Tallahassee People on the Move & Milestones

LCSO Chief Graduates from FBI National Academy

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil is recently announced that Chief Grady Jordan has graduated as a member of the 285th session of the FBI National Academy. The graduation took place at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia on March 16th, 2023. Chief Jordan is the 16th deputy in department history to complete this prestigious program. Nationally, fewer than one percent of officers have the opportunity to attend the program.

Chief Jordan is a Tallahassee native and a graduate of Florida State University. He began his career in 1993 as a Corrections Officer at the Leon County Detention Facility. Chief Jordan has worked in Uniform Patrol, the VICE/Narcotics Unit, the Violent Crime Unit, the Homeland Security/Intelligence Unit, Public Information Officer, Media and Public Relations, and is currently Chief of Internal Business Services and Training Division for LCSO.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers ten weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals
within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions. The 285th session consisted of two hundred and forty-seven law enforcement officers from 47 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 28 countries, four military organizations, and five federal civilian organizations.

Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (TOC) Welcomes Pain Management Specialist

Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (TOC) recently welcomed pain management specialist Dr. Andrew Dec, D.O, M.Sc. to its Center of Excellence in Panama City. The addition of Dr. Dec builds upon the current services that already include Sports Medicine, Foot and Ankle, and Pediatric Orthopedic physicians.

A board-certified, fellowship-trained physician in interventional pain medicine, Dr. Dec originally hails from Michigan. He completed his fellowship at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, later becoming the medical director of the Schneck Pain Center in Seymour, Indiana. While there, he also taught as a professor at the Marian College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis.

“Dr. Dec’s experience demonstrates TOC’s long-standing commitment to working with high-level experts in specific areas of orthopedic care. Our physicians are fellowship-trained, as specialization matters. Many of them also teach throughout the United States, as Dr. Dec did,” said CEO Michael Boblitz. “We have a strong relationship with local physicians, who often refer patients to TOC for the toughest procedures. Just six months after opening our Panama City clinic, I’m proud we can continue to deepen our commitment to this community by bringing another deeply-skilled physician. We believe in ease of access so needs are met quickly, efficiently and with expertise with TOC now serving over 240,000 patients each year across 10 offices throughout North Florida and South Georgia.”

TMH’s Structural Heart Team Performs Milestone 1,000th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare’s (TMH) Structural Heart Team recently celebrated its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – an advanced, minimally-invasive procedure used to treat aortic stenosis, a heart disease characterized by narrowing of the aortic valve.

TMH’s multidisciplinary Structural Heart Program performs more TAVRs than any other heart program in northwest Florida. Ann Schaubel, 85, from Monticello, Florida, was the 1,000th patient to have the procedure at TMH. She’s now looking forward to resuming her favorite hobby, dance, and her involvement with her church in Monticello.

“Since starting this program in 2012, we have expanded the patients who are eligible for this therapy while reducing most patients’ hospital stay to one night,” said Thomas Noel, MD, FACC, interventional cardiologist and Co-Chair of TMH’s Structural Heart Program. “Achieving this milestone reinforces to our region’s residents that they do not have to leave the area to access the most advanced heart care. It’s right here close to home at TMH.”

With the minimally invasive TAVR procedure, physicians replace the patient’s narrowed aortic valve while the heart is still beating and without having to open the chest. Performed in TMH’s state-of-the-art Cardiac Cath Lab, physicians use a catheter to deliver a stent-like prosthetic valve to the patient’s heart through a tiny incision in the groin, reopening the valve and restoring blood flow. There are currently three commercially approved TAVR devices; TMH is the only facility in the region to offer all three.

When TMH first began performing the procedure, TAVR was only available to patients with severe aortic stenosis who were deemed too high risk for traditional open-heart surgery. Today, TAVR is available for high-, intermediate- and low-risk patients. Following the procedure, patients typically feel immediate relief of symptoms, require just one overnight stay in the hospital and have quick recoveries.

FSU names new Chief Information Officer

Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark announced today the appointment of Jonathan Fozard as the university’s chief information officer and associate vice president for Information Technology Services (ITS).

Jonathan Fozard, FSU’s chief information officer and associate vice president for Information Technology Services.

Fozard, who has served as deputy CIO at FSU since November 2020, starts in the new role April 5. He will oversee the university’s technology services and initiatives with a 400-person team and an annual budget of more than $75 million. Fozard also will be responsible for operations of the Northwest Regional Data Center, the Florida Virtual Campus, and the State Data Center.

“Jonathan possesses a wealth of expertise and experience that will be essential in guiding the university in this ever-changing technology landscape,” Clark said. “I’m confident his leadership will advance and strengthen our IT operations while supporting the university’s strategic goals.”

Rick Burnette has served as interim CIO since May 2021 while continuing in his role as associate provost for Strategy and Analytics.

An accomplished veteran of technology and operations, Fozard has served more than 20 years in higher education in various leadership roles. Prior to joining FSU, he served as the interim chief technology officer and associate vice president at George Washington University. He’s also held IT leadership roles at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

“I look forward to serving the FSU community in this new role in support of President McCullough’s bold new vison for the future,” Fozard said. “Through a focus on innovation and a commitment to provide successful and sustainable services, we can create an even brighter future for our students, faculty, staff and the larger community.”

Fozard holds an MBA and bachelor’s degree in management information systems. He also recently completed his Ph.D. coursework in higher education administration at Oklahoma State University.