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Margo Snipe - Health Equity Reporter
Margo Snipe

Health Equity Reporter

It is a passion of mine to report stories that give a voice to under-served and underrepresented communities. As a health equity reporter, I get to do just that — tell stories that make you feel something, spark dialogue, inspire deep thinking and reflection. I’m not a Florida native. In fact, I’m not really a native anywhere. I’ve lived in a handful of cities across the country and even spent 3.5 years living in Rome. When I’m not reporting, I’m chugging coffee, listening to music or figuring how to work out now that my days of playing collegiate volleyball are over. Reach out to me if you want to share your story or just chat.

  1. As Florida hits 10,000 cases a day, experts seek more COVID data from state
    Jul. 24• Health
    Jennifer Loyless, holds her daughter, Avery, 12, as she prepares to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a mobile site in West Palm Beach on May 14.
  2. Florida leads nation in coronavirus infections in 2020-like surge
    Jul. 17• Health
    Early July 2021 saw a week-to-week growth rate that's the highest Florida has seen since the first wave of COVID-19 infections in June 2020, around when Daniela St. Gerard (above) was conducting COVID-19 tests in St. Petersburg.
  3. How four Tampa Bay ZIP codes explain Florida’s vaccine divide
    Jul. 4• Health
    Steven Rossi cuts Rodney Sesler's hair at Rossi's Barbershop on U.S. 41 S in Gibsonton. Both live live in ZIP code 33534, where only 31 percent of the residents have received a coronavirus vaccine shot. Ross said he has not been vaccinated, and wasn't surprised to hear that Gibsonton is one of the least vaccinated areas in Hillsborough County. Rossi said he is a fundamentalist Christian and they're "on the fence about it." Sesler said he's see how the vaccine affects people before he gets it.
  5. Nikki Fried launches statewide energy equity study
    Jun. 22• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, cetner, announced plans to launch Florida’s first statewide energy equity study at a Tuesday, June 22, 2020 news conference in Tampa's Robles Park neighborhood.
  6. Big Tobacco targeted Black Floridians. Menthol ban aims to reverse the damage.
    Jun. 21• Health
    Briana Brooks, 21, is a pre-law student who is organizing anti-tobacco efforts in St. Petersburg as a national ambassador with the Truth Initiative, the nation’s largest nonprofit anti-tobacco organization. She's focusing on predominantly Black neighborhoods, where she has family. The tobacco industry targets the Black community to sell menthol-flavored cigarettes, which are easier to start smoking and harder to stop.
  7. Crist, Demings urge Congress to pass maternal health legislation
    Jun. 18• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, left, the St. Petersburg Democrat running for Florida governor. U.S. Rep Val Demings, right, the Orlando Democrat running for U.S. Senate.
  8. State Rep. Michele Rayner jumps into congressional race to replace Crist
    Jun. 14• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Michele Rayner makes an announcement that she is running for Florida’s 13th Congressional District in Largo June 14, 2021. Photo by: Bob Croslin
  9. St. Petersburg leaders to go door-to-door to curb gun violence
    Jun. 9• St. Petersburg
    Matt Byrd, talks about a new initiative supported by St. Petersburg leaders who plan to go door-to-door to curb gun violence. The "Hidden Voices Project" will assemble a street team to bring resources like mental health support and job programs to those impacted by the recent surge in violence. The project is a collaboration between the city of St. Petersburg's Urban Affairs department and People Empowering & Restoring Communities, or PERC, a nonprofit aimed at supporting ex-offenders with education and resources.
  10. ‘Pride still goes on’ for trans Floridians after sports law, budget cuts
    Jun. 5• Florida
    Smiling faces and bright colors are seen behind a wall of bubbles and foam being sprayed to the crowd during the Tampa Pride Diversity Parade, on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Ybor City
  11. George Floyd was murdered a year ago. Many Black Floridians still can’t watch.
    May 25• Health
    Charlie Jenkins, seen here during a recent visit to Tampa's Lykes Gaslight Park, asks why it takes such dehumanizing images to move the needle on racial justice.
  12. New rules boost health for transgender patients. ‘We’re just human beings.’
    May 14• Health
