Health First Honors Late Viera Hospital President Dustin Boring With Tribute Ceremony, Lasting Memorials

Dustin joined Health First in 2018 and quickly made a lasting impact

Ceremony, bench, tree pay tribute to late Viera Hospital President, a ‘visionary’ and beloved family man

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — It was Dustin Boring’s quiet strength that built positive relationships, no matter the person.

On a warm mid-September day, dozens of Health First colleagues and associates gathered under white tents, shielding themselves from the hot sun as they paid tribute to Dustin, who passed away in July. A bench bearing Dustin’s name now rests just south of the medical center plaza, facing a small tree planted in his honor.

“I am in absolute awe of the legacy that our beautiful Dustin has made without ever, ever intending to be,” Danielle said, speaking at the podium with loved ones by her side. She added with a smile, “he would be mortified right now, if he knew this was going on.”

Dustin was always to the point, Danielle said, wiping tears from her eyes, as the crowd collectively did the same in between sniffles. Sure, he understood the importance of the bottom line, but he never let that influence how he led. Dustin always did what he thought was best.

Mike Mullowney, Hospital Division President for Health First, opened up the ceremony. He began by sharing with the dozens of attendees – many in scrubs and white coats – that this was a moment to reflect on the countless ways Dustin touched so many lives with his spirit of compassion.

“He left each and every one of us that were close to him better than he found us,” Mullowney said. “What a meaningful and purposeful life that is to have.”

The tree planted and the bench built were dedicated “will stand as living symbols of Dustin’s enduring impact on our Health First family and our community – a place where associates, friends and loved ones can pause, remember and find comfort in his memory,” Mullowney shared.

Dustin had been named president of Viera Hospital in November 2024, after serving as Vice President and Hospital Administrator since joining Health First in 2018. Previously, Dustin spent more than a decade in leadership roles at Indian River Medical Center.

Known for his compassion and integrity, Dustin was a graduate of Eastern Florida State College and St. Leo University.

Chaplain Sean Ricks shared how Dustin was more than a hospital president.

“He was a visionary who transformed lives with his unwavering dedication to care, innovation and kindness,” Ricks reflected. “Under his leadership, this hospital became a beacon of hope – a place where patients found not just treatment but compassion, and where staff were inspired to reach new heights.”

The tree, standing long and tall, symbolizes Dustin’s enduring impact. While his colleagues definitely feel a hole in their hearts, his legacy will endure. As the tree grows, it will provide the shade and solace, much like the comfort Dustin offered so many.

“Its branches reaching toward the sky remind us of his boundless ambition to improve health care for everyone in Brevard,” Ricks said.

“The bench beside it is a place for reflection – a space where we can sit, remember and draw inspiration from his life, and it invites us to pause to share stories of his warmth, his sense of humor and his relentless drive to make a difference, whether it’s a quiet moment for a grieving family, a conversation among colleagues or rest for a weary caregiver.”

More than anything, Dustin will be remembered for his generous heart, spirit and compassionate care for others. Danielle shared how her husband’s kind spirit left an indelible mark on so many.

“Remember him,” she urged. “Follow his blueprints. Listen to each other. Be patient with each other. Be kind to each other.”

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