Leadership
The administrative team at Wolfson Children’s Hospital guides the hospital in achieving its mission, offering valuable leadership that steers us toward improved patient care. Each experienced member of our administration is dedicated to using his or her skills and knowledge to help the children of our community.
Allegra C. Jaros, MBA
Hospital President
Allegra Jaros joined Wolfson Children’s Hospital in January 2023. Prior to that, she served as vice president of Buffalo-Niagara, New York-based Kaleida Health and as president of John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, a regional center for pediatric trauma, surgical and medical care, including neonatal, perinatal and obstetric services.
Jaros is a long-time healthcare leader with a passion for issues impacting children and families, serving on the Children's Hospital Association Finance Committee since 2013 and as COO for Child Health Corporation of America since 2001. She graduated from Leadership Buffalo and was recognized numerous times as one of the most influential leaders in Western New York Healthcare, receiving the Buffalo Business First Power 250 Award, Power 200 Women Award and Woman of Distinction Award.
Jaros received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Canisius College in Buffalo, where she also earned her Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on health care.
Jaros is married to Jason and they have two children, daughter Jaden and son Parker. She enjoys exploring new places with her family, reading and walks with friends.
Jerry A. Bridgham, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Jerry A. Bridgham, MD, has served as chief medical officer for Wolfson Children’s Hospital since November 2006. He has been a member of the medical staff of Wolfson since 1990 and the medical staff of Baptist Medical Center South since it’s opening in 2005. A practicing pediatrician, he has been a partner in Mandarin Pediatric Associates, now a part of Baptist Primary Care, since 1990.
Dr. Bridgham has long been a leader at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and its affiliated organizations. He served as chief of the Wolfson Section of General Pediatrics from 1997-1998, chief of staff-elect from 2001-2002 and chief of staff from 2003-2004. He is the past president of the Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals and is currently on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville.
Dr. Bridgham received his medical degree from the University of Miami and completed his residency in pediatrics at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia. He is board certified in pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Bridgham served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. Duty stations included Portsmouth, Keflavik, Iceland, and Jacksonville. He received the Navy Achievement Medal during his active-duty service from 1983-1990.
Dr. Bridgham has been recognized by the Northeast Florida Pediatric Society as the Child Advocate of the Year in 2008 and more recently in 2018 by the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, when he was given their very first Leadership Award.
Dr. Bridgham is married to Karen. Three of their four children still live in Jacksonville, but his youngest son is in the U.S. Army, stationed in Georgia. He is a proud grandfather to four boys.
Dr. Bridgham is an avid golfer and enjoys attending races at Daytona and boating on the St. Johns River with his family.
Cicely (CC) Brooks, DNP-ENL, MSN, RN-C, C-EFM, NE-BC, FAB
Vice President, Patient Care Services
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Cicely (CC) Brooks, DNP-ENL, MSN, RN-C, C-EFM, NE-BC, FAB, serves as Vice President, Patient Care Services at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
A Jacksonville native, Brooks has worked for Baptist Health for more than 22 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida in 2000, where she started as a Graduate Nurse in Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville’s Labor and Delivery unit. Several years later, Brooks became the manager for both Labor and Delivery and the Maternal Newborn department. In 2011, she obtained her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Jacksonville University. She later became a nursing director for adult Medical/Surgical Telemetry, Oncology, Bariatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics. Most recently Brooks obtained her Doctorate degree in Executive Nurse Leadership from Baylor University.
Brooks holds several certifications and is a Board-Certified Nurse Executive and a Fellow of the Advisory Board. She also has oversight of Perinatal Services across the Baptist Health system.
CC has been married to her husband, Marcus Brooks, for 21 years and they have three children, Miles, Layla, and Mason. She enjoys serving at her local church, attending sporting events and spending time with her family.
Megan Denk
Executive Director
THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health
Megan Denk is the Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Under her leadership, THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health is committed to enhancing the health, wellness and quality of life of families throughout Northeast Florida by extending the reach of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Created to help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health focuses on prevention, health and wellness, access and community education.
In her role, Denk is responsible for providing strategic direction on population health efforts. She leads the Community Health Needs Assessment and implementation plan development for Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Denk also provides leadership for the Family Support Services, Pediatric Social Work and Women’s Resource teams.
Denk is actively involved in the community; she is the former Chair of Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition and former Chair of the Duval County Public Schools School Health Advisory Council. Denk is a member of the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2022 and was named to the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list in 2018. In 2019, Denk was recognized by the Jacksonville Legal Aid and the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership as its Bridges to Justice Honoree, and was the recipient of the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Philip H Gilbert Award.
Denk received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. She and her husband, Ed, have two young children, Bailey and Beckett.
Thabata Ford, FACHE
Vice President, Operations
Wolfson Children’s Hospital and System Pulmonary
Prior to joining the hospital in 2013, Thabata worked as a Health Care Policy Analyst for the Florida House of Representatives. During her time in the House, she worked on many health care issues including Medicaid Reform, Family and Child Welfare, and Hospital and Facility Regulation. Prior to working in the House, Thabata worked for the Florida Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Florida Department of Health.
A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Thabata is active with the local chapter and serves on the Regent Advisory Council. She was named to the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list for 2019. Her community endeavors include serving as president on the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees for Episcopal Children’s Services and as a member of United Way’s Women and Local Leadership group, the Ronald McDonald House “Red Shoe Crew” and on the Advisory Board for the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) MHA program. She also is an active member of the Children’s Hospital Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group.
A two-time graduate of Florida State University, Thabata graduated in 2010 with her Master’s in Public Health and in 2006 with her Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Criminology. Thabata is a native Floridian. She enjoys reading, exercising, cheering on Florida State football, and spending time with her husband Valentino and two daughters, Sasha and Taryn.
Tracey Porter, EMHR, M.ED
Director, Human Resources
Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville
Porter has over 20 years of diversified HR experience. Prior to joining Baptist Health in 2020, he held numerous global HR roles with the General Electric Company, Tyco International and the Kraton Corporation. His previous roles focused on leadership development, HR strategy, change management, talent acquisition and organizational design.
Porter served as an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Washington, Vice Chairman of the Board for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) - Jacksonville, and Board Chairman for the Omega Hope Foundation.
He has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington, a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Education Administration from James Madison University, and a master’s degree in Human Resources Leadership from Rutgers University.
Jeff Stephenson
Vice President, Operational Finance
Jeff Stephenson joined Baptist Health in 1998 and has served in a number of important roles, including serving as the Director of Finance for Baptist Medical Center South for 14 years before being appointed the Operational Director of Finance for Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. He currently serves as Vice President, Operational Finance for Baptist Jacksonville, Baptist South, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Baptist Foundation.
A Jacksonville native, Stephenson and his wife Angela are active members of their church. He enjoys traveling, watching sports, and shooting sporting clays.