Dr. Colleen G. Koch

University of Florida College of Medicine

It may not be the oldest medical school in the state, but it’s arguably the most prestigious, and Dr. Koch is its first female dean. She is leading the college while it implements a strategic plan with seven pillars: education; research; patient care; people; diversity, inclusion and health care equity; system integration; and value. To boost its education and research opportunities, the college launched a new AI curriculum.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo

Florida Surgeon General

Gov. DeSantis tapped Dr. Ladapo to become the state Surgeon General in 2021. Ladapo, who previously worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) medical school, has been highly critical of federal COVID-19 policy and a vocal skeptic of COVID-19 vaccines. He also pushed for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Ladapo earned his medical degree from Harvard along with a doctorate in health policy. Before he was at UCLA, he was a faculty member in the Department of Population Health at New York University School of Medicine and worked in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.