News and advice from Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial is a communityowned health system governed by the nine-member elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
David Verinder - President & CEO
SARASOTA COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBERS
Sarah Lodge – Chair
Brad Baker
Pam Beitlich, DNP, APRN
Gregory Carter
Kevin Cooper
Sharon Wetzler DePeters, APRN
Bridgette Fiorucci, BSN, RN
Patricia Maraia, BSN, RN
Victor Rohe
SMH Today is a semi-annual publication produced by Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. For more SMH news and contact information, visit smh.com/news.
SMH’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Team Takes Aim at World’s Deadliest Cancer Lung Team Detecting Cancer at Earlier,
L ung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, claiming more lives each year than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined.
But lung cancer specialists at Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute are helping people beat those odds with an aggressive detection program catching early-stage lung cancer at double the rate achieved in most health systems across the nation.
“More than half of our lung cancer patients are being detected in stage I or II, when we have the best chance of treating and curing them,” said Joseph Seaman, MD, associate chief medical officer at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and medical director of SMH’s lung cancer screening program. “Much of that is due to our multi-prong approach to not only educate and screen high-risk patients, but also proactively look for suspicious nodules in unrelated scans and chest x-rays patients complete at SMH.”
SMH has long urged high-risk smokers and ex-smokers to begin annual screenings with low-dose CT scans, but in recent years, the lung team began leveraging innovative AI software developed by Eon to help radiologists detect suspicious nodules in imaging studies.
These suspicious findings are often described as “incidental” as they are found on scans completed for separate reasons. By combining lung cancer screening with an incidental findings program, SMH has been able to spot more potential cancers, regardless of the patient’s entry point into the health system.
In 2024, SMH was honored by Eon’s Center of Excellence division for its comprehensive early detection efforts and for diagnosing more than half of its lung cancer patients (57.6%) in the most treatable Stage I or II phase. That is more than double the state and national average of 24.9% and 26.6%, respectively, the company noted.
“We are thrilled to recognize Sarasota Memorial for their outstanding commitment to early cancer detection,” said Dr. Scott Skibo, Chief Medical Officer of Eon. “Their data-driven approach and devotion to patient care have positioned them as a leader in lung cancer screening and incidentals, offering a model for other health systems across the nation.”
Most Treatable Stages
SMH lung cancer screenings have nearly doubled since SMH expanded its detection program in 2019 and introduced Eon’s AI software. Patients whose incidental findings indicate they have a potentially high-risk nodule are urged to begin annual low-dose CT (computed tomography) screenings for lung cancer, said Amie Miller, ARNP, coordinator of SMH’s lung cancer screening program.
“Catching lung cancer early greatly increases the patient’s chances that it can be treated and even cured,” Miller said. “And if we can diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stages, it’s going to make a huge impact.”
During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, SMH’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute lung cancer team was recognized for leading the nation in early detection of lung cancer. From left, the lung cancer team includes: Amie Miller, ARNP, screening program manager; Omar Sheriff, MD, pulmonologist; Blair Marshall, MD, thoracic surgeon; Joseph Seaman, MD, SMH-Sarasota associate chief medical officer; Renata Leimig Gonzalez, RN, oncology nurse, and (not shown) Rona Seiple, RMA, program coordinator.
Is Lung Cancer Screening Right for You?
Just like annual mammograms, low-dose CT lung cancer screening should be seen as a yearly necessity for those at high risk. Lung cancer screening may be right for you if:
• You are age 50 to 80.
• You are a current smoker or former smoker who quit within the last 15 years.
• You have a history of at least 20 years of smoking an average of one pack per day.
Where to Get Screened
Screenings should be done only at facilities that offer low-dose CT scanners and have a team of specialists experienced in lung cancer screening who provide comprehensive follow-up care needed by patients with abnormal results. Sarasota Memorial is designated as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance and a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology. The designations recognize facilities that have committed to practice safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.
Questions?
Call 941-917-5864 (LUNG) or email lungcancerscreening@smh.com to learn more.
