Our Leadership: Shari Costantini

Shari Dingle Costantini is the retired CEO and founder of Avant Healthcare Professionals. Avant has placed thousands of internationally educated nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists with health care facilities throughout the Unites States. The company, which has grown over 50% annually since inception in 2003, has been listed on the INC. 5000 five times, recognized by ACG SMART Awards, Florida Companies to Watch, and named as one of the Top 50 Women-Owned/Led Companies in the United States by Women Presidents’ Organizations.

Costantini is a renowned expert in the health care industry, with 30 years of experience in strategic leadership, nursing and international staffing. She was named 100 Most influential People in Staffing — 2013, Global Power 100 —Women in Staffing — 2017 and 2018 by Staffing Industry Analysts. Costantini is the President of the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, a trade association she helped form in 2007. Through AAIHR Costantini actively lobbies Congress for immigration reform to allow a consistent flow of highly skilled health care professionals.

Costantini was named 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Healthcare by i4 Business Magazine and 2016 Vanguard award recipient from Junior Achievement. In 2017 she was the winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in health care for Florida. Later that year, she successfully recapitalized the private-equity backed company, partnering with Jackson Healthcare. Avant is now part of the Jackson family of companies, the third largest provider of healthcare staffing in the Unites States.