The Florida Board of Medicine plays a leading role in the ever-changing health care environment through dialogue with the public, the legislature, academia and the medical community.
The Board consists of fifteen members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Twelve members of the board must be licensed physicians in good standing in this state who are residents of the state and who have been engaged in the active practice or teaching of medicine for at least four years immediately preceding their appointment. One of the physicians must be in private practice and on the full-time staff of a teaching hospital in this state and one must be a graduate from a foreign medical school. The remaining three members must be residents of the state who are not, and never have been, licensed as a health care practitioner. One member of the Board must be a licensed health care risk manager and at least one member of the Board must be 60 years of age or older.
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Members
of the
Board
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Zachariah P. Zachariah M.D. Chairman Ft. Lauderdale, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2014  |
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James Orr M.D. Vice-Chair Bonita Springs, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2014 |
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Nabil El Sanadi M.D. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2014 |
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Magdalena Averhoff M.D. Coral Gables, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2015 |
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Fred Bearison M.D. Valrico, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2013 |
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Brigitte R. Goersch Orlando, FL Term Ends:10/31/2014 |
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Onelia G. Lage M.D. Miami, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2014 |
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Bradley Levine Pompano Beach, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2013 |
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Donald Mullins Orlando, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2012 |
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Robert Nuss M.D. Jacksonville, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2012 |
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Jason J. Rosenberg M.D., FACS Gainesville, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2012 |
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Richard G. Shugarman M.D. West Palm Beach, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2015 |
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Merle Stringer M.D. Panama City, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2013 |
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George Thomas M.D. Bradenton, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2014 |
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Elizabeth Tucker “Lisa” M.D. Pensacola, FL Term Ends: 10/31/2012 |
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Organizational Structure
of the
Board
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The Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, serves as the principle administrative unit for the Board. The Board is supported by a full-time professional staff based in Tallahassee. The Board’s activities are supported in full by fees paid by its licensees. All Board members serve four-year terms. Despite the expiration of their term, Board members continue to serve until they have been replaced. To learn more about becoming a member of the Board, visit the Governor’s Appointment Office website or email their office at appointments@eog.myflorida.com.
Board Committees
The Board conducts much of its business through many committees. Some committees meet on a regular basis and others on an ad hoc basis when issues require attention. Committees currently active are summarized below:
| Credentials Committee | Probable Cause Panels |
| This committee interviews license applicants whose prior history, including malpractice cases, raises questions of concern regarding the ability to practice with skill and safety, or questions about an applicant’s performance in medical school or prior practice in other jurisdictions. The committee reports to the full board with recommendations on approval or denial of applications.
Current members include: Robert Nuss, M.D. – Chairman |
The Board has two Probable Cause Panels, one that handles physicians practicing in North Florida and one that handles physicians practicing in South Florida. These two panels meet monthly. Board members rotate membership on these committees. These panels review investigations of complaints filed against licensees and determine whether the investigation materials reflect probable cause that the licensee violated regulatory requirements, including requirements relating to standards of care and misconduct. When probable cause is found, disciplinary action is initiated by the panels for final action by the full Board, after the licensee is afforded due process rights.
Current members included: |
| Probation Committee | Rules/Legislative Committee |
| This committee monitors the compliance of licensees who have been disciplined and placed under conditions or license probation in Final Orders. The committee reviews required reports of compliance and requires personal appearances from probationers as part of ongoing monitoring, until such time as the conditions of probation are fulfilled. The committee presents recommendations to the full Board regarding further action when a licensee is determined to be out of compliance, or to restore full licensure when all conditions have been satisfactorily completed.
Current members include: Nabil El Sanadi, M.D. – Chairman |
This committee develops recommendations for amendment of Board rules or creation of new rules, to clarify standards or to impose requirements to strengthen patient protection and quality of care. This committee also makes recommendations to the full board regarding bills filed with the legislature.
Current members include: Jason Rosenberg M.D., FACS – Chairman |
| Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee | Finance and Process Accountability Committee |
| This committee reviews the Board’s rules relating to standard of care for office surgery to determine necessary and appropriate revisions to strengthen patient safety and minimize the risk factors that contribute to adverse patient incidents. This committee addresses issues related to quality of care and standards of practice and formulates policy recommendations for the full Board’s consideration and studies quality of care issues as they arise.