Innovative Aneurysm Treatment Saves Lives – and Valves – of SMH Heart Patients
B
radenton resident Steve Ware had been living with an aortic aneurysm for the past 20 years, a condition he learned about early and managed under the supervision of his doctors.
But as with some heart patients, his aneurysm gradually began to grow, placing his aortic valve at risk. Compounding the situation, his mitral valve also began failing.
Faced with a potentially life-threatening rupture of his aneurysm, and combined malfunction of his aortic and mitral valves, he turned to the specialized team at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 2024 to address his complex cardiac condition.
SMH cardiothoracic surgeons Jeffrey Sell, MD, and Kristen Walker, MD, collaborated in a joint operation, repairing and preserving both native valves and performing a procedure known as the Florida Sleeve to treat his aneurysm. An advanced approach to managing aortic aneurysms, the valvesparing procedure involved wrapping a graft around the weakened aortic root to reinforce and prevent the aneurysm from growing.
“The Florida Sleeve is technically faster and simpler than other procedures available for valve repair,” said Dr. Walker, who brought the technique to SMH from the University of Florida where it was originally developed. “It gets the patient on and
Aortic aneurysms are often found by accident, usually during a routine, unrelated medical test. Screening tests and medical monitoring can help you detect and manage the condition before it turns deadly.
off the heart and lung machine much faster, which leads to faster recovery times and fewer complications. Patients like Mr. Ware do exceptionally well, and it’s great to maintain the native valve for patients, watch them recover, and ultimately be protected from the dangers of the aneurysm.”
For Ware, he was relieved to have all his heart problems addressed in ways that reduced his future risks and restored his heart strength and function in one collaborative procedure.
“I am so happy ... I can’t say enough about the team at Sarasota Memorial,” Ware said after his surgery last fall. “I don’t get tired anymore, and I’m actually getting back to some of my fitness routines.”
Sarasota Memorial Unveils State-of-the-Art Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
I
n April, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System opened the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute, a $75 million, 5-story facility designed to promote collaboration and discovery in medical education and research.
Named after local philanthropists Jerry and Karen Kolschowsky, whose generous donations over the years helped Sarasota Memorial expand and enhance its training and research programs, the Kolschowsky Institute is designed to provide an innovative learning environment and research hub for physicians, nurses and other clinical specialists studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care.
“Over the years, Sarasota Memorial has become a magnet for highly trained physicians and clinicians bringing the best their specialties have to offer to expand and enhance care in our region,” Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder said. “We are excited to dedicate this stateof-the-art facility to medical advances and new treatment options that will benefit our community today and for generations to come.”
SMH Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD, whose research in women’s cancer care inspired the Kolschowskys’ initial gifts, said the new facility brings the health system’s growing research, clinical education and residency programs together under one roof.
“I can’t overstate what the Kolschowsky Institute brings to Sarasota Memorial and our community,” he said. “It creates a sense of place, a center for inspiration and discovery, where
physicians, researchers and clinical educators are excited to come and work. The collaboration, compound learning and benefits to patient care will be huge.”
The health system’s research and graduate medical education programs have tripled in size in recent years, with more than 140 active studies under way and thousands of physicians competing for residency and fellowship opportunities at SMH each year.
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation President Stacey Corley said the Kolschowskys have inspired other philanthropists to step forward in support of the Institute.
“The Kolschowskys’ gift was the catalyst for bringing the new Kolschowsky Institute to life,” said Corley. “This new hub for innovation, education and medical research attracted many other supporters, and demonstrates how critical the community and philanthropy are to ensuring we remain at the forefront of medical excellence.”
In addition to Sarasota Memorial’s research team, the Kolschowsky Institute will provide operational and education space for SMH’s clinical educators, FSU/Sarasota Memorial sponsored graduate medical education faculty and resident physicians and fellows.
Each floor features innovative learning spaces, including medical simulation labs, a 360-degree immersive training room, a medical library, classrooms and expansive first-floor auditorium for research conferences, education events, and meetings of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.
