SMHF Awards $1,082,000 in Grants Benefitting SMH

October 25, 2021 – Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation recently awarded three grants totaling more than $1 million to Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. These grants will help SMH purchase a pharmacy robotics system, implement a clinical trial management system for the Women’s Cancer Care Program and expand the RENEW wellness program to the community. 

$845,000 was granted to help renovate the SMH-Sarasota pharmacy and purchase an automated pharmacy storage system and software. The fully automated medication storage and retrieval system creates efficiencies that reduce the time pharmacy staff spends locating and verifying medications, and increases the time they can spend caring for patients. 

$120,000 was provided to the Women’s Cancer Care Program to implement a clinical trial management system for active studies conducted by the SMH clinical research team. The RealTime Clinical Trial Management System provides the tools and accessibility needed to cover all areas of research and trial data storage. 

$117,000 was granted to help the Restore and Empower through Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness (RENEW) program, formerly an SMH employee wellness program, expand to Sarasota County residents. RENEW helps participants reduce risk factors for chronic disease, improves quality of life and decreases medication demands. The funding will help support hiring of additional dietitians and wellness coaches, as well as the purchase of FitBit activity trackers and the production of educational programing.  

“Because of the incredible generosity of our donors, the Healthcare Foundation can continue to fulfill its mission to help SMH provide exceptional healthcare to everyone in our community,” said Mason Ayres, president of the Healthcare Foundation. “These grants are an excellent example of how donor support helps SMH maintain its rank as one of the nation’s best hospitals.” 

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is the philanthropic partner that helps Sarasota Memorial Health Care System bring world-class healthcare to our community. For over 45 years, the Healthcare Foundation has provided grants to enhance patient care, facilities and technology, and to support ongoing clinical education and medical research. smhf.org