From Putnam, Serving Putnam | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

New appointee eager to serve as director of nursing

Stacie Branam, director of nursing for the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County, stands outside the agency’s building in Palatka earlier this year.
Positively Putnam FL

A Putnam County native took over one of the top spots at the Florida Department of Health’s local office in June.

Stacie Branam, who grew up in San Mateo, became the director of nursing and said she chose to stay here because “you don’t meet better people than in Putnam County.”

“I challenge you to find another county with more hospitality, kindness, consideration and compassion than our county’s residents,” she said.

Branam attended St. Johns River State College and finished her health care studies with the University of Florida’s graduate nurse program for emergency medicine. She started working in UF Health’s trauma center in Gainesville before working at Putnam Community Medical Center from 2016 through June when she joined the state Department of Health in Putnam County.

“I’ve always been the caretaker, the nurturer. I started with the trauma center in Gainesville because I wanted the highest level of training for emergency medicine that a new (graduate) could get,” Branam said. “I wanted to help the sickest of the sick and to be the one on the receiving end of a helicopter or ambulance. I wanted to have a direct hand in saving lives.”

She said everyone at the health department has been welcoming and helpful as she settles into her new role. But she is also excited to collaborate with residents on how the department can better meet local needs.

Some goals in her new position include promoting vaccine programs in businesses, schools and jails. The department also wants to reopen the Crescent City clinic to increase offered services.

Branam said when she thinks of the Putnam community, she thinks of the future for children. And she thinks of people who have been knocked down and need help to get back up because Department of Health employees are “committed to serving those who need us the most.”

“Having six daughters of my own, all raised here in this community, I feel that we must work together toward building a better tomorrow,” Branam said. “We must build one in which our future generations have the opportunity to reach their full health potential.”