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Senate Delays Surgeon General's Confirmation

Surgeon General John Armstrong, who also functions as Secretary of the Department of Health, will likely not win Senate confirmation this year, the Associated Press reports.

That news comes from Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who chairs a committee that decides whether appointees get confirmed or have to come back and try again the second year. He said some senators question Armstrong's ability to work with other officials, AP reports.

Armstrong, who was appointed 11 months ago, had been serving as chief medical officer for the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS).

His predecessor was Surgeon General, Dr. Frank Farmer, served less than a year before resigning in March 2012, citing his wife's illness.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.