SMH Honors Physicians, Installs New Staff Leaders

Sarasota Memorial’s medical team honored two physicians for outstanding service to the hospital and the community and installed its new staff leaders for 2019-2020.

Orthopedic Surgeon Ronald White, MD, was awarded the health system’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, and Cardiologist Chippy Nalluri, MD, was named 2019 Physician of the Year. Drs. White and Nalluri were selected by a committee of physician leaders and recognized at SMH’s annual medical staff meeting on Oct. 22.

Dr. White was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award for his commitment to his patients and the community he has served for more than 40 years. Dr. White is widely regarded as a man of service and integrity, a mentor to physicians, and a tireless worker.  He is known as the Ironman of Orthopedics with his staff estimating he has performed over 16,000 joint replacement surgeries. He founded Kennedy and White Orthopedics in 1982 with William Kennedy, MD, and has been on staff at SMH since 1974. Active in the community, he has coached high school softball and volleyball, taught Sunday school, and supported classical music programs. Among other meaningful contributions, he funded a High Acuity Center at his alma matter, Ohio State University, to train intensive care nurses. The center was built in honor of his son, who passed away in 2003. 

Tuesday, the medical staff also honored Dr. Nalluri as 2019 Physician of the Year. Describing her as the consummate non-invasive cardiologist who is universally loved by all her patients and the medical staff, colleagues praised Dr. Nalluri’s ability to keep the care in health care, especially when handling complicated cases. An advocate of preventative cardiology, she initiated the Ornish Program at SMH to help patients reverse coronary artery disease. In particular she is a supporter of Women’s Cardiac Care and the Red Dress Program. 

The SMH Medical Staff also appointed officers of the 2019-2020 Medical Executive Committee: Alissa Shulman, MD, was named Chief of Staff, serving as the top representative of Sarasota Memorial’s more than 1,400 medical staff members and advanced practice providers. She succeeds Joey Seaman, MD, whose one-year term as Chief of Staff ends this month. Jack Wazen, MD, was named Chief of Staff Elect, while Kyle Garner, MD, was named secretary-treasurer, and Kevin Koehler, MD, and Scott Perrin, MD, were named members-at-large.

In addition to the physician awards, Caitlin Bass, a third-year resident physician, was awarded the inaugural 2019 Domenick Cover Humanitarian Award. The award was presented by the Florida State University Internal Medicine Residency Program at SMH in honor of Caitlin’s consistent demonstration of compassion, respect, integrity and service. The award was given in memoriam of the late Domenick Cover, MD, who served SMH and Sarasota County for more than 30 years, committing his time to improving patient care as a leading nephrologist. The award commemorates his dedication and meaningful contributions to the community.