[2] He began his career in hospital administration as a U.S. Navy lieutenant stationed at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
He continued to work in the health care industry until his retirement in 2009 from Hospital Corporation of America.
[3] Bovender is the retired chairman and CEO of Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America.
HCA owns and operates approximately 160 hospitals and 100 surgery centers in the United States and England.
Additionally, he is a founding member of the Nashville Health Care Council and serves on the boards of several human service and arts organizations.