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KARI WAGNER
Kari Wagner grew up in a small
town in Kentucky. Before
moving to Florida, she worked
as a broadcast journalist. After
the Boston Marathon bombing,
along with six other moms, she
initiated the “America 4 Boston
Prayer Canvas,” where people
wrote messages of support on giant
canvases. For her work, she was
given the first Humanitarian Award
from Kappa Sigma fraternity. Next,
she formed multiple youth groups in
Women of Accomplishment
DEBBIE ZORIAN
52 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
the Tampa Bay area to teach service,
leadership and problem solving
skills. Kari has also helped complete
several supply drives for natural
disaster relief efforts in Tennessee,
Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina,
California and Texas. Now Kari and
her supporters are working on an
initiative called “See Us Now” to
help foster children have safe, stable
homes. Her work is based on the
golden rule to treat others the way
you want to be treated.
For over 35 years, Debbie Zorian has
served the Hillsborough County
Medical Association (HCMA) and
its physician members. In 1986,
Debbie began her employment as
executive assistant. She took on many
roles, worked diligently alongside two
directors and gained an abundance
of knowledge that allowed her to be
promoted to executive director in 1998.
Always focusing on new initiatives
and goals, Debbie was instrumental
in stabilizing HCMA’s financial
affairs, streamlining positions and
improving strategies, creating
programs that offer tangible resources
to members and establishing
community resources, while accentuating the creation
of valuable partnerships throughout the bay area. Her
involvement in the legislative arena supports members
as they work to transform the delivery of health care at
the grassroots level.
When physician wellness was
brought to the forefront, Debbie
worked relentlessly to create a fully
funded Physician Wellness Program
through the association’s foundation.
Also through the foundation,
successful fundraisers are held,
making it possible to contribute to
a multitude of health care-related
charities. Debbie’s achievements
and leadership have ensured the
mission of the association, and it is
her goal for HCMA to lead a medical
association district.
Debbie is an art enthusiast, a lover
of music and dance, and a season
ticket holder and donor at the Straz Center. Her three
children, four grandchildren and lovable Yorkipoo
bring her the greatest of joys.