VERO BEACH — Vicki Soule, the longtime CEO who built Treasure Coast Community Health (TCCH) into Indian River County’s largest healthcare provider outside its two major hospitals, said she was hurt and saddened by her abrupt ouster from the nonprofit organization two months ago.
Soule spoke publicly for the first time this week about her departure on Nov. 7, describing a contentious meeting with key board members where she was informed of a personnel complaint and told she would be suspended pending an outside investigation. She said details of the complaint, including its source, were not shared with her, and she chose to resign rather than prolong what she called an “irrational” process.
Soule alleges that it was clear that they were not going to keep her no matter what she said, and at that point she was hurt by the board’s behavior and just wanted out.
TCCH operates eight centers offering medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and vision services to insured and uninsured patients. The organization issued statements saying Soule had resigned and emphasizing that patient care remained uninterrupted while declining to provide further details.
Board officials assured that no allegations of financial wrongdoing were involved and that the nonprofit’s funding and operations were stable. They named Heather Miranda, formerly the executive vice president, as interim CEO while a national search for a permanent replacement is conducted.
Soule had served as CEO for more than 14 years after three years as chief operating officer, overseeing the expansion of services for pediatrics through seniors, including a sliding fee scale based on income. She said she had recently received a strong performance review and even deferred most of her salary in recent months to avoid staff cuts amid preparations for a new health center opening.
The sudden exit left Soule unable to contact staff or return to her office for personal items, and she described it as a “huge loss” to the relationships she had built over nearly two decades. Staff were instructed not to reach out, creating uncertainty within the organization, she said.
Despite the turmoil, Soule expressed continued support for Treasure Coast Community Health’s mission and said she has a lot of confidence in the people who work there.
An 18-month noncompete clause limits her job options locally, but Soule said she is not ready to retire and is exploring opportunities outside Vero Beach. She had also served on numerous local nonprofit boards and committees.
Miranda, a registered dietitian with a doctorate in public health leadership, has more than 25 years in the field and previously held roles in North Carolina health services. She has focused on underserved communities and legislative advocacy for public health programs.
