Florida Veteran Health Heroes

special Tribute From Dr. Philip The Florida Department of Health is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families. The Department is proud that over 1.5 million veterans call Florida home, and our continued goal is to make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. Military veterans and their families face many challenges. The Department can play a part in supporting our military veterans by offering several licensure support services to qualified military families. One service the Department offers is the Florida Veterans Application for Licensure Online Response process (VALOR), which provides expedited licensing for honorably discharged veterans and their spouses seeking licensure in most health care professions. Veterans and spouses who apply through the VALOR process receive a waiver of most licensing fees. We also offer additional armed forces licensure support, including an opportunity for physicians to receive a temporary certificate to practice in areas of critical need, renewal exemptions for active duty service members holding a health care license in Florida, and temporary licensure for spouses of active duty service members who possess a valid license in another state, the District of Columbia, or any possession or territory of the United States. Through these programs, we are creating a veteran-friendly regulatory environment that encourages veterans and their spouses to choose Florida for their health care practice after active duty. I am proud to recognize some of Florida’s veterans who protected the health of others while serving our nation in our third edition of Florida Veteran Health Heroes. We are thankful for their honorable service to the people of Florida and the United States. Sincerely, Celeste Philip, MD, MPH State Surgeon General and Secretary Veterans special tribute Page 3