Florida Health Care Innovation Council

Leading the Charge for Health Care Innovation​

Established under section 381.4015, F.S., the Health Care Innovation Council brings together leading experts from health care, technology, finance, and business to drive statewide innovation. Chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, the Council works to:
  • Identify and promote scalable health care innovations
  • Foster collaboration among providers, innovators, and policymakers
  • Develop strategies that improve quality, expand access, and reduce costs
  • Facilitate public meetings across Florida to explore breakthrough solutions

Explore the Council’s Strategic Framework →

Current Focus Areas

The Council prioritizes initiatives that drive measurable improvements in Florida’s health care system. The following four focus areas are key to the work of the Council.

1. Health Care Workforce

Workforce Pathways: Cultivating interest in health care careers and expanding the workforce pipeline.

Workforce Efficiency: Using technology and training to reduce burdens on health care professionals.

2. Patient Care Innovations

Advanced Technologies: Integrating telehealth, remote monitoring, and early detection tools to improve patient outcomes.

Setting-Appropriate Care: Shifting care delivery to the most appropriate settings, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.

3. Cost Reduction Strategies

Improving Efficiency: Innovations that reduce administrative burdens and improve service delivery efficiency.

Lowering Costs for Consumers: Solutions that provide cost savings while maintaining or improving care quality.

4. Technology Integration

Interoperability of Health Systems: Addressing challenges with the integration of electronic health records and other technologies.

Cybersecurity: Ensuring the safety and security of health data as innovations are implemented.

Meet the Council Members

The Council consists of leaders across multiple disciplines, bringing together knowledge and expertise in health care delivery, technology, finance, and business transformation in Florida.

Council Chair

Lt. Governor Jay Collins, Council Chair
Lt. Governor Jay Collins

Lieutenant Governor of Florida

Lt. Governor Jay Collins

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Collins is a highly decorated Army Special Forces combat veteran who sustained a number of debilitating injuries that led to the loss of his leg. Remarkably, he continued to serve five additional years as a Green Beret post-amputation, ultimately retiring after more than 23 years of service. Following his military service, LG Collins took a position with Operation BBQ Relief, overseeing the distribution of millions of meals to Americans following natural disasters and helping veterans and their families by creating culinary delights together. Through his nonprofit work across the country, LG Collins heard the concerns of Americans. Americans who agree that they want their families to succeed, their children to have better lives than they did, and to improve the quality of life in their communities. With this in mind, the LG took the chance and answered the call to public service by running for Florida State Senate in District 14.

During his tenure as a Florida State Senator, he distinguished himself through strategic leadership and legislative impact. As Chairman of the Agricultural and Transportation Committees, he championed infrastructure initiatives vital to Florida's economic connections across tourism, agriculture, and supported our state's farming industry by banning cultivated meats and protecting farmlands from criminal intent. LG Collins authored and passed over 55 pieces of legislation and secured more than $120 million in funding to uplift the Tampa Bay region, support Florida's First Responders and Veterans, and invest in premier educational institutions. His proven record of results and vision for Florida's future culminated in his appointment as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida.

A committed family man, LG Collins is married to his wife of 25 years Layla, a retired Veteran with 20 years of service in her own right, and a father to two young sons, Gabe and Colt. As a family they rescued their pup Tucker, attend Grace Family Church, and strive to leave things better than they got it.

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Voting Members

Dr. Deborah German, Voting Member
Dr. Deborah German

Dean, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida

Dr. Deborah German

Dr. Deborah German is Vice President for Health Affairs and Founding Dean of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Created in 2006 to expand Central Florida’s economy, the medical school was the first in U.S. history to provide full, four-year scholarships to every student in its Charter Class. Dr. German built a team of over 900 faculty and staff, led construction of a new medical campus and opened UCF Lake Nona Hospital and UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center. She established a new Academic Health Sciences Center, a multi-specialty clinical practice, and 41 residency and fellowship programs across Florida.

