Press Release

Monroe County Community Health Improvement Plan Partners Recognized

April 8, 2026 3 min read

For media inquiries: Jennifer Lefelar • jennifer.lefelar@flhealth.gov • 305-434-5413

Monroe County, Fla. – On Monday, February 2, 2026, the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe) recognized the four chairpersons for Monroe County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and associated county health priorities during the 2026 Annual CHIP Meeting held at Hawks Cay Resort. Close to 40 community health partners attended to network, discuss accomplishments, and outline next steps for 2026.

The chairpersons were recognized for their outstanding leadership and their tireless work toward improving the health of Monroe County residents. The county’s health priorities, as identified by key stakeholders and residents in the 2025–2029 CHIP, include access to care; mental health and substance abuse; community safety—bicyclist and pedestrian safety; and human trafficking prevention and awareness.

Lissette Rodriguez with All Keys Cycles; Chose Jean Piere with Guidance Care Center (GCC); Lynn Corbett-Winn with Lower Keys Medical Center; and Jesica Lariz with DOH-Monroe were all recognized with a Shining Star Award. Carolyn Thomson received the Bridging the Gap to Care Award, and Lisa LeSeur received the Saving Lives Through Connection Award.

CHIP Partners Group Picture — 2026 Annual CHIP Meeting Group Picture

CHIP Awards One — Community Health Improvement Plan chairpersons receive recognition from the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County at Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, on Feb. 2, 2026. From right: Marianne Finizio, vice president of community relations and business development at CHI and chairwoman for the Access to Care priority; Lisa Marciniak, area director at GCC, accepting an award on behalf of Maureen Dunleavy, LMHC, regional vice president of Guidance/Care Center, Inc., and chairwoman for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse priority; Ryan Stachurski, multimodal transportation coordinator for the City of Key West and chairman for the Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety priority; Oleg Sokolov, agent in charge with Homeland Security Investigations and chairman for Human Trafficking Prevention; and Ivona Coleman, M.S., community health improvement and planning manager for DOH-Monroe. Photo by Jennifer Lefelar, public information officer for DOH-Monroe.

CHIP Awards Two — From right: Carolyn Thomson, ACA-certified and licensed healthcare advisor; Lisa LeSeur, suicide prevention initiative coordinator; and Ivona Coleman, M.S., community health improvement and planning manager for DOH-Monroe. Photo by Jennifer Lefelar, public information officer for DOH-Monroe.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov