Barbara West during her anchoring career at WFTV. Photo credit: WFTV
She wasn’t talking then about parting ways with the ABC affiliate. She hasn’t opened up — until today.
She sent me an email explaining that she is working as a media consultant for Florida Hospital. She also reports, and her work can be seen on the Florida Hospital cable network. That network, she noted, stretches to Tampa, and her work can pop up wherever Florida Hospital decides to use it.
“As you may have guessed, I never wanted to give up my media career as an anchor and reporter,” West wrote. “That’s why I am so delighted to be consulting with Florida Hospital. As I promised viewers in my last newscast, believe me, I have not retired!!!”
At WFTV, West anchored newscasts and reported on health issues, but she is best known for her questioning of then-Sen. Joe Biden during the 2008 presidential campaign. Viewers either loved the questioning or detested it. But those days are behind her.
“Florida Hospital offered me a wonderful opportunity to build on my 24 years’ experience as Orlando’s longest-serving health reporter,” West said. “As a media consultant, I focus on some of the exciting stories in and about the hospital that have important impact for patients, staffers and the community.”
She said she had reported on the hospital’s initiative to build the comprehensive Health Village surrounding its main campus in Orlando. She also reported on Florida Hospital’s drawing thousands of physicians and health-care professionals annually to train in minimally invasive surgery at the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement at Celebration Health.
And West said she is reporting on Florida Hospital’s Healthy 100 program. She wrote and appeared in a video that helped launch the Healthy Central Florida initiative.
“I am so enthused about what I am doing because it directly impacts people’s lives, and I am very grateful for the opportunity Florida Hospital has given me,” West wrote. “I have always admired their dedication to quality health care and their constant quest for innovation and excellence in all they do. Working closely with them has given me even more insight into their incredible achievements and their visionary plans both now and in the future.”
What are your thoughts?
