Scott Rivkees

As department chair, Rivkees introduced novel programs to enhance training in pediatrics and stimulate academic productivity. To encourage pediatric research nationally, he started the national Pediatric Medical Student Research Forum. Rivkees was elected to the board of the Association of Medical Schools Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC). He was the AMSPDC representative to the Pediatric Policy Council. He was elected as one of the directors of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. For his service to pediatrics, he received the American Academy of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award.[10][11][12]

Rivkees meets with Jeanette Nuñez, Ron DeSantis, and Mike Pence in February 2020

On April 1, 2019, Rivkees was nominated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to become State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health of Florida, with broad support from the medical community. During the nomination process, Rivkees’ past experience in public health was questioned. He was confirmed with bipartisan support by the Florida State Senate by a vote of 30-9 on May 13, 2020. In August 2019, he declared a public health emergency in response to the Hepatitis A outbreak in the state. He implemented statewide efforts to reduce rates of newborn infant mortality, screen expectant mothers for substance-abuse to address the neonatal abstinence syndrome problem, initiated new programs to address problems related to drug abuse and initiated programs to address suicide and mental health issues, directed the implementation of new programs focusing on pediatric drowning prevention. He implemented a program to address the opioid epidemic. He also directed the initial development of the next phase of the State Health Improvement Plan.[13][14][15]

He was responsible for playing a key role in the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida by introducing the STEPS plan in March 2019, 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. He also played a role in the safe reopening of Florida K-12 schools in 2020. On March 1, 2020, Rivkees declared a public health emergency in response to COVID-19. Of the course of the pandemic, he issue several public health advisories. On April 15, 2020, Rivkees received national attention when it was reported that he was removed from a press conference after stating that prolonged mitigation measures against COVID-19 would be needed. In May 2021, Rivkees was recognized by the Florida Senate for his efforts. 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.[16][17][18][19][20]

At Brown University, Rivkees has been involved in public health related activities. He has drafted public commentaries related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21][22][23]

While at Indiana University, Rivkees initiated the Indiana Congenital Hypothyroidism Follow-up Program. While in Connecticut he was appointed to the State Genetics Advisory Program. He worked with the United States Senate Health Education Labor and Pension committee in drafting the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act. At Yale he started and directed the Yale Pediatric Thyroid Center, the first of its kind in the country. He 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.

He is responsible for discovering the hidden safety problem of hepatotoxicity in children of the anti-thyroid medication propylthiouracil. This finding was the MedScape #1 Endocrine News Story and Alert of 2009, Endocrine Today Top Ten Endocrine Story of 2010. For this discovery he received a Special Recognition Award Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and the Paul A. Starr Award from the American Thyroid Association.[26][27]

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. For his work in the field of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and the publication of CAH: A Parent’s Guide, he was awarded the CARES Foundation, Physician of the Year, Pioneer Award.[28][29]