been a week since you last talked. Every idea was worthy of discussion if it was intended to improve public health He was a “go to” person for so many. In contrast, many are struggling to figure out how we could have done better or more or something different for a man who was always there for us.

    I will miss receiving his heartfelt and sincere words of encouragement, finding opportunities to brainstorm and collaborating on the next potentially great idea. Sadly, I know, in the future sometime after this moment, I will be collaborating on something and I will have to catch myself when I think, we should loop in Dr. El Sanadi to get his guidance or support. Many know what I mean.

    For me, this piece ended at paragraph 4 after Ron’s posting. I choose to celebrate his life and passion for public health, mourn for his family and friends, and reflect on all the great moments he and I shared collaborating some new idea or watching an evolving idea come fruition. I miss him already.

  8. City Activist Robert Walsh says:

    Remember people hate the message ,not the messenger. To bash Buddy or anyone else that reports the news, this is what they do. No more , no less. Then if this wasn’t reported by Buddy or anyone else you would have criticized him and others for no reporting it..

  9. Anonymity says:

    Tom Hagen: When a plot against the Emperor failed… the plotters were always given a chance… to let their families keep their fortunes. Right?
    Frank Pentangeli: Yeah, but only the rich guys, Tom. The little guys got knocked off and all their estates went to the Emperors. Unless they went home and killed themselves, then nothing happened. And the families… the families were taken care of.
    Tom Hagen: That was a good break. A nice deal.
    Frank Pentangeli: Yeah… They went home… and sat in a hot bath… opened up their veins… and bled to death… and sometimes they had a little party before they did i

    FROM BUDDY:

    I believe this is a scene from Godfather II

  10. Caroline says:

    Rest in peace ! This is so sad my heart goes out to his family. Please depression is a serious sickness, please think before deciding to end your life. You have so much to live for. Nothing is worth Ending your precious life.

  11. Maria says:

    My heart goes out to Nabil’s family. He was a wonderful person who would go out of his way to help anyone. He is the reason my daughter wants to become an ER doctor.
    As for your story get the information correct.
    The lawsuit you are speaking about began before Dr. El Sinadi’s took over as CEO. It is ridiculous that you are making it sound that this occurred under his watch, and not one of the many inherited problems that he was committed to trying to fix.

  12. just wondering says:

    So what compels a successful man to do this? And surely it cannot be depression. Cannot be financial troubles. He is in the medical field and had access to the best of the best, paid for by the taxpayers.

  13. To "just wondering" says:

    The reasons one commits suicide are vast and complex. Severe depression can be the cause.

  14. Phil says:

    Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and those he worked with, it is very sad. Our community of LBTS and Sea Ranch will miss the strong yet humble leader.

  15. Rico Petrocelli says:

    Dr. El Sanadi was always a Professional any time we met. This is a loss not only for his Family, but to our county as well.

    Miss you Doc…..

    Prayers go out to his Family, Friends, and Patients.

    Rico Petrocelli
    Plantation Councilman (2005-2009)

  16. Dan Lewis, always a douche says:

    This poor man just takes his life and all Dan Lewis can do is besmirch his reputation before the body is cold. Of course Dan fails to mention that there were things he wanted from Broward Health while the Dr. El Sanadi was alive, that he didn’t get.

    “He has decimated professional and competent senior staff and put in place people that will give him the answers that he wanted,” said Dan Lewis, a political consultant, blogger and board member of the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, in an interview Sunday. “While I’m sensitive and sorry for people’s loss, the damage he has done to Broward Health is almost incalculable.”

    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-el-sanadi-folo-20160124-story.html

    For those who loved and respected Dr. El Sanadi don’t ever forget the words of Dan Lewis…

  17. Count LF Chodkiewicz Chudzikiewicz says:

    Dr. El-Sanadi should rest in peace and on his medical laurels n not be subject to self-serving attacks by any member of the Broward Health Planning Council a bunch of talentless and overwhelming non medical professionals who are running one of the many non profit tax supported political cliques that screw us taxpayers 24 7 because the voters in Broward County are mindless sheep who do not understand Dr El-Sanadi came into his position AFTER the problems at North Broward were crwated by right wingers around our Governor who was elected n re-elected because our Democratic Party cant elect Statewide candidates because the politically LLeft has no talent.

  18. Poodintane says:

    I have no dog in this fight… but…

    Seems odd. Probably the fastest determination of suicide I have ever heard of. Especially with no note. It was called a suicide that very night by the BSO. How did they so quickly test the gun for prints?

    I would say if I am found dead with a gun in my hand and no suicide note, my wife is going to be questioned extensively… and they are going to do a GSR test on my hand, and test the gun for my prints.

    Did they do a GSR test on El Sanadi? Did they test the gun for prints? And if so… how did they do it so fast?

    FROM BUDDY:

    Very interesting point.

  19. Poodintane says:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22354080

    A suicidal shot to the chest is an unusual method of suicide.

    How did they determine the angle of the bullet fired the night of the ‘suicide?’

    https://books.google.com/books?id=VbrDbbHAflsC&pg=PA357&lpg=PA357&dq=suicide+by+gunshot+to+chest+fake&source=bl&ots=xmmv82i2Oj&sig=VhlRSc2t3OiAtxyVjAcW72XJcIQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjdm9nR0sfKAhXKSyYKHamHAR8Q6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=suicide%20by%20gunshot%20to%20chest%20fake&f=false

  20. To "just wondering" 2 says:

    You say “surely it’s not depression”. Actually depression can be a result of heart surgery: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160125/NEWS/160129913?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20160125-NEWS-160129913&utm_campaign=am

    FROM BUDDY:

    We will never know what was going through his mind, will we?

  21. Poodintane says:

    And here I thought the Medical Examiner determined cause of death in Broward County, not the Sheriff’s Office.

    http://www.broward.org/MEDICALEXAMINER/PROGRAMS/Pages/Investigations.aspx

    Didn’t see them listed anywhere with a comment.

    And look here at the reasons for an autopsy to ‘determine cause of death…’

    http://www.broward.org/MEDICALEXAMINER/AboutUs/Pages/FAQs.aspx

    And this interesting article:
    http://www.brwdhealth.com/2015/06/nabil-el-sanadi-broward-healths-million-dollar-ceo-unmasked/

  22. Charlotte Greenbargc says:

    A shot(s) to the chest is ruled suicide that quickly? I agree with #19. I think there’s something missing.

  23. Sam The Sham says:

    Where does it say he shot himself in the chest? How many times did he shoot himself?

  24. Scales of Libra says:

    Dr Sanadi was a well known stable emergency physician who has worked his way up, coming all the way from Egypt. He has endured and thrived where heroes have fallen. Unusual for a man of his caliber and emergency medicine experience to commit suicide by pointing a gun at his chest but one never knows and can’t make assumptions. The chances of making a fairly accurate in line shot to the chest to guarantee death seem very difficult but definitely possible. Pretend with a pen and imagine the difficult leverage from your arms, shoulders and elbows and momental forces of angular velocity and recoil involved. He definitely must have been very depressed enough to make sure he got it right. Depression definitely does not discriminate. Quite a big loss to the community and all he gave his very best to. We pray for God’s perpetual love, solace and comfort for the ones he left behind.

  25. Chaz Stevens, Genius says:

    >> We pray for God’s perpetual love, solace and comfort for the ones he left behind.

    No, we don’t.