Broward Health CEO Dr. Nabil el Sanadi Dies by Suicide

Dr. Nabil el Sanadi, who was CEO of Broward Health, died by suicide Saturday, the Broward Sheriff's Office has announced. The doctor was found dead from a gunshot wound in a bathroom in his condominium lobby in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, where he and his wife, Lori, owned a $450,000 unit. 

The doctor, whose Coptic Christian family fled Egypt in the 1960s, has said he became a doctor on a dare — proving that he could attain the most difficult degree. He attended Case Western University and then medical school at Ohio State University.


In Broward, el Sanadi was in charge of a sprawling public medical system encompassing four hospitals, including Broward Health on 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale (formerly Broward General Medical Center). He also served as medical director in BSO's Department of Fire Rescue, as well as other high-level appointments. He was vocal in fighting to stop the spread of synthetic drugs like flakka. "It's the worst drug ever seen," he told the Sun Sentinel. 

David Di Pietro, chairman of the health system, told the Sentinel, "If we needed to do something, like vaccinate children of less means, he would be the first guy I'd call. This is a loss not only to Broward Health but to the whole community." He noted that el Sanadi had undergone heart surgery ten days prior to his death. 

On Twitter, he was remembered by many warmly: 

It's very sad to hear that our #BrowardHealth's CEO, Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, has taken his life.

— Caio Barros (@bcaesar85) January 25, 2016

The health district recently settled a federal lawsuit alleging that doctors were scheming to enrich themselves. Though that lawsuit began before el Sanadi began leading the district just over a year ago, some people were critical of him.

Dan Lewis, a board member of the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Lewis has said on his blog, "El Sanadi is as ambitious as any Wall Street wolf. Taking the political route for career advancement, it is believed that Dr. Nabil El Sanadi and his wife Lori have given tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to secure his very lucrative political appointments as 'Medical Director' to Broward Sheriff’s Office, the City of Sunrise, the City of Tamarac and the City of Fort Lauderdale as Medical Director[i] and appointment to the State of Florida Medical Board where he serves as its current chair. It has been estimated that these contracts pay Dr. El Sanadi over $300,000.00 in additional taxpayer funds while he receives his $675,000.00 (plus benefits) Broward Health 'full-time' CEO pay."