Governor Ron DeSantis announced a wave of appointments and reappointments to several key state healthcare regulatory boards and local authorities on Friday, submitting 15 nominees to the Florida Senate for confirmation.
The appointments span leadership roles on the Board of Medicine, the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Chiropractic Medicine, and the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.
On the Board of Medicine, DeSantis named three new members: Dr. Andrea Aguilera, Dr. Lisa Kay Mao, and Elyse Young. He also reappointed Dr. Scot Ackerman, Dr. Gobi Balaji, Dr. Matthew Benson, and Dr. Hector Vila.
Aguilera serves as an emergency room pediatrician with Emergency Resources Group and previously practiced at Nicklaus Children’s Health System. Mao, an ophthalmologist who completed her training at Duke University, has maintained an active medical license in Florida for more than 30 years. Young contributes two decades of state government experience, with a concentrated focus on budgeting, public finance, and health policy.
Among the returning members of the medical board, Ackerman directs the Ackerman Cancer Center and serves on the state’s Cancer Connect Collaborative. Balaji founded and leads Brevard Health Center as its chief executive officer, Benson practices as a pediatric endocrinologist at Nemours Children’s Health, and Vila operates Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates while serving as treasurer for the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists.
For the Board of Pharmacy, the governor chose to reappoint all four current members under consideration: Leigh Mathes, Cristina Medina, Darrell Miller, and Dorinda Segovia.
Mathes serves as director of operations for Coastal Med of Florida, while Medina works as a pharmacist for CVS Health. Miller operates DSM Consultants and previously held the position of chief pharmacy officer for Community Health Northwest Florida. Segovia serves as vice president and chief pharmacy officer for Memorial Healthcare System.
DeSantis also filled two seats on the Board of Chiropractic Medicine, appointing newcomer Pari Limbachia and reappointing Walter Melton.
Limbachia serves as clinical director for Shant Wellness and previously taught at Palmer College of Chiropractic Medicine. Melton operates Downtown Chiropractic and Sports Development in Tallahassee and holds a seat on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ Medical Review Board.
At the local level, the governor reappointed former state representative Patrick Rooney and appointed Kelly Smallridge to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.
Rooney, who currently serves as president of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, previously held a position on the South Florida Water Management District. Smallridge serves as president and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and received the Governor’s Ambassador Medal in 2013 under then-Governor Rick Scott.
The Florida Senate must formally confirm all 15 appointments before they take effect.
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