Photos for Headline Surfer® / DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Gov. Rick Scott today removed the word "acting" from the job description for Dr. Celeste Philip, the state surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health.
Philip has served as Florida's acting surgeon general since March. She's also a one-time assistant director of the Volusia County Health Department.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Gov. Rick Scott today removed the word "acting" from the job description for Dr. Celeste Philip, the state surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health.
Philip has served as Florida's acting surgeon general since March. She's also a one-time assistant director of the Volusia County Health Department.
Philip left her Volusia County position in 2013, when she accepted the position of Florida interim deputy secretary for health.
The governor said he was proud to make the appointment of Philip permanent, saying in part, "Since becoming acting surgeon general this spring, Dr. Philip has met with community health leaders on a statewide tour to discuss how DOH can continue to collaborate on improving the health of families and visitors in our state. Dr. Philip also oversaw the recent launch of DOH's New HIV Data Center and Florida's Healthy Babies Initiative."
Scott continued, "Dr. Philip has also been working diligently with county health departments and local mosquito control districts to ensure our state is ready to combat the possible spread of the Zika virus. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Philip and DOH to protect public health in Florida."
Gov. Rick Scott continued, "Dr. (Celeste) Philip has also been working diligently with county health departments and local mosquito control districts to ensure our state is ready to combat the possible spread of the Zika virus. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Philip and DOH to protect public health in Florida."
Dr. Philip said in response to the appointment that she was "honored to be named state surgeon general and secretary of DOH" and was looking forward to continuing to serve Florida's families and visitors.
"With our state and local partners, we will maintain our commitment to addressing community health needs, developing HIV reduction and prevention strategies and preparing our state to combat viruses like Zika," Philip said. "I know Florida is positioned to be a national leader in public health and I am dedicated to working toward this goal on behalf of Florida's residents and visitors."
And Dr. Phillips' reference to Florida's residents and vistors is especially significant with the Zika virus knocking on Florida's doorstep, esprecially since it is a global tourist destination.
FAST FACTS: Zika
• The Zika fever is a mild febrile illness caused by a mosquito-borne virus similar to those that cause dengue and West Nile virus infection.
• It has been identified in several countries in Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean since 2015.
• Outbreaks have previously been reported in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Local transmission has been reported in Puerto Rico, but not elsewhere in the US.
•However, cases of Zika fever have been reported in travelers returning to the United States.
• In the U.S. mainland, Florida is the front line in the Zika fight. More than 100 cases have been reported, more than any other state. So far, all Florida Zika patients have contracted the virus from travel-related exposure.
Did You Know?
Dr. Philip graduated from Howard University in Washington DC. She later received a Master of Public Health in maternal and child health and a Doctor of Medicine from Loma Linda University in California. She completed her family medicine residency at Florida Hospital in Orlando and preventive medicine residency with CDC.