About the Administrator

Penny Pringle, MSHS, BSN, RN 

Penny Pringle was appointed Administrator for the Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County effective July 5,2022. Prior to her appointment, Penny has served the Department in DeSoto County since 2005, in roles such as the Executive Community Health Nursing Director and the Assistant CHD Director. Penny received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1995 and earned a Master of Science in Health Science in 2021. Penny has continued to monitor the public health indicators in DeSoto to enable access to services.

DOH-DeSoto leverages primary health care to meet the needs of the community through the integration of care, prevention, promotion, and education. Penny has a special interest in the reduction of health disparities and in evidence-based strategies to increase early detection of HIV, cancer, and reduce chronic disease mortality.

Penny is a current Board Member for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Steering Committee, Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland, Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Rotary Club, All Faiths Food Resource Center, Family Safety Alliance, and the DeSoto Cares Homeless Services. Penny has served as a keynote speaker for the Health Resources & Services Administration Ryan White All Grantees conference in Washington, D.C., and Nashville, TN focusing on Clinical Quality Management in HIV care. Most recently she served as an abstract reviewer for the 2022, 2023, and the 2024 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment.

Penny knows public health touches every life every day, whether directly or indirectly, and counts it a privilege to lead a dedicated public health team to meet the needs of the DeSoto community.