Dr. Kevin Sherin, Health Officer of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has named Nasseam McPherson James the department's new Assistant Health Director. Her first day on the job is February 8, 2018.
Dr. Sherin said, "We are excited to announce Nasseam McPherson James as our new Assistant Health Director. She brings superb credentials and experience to help lead DOH-Orange into the future with successful public health programs and operations.
Ms. James comes to DOH-Orange from the Children's Medical Services, a division of the Florida Department of Health, where she held the position of Regional Program Administrator of the Central Region that consisted of Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. At the Children's Medical Services (CMS), she served the region's 109 employees faithfully and collaborated with community partners and leaders in the public, private, and faith based community to promote CMS's mission of ensuring that children with special healthcare needs have access to resources that encourages healthy outcomes.
Her prior work experience included serving as an Operations and Management Consultant Manager/Healthy Start Manager for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, and as a Social Services Manager/Healthy Start and WIC Director at the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County. Before joining the public sector, Ms. James served as the Compliance and Quality Assurance Director for the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County.
"I'm honored to have the opportunity," said Ms. James. "While I'll miss the wonderful staff at Children's Medical Services, I'm extremely excited to once again work within the county health structure."
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Ms. James earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work. In addition, Ms. James holds a Masters of Social Work - Social Policy and Administration from Florida State University in Tallahassee. She anticipates completing the Executive Masters of Business Administration program at the University of Central Florida in 2019.
Ms. James has served on the Seminole County Children's Cabinet, as a board member on the Highlands County Children's Services Council, and the Highlands County Healthy Families Advisory Council. She is a current board member for Central Florida Health Care, Inc., the Federally Qualified Health Center for Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. She is a past recipient of the Jane Mansfield Award for Outstanding Dedication to Leadership and Community Services and was named an Ocala and Marion County Top Forty Under 40 Leader.
Ms. James is a wife and proud mother to a high-spirited and intelligent three-year-old son.
