Meet our Senior Leaders / Dr. Bonnie Sorensen - Director - Biography

With over 20 years in public health, Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen brings years of experience and expertise to Volusia County. She started her public health career in 1990 at the Volusia County Health Department as an HIV/AIDS expert and then advanced to become the Director in 1996. In 2002, she was promoted to work for the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee where she was responsible for all 67 county health departments. In 2007, she had the opportunity to help launch the new California Department of Public Health in Sacramento under Governor Schwarzenegger's leadership. She returned home in August of 2009 to resume the Directorship of the Volusia County Health Department. Along with her Volusia duties, in September of 2012, Dr. Sorensen was selected as Incident Commander of the TB Cluster Investigation in Duval County. She was also named Interim Director of the Duval County Health Department. Dr. Sorensen obtained her Bachelors in Science, Doctorate in Medicine and Board Certification in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Illinois. She obtained her Board Certification in Internal Medicine at the University of Florida. After 10 years of private practice in Palm Beach County, Dr. Sorensen attended a year of law school at University of Florida before discovering public health. She also obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2000. That same year she won first place (in her age group) walking the Disney Marathon. As is typical of a public health professional, Dr. Sorensen migrated from a career of treating end-stage diseases to a career of preventing diseases by promoting healthy living. She was awarded the Outstanding Woman in Public Health Award in 2004 by the USF College of Public Health. Other awards include: 2012 Community Partner of the Year from Stetson University’s Community-Based Research Program 2010 Outstanding Leadership Award from Daytona State College Women’s Center in Honor of National Women’s History Month 2010 Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers Distinguished Service Award