Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and AdventHealth’s Dr. Alric Simmonds on bridging the health gap in Central Florida

02/27/25 • 30 min

Orange County has long worked to level the playing field for those who need access to health care services, said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

In this episode of the Inspiring Wholeness podcast, presented by AdventHealth in partnership with the OBJ, Demings discusses bridging the health gap in Central Florida with Dr. Alric Simmonds, chief health equity officer and vice president and chief medical officer of AdventHealth's Celebration campus.
Demings is the first African American to serve as the mayor of Orange County. He’s always been a trailblazer, making history as Orlando's first African American police chief, and Orange County’s first African American sheriff.
This episode is a powerful reminder of the collaborative work needed to give everyone access to health care. Tune in to hear about:

What Orange County is doing to bridge the health gap and the biggest progress so far (1:08)
What it means to be the inaugural chief health equity officer at AdventHealth (2:34)
How local governments and health care providers can collaborate more effectively to bridge the health gap in Central Florida (4:57)
Innovative approaches for providing access to health care services in underserved communities (11:16)
Measuring the success of health care initiatives (12:42)
How AdventHealth supports and advances the careers of African American health care professionals and how these efforts contribute to bridging the health gap (22:26)

“What we have to do is get to a point where we’ve giving equitable care — giving care by meeting patients where they are in their struggle,” Simmonds said.

AdventHealth has provided whole-person care for 115 years. Today, our services, including cancer, cardiac, neurosurgery, orthopedics and a dedicated women’s and children’s hospital are rated among the nation’s best. Learn more at feelhealthyfeelwhole.com.
Disclaimer
AdventHealth and the Orlando Business Journal are providing this podcast as a public benefit. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of AdventHealth or the Orlando Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AdventHealth or the Orlando Business Journal. The views expressed by our guests are their own. Their participation in the podcast does not imply an endorsement by them or any entity they represent. AdventHealth and the Orlando Business Journal hereby disclaim any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequence of damages, arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content in this podcast, which is provided, as is, and without warranties.

Orange County has long worked to level the playing field for those who need access to health care services, said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

What Orange County is doing to bridge the health gap and the biggest progress so far (1:08)
What it means to be the inaugural chief health equity officer at AdventHealth (2:34)
How local governments and health care providers can collaborate more effectively to bridge the health gap in Central Florida (4:57)
Innovative approaches for providing access to health care services in underserved communities (11:16)
Measuring the success of health care initiatives (12:42)
How AdventHealth supports and advances the careers of African American health care professionals and how these efforts contribute to bridging the health gap (22:26)

“What we have to do is get to a point where we’ve giving equitable care — giving care by meeting patients where they are in their struggle,” Simmonds said.

Previous Episode

What’s going around? Prevention strategies for cold and flu season

Join Dr. Tim Hendrix, medical director at AdventHealth Centra Care, as he breaks down the symptoms and prevention strategies for the “quad-demic” of illnesses going around Central Florida in this episode of the Inspiring Wholeness podcast, presented by AdventHealth in partnership with the OBJ.

“We are seeing a significant increase in the number of patients coming into Centra Care,” Hendrix said. “It's the winter months where there’s an increase in flu, COVID-19, RSV and Norovirus.”

Tune in to learn about protecting yourself and your family, vaccinations, when to seek medical care and where to go — the ER, urgent care or your primary care physician — and when to go back to work or school.

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undefined - Hope, healing and helping others: A Central Florida family’s commitment to mental health — with AdventHealth for Children’s Dr. Tina Gurnani

Hope, healing and helping others: A Central Florida family’s commitment to mental health — with AdventHealth for Children’s Dr. Tina Gurnani

Allison Walsh, founder of She Believed She CouldTM Foundation, is a long-time advocate for mental health. She knows that studies show 1 in 4 kids struggle with mental health. She always thought she’d recognize the signs in her own kids, but she didn’t realize how easy they can be to miss. In the winter of 2023, her young daughter Maddie asked for help because her “mental health was decreasing.”

With Allison’s background, she knew how important it was to act swiftly and Dr. Tina Gurnani — a board-certified pediatric psychiatrist with AdventHealth for Children — was one of the first calls she made.

In this episode of the Inspiring Wholeness podcast, presented by AdventHealth in partnership with the OBJ, Allison, Maddie and Gurnani share this inspiring journey about hope, healing and helping others recognize and address mental health issues in children, adolescents and teens.

Listen to this episode to learn about:

Maddie’s story, including finding the courage to ask for help, overcoming her challenges and choosing to be a mental health ambassador
The red flags that suggest a child may be struggling and in need of intervention
Technology’s impact on mental health
How to support the mental well-being of your loved ones
The importance of making mental health part of regular conversations
What AdventHealth for Children is doing to destigmatize mental health

It’s never been more important to talk to your kids about mental health. Learn more about the resources and support available to help children — and their parents by visiting BeAMindLeader.com.