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

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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.