President of Health and Human Services

Dr. Shamarial Roberson is an expert in public health administration with proven experience in public health policy, community health promotion, emergency preparedness, research, performance management, budget and grant management, and program development, implementation, and evaluation.

She has extensive knowledge of epidemiology, chronic disease, infectious disease, state and federal rules and regulations, and establishing efficient and effective business processes to ensure compliance, as well as exhaustive experience implementing strategies to foster cross-sector collaborations to advance population health, leverage funding, and drive policy.

As the Deputy Secretary for Health for the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Roberson was a key player in the COVID-19 Response and was deeply entrenched in State Emergency Operations Center functions, overseeing the ESF-8 Public Health and Medical Services Team and serving as one of Florida’s leads for repatriation efforts. Dr. Roberson was also responsible for the overall planning and direction of the Divisions of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, Disease Control and Health Protection, Community Health Promotion, Public Health Statistics and Performance Management, and the Office of Minority Health, setting standards for practice, formulating operational goals, policies, and staffing patterns, conducting quality assurance and utilization review of staff competencies and delivery of services, analyzing and interpreting needs, developing and analyzing legislative proposals, and maintaining liaison with state and national professional agencies and communities with a staff that includes more than 1,500 employees. Dr. Roberson has led large-scale projects in state-wide and national health initiatives where she spearheaded efforts to increase state funding to advance individual and community well-being, oversaw implementation of new state legislation aimed at enhancing the Department’s infrastructure, enhanced departmental collaboration, and oversaw the application and implementation of more than $6 billion federal grants.

She has established herself as a preeminent leader in public health chairing several boards whose missions are centered in advancing health and well-being for vulnerable populations. She currently serves on number of boards and councils including the Family Promise of the Big Bend and the EPI & Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Social Determinants of Health Committee for the American Heart Association.