Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that Florida has a new surgeon general.

Joseph A. Ladapo, formerly of UCLA Health in California, was introduced at a news conference.

His website bio describes him as a "physician and health policy researcher whose primary research interests include assessing the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic technologies and reducing the population burden of cardiovascular disease."

Scott Rivkees is stepping down from the post as Florida's surgeon general.

Rivkees was named the state’s chief medical officer in 2019 but has not had a public presence throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ladapo says under his direction, the Florida Department of Health will be "explicit" between science and opinion.  He says the agency will be clear when talking about data and opinion and interpretation. 

Ladapo said one of the main things he wants to get across is Florida will not operate out of fear. 

Ladapo graduated from Wake Forest University and received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his PhD in Health Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.