The Board

The Board Is Made Up Of 15 Members

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. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please visit www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/appointments.

Are you a current or new board member? Helpful resources and information pertinent to your position are available on the new Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) board member website.

If you are interested in becoming a board member, the site contains material that provides insight into the duties and responsibilities of the role. To view the site, please visit flhealthsource.gov/board-members.

The Council on Physician Assistants consist of five members appointed by the State Surgeon General. Two members of the Council must be licensed physicians (one medical doctor and one osteopathic physician) in good standing in this state who are residents of the state and who have been engaged in the active practice.  Three members must be licensed physician assistants in good standing in this state who are residents of the state and who have been engaged in active practice. If you are interested in becoming a member of this Council, please click here to complete the DOH questionnaire.

Members of the Board

Chairs

Amy Derick

Amy Derick, M.D.

Chair

Matthew R. Benson

Matthew R. Benson, M.D.

Vice-Chair

Members

Scot Ackerman

Scot Ackerman, M.D.

Wael Barsoum

Wael Barsoum, M.D.

Steven A. Christie

Steven A. Christie, M.D., J.D.

Gregory Coffman

Gregory Coffman, M.D.

David Diamond

David Diamond, M.D.

Patrick Hunter

Patrick Hunter, M.D.

Nicole Justice

Nicole Justice

J. Matthew Knight

J. Matthew Knight, M.D.

Nicholas W. Romanello , Esquire

Nicholas W. Romanello , Esquire

Hector Vila

Hector Vila, M.D.

Michael Wasylik

Michael Wasylik, M.D.

Zachariah P. Zachariah

Zachariah P. Zachariah, M.D.

After the expiration of their term, board members can continue to serve until they have been replaced, reappointed, or resign.

Organizational Structure of the Board


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. 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 Councils & Committees


Anesthesiologist Assistant Committee

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.

Staff Contact: Wendy Alls

Chair
Hector Vila, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Tiffany DiPietro, D.O. – Vice Chair
Steven Christie, M.D.

Council on Physician Assistants

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.

Staff Contact: Wendy Alls

Chair
John Byrnes, P.A. – Chair

Member(s)
Katie Callaway, P.A. – Vice Chair
Dayne Alonso, P.A.
Wael Barsoum, M.D.
(D.O. member – Vacant)

Credentials Committee

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.

Staff Contact: Wendy Alls

Chair
Nicole Justice, Consumer – Chair

Member(s)
Scot Ackerman, M.D. - Vice Chair
Steven Christie, M.D.
Matthew Knight, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.

Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana

This committee was tasked with developing a consent form so the law could be implemented and qualified physicians could begin complying with the requirements for issuing a physician certification to a qualified patient. The Committee would be working on specific provisions of SB8-A passed during the 2017 Special Legislative Session and related to the medical use of marijuana.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer – Chair

Member(s)
William Kirsh, D.O. – Vice Chair
Gregory Coffman, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.
Christopher Creegan, Consumer (Osteo)
Valerie Jackson, Consumer (Osteo)

Joint Rules/Legislative Committee

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.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
Hector Vila, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Matthew Knight, M.D. – Vice Chair
Scot Ackerman, M.D.
Matthew Benson, M.D.
Amy Derick, M.D.
David Diamond, M.D.
Nicole Justice, Consumer
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.
William Kirsh, D.O.
Monica Mortensen, D.O.

Physician Certification Pattern Review Panel

Section 381.986, Florida Statutes requires the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to jointly create a physician certification pattern review panel that shall review all physician certifications submitted to the medical marijuana use registry. The panel shall track and report the number of physician certifications and the qualifying medical conditions, dosage, supply amount, and form of marijuana certified. The panel shall report the data both by individual qualified physician and in the aggregate, by county, and statewide. The physician certification pattern review panel shall, beginning January 1, 2018, submit an annual report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer – Chair

Member(s)
William Kirsh, D.O. – Vice Chair
Gregory Coffman, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.
Christopher Creegan, Consumer (Osteo)
Valerie Jackson, Consumer (Osteo)

Probation 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.

Staff Contact: Tammy Davis

Chair
Gregory Coffman, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Matthew Benson, M.D. – Vice Chair
Steven Christie, M.D.
Patrick Hunter, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.

Rules/Legislative Committee

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.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
Hector Vila, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Matthew Knight, M.D. – Vice Chair
Scot Ackerman, M.D.
Matthew Benson, M.D.
Amy Derick, M.D.
David Diamond, M.D.
Nicole Justice, Consumer
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.

Surgical Care and Quality Assurance 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.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
David Diamond, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer – Vice Chair
Wael Barsoum, M.D.
Amy Derick, M.D.
Patrick Hunter, M.D.
Matthew Knight, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.

Joint Surgical Care & Quality Assurance 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.

Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland

Chair
David Diamond, M.D. – Chair

Member(s)
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer – Vice Chair
Wael Barsoum, M.D.
Amy Derick, M.D.
Patrick Hunter, M.D.
Matthew Knight, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.
William Kirsh, D.O.
Monica Mortensen, D.O.

Board Staff

Board Staff

Ashleigh K. Irving

Ashleigh K. Irving

Acting Executive Director

Wendy Alls

Wendy Alls

Program Operations Administrator, Initial Licensure

Cherise Strickland

Cherise Strickland

Program Operations Administrator

Angela Denson

Angela Denson

Regulatory Supervisor Consultant

Karrell Goldwire

Karrell Goldwire

Regulatory Supervisor Consultant

Cyra Williams

Cyra Williams

Regulatory Supervisor Consultant

Janai Moton-Brown

Janai Moton-Brown

Regulatory Supervisor Consultant

Desseanne Farmer

Desseanne Farmer

Regulatory Supervisor Consultant