About Our Health Officer

Jennifer Hood was appointed as the health officer and administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Hendry and Glades Counties in September 2021.  

Jennifer brings more than 22 years of diverse rural public health experience and served in various roles within the Florida Department of Health – Hendry and Glades since 2000. She has served as an advanced practice registered nurse, assistant director of nursing, nursing director, and the assistant administrator for the health departments in Hendry County.  

Some of her accomplishments include Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, served in public health responses including Hurricane Irma Glades ESF 8 health and medical representative, H1N1, Zika, Hepatitis A, and covid. She currently serves on the Healthier Hendry/Glades task force, Healthy Start/Healthy Families Advisory Committee, member of the Community Alliance, and the Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium. 

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She received her Master of Science in Nursing in 1999 at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Jennifer was selected by the department to be a participant and successfully completed the Public Health Executive Leadership Program from the University of South Florida College of Public Health in 2019. 

Mrs. Hood has been and will continue to be dedicated to the improvement of the health and well-being of the communities in Hendry and Glades Counties. Her focus is promoting quality of life and healthy development of behaviors across all ages and stages of life. The health equity and the health and well-being of the people in Hendry and Glades counties will continue to progress through the efforts of the empowered, highly trained, and customer-focused public health team along with the strong local community partnerships working collaboratively together.