Before coming to UCF, Dr. German served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville and was a Petersdorf Scholar in Residence at the Association of American Medical Colleges. Previously she served as Associate Dean for Students and Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education at Vanderbilt University and Associate Dean of Medical Education at Duke University.

Dr. German has received numerous honors, including the Local Legend of Medicine in the National Library of Medicine, American Medical Women’s Association Presidential Award, Renaissance Woman in Medicine Award and the AAMC Women in Medicine Leadership Development Award. Most recently she was awarded the Transformational Leader Award by the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program.

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John D. Couris, Voting Member
John D. Couris

President and CEO, Tampa General Hospital

John D. Couris

John D. Couris is President and CEO of the Florida Health Sciences Center (FHSC), which comprises a portfolio of organizations, including Tampa General Hospital, one of the nation’s leading not-for-profit academic health systems, in partnership with the University of South Florida. Under Couris’ leadership, Tampa General’s footprint has grown from 17 facilities to seven hospitals across the state of Florida, with over 150 care locations and employs 15,000 team members and physicians. Additionally, Tampa General partners with other leading academic health systems, including Mass General Brigham (MGB), to improve access to academic-based, cutting-edge care across Florida.

Since 2017, Couris has driven innovation through initiatives such an artificial intelligence and predictive analytics care coordination command center (now known as C3) with GE Healthcare and now Palantir, the TGH at Home program with Shields Health Innovations, the TGH Ventures fund for health care startups and the development of the Tampa Medical & Research District in collaboration with USF Health.

A recognized national expert in health care leadership and workplace culture transformation, Couris advises policymakers on the state and national level and serves on state and federal councils, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care. He is also an advisor to various health related enterprises including evolvedMD, Shields Health Innovations and Fountain Healthcare Partners. His research on authentic leadership has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he is a frequent national and international speaker.

Couris holds a DBA in Management Sciences from the University of South Florida, where he is a Research Fellow. In 2024, he received USF’s President's Fellow Medallion. He lives in Tampa with his wife and is a proud father of two children.

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Richard Caplin​, Voting Member
Richard Caplin

Founder and Chairman, Caplin Ventures

Richard Caplin

Ricky Caplin is the Founder and Chairman of Caplin Ventures, a first-generation family office whose mission is to amplify and fuel faith, hope, and love by maximizing God-given gifts in the workplace and the communities it serves. He previously founded one of the largest global healthcare IT consulting firms and has received honors from Ernst & Young and the University of Florida as one the nation’s top entrepreneurs. He lives in Jacksonville with his wife and three children.

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Dr. Roberto Diaz, Voting Member
Dr. Roberto Diaz

Sr. Medical Director, Radiation Oncology, Moffit Cancer Center

Dr. Roberto Diaz

Dr. Roberto Diaz is a tenured Senior Member of the faculty at Moffitt Cancer Center and a Professor in the Oncologic Sciences Department at the University of South Florida. He also serves as the Senior Medical Director of Network sites for the Department of Radiation Oncology at Moffitt and as Physician Advisor for International Initiatives. Dr. Diaz earned his MS, PhD, and MD degrees from New York University School of Medicine, specializing in molecular oncology as part of the medical scientist training program. He completed his training in radiation oncology at Vanderbilt University, serving as chief resident in his final year. Dr. Diaz is board-certified in Radiation Oncology and focuses his research on translational and clinical breast cancer, particularly bioinformatics and genomics-based analysis of gene expression and recurrence in breast cancers. Additionally, he is fluent in both English and Spanish and has mentored numerous students and resident physicians who have gone on to successful careers in medicine and research.

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Dr. Amit Rastogi, Voting Member
Dr. Amit Rastogi

President and Chief Executive Officer, Jupiter Medical Center

Dr. Amit Rastogi

Dr. Amit Rastogi is President and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center, where he has led transformative growth and positioned the organization as a premier destination for advanced care. Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Rastogi brings more than 15 years of clinical experience and completed residency training at Harvard and Yale-affiliated hospitals. He holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Harvard University and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.

