28 Facts About Scott Rivkees

Scott Andrew Rivkees was born on 1956 and is an American physician-scientist and pediatric endocrinologist, who served as State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health of Florida from June 2019 to September 2021.

Scott Rivkees is currently Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island.

Scott Rivkees graduated with a BS degree from Cook College, Rutgers University in 1978 with high honors, he was Freshman- of-the-Year, George H Cook Scholar, President of the Cook College Council, President of the Alpha Zeta honorary fraternity, recipient of the Selman Waksman Award, and earned three varsity letters in lightweight crew, elected co-captain and named George Cahill Award winner, as well.

Scott Rivkees received residency training in pediatrics from 1982 to 1985 at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Scott Rivkees became Academic Chair of Pediatrics, Arnold Palmer Hospital, Orlando Health, and University of Florida Chair of Pediatrics, Studer Family Children's Hospital, Pensacola.

In 2019, Scott Rivkees was confirmed as State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health for Florida, a position he held until September 2021.

In 2022, Scott Rivkees left the University of Florida and joined the Brown University School of Public Health.

In September 2023, Scott Rivkees rebuked the DeSantis administration's criticism of COVID-19 vaccines as not proven to be safe or effective.

Scott Rivkees was elected to the board of the Association of Medical Schools Pediatric Department Chairs.

Scott Rivkees was the AMSPDC representative to the Pediatric Policy Council.

Scott Rivkees was elected as one of the directors of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Scott Rivkees implemented a program to address the opioid epidemic.

Scott Rivkees directed the initial development of the next phase of the State Health Improvement Plan.

Scott Rivkees was responsible for playing a key role in the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida by introducing the STEPS plan in which involved social distancing and mitigation measures, testing and contact tracing, elderly and vulnerable protection, preparing and supporting health care, and stopping the introduction of COVID-19 to the state and long-term care facilities.

Scott Rivkees played a role in the reopening of Florida K-12 schools in 2020.

On March 1,2020, Scott Rivkees declared a public health emergency in response to COVID-19.

In May 2021, Scott Rivkees was recognized by the Florida Senate for his efforts.

Scott Rivkees served as State Surgeon General until September 2021, when the employee interchange agreement between the University of Florida and the Department of Health ended.

At Brown University, Scott Rivkees has been involved in public health related activities.

Scott Rivkees has drafted public commentaries related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scott Rivkees has several areas of basic-science and clinical research focus.

Scott Rivkees characterized receptors for adenosine and studies of the effects of caffeine during development.

Scott Rivkees has had more than 34 years of funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Scott Rivkees has more than 300 original reports, reviews, commentaries and chapters combined.

Scott Rivkees worked with the United States Senate Health Education Labor and Pension committee in drafting the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act.

Scott Rivkees drafted seminal reports related to growth in juvenile acquired hypothyroidism, the use of radioactive iodine in the treatment of hyperthyroidism, and the treatment of pediatric thyroid cancer.

Scott Rivkees is responsible for discovering the hidden safety problem of hepatotoxicity in children of the anti-thyroid medication propylthiouracil.

Scott Rivkees impacted clinical pediatric endocrinology with his description of the use of dexamethasone for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and the use of thiazide diuretics for the treatment of neonatal diabetes insipidus.