Governor Ron DeSantis Makes Two Judicial Appointments, Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Eight to the Board of Nursing, Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Two to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Three to the Board of Acupuncture

Governor Ron DeSantis Makes Two Judicial Appointments

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis is excited to announce two new judicial appointments to the Tenth Circuit Court and the Hillsborough County Court. 

Judge Lori Winstead, of Lakeland, to serve as Judge on the Tenth Circuit Court 

Judge Winstead has been a judge on the Polk County Court since 2019. Prior to her service on the bench, she was an assistant state attorney in the 10th Circuit for over ten years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College and her law degree from Barry University School of Law. Judge Winstead fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven Selph. 

Joseph Logan Murphy, of Tampa, to serve as Judge on the Hillsborough County Court 

Murphy has been a shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson since 2019 and began practicing with the firm in 2012. In between his time as an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable James D. Whittemore on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. Murphy fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Artemeus McNeil.

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Eight to the Board of Nursing 

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Flippo, Jose Delfin Castillo, Fidelia Roster, Jody Rain, Heather Baumwald, Robert Macdonald, Deborah Becker and Christine Mueller to the Board of Nursing.  

Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Flippo

Flippo, of Palm City, is the Chief Nurse Officer for Tenet Health System’s Palm Beach Health Network. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Martin Health System. Flippo is a member of the Florida Hospital Association, American College of Healthcare Executives and the Florida Hospital Nurse Executive Council. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, master’s degree in nursing leadership in healthcare systems from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and her master of business administration from Florida Atlantic University.  

Jose Delfin Castillo

Castillo, of Naples, is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at TEAMHealth and Premier Endoscopy Center. Previously, he was a CRNA at Collier Anesthesia. Castillo is a member of the Florida Nurses Association, Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from West Visayas State University, bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from Wolford College and doctor of philosophy from Keiser University.  

Fidelia Roster

Roster, of Palm Coast, is Vice President and Chief Care Continuum Officer at Halifax Health. Previously, she held the positions of Vice President and Chief Surgical Services Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Nursing at Halifax Health. Roster is a member of the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Association of Operating Room Nurses. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Mary of the Plain College and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix.  

Jody Rain

Rain, of Parrish, is Director of the Emergency Department at Manatee Memorial Hospital. She is a member of the Florida Nurses Association, Florida Organization of Nurse Executives and the American Nurses Association. Rain earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the State College of Florida and her master’s degree in healthcare administration from Western Governors University. 

Heather Baumwald

Baumwald, of Fort Lauderdale, is Regional Sales Manager at Suneva Medical. Previously, she held sales positions with Zoll Medical, Johnson and Johnson, Phillips Healthcare and Medtronic. Baumwald earned her bachelor’s degree in business and communications from Florida State University.  

Robert Macdonald

Macdonald, of Seminole, is Executive Director of the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation and the former Director of the Florida Dental Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Tennessee and his master’s degree in health administration and policy from the University of Cincinnati.  

Deborah Becker

Becker, of The Villages, is a member of the nursing faculty at the College of Central Florida. Previously, she was a nursing instructor at Ivy Technical College. Becker is a member of the American Nurses Association, National League of Nursing, International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University and her master’s degree in nursing education from Indiana State University.  

Christine Mueller 

Mueller, of Sunrise, is the Nursing Program Director for Keiser University. Previously, she was the Nursing Clinical Manager at Memorial Regional Hospital. Mueller served in and received an honorable discharge from the United States Army and is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nursing, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing and the National League for Nursing. She earned her associate’s degree in nursing from Broward College, bachelor’s degree in nursing from Barry University, master’s degree in nursing from Florida Atlantic University and doctor of nursing practice from Keiser University.  These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.  

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine 

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Tiffany Sizemore, Jorge Gadea, William Kirsh and Valerie Jackson to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine.   

Tiffany Sizemore

Sizemore, of Fort Lauderdale, is a licensed osteopathic physician and is also board certified in cardiology, internal medicine, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. She is a member of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Sizemore earned her bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from Florida Atlantic University and her doctor of osteopathic medicine from Nova Southeastern University.  

Jorge Gadea

Gadea, of Tampa, is a licensed osteopathic physician with Tampa General Medical Group. He is a five-time recipient of the Patient’s Choice Award at Tampa General and is a member of their Physician Executive Committee in addition to being a member of the American Osteopathic Association. Gadea earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of South Florida and his doctor of osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

William Kirsh

Kirsh, of Miami, is a licensed osteopathic physician and Chief Medical Officer for Sentry Data Systems. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, Florida Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners and the Dade County Osteopathic Medical Association. Kirsh earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, master of public health from Johns Hopkins University and his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Southeastern University.  

Valerie Jackson

Jackson, of Jupiter, is the owner of Healthcare Arts Consulting and the former Chief Executive Officer of Futures of Palm Beach, a residential treatment facility for drug, alcohol and eating disorders. She has served on the Board of Osteopathic Medicine since 2012. Jackson earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in human resources management and master of business administration from Nova Southeastern University.  These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. 

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Two to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology  

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dania Lopez Ramirez and Sherry Jordan to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.  

Dania Lopez Ramirez

Lopez Ramirez, of Coral Gables, is a licensed speech-language pathologist and the Owner and Director of the Miami Center for Speech-Language Pathology. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and previously served on the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Lopez Ramirez earned her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in communications disorders from Nova Southeastern University.  

Sherry Jordan

Jordan, of Windemere, is a school psychologist, most recently working in Orange County Public Schools. She has served on the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology since 2017 and volunteers with Cochlear Americas. Jordan earned her master’s degree in school psychology from the University at Albany.  These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. 

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Three to the Board of Acupuncture  

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Amy Sear, Steffani Corey and Kristen Tipaldo to the Board of Acupuncture.  

Amy Sear

Sear, of Hollywood, is a licensed acupuncturist with Memorial Healthcare Systems. Previously, she was the owner of Sear-Enity Natural Medicine. She is a Past President of the Florida State Oriental Medical Association and is certified by the National Certification Commission of Oriental Medicine. Sear earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her master’s level in oriental medicine from the Acupressure Acupuncture Institute.  

Steffani Corey

Corey, of Tarpon Springs, is a licensed acupuncturist and the owner of Carrington Acupuncture. She is board certified in acupuncture, oriental medicine and biomedicine. Corey is a member of the West Pasco Business Association and Business Networking International. She earned her bachelor’s degree in professional health sciences and master’s degree in oriental medicine from East West College of Natural Medicine.  

Kristen Tipaldo

Tipaldo, of Gulf Breeze, is a licensed acupuncturist at Naval Hospital Pensacola. Previously, she was in private practice and taught acupuncture courses at the Florida College of Integrative Medicine. Tipaldo earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University and her master’s degree from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine.  These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.