Florida Surgeon General Announces New Agency Leadership

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Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott A. Rivkees today announced two appointments to the Department of Health’s executive leadership team. Dr. Robert D. Karch will serve as the Deputy Secretary for Children’s Medical Services and Dr. Shamarial Roberson will serve as Deputy Secretary for Health.  

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said, “The new appointments to the leadership team of the Department of Health represent decades of combined experience in the public health sector. I’m confident the skillset each of these outstanding individuals brings to their respective areas will help Florida remain on the cutting edge of public health policy.”

“Florida needs strong and experienced leaders to lead our Health Department and I am extremely pleased to see Dr. Karch and Dr. Roberson take on their new roles,” said Dr. Rivkees. “Both bring the right set of skills at the right time. They are extremely talented, and I look forward to working with them to continue to protect the health of all Floridians.”

Dr. Karch joined The Nemours Foundation in 2011. He served as the President of the Medical Staff at Nemours Children’s Hospital and as the Chairman of the Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Karch is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He completed his pediatric internship and residency training at the Miami Children’s Hospital, where he also served as Chief Pediatric Resident. Following residency, he served in the National Health Service Corp as a general pediatrician in rural northern Arizona at the Canyonlands Community Health Care Center in Page, AZ. 

Dr. Roberson most recently served as the Department’s Director for the Division of Community Health Promotion. She joined the Department as a chronic disease epidemiologist and evaluator where she served for two years as the bureau epidemiologist. Dr. Roberson was also a section administrator in Chronic Disease Prevention, providing administrative direction and policy coordination for the Bureau. Her first job out of college was as a middle school teacher, where she taught science and health for more than four years.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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