Under his leadership, Jupiter Medical Center has earned international recognition as one of Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025 and was named a Top Hospital in Florida by U.S. News & World Report. Forbes honored the organization as “The Top Health System Employer in Florida” and among the “Best Employers for Women” and “Best Midsize Employers.”

Dr. Rastogi has overseen major initiatives, including the Anderson Family Cancer Institute, Heart & Vascular Institute, and Surgical Institute, advancing oncology, cardiovascular, and surgical care. He has been recognized nationally by Becker’s Healthcare as a “Great Leader in Healthcare” and named among Florida Trend’s “Florida 500 Most Influential Business Leaders.” Dr. Rastogi serves on multiple boards and is widely regarded as a leader in healthcare innovation.

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Dr. Rylan Douthett, Voting Member
Dr. Rylan Douthett

Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, Florida State University

Dr. Rylan Douthett

Rylan J. Douthett is a registered nurse and nurse practitioner serving as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Clinical Assistant Professor at the Florida State University College of Nursing. A lifelong Floridian, Rylan is dedicated to advancing the state’s health care priorities by expanding the nursing workforce, driving innovation in education and care delivery, and preparing clinicians for the technologies and challenges shaping the future of health care.

As Assistant Dean, Rylan leads one of the largest and fastest-growing nursing programs in Florida, driving strategic transformation during a period of unprecedented expansion. With FSU’s undergraduate nursing enrollment having expanded nearly fivefold in just three years, Rylan is establishing the College as a statewide model for how to scale nursing education while maintaining excellence in quality, rigor, and clinical readiness.

Rylan’s strategic initiatives focus on cultivating the next generation of nursing leaders through evidence-based education, leadership development, and immersive experiences that strengthen Florida’s health care workforce of tomorrow. His work reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and policy alignment that ensures nursing education remains responsive to the evolving demands of health care in the state of Florida.

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Thomas Sabatino, Voting Member
Thomas Sabatino

Former Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Rite Aid

Thomas Sabatino

Thomas Sabatino has spent his career in a number of Fortune 500 companies. He was most recently Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Rite-Aid. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Tenneco, Inc after being Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Aetna, Inc. Mr. Sabatino joined Aetna from Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., where he served as Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Counsel. He has also been the chief legal officer and general counsel of Walgreens, United Airlines, Schering- Plough, Baxter International and American Medical Holdings.

He currently serves as a member of the board of Humane World for Animals and prior Co-chair, Chair Emeritus of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution and a member of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. He is a member of the Florida Health Care Innovation Counsel. Mr. Sabatino earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

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Geoffrey Fraser

Founding Partner, Clear Choice Health Care

Ex Officio, Nonvoting Members

Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, Nonvoting Member
Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo

State Surgeon General, Florida Department of Health

Dr.Joseph A. Ladapo

Joseph A. Ladapo, M.D, Ph.D., 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. His research program has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and includes clinical trials of interventions for weight and smoking cessation, and cardiovascular disease prevention among people with HIV.

Dr. Ladapo’s studies have been published in leading medical journals, including The Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and Annals of Internal Medicine. His writings about health policy and public health have appeared in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Florida, he was a tenured associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Ladapo graduated from Wake Forest University and received his medical degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. in health policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where he received the Harvard Medical School Class of 2012 Resident Teaching Award and the Daniel E. Ford-Jodi B. Segal Award in Health Services and Outcomes Research from John Hopkins University.

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Shevaun Harris, Nonvoting Member
Shevaun Harris

Secretary, Agency for Health Care Administration

Shevaun Harris

Shevaun Harris was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as the Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) in February 2025. Previously, Secretary Harris worked at the Agency from 2005-2021 where she focused on the administration of the Florida Medicaid program, implementing sound policy and quality improvement efforts for millions of Floridians, and serving as lead negotiator for the multi-billion-dollar procurement of the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program.

