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Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on Twitter @rmayer2361 or by email at [email protected].
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Beginning with Friday's game, the Rays will become the seventh MLB team to use facial-recognition Go-Ahead Entry. If you choose to opt in, there's no more digging for your phone to scan your tickets.
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TGH's contribution and the new affiliation agreement between the longtime partners are slated to improve recruitment, increase integration and advance research.
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The donation from the Pass It on to Kids Foundation will advance groundbreaking work to eradicate neuroblastoma and ovarian cancers. This gift will also support the Nemours' music therapy program.
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Judge Christopher Lopez’s order acknowledges that Orlando Health is a qualified bidder and its $439 million offer is a qualified first bid for the medical centers in Brevard and Indian River counties.
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In a night of firsts, the Tampa Bay Sun rallied for a 1-all draw after arriving to its renovated riverfront stadium via water taxi as 5,000+ fans watched.
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The agreement includes Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Melbourne Regional Medical Center, both in Brevard County, and Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County.
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Jeff Vinik will continue to run day-to-day operations for the next few years. According to reports, the suitor is Doug Ostrover, the co-founder and CEO of asset management company Blue Owl Capital.
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OneBlood has returned to normal course of business for distribution of blood products to hospitals following last month's ransomware attack.
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A tropical storm warning have been issued for SWFL south of Bonita Beach with a mass of bad weather expected to strengthen as it moves into the Gulf on Saturday. Sandbags are available across the area.
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The poll conducted by the University of North Florida shows constitutional measures on recreational marijuana and abortion rights appear to have the 60% threshold needed to pass.