Linda Hansen Caldwell (BSPE ’76)
Health educator, author and former Gators volleyball player
Linda Hansen Caldwell is no stranger to discovering how far her curiosity can take her when it comes to learning new things. After decades of research, the HHP alumna recently published a book detailing the life and contributions of Dr. John Gorrie (1803-1855), a Floridian recognized as “the father of refrigeration and air conditioning.”
“Gorrie lived a short life, but during those years he accomplished more in the science of medicine and public health education than anyone else in his day, even those that practiced medicine for much longer,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell comes from a family of educators and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. She was a member of the inaugural Gators volleyball team and credits HHP faculty with helping shape her career and life. In an interview with HHP, Caldwell detailed what inspired her to write Dr. Gorrie’s biography and how his work is relevant today.