Health Foundation of South Florida Elects Board Chair and Welcomes New Board Member

Michael De Lucca, Broward Regional Health Planning Council President and CEO, Elected Board Chair
Jose A. Linares, Vice President for Leon Medical Centers’ Leon at Home Division Joins Board

Michael De Lucca (LEFT); Jose Linares (RIGHT)

The Health Foundation of South Florida has announced a new board chair and welcomed a new member to the board.  

Mike De Lucca, President and CEO of Broward Regional Health Planning Council (BRHPC), was elected Board Chair, succeeding Melida Akiti, who served for two years and was the first Black Latina board chair in the organization’s history.  Joining De Lucca and the rest of the board is Jose A. Linares, Vice President for Leon Medical Centers’ Leon at Home Division.  Both De Lucca and Linares bring years of experience of working to improve health across the South Florida region. 

“We welcome these incredible leaders to our Board, knowing they will make a major difference in guiding and supporting our initiatives and programs,” said Loreen Chant, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida. 

MICHAEL DE LUCCA

With more than 30 years of experience, De Lucca’s background includes healthcare management, health planning, health policy, program development and community advocacy outreach. A proven leader, De Lucca helmed the development of the Florida Health Data Warehouse, an innovative and vital tool used by policy makers and providers across the state that provides analysis of health data including medical services, health conditions, economic factors and demographics. 

Under his guidance, BRHPC became and remains the lead agency providing support to the Ryan White HIV Program, which offers direct services to uninsured and underinsured low-income Broward County residents. BRHPC is also works with the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, helping eligible patients enroll for health insurance and pay premiums. For the program, De Lucca developed a proprietary state-of-the-art system that streamlines and centralizes enrollment and premium payments to maximize client retention and provide continuity of care. 

A lifetime member of 2-1-1 Broward, Leadership Broward and Leadership Florida, De Lucca also serves on Nova Southeastern University’s Master of Public Health Program Advisory Committee. In addition, he serves as Chair for the Health Care Access Committee, the United Way Impact Committee and the One Blood Board of Directors. He also sits on the Executive Board of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force. 

A member of the South Florida 100, a group of 100 of South Florida’s most influential people in government, politics and culture, De Lucca has received numerous recognition awards including the Caring Soul Award from International Health Initiatives, the Paths of Public Health Award for Health Policy and Management from Florida International University, Spirit Driven Leader Award, and Broward College Non-Profit Organization Leader of the Year Award. In 2022, he received the PRC 2022 Healthcare Leadership Award for community impact. De Lucca holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University and a Master of Science in Health Management from St. Thomas University.

“I am honored to serve in this leadership role for the Health Foundation of South Florida and I am thrilled to work alongside dedicated professionals who share my commitment and passion for positively impacting the community,”  said De Lucca.

JOSE LINARES

The Health Foundation also welcomes Jose A. Linares as a new board member. Linares serves as Vice President for Leon Medical Centers’ Leon at Home division. Linares began his career in healthcare in 2003 with Novartis Pharmaceuticals. In 2007, he transitioned to the provider space when he joined All-Med Services of Florida. In 2015, he joined Leon Medical Centers and was tasked with launching its home care division beginning with the home medical equipment team. That launch was quickly followed with the additions of home health, infusion and care management programs.

In his role at Leon Medical Centers, Linares has strategic and operational responsibility of home health services, durable medical equipment services, home infusion services, long term care services, clinical and social care management programs, and transitional and community-based services. The division’s primary focus is to improve healthcare outcomes, limit unnecessary patient encounters and ensure patients can safely transition back to the community and convalesce in the comfort of their own home. 

Linares holds a Bachelor of Science from Florida International University and a Master of Science in International Business Administration from the Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University.  Jose currently holds a board position with the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“I am honored to join this board, and I look forward to supporting the Health Foundation of South Florida and its impactful contributions to our community,”  Linares said.