Florida Governor Rick Scott named Dr. Frank Farmer, the Florida Medical Association’s former president, the Sunshine State’s new Surgeon General, this past Monday. He served as President of the FMA, in 2001 and 2002, and Chairman of the Florid Board of Medicine, in 2006 and 2007.

“Dr. Farmer brings an impressive track record of medical leadership to the Department of Health,” said Rick, in a press release, “and he will further the agency’s important mission to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida.”

Farmer’s responsibilities, as surgeon general, The Ormond Beach physician, and Florida native, will include working to positively impact public health, including issues, such as  patient care. He also will be serving as the secretary for Florida’s Health Department, as well as, the state’s Chief Medical Officer.

According to an article in today’s Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Farmer has been an outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, voted into law last year, to reform the nation’s health care system.”

Farmer’s extensive medical background includes years of practice in physician services, specifically internal medicine. He also served in the special operations, and the medical corps, of the United States Army, Air Force, and the Florida National Guard. In 2004, Farmer retired from the Air Force, ranking as a Colonel.