UF Health Jacksonville welcomes new Vice President of External Affairs

Shamika Wright has joined UF Health Jacksonville as its new Vice President of External Affairs, effective Jan. 6.

Shamika comes to UF from the JAX Chamber, where she served as Executive Director of the Chamber Foundation and External Affairs. Shamika has played a key role in the Chamber’s success where, among other things, she integrated economic development activities in underserved communities, developed policies to maximize Foundation funding, formulated goals and strategies for all fundraising activities, and enhanced the Foundation’s reputation by interacting with other professional, civic and private organizations.

Shamika also has extensive experience in city government, having served in multiple positions with the City of Jacksonville, both in the Mayor’s office and as the Director of Small and Emerging Business. Her expertise in those roles provided her with a deep understanding of community needs and the importance of public-private partnerships to drive local growth.

Deeply committed to both the business and broader Jacksonville community, Shamika has demonstrated her leadership through active service on numerous boards and committees, including the Public Service Grants Commission, the Mayor’s Crime and Safety Commission, the Jax PAL Board, and the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Selection Committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida Connect Class 10 (2020), a Jacksonville Business Journal 2022 Black Excellence spotlight honoree, a graduate of the Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute, and a Jacksonville Business Journal "40 Under 40" honoree. Shamika is also the founder of the JAX Chamber Longest Table, a free community event that averages 600 attendees annually and raises much-needed support for local initiatives. Additionally, she has chaired numerous fundraisers and annual campaigns for local nonprofit organizations, showcasing her dedication to driving positive change in Jacksonville.

Shamika’s primary role will be to foster even stronger relationships with the City of Jacksonville and other community constituents to ensure that UF Health is seen as a valued partner and that we have broad knowledge of how the legislative process impacts our future. In addition, she will work closely with Mark Kaplan, VP of Government and Community Relations for the University of Florida, to create further alignment with our UF Health System and the University.