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August 27, 2004

Dr. Robert Windom Joins Board of Florida Medical Directors Association as Regulatory Affairs Advisor

West Palm Beach, Fla. -
Victor Gambone, MD, FACP, CMD, president, Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA), is pleased to announce that Robert E. Windom, MD, FACP, FACC, was recently appointed regulatory affairs advisor.

Dr. Windom starts a two-year term and will join the FMDA board of directors as an ex-officio member. In this position, Dr. Windom will advise the association on matters relating to current and proposed long-term care regulation, legislation, and enforcement.

Dr. Windom graduated from Duke University undergraduate and Medical School. He practiced internal medicine and cardiology in Sarasota from 1960 to 1986.  He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, and was awarded Distinguished Alumnus of the Duke University Medical School.

He is a former president of the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Heart Association, and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. In 1986 he was nominated by President Reagan, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Health, the highest position in the federal government required to be held by a physician. He represented the U.S. in many foreign countries signing bilateral research agreements between them and the NIH, CDC, FDA, and the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Windom is a clinical professor of the voluntary faculty of the
University of South Florida School of Medicine and the College of Public Health. He is involved in the field of cancer vaccines, HIV/AIDS, and WorldDoc, an Internet e-health service. In addition, Dr. Windom is the author of more than 35 medical publications, and has received numerous awards and honors.

"Bob has always been such a huge supporter of long-term care, medical directors, and our own organization, that we were very excited and honored that he accepted this appointment to join our board of directors," Dr. Gambone said. "I am confident that Bob will provide our membership with his unique expertise and insights into the regulatory and legislative challenges that we, as physicians in the postacute care network, face," he added.

Dr. Windom currently serves on the board of directors of The Pines of Sarasota, a skilled nursing facility; the Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, a continuing care retirement community in Sarasota; and is senior medical advisor to Kensington Manor, a skilled nursing facility based in Sarasota. 

"Shrinking reimbursement and over-regulation has plagued this industry for years," Dr. Windom said.  "For the sake of our patients we must be vigilant about any impending regulatory changes or new legislation that puts limits on our ability to provide the level of quality we wish to provide and which is expected of us," he added. "Being able to help the mission of FMDA is a great privilege and I am grateful to be associated with this fine organization."

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The Florida Medical Directors Association represents nearly 250 medical directors, attending physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Florida’s postacute care continuum including subacute care, hospice, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities, as well as in continuing care retirement communities. The mission of FMDA is to promote the highest quality care in the postacute care continuum by providing leadership, professional education and advocacy.
 

Contact: Ian Cordes, Executive Director
Florida Medical Directors Association
(561) 371-2586, ian.cordes@fmda.org