As part of our ongoing coverage of COVID-19, with our friends at Florida Blue Medicare, Growing Bolder touches base with Florida Department of Health (DOH) Deputy Secretary Shamarial Roberson, DrPH, MPH. Dr. Roberson offers expert advice on staying safe, provides updates to those with the disease, and gives an overview of the steps Florida is taking to fight COVID-19.

Dr. Roberson was appointed the Deputy Secretary for Health at the Florida Department of Health in November 2019. She joined the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention at FDOH in 2013 as an epidemiologist. In addition to serving as the chronic disease director, she is the co-chair of the Health Equity Program Council. She supervises staff members in various activities, including prevention and intervention activities in areas such as heart disease and stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, and lupus. She supervises the School Health Services team and the chronic disease Epidemiology and Evaluation team. Her research is oriented toward reducing health inequities, especially as they relate to heart disease and related risk factors. Dr Roberson received a PhD in public health in epidemiology and biostatistics from Florida A&M University and an MPH and BS from Florida State University.

For the latest COVID-19 information from the Florida Department of Health visit: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov

This story is part of a new series launched by Growing Bolder and t Florida Blue Medicare, Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Learn more at growingbolder.com/covid. And follow Growing Bolder and Florida Blue Medicare on Facebook for regular Facebook Live conversations.