For Hometown News

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Local attorney Robert Rappel has been re-elected as chairman of the senior lawyers division of the Federal Bar Association, as well as elected as co-chairman of the committee on health law of the business law section of the American Bar Association.

Dr. Rappel oversees more than 300 lawyers older than 55 who are members of this organization, or who are retired from active law practice, keeping them informed about such areas as health care reform, social security, federal regulations, elder law and more.

"They may be considered 'senior', but a lot of these attorneys are still involved in practicing law in some way, including working for the federal government and actually participating in the recent reform initiatives," said Dr. Rappel.

Locally Dr. Rappel serves as the chairman of Treasure Coast Community Heath, Indian River County's federally funded nonprofit community health care center, where he has served for nine years.

He has recruited other community leaders to assist in the development of a multisite health delivery system of primary care for the needy and underinsured.

In the last three years, the organization has grown from a single site in Fellsmere to a new location in Vero Beach, which has doubled in size in response to the need.

In October, a third site will open on Oslo Road to provide a range of services including family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and dental care for the south portion of Indian River County.

The Rappel Health Law Group is located at 1515 Indian River Blvd., Suite A-210, Vero Beach. For more information, call (772) 778-8885.