    When 76-year-old Geri Russo, of Pinellas Park, began her transition from male to female two years ago, a doctor told her she was too old. Russo is among those who stand to benefit from the Biden administration's decision, announced this week, to restore protections against discrimination in health care for gay and transgender patients.
  13. Democrats express optimism at Tampa fundraiser despite GOP victories
    May 2• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Congressman Charlie Crist, seen here on Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, spoke Saturday at a Democratic fundraiser in Tampa. He expressed optimism about the party despite the GOP's dominance, and is days away from making a big political announcement.
  14. Tampa Bay steps up effort to get COVID vaccines into minority communities
    Apr. 30• Health
    Tho Huu Vo, 58, receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Lealman and Asian Neighborhood Family Center on April 3. Vo came to the United States from Vietnam seven years ago. Tampa Bay area health officials are looking for ways to reach further into minority communities as they work to expand the vaccination effort.
  15. As Florida lawmakers took aim at transgender athletes, old wounds reopened
    Apr. 23• Health
    “A lot of trans people, including myself, don’t really feel comfortable in sports,” said Bea, a St. Petersburg 14-year-old whose family requested that their last name not be used for safety and privacy reasons. Still, Bea wants to join the track team when they get to high school.
  16. Florida’s health agencies are led by Black women. Can they create equity?
    Apr. 12• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Florida Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson, right, speaks to the media as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis looks on during a news conference Monday, March 2, 2020, in Tampa.
  17. Florida gets nearly $200 million to bolster vaccination effort
    Apr. 6• Health
    Nurse Annette Shelton administers the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine last month to Bernice Wyche at Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.
  18. Vaccine demand rises around Tampa Bay on first day of open eligibility
    Apr. 5• Health
    Tyler Rorah, 18, of Brooksville, receives a Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine shot from LPN Sonia Woods, right, while receiving his CDC (issued) Covid 10 Vaccination Card during his vaccination appointment on Monday, April 5, 2021, at Saint Leo University, which is serving as the host for the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution for East Pasco County. Looking for a vaccine? https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/03/18/a-guide-to-finding-a-coronavirus-vaccine-in-tampa-bay-and-florida/
  19. This year’s Chiles Advocacy Award goes to Hillsborough’s Lo Berry
    Mar. 30• Health
    The pandemic and last year's protests over racial justice have led to "a new awakening" that will improve health care, said advocate Lo Berry, the recipient of this year's Chiles Advocacy Award.
  20. Tampa Bay Asian Americans process national rise in hate and violence
    Mar. 24• Life & Culture
    Staff members from "Sparks," a student run magazine covering Asian American affairs at the University of South Florida, meets virtually on March 19, 2021 to discuss their reactions to the shootings at massage parlors in Atlanta.
  21. Medicaid boost would give a year of postpartum care to Florida moms
    Mar. 23• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, speaks on the opening day of the 2021 legislative session earlier this month. On Tuesday, he announced legislation to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers in Florida.
  22. How to join the bone marrow registry and donate blood in Tampa Bay
    Mar. 11• Health
    A volunteer instructs Sheena Silva, 37, and her husband, Peter Silva, 41, while they perform cheek swabs during a Feb. 13 drive-through event in support of 8-year-old Jakobe Washington, who is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
  23. Florida patients of color face barriers to transplants. Is there a simple fix?
    Mar. 11• Health
    Jordan Washington and Imeria Price pause during a drive-through cheek swabbing event last month in Tampa for their 8-year-old son, Jakobe, who is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Organizers from Be The Match and the Icla da Silva Foundation hoped to find a bone marrow match for Jakobe.
  24. Is St. Pete really that progressive? A familiar face says maybe not.
    Feb. 24• St. Petersburg
    Terri Lipsey Scott, a former city employee, is the executive director at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg.