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25264: Hermantin(news)Gov. Jeb Bush has appointed a Haitian-American doctor to lead Flo (fwd)




From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005

Miami-Herald

Gov. Jeb Bush has appointed a Haitian-American doctor to lead Florida's health department

By GARY FINEOUT
gfineout@herald.com

TALLAHASSEE - In a move that shows the continued upward climb of Haitians who have come to Florida over the last three decades, Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday nominated a Tampa doctor and immigrant from the island nation to lead the state's health department.

Rony Francois, a 47-year-old doctor and assistant professor at the University of South Florida's College of Public Health, will succeed Dr. John Agwunobi as secretary of the Department of Health. Agwunobi is leaving Tallahassee to become Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Francois will take over Sept. 19.

Francois, 47, was born in Port-au-Prince and first came to the United States in 1979 to pursue his education, a journey that led him to earn a medical degree from USF in Tampa, as well as a master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Central Florida and a doctoral degree in toxicology from USF.

Francois said he wanted to continue to work on initiatives started by Gov. Bush and Agwunobi the last several years, including looking at ways to improve the disparity that exists in access to health care among minorities.

''This is a tremendous opportunity for continuning the progress this administration has made in strengthening community partnerships, advancing health care for children and minorities and reducing the incidence of chronic disease in our state,'' said Francois.

Francois described himself as a ''pro-life'' Catholic and said that he was opposed to abortion, but added that he believed it was the mission of the state's health department to provide information and help to parents regardless of views on birth control.

Francois is believed to be the first Haitian-American ever tapped to lead a state agency, a move heralded by one of the state's Haitian-American legislators, Rep. Yolly Roberson, who was on hand to hear Bush's announcement.

''It's quite a honor and a proud moment for the Haitian community,'' said Roberson, herself a former nurse and a Miami Democrat.