State Surgeon General
Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD
Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, is the State Surgeon General of Florida. He also serves as Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida, where his research examines behavioral economic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in low-income and disadvantaged populations. Clinically, he has cared primarily for hospitalized patients.
Chief of Staff
Lauren Cassedy
Lauren Cassedy began serving as chief of staff for the Florida Department of Health on November 12, 2024. Mrs. Cassedy previously served as the chief of staff for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), overseeing its Business Support Program and Office of Open Government, which includes the areas of Legislative Affairs, Communications, and Public Records.
Prior to her service at the Florida Department of Health and FDLE, she led corporate communications for AT&T, leading public affairs and communications for a 14-state region in the Southwest United States. Additionally, Mrs. Cassedy served as the director of public affairs for former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and press secretary for former Florida Governor Rick Scott.
Mrs. Cassedy has a bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State University.
Interim Deputy Secretary for Health
Melissa Jordan, MS, MPH
Melissa Jordan has been with the Florida Department of Health since 2003. The Office of the Deputy Secretary for Health is responsible for oversight of the Department’s major program and policy areas including the divisions of Community Health Promotion, Disease Control and Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Public Health Statistics and Performance Management, Children’s Medical Services, and the offices of Medical Marijuana Use and Minority Health.
She provides strategic guidance to a team of approximately 1,500 public health professionals with a budget of more than $3 billion in state and federal funds. Prior to this role, she has held a variety of positions at the Department including director of Community Health Promotion, director of Public Health Research, senior environmental epidemiologist, and chronic disease surveillance administrator. Melissa was appointed chair of the Florida Rare Disease Advisory Council by Governor Ron DeSantis in September 2021. She also served on the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Executive Board from 2018 through 2024. Melissa received a Bachelor of Science in economics and international affairs, Master of Science in international affairs from Florida State University, and a Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida.
Deputy Secretary for Operations
Antonio Dawkins
Antonio Dawkins serves as the deputy secretary for operations and has served the Department since 2003. In this role, Mr. Dawkins oversees the Department’s essential administrative units including the Offices of Information Technology and Budget and Revenue Management, the Contract Administration and Grant Management Section, and the Bureaus of Finance and Accounting, Personnel and Human Resources, and General Services.
Additionally, he oversees the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, which regulates Florida’s health care practitioners, and the Division of Disability Determinations.
He has a Master of Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Deputy Secretary for County Health Systems
Mark Lander
Mark Lander began serving as deputy secretary for County Health Systems in December 2020.
Mr. Lander served as health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Columbia and Hamilton counties before taking the helm in Marion County in October 2017.
He currently serves as president of the Florida Association of County Health Officers. Additionally, he serves as the second vice president of the Florida Public Health Association, chair for the Healthy Start Service Provider Council of North Central Florida, and chair of the United Way of Marion County’s Health Vision Council.
Mr. Lander attended the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor of Science in Food and Natural Resource Economics and a Master of Science in Soil and Water Science.
Interim General Counsel
Alysson Bradley
Alysson Bradley is currently serving as the interim general counsel for the Florida Department of Health.