Current members include: James Orr, M.D. – Chairman |
This purpose of this committee is to review the Board’s budgetary standing. In addition, this committee is tasked with following up on recommendations made with regard to process improvement.
Current members include: Donald Mullins – Chairman |
| Communication, Education and Information Committee | Expert Witness Committee |
| This committee is tasked with developing proactive communication strategies in an effort to educate and inform applicants, licensees and the public about the roles and activities of the Board of Medicine and the laws, rules and ethics regulating the practice of medicine.
Current members include: Brigitte Goersch – Chairman |
The purpose of this committee is to approve or revoke approval of expert witnesses to be used by the Prosecution Services Unit in reviewing complaint investigations for a determination that standards of care were violated.
Current members include:
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| Dietetics-Nutrition/Electrolysis Committee | Negative Drug Formulary |
| This committee reviews reports from the Dietetics-Nutrition Practice Council and the Electrolysis Council. This committee makes recommendations to the full Board for any necessary Board action related to the regulation of these professions including approval of council membership and approval of rules.
Current members include: Richard Shugarman, M.D. – Chairman Staff Contact: Rebecca Hewett |
This committee reviews petitions for additions or deletions of drugs from the negative formulary (those drugs that may not be generically substituted by the pharmacist without the physician’s approval). The Board of Pharmacy and the Board of Medicine must both agree on any changes to this formulary.
Current members include: 3 MD members – TBD if needed |
Council and Joint Committees
| Council on Physician Assistants | Anesthesiologist Assistant Joint Committee |
| The Council on Physician Assistants makes recommendations to the department on the licensure of physician assistants. It develops rules regulating the use of physician assistants by physicians and makes recommendations to the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine regarding all matters relating to physician assistants. It addresses concerns and problems of practicing physician assistants in order to improve safety in the clinical practice of a licensed physician assistant.
Current members include: Jeffrey Hulley, PA-C – Chairman |
This committee interviews license applicants whose prior history, including malpractice cases, raises questions of concern regarding the ability to practice with skill and safety, or questions about an Anesthesiology Assistant applicant’s performance in school or prior practice in other jurisdictions. This committee also makes recommendations for rule creation and/or changes relating to the regulation of this profession.
Current members include: TBA |
| Pharmacist Prescribing Joint Committee | |
| Section 465.186, Florida Statutes establishes a joint committee of the Board of Medicine, Board of Osteopathic Medicine and the Board of Pharmacy to establish a formulary of drugs, which may be prescribed by a pharmacist. Each Board is required to adopt by rule drugs and dispensing procedures established or changed by this committee. Members are appointed as needed by the chairpersons for Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Pharmacy.
Current members include: 2 MD members – TBD if needed |
Board Staff
The Board of Medicine staff is available to assist you whether you are an applicant, a licensee, a patient or consumer. The Board of Medicine staff is responsible for the daily functioning of the Board of Medicine including but not limited to the processing of licensure applications, licensure maintenance and the planning and administration of the Board of Medicine meetings.
| Executive Director | Initial Licensure Section | ||
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Chandra Prine Program Operations Administrator, Initial Licensure Responsibilities: Oversees the Initial Licensure Section, Credentials Committee Meeting Coordinator cprine@flboardofmedicine.gov Angela Denson Gloria Nelson Karrell Goldwire Cheryl Austin Melissa Stabler Michelle Hawkins Tehelia McGlockton Brittany Ly Deborah English Vacant Wendy Alls Delicia Garrett Daphne Laurie Patrice McKissick Carmelette Gilley Christopher Roberts Hazel Myles Cheryl Smiley Emanuel Nicholson |
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| Administrative and Licensure Maintenance Section | |||
| Crystal Sanford Program Operations Administrator, Administrative Section and Licensure Maintenance Section Responsibilities: Board meeting coordinator, new legislation csanford@flboardofmedicine.gov Matt Wagner |
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Joseph Lesho Rebecca Hewett Jamie McNease Vicki Martin JoAnne Trexler Shirley Morss Tangela Hills Cherise Davis Lauren Gillespie |
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| Office Surgery Registration and Inspection Section | |||
| LaShonda Cloud Regulatory Specialist II Responsibilities: Office Surgery Registration and Inspection Program Coordinator lcloud@flboardofmedicine.gov |
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| Pain Management Clinic Registration and Inspection Section | |||
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Carla Piggott Vacant |
Board Legal
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Ed Tellechea |
Donna McNulty |