Prior to returning to the Agency in 2025, she served more than four years as the Secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Through implementation of key initiatives that promote prevention and resiliency, Florida experienced a decrease in opioid and suicide deaths; improvements in child welfare prevention efforts resulting in fewer youth in foster care and increases in adoptions; and expanded service options for those contending with substance use and mental health disorders.

Secretary Harris is a champion for children and families, and her leadership is marked by a belief in accountability-driven systems, innovation, and continuous quality improvement.

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Taylor Hatch, Nonvoting Member
Taylor Hatch

Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families

Taylor Hatch

Taylor N. Hatch brings a dynamic record of leadership to her role as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), where she was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025. Secretary Hatch comes to DCF after most recently serving as the Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) from 2023 to 2025. While serving as Director of APD, Secretary Hatch led the team to transformational service delivery by challenging rigid governmental infrastructures where they exist, to deliver for the people they are intended to serve. Practically, this translated to engaging critical stakeholders and partners to inform and develop key opportunities to remove unnecessary bureaucracy, enhance end-user experiences, and strategically offer the right supports at the right time. Throughout every leadership post, Secretary Hatch challenges the status quo, driving the performance of government to be more efficient, accessible, appropriate, and impactful for those it serves.

Secretary Hatch previously served at DCF as Deputy Secretary and as the Assistant Secretary of Economic Self-Sufficiency, driving major reforms to empower families, expand opportunity, and create clear pathways to economic independence. Before DCF, Secretary Hatch made her mark strengthening the development of Florida’s workforce as Director of Workforce Services at the Department of Commerce and held senior roles advancing policy and operations at the Department of Management Services. Her background also includes private-sector consulting – successfully advocating and advancing priorities across a multitude of business sectors and branches of government. A proud Florida native, Secretary Hatch and her husband Eddie enjoy life with their three children and remain deeply committed to building a brighter future for Florida families.

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Robert Asztalos, Nonvoting Member
Robert Asztalos

Director, Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Robert Asztalos

Robert “Bob” Asztalos is the Director of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), where he leads efforts to support individuals with developmental disabilities and strengthen partnerships across state and community programs.

Before joining APD, Bob served as Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) beginning in July 2021. FDVA is a constitutionally chartered, 1,500-member state agency with a $220 million annual budget serving the nation’s third-largest veteran population. In that role, he oversaw operations of Florida’s eight state veterans’ nursing homes and one domiciliary.

Previously, Bob was Interim Chief Operating Officer for Medical Equipment and Supplies of America, a disabled-veteran-owned small business providing durable medical equipment to veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His earlier experience includes senior government relations positions with the Florida Health Care Association, Easter Seals Florida, the American Health Care Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.

A U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve veteran with 29 years of service, Bob also spent 17 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He holds degrees in Political Science and Legislative Affairs from George Washington University and serves on multiple veteran and leadership boards.

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Michelle Branham, Nonvoting Member
Michelle Branham

Secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Michelle Branham

Secretary Michelle Branham was appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as the agency head for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs in December 2021. Under Secretary Branham’s leadership, the department serves Florida’s nearly 6.4 million seniors over the age of 60, providing services and supporting initiatives through Florida’s Aging Network to help seniors live well and age well in the state.

Secretary Branham brings more than 20 years of experience to her role — in public policy, public health, and public relations and more than a decade of senior executive experience in federal and state-level public policy initiatives including advanced healthcare and Florida senior initiatives. Prior to her appointment, Secretary Branham was Vice President of Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association for nine years. She served as Chair for the State of Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee and was an Advisory Member for the State Plan on Aging Task Force. Additionally, she co-chaired the State Health Improvement Plan Alzheimer’s priority area and was appointed by Governor DeSantis to serve on his Safe and Limited Return Task Force during the public health emergency. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political sciences from Stetson University and a master’s degree in theological studies from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

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Council Resources

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Meeting Minutes

Access official records of all Council meetings
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Annual Reports

Comprehensive yearly reports to Governor and Legislature
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Council Recommendations

Policy positions and innovation recommendations
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Best Practice Guidelines

Evidence-based recommendations for implementation