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Dr. Raul Pino resigns from Department of Health, appointed Orange County Director of Health Services

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Dr. Raul Pino has resigned as Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health in Orange County and been appointed Orange County Director of Health Services by Mayor Jerry Demings, the county announced Tuesday afternoon.

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“Dr. Pino is a revered public health expert in Orange County,” Demings said in a news release. “He has an exceptional reputation amongst our citizens, as well as the professional medical community in Central Florida.”

In his new role, Pino will oversee all strategic, operational and fiscal responsibilities of the department, the county said, including the oversight of the county’s Corrections Health Services, Drug-Free Office, Medical Clinic, Animal Services, Mosquito Control Division and more.

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Pino served as the Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health in Orange County for the past three years. Beginning in March 2020, he worked side-by-side with Demings through more than 160 COVID-19 news conferences.

“Dr. Pino has a rich history in working with our Health Services Department to meet the needs of our community,” said Mayor Demings. “During these most recent years, Dr. Pino’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of our public health initiatives, including our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a two-page resignation letter to the Department of Health dated Monday, Pino said he and the department have “achieved and exceeded” all of their initial goals.

Read his full resignation letter below:

Pino received his Doctor of Medicine from from the Instituto Superior de Ciencicias Medicas de la Universidad de La Habana in Havana, Cuba, and his master’s degree in public health from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Before coming to Central Florida, he served as the commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health from 2015 to 2019.

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“He has proven himself as an asset to our public health efforts and will continue to provide valuable leadership to our community in his new role with Orange County,” Demings said in the news release.

Pino’s appointment will be effective April 26 after being approved by the Board of County Commissioners. His first day in his new roe will be May 2.

In January, while in his role with the Department of Health, Pino was placed on administrative leave after he sent an email on Jan. 4 to Orange County Department of Health staff regarding employee COVID-19 vaccination rates.

READ: Orange County health director Dr. Raul Pino placed on administrative leave

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.