Mar. 8, 2016

In Case You Missed It... Dr. Robert Brooks - Why I Support the Florida Department of Health and Its Surgeon General

Tampa Bay Times
March 7, 2016
For Full Story Click HERE.

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla. - “As a previous secretary of the Florida Department of Health from 1999 through 2001, I respectfully disagree with the editors and would like to bring to the readers' attention several important reasons why I believe the Florida Senate would be wise to reconsider its position and reconfirm Dr. Armstrong.

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“As the recent outbreak of the Zika virus has shown, public health must be prepared to respond to emergencies that affect the public. I have been impressed by how the surgeon general and the department have taken a proactive approach to minimizing the danger to the public from this disease.

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“To mobilize public health and educate Florida's public correctly requires real leadership. Changing leadership in the midst of the Zika virus outbreak — which is likely to increase before it improves — may not be wise for the state.

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I have also been impressed with Armstrong's and the department's emphasis on the obesity epidemic — a major public health problem leading to countless years of life lost and hundreds of millions of dollars in costs.

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“I have known Armstrong for many years and worked with him while he was a leader before his time as surgeon general. We worked together on issues of bioterrorism after the state was rocked by anthrax in 2001, and I also saw his leadership in setting up the innovative medical and leadership programs at the University of South Florida's Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation while we were both professors at USF.

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“I am confident he has the vision and abilities to meet the goals of the department to promote and protect the health of the people of Florida in the coming years.”

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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