Alan Levine, nationally renowned public health expert and current serving Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals under Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, has endorsed Bob McCann in his campaign for the House District 67 seat in the Florida Legislature.

Levine, who formerly served as top public health advisor to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and CEO of South Bay Hospital in District 67's Sun City Center, said McCann is the best qualified candidate to represent the citizens whose health and well-being were once in his hands.

"The legislature needs committed experts in medicine and health care, and more importantly, people with integrity and humility," said Levine. "Bob has been a talented public servant. I know the people in Sun City. They are great people who take an active role in their lives. They are educated voters who take the process seriously, as they should since many of them fought for our nation. They won't give their votes away, and Bob will work hard to earn their support."

In January 2008, Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Alan Levine to lead the state’s health agency, the Department of Health and Hospitals. The agency, the state’s largest, has a $7.8 billion annual budget and nearly 12,000 employees.

Levine is nationally recognized for leading efforts to reform Medicaid, creating a more transparent health care system through mandatory public reporting of health provider outcomes, implementing privacy-protected electronic medical records, and being prepared for hurricanes and other natural disasters. In August 2006, Modern Healthcare magazine named Levine one of 30 leaders nationwide likely to have a powerful impact on the future of health care.

Prior to his arrival in Louisiana, Levine served as president and chief executive officer of Florida’s Broward Health, one of the largest non-profit public health care systems in the U.S. In July 2004, he was appointed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to serve as secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the state’s health financing, regulatory and policy agency. With a budget of more than $16 billion, the Agency oversees and operates the Florida Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 25,000 health care facilities and 25 health maintenance organizations, and publishes health care data and statistics. Prior to his appointment, Levine was tapped by Gov. Bush to serve as his deputy chief of staff and senior health policy advisor. At age 29, he was named CEO of Doctors' Memorial Hospital in Perry, Florida, and later served as CEO of South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center, Florida.

He has served on numerous boards of directors, including; Florida Hospital Association, Florida Center for Nursing, Alternative Education Institute, Association of Community Hospitals and Health Systems, Boys and Girls Club, and Junior Achievement. He also has served as a guardian ad-litem within Florida's child welfare system, and participates in the Big Brother and Big Sister program.

Mr. Levine received a bachelor’s degree in health education and two master's degrees in business administration and health services in 1992 from the University of Florida.

The son of a steel mill worker, Bob McCann was born and raised in Chicago and served in the U.S. Navy from 1975 through 1979. After completing his military service, he attended college on the G.I. Bill and went on to graduate from medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri in 1988. While attending to his studies, Bob served his local community as both a paramedic and police officer.

While practicing as a physician in underserved health service areas, Bob obtained his Juris Doctor degree with Honors from the Florida Coastal School of Law located in Jacksonville, Florida in 1999. He is a member of the National Republican Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Bar Association’s Health Law Section.

Today, Bob McCann lives in Bradenton, Florida with his wife Rosemarie. He owns and operates McCann Medicine & Law, P.A. where he provides medical care and legal services, and serves as an emergency room physician at Town and Country Hospital in Tampa. He has had a distinguished career within the medical community, holding leadership positions and serving as a guest lecturer at numerous conferences. He was appointed to the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine by Governor Jeb Bush, where he is Immediate Past Chairman and now serves as Legislative Liaison for the Board, responsible for enforcing statewide health care standards, reviewing licensure applications and disciplining physicians when needed. He serves as medical director of U.S. Veterans Resource Center on a volunteer basis, and was a finalist for U.S. Surgeon General in 2001 and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health in 2007.

House District 67 includes parts of Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough counties.