Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Elects Philip Simpson, Ph.D., as New Board Chair

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (October 14, 2026)—Jess Parrish Medical Foundation (JPMF), the philanthropic arm of Parrish Healthcare, announce the election of Philip Simpson, Ph.D. as chair of its Board of Directors. Simpson currently serves as the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Eastern Florida State College.

Simpson earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Eastern Illinois University and his Ph.D. in American Literature from Southern Illinois University. An accomplished scholar and author, he has published numerous books and articles exploring film, fiction and other forms of popular culture

Committed to making a positive impact on the community, Simpson serves on several boards and committees, including the Endowment Committee and Governing Board of the Popular Culture Association, the Council of Instructional Affairs of the Florida College System and the Distance Learning and Student Services Committee of the Florida Virtual Campus.

Other officers and members of the executive board voted into office include Kelley Broome, chair elect; Britt Diaz, vice-chair; Jennifer Trastelis, secretary; Kyle Bradfield, treasurer; Melissa Lugo, immediate past chair; and George Mikitarian, ex-officio and Parrish Healthcare president/CEO.

Executive committee members elected include Christopher Broome, Esq., Santiago Bulnes, Randall Coleman, Jason Snodgrass and Britt Diaz.

Directors elected on the board include Winnie Brewer, William Chivers, Herman Cole, Mary Coleman, David D. Ferguson, Tanya Hudson, Lisa McAlpine, Jo Lynn Nelson, Dr. Kevat Patel, Howard Rinker, DDS, Joe Rodriguez and Turmy Sieveking.

Jerry Allender, Esq., and Barbara Terhune will serve the Foundation as board members emeritus.

“As a member of the JPMF board for more than 13 years, I am honored to take on the role of Chair and continue supporting the Foundation’s important work,” said Simpson. “Parrish Healthcare’s vision of Healing Families—Healing Communities® reflects the values I hold dear. I am grateful to serve alongside dedicated community leaders who share their time, talents and resources to strengthen Parrish Healthcare’s mission, vision and values. Through our collective commitment, we will continue to advance high-quality healthcare and make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout North Brevard.”