As the Lower Keys Hospital District board prepares to make one of its most important decisions, the governor has appointed eight members to the board.
The eight appointees have been selected by the governor, as the Lower Keys Hospital District board will start the process for a new long-term lease for Lower Keys Medical Center. The district’s current lease with Community Health Services (CHS) expires in 2029, and some community members are calling on the board to start embarking on a process to put the lease out to bid.
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Mary Chambers, Stephen Hammond, James “Doc” Muir, Kathryn Ovide, Mary Spottswood, Erica Sterling, Lesley Thompson and Richard Toppino to the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board.
The governor reappointed Thompson, Ovide, Hammond, Chambers, Muir and Toppino. Sterling and Spottswood are additions to the board.
Thompson is the director of exceptional student education for the Monroe County School District. She is the recipient of the 2008 Monroe County District Administrator of the Year Award, the 2010 Service Above Self Award from the United States Coast Guard, and the 2003 State of Florida Administrator of the Year Award from the Florida Department of Education, according to the governor’s office. Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology and special education from St. Leo University, her master’s degree in educational leadership from Troy State University, and her doctorate in child and youth studies from Nova Southeastern University.
Chambers is a former superintendent of the Alachua County School District and deputy superintendent of Monroe County School District, according to the governor’s office. She currently serves as the treasurer of the Monroe County Education Foundation. Chambers earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University, her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida, and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Florida.
Hammond is a Realtor at Lokation Real Estate and currently serves as a member of the Key West Association of Realtors. Hammond earned his bachelor’s degree in business and finance and his master’s degree in business and administration from Samford University.
Muir is retired and previously served as an airline pilot for FedEx Corporation. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, retiring with more than 20 years of service. Muir earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York.
Ovide is the marina manager at Sunset Marina on Stock Island. Previously, she served as the director of customer service for the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and was a founding member of the Lower Keys Heart Council. Ovide attended The College of the Florida Keys.
Spottswood is the in-house counsel for Spottswood Companies. Previously, she served as an assistant state attorney in Miami-Dade County and was an associate at Spottswood Sterling Law Firm, according to the governor’s office. Spottswood earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vanguard University and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Sterling is a Partner at Spottswood, Spottswood & Sterling, PLLC. She serves as a member of the Star of the Seat Foundation Board of Directors and the Monroe County Housing Association. Sterling earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting, her master’s degree in accounting and a law degree from the University of Florida.
Toppino is the president of Charley Toppino and Sons, Inc. He serves on Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority board and the Monroe County Housing Authority. Toppino attended The College of the Florida Keys and the University of Miami, according to the governor’s office.
The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District is an independent special district, created in 1967 by act of the Florida Legislature, and was established to construct, lease, operate and maintain a hospital or hospitals, medical facilities and other health care services in the Lower Keys. The district currently leases Lower Keys Medical Center to CHS.
The 30-year lease was initially put into place in 1999 with Health Management Associates, which was acquired in 2013 by Community Health Systems.
The upcoming lease, either placing it out to bid or renewing it with CHS, has drawn much attention in the community, and Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman has formed a task force comprised of community members, local doctors and other medical care providers. Kaufman and others addressed the board Wednesday, May 8. The district board only took input and did not make any decisions.
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