Florida Veteran Health Heroes

Page 1 During Florida’s history, the state has grown from a population of thousands to being the third most populous state in the nation with nearly 20 million residents and almost 2 million visitors on any given day. Florida is also currently home to 1.5 million military veterans. More than 231,000 Florida veterans served in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts; nearly a half million are Vietnam-era veterans, and; 113,000 served during World War II. The Florida Department of Health is pleased to present Florida Veteran Health Heroes recognizing our veteran health care professionals. In these pages, we honor those veterans who have tirelessly sought to improve the health and quality of life for the military community and the people of Florida. I’m a veteran of the United States Army Medical Corps and completed my military career at the rank of Colonel in 2005. It was my honor to help ensure our wounded heroes received the best care in the battlefield in their time of need. The individuals featured here have performed exemplary service to ensure the health and safety of others while protecting our great country. Their stories bring to life the extraordinary sacrifice of military service. The Department of Health recognizes the sacrifices made by members of our military and their families. Florida seeks to become the most veteran-friendly state in the nation by providing several licensing support services to ease the transition from military to civilian health care practice. John Armstrong, MD, F.A.C.S. State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health for Florida Public Health Heroes Veterans Special Tribute