Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the distinguished career and leadership of “one of country’s most influential advocates for women’s rights,” Barbara A. Zdravecky. She is retiring after serving 24 years as the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. I am honored to recognize her selfless service and valuable contributions during these challenging times for the health rights of women. 

A Pennsylvania native, Barbara graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned her nursing degree from Manatee County’s State College of Florida. Barbara served as head nurse of Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Psychiatric Program and later served as the Patient Care Coordinator of the First Hospice Program in Key West, primarily caring for HIV/AIDS patients.  In 1993, Barbara accepted the offer to lead Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida as its Chief Executive Officer where she continues to serve and live by their mission to provide comprehensive health care, education, and advocacy for women of all walks of life.

Throughout her career, Barbara advocated to ensure that women have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams – no ceilings, no limits. She successfully fought countless legislative battles and then brought legal challenges when the legislative body overreached, such as Florida’s House Bill 1411, the Termination of Pregnancies and Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida v. Celeste Philip, that would have blocked access to health care for women and their families. She kept up the good fight on all attempts to protect against attempts to cut funding for or defund Planned Parenthood altogether.

Under Barbara’s leadership, Planned Parenthood grew in stature into the Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida in 2015. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida now covers 22 counties with 11 health centers serving over 45,000 patients in Florida.

Barbara was also instrumental in engineering regional headquarters in Sarasota and constructing the new building at 736 Central Avenue where the health care provider has expanded its services. In September, it became the first in Florida to offer hormone therapy for transgender patients.

Barbara has received numerous awards and accolades for her dedicated service. In 2006, Barbara was honored with the Ruth Green Award as the top Planned Parenthood CEO in the country by Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Equality Florida presented her with the “2014 Voice for Equality Award” and in 2015, she was named “Wonder Woman” by the Women’s Resource Center of Manatee County. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida, my neighbors in the Tampa Bay community and women everywhere, I would like to take this opportunity to thank one of the great champions of women’s health and equal rights, Barbara A. Zdravecky, for her many years of service and contributions fighting for the rights of women and their families. It is with great honor and joy to congratulate Barbara on her new endeavor as well as the many accomplishments she has had throughout her career, and I know together we will keep up the good fight.