Sarasota Memorial Names Employee/Leader of the Year

March 14, 2025 | Sarasota

Each year, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System selects an exceptional staff member and leader from its 10,500-member team to be honored as the EXCEL Employee and Leader of the Year.

Employee of the Year

A panel of past EXCEL award-winners faced the difficult task of selecting a single Employee of the Year from the outstanding group of last year’s EXCEL Employee of the Month recipients.

This year’s Employee of the Year recipient is Diane Troupe-Bryant, who works as a health unit coordinator on the Respiratory Progressive Care Unit at SMH-Sarasota. Troupe-Bryant has worked at SMH since 1987, earning the admiration and respect of her colleagues through her exceptional service, extensive knowledge, and unwavering commitment to patients and staff for nearly four decades. Nominated by her peers, Diane is described as the backbone of the unit, consistently going above and beyond in her role. Colleagues also note that her compassionate nature shines through even in the most challenging circumstances.

Leader of the Year

Each year, Sarasota Memorial also recognizes a manager or director who exemplifies outstanding leadership and excellence.

This year’s Leader of the Year is Jackie Gould, Clinical Manager for the Orthopedic-Surgical Department at SMH-Venice. Since joining SMH in 2021, Gould has distinguished herself as an exceptional leader. Known for her thoughtful listening skills and respectful approach, she fosters a supportive and collaborative work environment that enhances both staff and patient experiences. Jackie’s innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities have made a significant impact on patient care. She played a pivotal role in improving the orthopedic patient experience. Bringing together orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, and logistics, Jackie led a multidisciplinary approach that has resulted in quality outcomes and patient experience scores consistently exceeding national benchmarks. As one colleague said, “Jackie, we are incredibly grateful for your tremendous leadership and unwavering support!”

Established in 1986 by former Sarasota County Public Hospital Board member Jim Tollerton, the EXCEL Program honors outstanding employees for their dedication and excellence. Tollerton continues to support the program through the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.