Florida Veteran Health Heroes

Page 3 SPECIAL TRIBUTE Veterans Special Tribute John Armstrong, MD, F.A.C.S. State Surgeon General and Secretary As Florida’s economy has grown, so has its population. Florida now has the country’s third largest veteran population and is home to over 231,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Florida Department of Health recognizes the sacrifices made by members of our military and their families and works to make Florida the most veteran- friendly state in the nation. Our goal is to simultaneously decrease regulatory burden and increase health care career opportunities, so veterans choose Florida as their place to live, work and practice. To ensure a smooth transition back into the workforce, the Department provides several licensure support services such as its Florida Veterans Application Licensure Online Response System (VALOR) and fee waivers for veterans seeking licensure in a health care profession. We work to ensure that the licensure experience is one that reflects our appreciation and gratitude. Furthermore, we are proud to present this year’s publication of Florida Veteran Health Heroes . In these pages, we honor veterans who worked tirelessly to protect and ensure the health of others while serving our great nation. Our military veterans are well-trained and hardworking. They have demonstrated a willingness to serve and have been indispensable to both our military and our state. Thank you for your service to the people of Florida and the United States.