A former hospital executive has been accused of embezzling at least $14 million from a health system, allegedly using company funds for a lavish lifestyle, including a $109,000 payment for his son’s baptism in Beverly Hills, as outlined in a lawsuit.
Michael Salian, the ousted founder and ex-CEO of Healthcare Systems of America, reportedly diverted millions from hospitals in Florida and elsewhere into personal accounts, family trusts, and other unauthorized uses while the hospitals faced financial difficulties.
This lawsuit, first reported by the Miami Herald, claims Salian treated the company’s funds as if they were his own, transferring millions from the healthcare system between September 2024 and January 2026.
One particularly shocking claim is that over $109,000 was moved from a Healthcare Systems of America account to the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for his son’s baptism celebration. The lawsuit includes social media posts said to document the event and bank records labeling the transfer as a baptism expense.
Additionally, it alleges that Salian forged or instructed others to forge employee signatures to misappropriate another $120,000.
Salian, however, denies any wrongdoing.
He and his wife, Evelina, argue that the payment for the baptism was an authorized repayment for funds advanced to cover the hospital’s payroll, claiming the allegations are part of a scheme to take over the company.
This legal dispute is merely the latest chapter in a bitter fight for control of the hospital network, which includes multiple facilities across Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.
According to the complaint, Salian’s actions severely strained the financial stability of the entire system, hindering its ability to meet payroll, pay vendors, and compensate physicians.
The lawsuit states that $1.28 million was transferred to Salian’s personal account just one day after Healthcare Systems of America received over $16 million intended to support its operations and acquisitions, and the plaintiffs claim Salian did not fully document this transfer.
In response to the accusations, Salian has alleged that Faisal Gill, a former family lawyer now managing a hospital system in Florida, is attempting to execute a takeover. Gill denies these claims, asserting that the lawsuit aims to recover funds that legitimately belong to the hospital and ensure resources are allocated for patient care.
This conflict follows earlier disputes, in which new management accused Salian of attempting to regain control of the hospital’s finances after his removal as chief executive. The hospital at the center of these tensions was acquired in 2024 from the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, a large hospital chain whose collapse has led to significant healthcare restructuring.
Attempts to reach Salian and Gill for further comment were made.
