Former Florida Department of Health General Counsel John Wilson Available to Represent Licensed Health Care Professionals Before Florida Licensing Boards

Beginning October 11, 2026, I will be available to appear on behalf of licensed health care professionals before the Florida Board of Medicine, Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Board of Dentistry, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Psychology and other professional licensing boards under the Florida Department of Health.

This marks an important expansion of my professional license defense practice at Howell, Buchan & Strong. It gives me the opportunity to personally represent practitioners at board meetings and advocate for them throughout the disciplinary, licensing and regulatory process.

For health care professionals, an appearance before a licensing board can be one of the most consequential moments of their careers. Board decisions can affect a professional’s license, reputation, livelihood and ability to continue caring for patients. Effective representation requires more than familiarity with the law. It requires an understanding of how the Department investigates cases, how prosecutors evaluate evidence, how proposed settlements are developed and how individual boards approach disciplinary matters.

My experience inside the Florida Department of Health provides that perspective.

Experience Inside the Florida Department of Health

Before joining Howell, Buchan & Strong, I served in several legal and leadership positions with the Florida Department of Health, including General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel for the Prosecution Services Unit and Chief Legal Counsel for multiple health care regulatory boards.

I joined the Department in 2016 after serving as an assistant state attorney for Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit, where I represented the State of Florida in misdemeanor and felony prosecutions.

While working within the Department’s Prosecution Services Unit, I handled and supervised disciplinary proceedings involving licensed health care professionals. I later led the unit and oversaw a statewide team of approximately 60 attorneys commonly referred to as prosecutors. These attorneys were responsible for evaluating investigative findings and prosecuting administrative cases against health care practitioners regulated by the Department.

The cases handled by the unit included allegations involving standards of care, inadequate medical records, substance impairment, sexual misconduct, criminal conduct, unlicensed activity, regulatory noncompliance and other alleged violations of Florida’s professional practice acts.

I also served as Chief Legal Counsel for several regulatory boards, including the Board of Dentistry, Board of Chiropractic Medicine, Board of Massage Therapy, Board of Psychology and other allied health professions. In that role, I advised boards regarding disciplinary matters, regulatory issues, policies and procedures related to the protection of the public.

In April 2022, I was promoted to General Counsel of the Florida Department of Health. As General Counsel, I oversaw the Department’s Office of General Counsel and its statewide legal team. The office provided legal representation for the Department, coordinated legal assignments and risk-management referrals, prepared legal opinions, provided training and oversight to Department attorneys and responded to legal issues involving Department programs and county health departments.

That experience gave me an extensive understanding of the people, procedures and legal considerations involved in Florida health care regulation.

Representing Florida’s Licensed Health Care Professionals

At Howell, Buchan & Strong, I use my regulatory experience to represent health care professionals whose licenses, businesses or careers may be at risk.

Beginning October 11, I will be available to personally appear before Florida’s health care licensing boards on behalf of professionals such as:

• Physicians
• Osteopathic physicians
• Dentists and dental hygienists
• Pharmacists and pharmacy professionals
• Psychologists
• Chiropractors
• Massage therapists
• Nurses
• Mental health professionals
• Optometrists
• Respiratory therapists
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Speech-language pathologists and audiologists
• Other professionals licensed by the Florida Department of Health

Representation may involve responding to questions from board members, presenting mitigation, advocating for a proposed settlement, addressing concerns about a license application or explaining why a particular disciplinary outcome is appropriate under the facts and the law.

A board appearance is rarely an isolated event. It is typically the culmination of an investigation, probable cause determination, negotiation or formal administrative proceeding. Decisions made earlier in the case can significantly affect what happens when the matter reaches the board.

That is why involving an experienced health care attorney as early as possible is important.

“When your professional license is at stake, your attorney should understand more than the statute cited in the complaint. Your attorney should understand the entire regulatory process, how the Department evaluates a case and how to present your position effectively before the board. Experience on both sides of that process can make an important difference.”
— John Wilson

Understanding the Board’s Role

Florida’s professional licensing boards are responsible for enforcing the laws and rules governing their respective professions. Board members review disciplinary cases, license applications, settlement agreements and other matters involving the professionals they regulate.

Depending on the circumstances, a board may have the authority to approve or reject a settlement, impose conditions on a license, issue a reprimand, levy a fine, require continuing education, restrict a professional’s practice, suspend a license or revoke a license.

Even when the Department and the practitioner have negotiated a settlement, the board may ask questions, request additional information or propose different terms. An attorney appearing before the board must be prepared to explain the facts, address legal and regulatory concerns and advocate for a fair resolution.

Having represented the Department and advised regulatory boards, I understand the types of questions board members may ask and the concerns that can influence their decisions. I use that experience to help clients prepare carefully, communicate clearly and present their cases within the appropriate legal framework.

When to Contact a Professional License Defense Attorney

You should consider contacting an experienced Florida health care attorney immediately if you receive:

• A letter notifying you of a Department of Health investigation
• A request for patient records or a written response
• An Administrative Complaint
• An Emergency Suspension Order
• An Emergency Restriction Order
• A Notice of Intent to Deny a license application
• A proposed settlement agreement
• Notice that your case will be presented to a probable cause panel
• Notice that you must appear before a professional licensing board
• A subpoena or request for an interview
• Any other communication that could affect your professional license

Do not assume that an informal explanation will resolve the matter. Statements made during an investigation may become part of the evidence evaluated by Department attorneys, a probable cause panel, an administrative law judge or the licensing board.

Early legal guidance can help preserve available defenses, protect important deadlines and prevent avoidable mistakes.

Experience Matters When Your License Is at Stake

Licensed health care professionals spend years building their careers. A regulatory investigation or licensing dispute can put that work at risk.

My role is to help clients understand the process, evaluate the allegations, develop an informed strategy and present their position effectively. Whether a matter involves an Administrative Complaint, emergency action, application denial, settlement negotiation or appearance before a Florida licensing board, preparation and experience are essential.

If you are facing an Administrative Complaint, Emergency Suspension Order, Emergency Restriction Order, Notice of Intent to Deny or another matter involving your Florida health care license, contact Howell, Buchan & Strong at 850-877-7776 and request a consultation with attorney John Wilson.

Early action can be critical to protecting your license, your reputation and your career.