SMH Honors Past & Present Physicians

March 28, 2025 | Sarasota

By the time the very first Doctors’ Day rolled around on March 30, 1933, a group of local physicians had been caring for local residents at Sarasota County’s first modern hospital for nearly a decade.

The 32-bed Sarasota Hospital, which would later be renamed Sarasota Memorial Hospital after veterans of two world wars, opened its doors on Nov. 2, 1925, with a dozen doctors serving a rapidly growing Sarasota community.

In the 10 decades since, through the Great Depression, recessions, a world war, astonishing medical advances, a global pandemic and devastating hurricanes, the compassion, care and commitment demonstrated by SMH physicians has never wavered.

“As we look back on a century of care, and celebrate a very special Doctors’ Day this week, we want to recognize and thank the thousands of physicians who have left their mark on our hospital and community in the very best way,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder.

Today, with more than 2,500 physicians and advanced care providers, and more than 2 million patient visits a year, Sarasota Memorial is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive health systems, nationally recognized for its highly trained clinicians, research and advanced care.

Despite its growth, SMH remains the only community-owned and only not-for-profit health system in the county, and largest safety net provider in the region. The health system’s network of care includes two full-service hospitals (with more than 1,100 beds) in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, and dozens of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices that stretch from Manatee County to North Port.

In celebration of Doctors’ Day on Sunday, March 30, Sarasota Memorial invites you to join them in honoring the incredible physicians who make a difference every day. Head to the Doctors’ Day Facebook post here and share a heartfelt thank you message to the doctors who have impacted your life.

Learn more about SMH’s storied history
Flip through the electronic version of SMH’s 100-year history book, upload a special photo to SMH’s historical timeline and learn about SMH’s storied history in fun and interactive ways at smh.com/100.