FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2013

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health (DOH) welcomes Dr. Kelli T. Wells, M.D., as the new Director of the Department of Health in Duval County. Since 2009, Dr. Wells served as Clinical Services Director of the DOH in Escambia County, where, in addition to providing clinical care, she promoted community health education. She also spent the past year participating in the Department's Health Leadership Institute and Practice Management Institute.

"Dr. Wells brings an extensive background in public health, a depth of medical expertise and a vibrant connection to the community of Duval County," said Dr. John Armstrong, State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health. "This selection was made with unprecedented community collaboration and I'd like to express my thanks to the city council for their concurrence."

Dr. Wells previously worked in Duval County, serving as Chief Medical Officer at the Agape Community Health Center, Medical Director at the West Jacksonville Family Health Center, and Fast Track Physician at St. Vincent's Hospital emergency room.

In Pensacola, Dr. Wells served as the center physician at Physicians Weight Loss Center, a private physician at Baptist Physician Associates, a clinical research investigator at Baptist Clinical Research, and a hyperbaric physician at the Haas Center for Wound Services at Baptist Hospital.

While Dr. Wells spent much of her career as a practicing physician, she gained extensive experience in public health practice along the way. In her current role at the Escambia County Health Department, she conducted divisional training days on such themes as "Small Steps to Better Health" and "What Did the Doctor Say." Her outreach activities included participating in "Ask the Doctor" at Pensacola's Annual Health Fair, the annual Phenomenal Woman Workshop at Escambia High School, the S.O.S. Women's Empowerment Workshop, a cultural competency lecture series and a monthly appearance on WJXT's "The Doctor is In".

Dr. Wells graduated from the University of Florida's College of Medicine as a National Health Service Corps Scholar and Chapter President of the Student National Medical Association. She received a Bachelor of Science from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). She serves on the Board of Directors of Covenant Hospice and Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Dr. Wells is a member of the American Board of Family Practice and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society. In addition, she is an associate faculty member at FAMU and the Florida State University College of Medicine.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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