By: Breanna Gallo
Sherrie Somers
HCA Florida’s North Florida Hospital has named Sherrie Somers, D.O., as the new Chief Medical Officer for the hospital and its outpatient centers and free-standing emergency rooms. Before this, she served as the CMO for HCA Healthcare’s Rapides Reginal Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Dr. Somers received her medical degree from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. She also completed her Internal Medicine internship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and her Internal Medicine residency at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Colorado. In addition to her work with HCA, she has served as the medical director for Hospital Inpatient Teams for New West Physicians in Colorado and was instrumental in leading six hospitals and three hospital systems through COVID-19 planning.
Kimberly Mullins
A play written by Kimberly Mullins, who currently serves as a Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Gainesville High School, has been selected to be featured in the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival.
The play, titled “Single Black Female in the Navy,” brings awareness to women of color in the military, a topic not typically featured on the stage or screen. The play was one of seven short plays selected out of 100 submitted. Mullins will work with actors in Tampa to stage the production, which will be performed at Hillsborough College.
Cynthia Chestnut
Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut has been appointed to serve on a National League of Cities (NLC) committee. She will be tasked with providing direction for the organization’s federal advocacy, shedding light on housing, land use, economic opportunity and entrepreneurship. This committee will also consist of the mayors of St. Louis, Missouri; Riverside, California; and Beaverton, Oregon. Additionally, Chestnut will serve on the 2023 Community and Economic Development committee.
Terry Jones
Chief Tony Jones will retire in October from his post as special adviser for juvenile justice and community support programs. Jones has been with the Gainesville Police Department for 48 years, joining as a public safety cadet in 1975. Before his current post, Jones served as police chief from 2009 until 2022.
Throughout his tenure, he has overseen the Reichert House Youth Academy, the Brave Overt Leaders of Distinction (BOLD) Program and the Nspire Interrupters Programs. Jones is a board member of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Coalition of Juvenile Justice. The National Coalition of Juvenile Justice has also recently selected Jones as the Southern Regional Chairperson.