SMH hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April for the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
UPCOMING
SMH Ranks Among World’s Best Hospitals
Sarasota Memorial was recognized among the “World’s Best Hospitals” in Newsweek’s seventh annual global ranking of hospitals in March.
The “World’s Best Hospitals” 2025 list recognizes the best medical institutions across 30 countries: USA, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Canada, India, Australia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Austria, Thailand, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Israel, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Chile and Malaysia.
SMH-Sarasota has been recognized in the “World’s Best Hospitals” list every year since the global rankings began in 2019. It is the only hospital in southwest Florida to ever make the list, and this year is among 412 hospitals in the United States recognized.
In its announcement, Newsweek noted that the number of hospitals worldwide continues to grow exponentially, and the goal of the study is to aid patients and their loved ones in selecting the world-class medical center which will ensure them the best possible outcomes.
Late-Stage Ovarian Cancer Study
Sarasota Memorial’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute has joined 30 research sites testing the effectiveness of Olvi-Vec, an experimental immunotherapeutic drug aimed at optimizing treatment outcomes for patients with late-stage ovarian cancer resistant to standard treatment therapies.
“We hope this study yields promising results and ultimately a new treatment that improves outcomes for late-stage ovarian cancer patients whose cancer does not respond to current therapies,” said Beverly Long, MD, specialist with SMH’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute and principal investigator of the local study. Call 941-917-6519 to learn more.
Childbirth Education
Sarasota Memorial offers in-person and online childbirth education classes and Mother-Baby Support Groups, as well as 1-on-1 lactation counseling and support. For more information or to register for a class, visit smh.com/ childbirth-education.
Weight Loss & Wellness Coaching
Sarasota Memorial weight and wellness specialists offer the following programs to help people lose weight and reduce their risk factors for heart disease and stroke, without medications or surgery:
• RENEW (Restore and Empower through Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness), a semi-virtual, 6-week lifestyle program that combines professional health coaching group activities, meal feedback, exercise monitoring, and unlimited peer support to help you achieve your personal weight and wellness goals. Learn more or apply at smhRENEW.com
• Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, a nineweek program focused on four scientifically proven life style strategies: a low-fat, plant-based diet; 30 minutes of daily exercise; stress management; and social support. Learn more or apply at smh.com/ornish
Gallup Names SMH Exceptional Workplace
S arasota Memorial received Gallup’s prestigious “Exceptional Workplace Award” for 2025, recognizing the local health system for putting employees first and setting benchmarks for excellence in the work environment.
According to Gallup, the award is a measure of how engaged, involved and enthusiastic SMH staff feel about their workplace and organization culture. SMH is a 4-time winner of Gallup’s award and one of only 62 organizations worldwide to win the “Exceptional Workplace Award” for engagement in 2025.
In its release, Gallup reported that highly engaged organizations significantly outperform their peers on important outcomes, including quality, safety, customer ratings, turnover, productivity, absenteeism, well-being and organizational citizenship. Visit smh.com/careers to explore opportunities to join Team SMH.
Pregnancy Care Team at SMH
Supporting you –and your growing family
Pregnancy Care & Support
Pregnancy can be a time of excitement and challenges. If you are feeling overwhelmed or having trouble accessing prenatal care, contact SMH’s Pregnancy Care Team. Our OB nurse navigators can help guide you to the services and support you may need throughout your pregnancy, including assisting you in finding a prenatal care provider, ensuring care coordination, and connecting you and your family with community resources. To access the free pregnancy support, call 941-917-MOMS (6667).
Physician Lectures & Education Events
Check out our community calendar each month for a list of free, informative lectures by Sarasota Memorial physicians and specialists, and other SMH-sponsored events. Hear directly from the experts about the latest treatments and emerging technologies giving patients more options than ever before. Visit smh.com/calendar or call 941- 917-7777 for information.
Classes & Support Groups
Visit smh.com/calendar for our monthly calendar of events.
Call 941- 917-7777 or visit smh.com/healthline for help finding a doctor, services and support groups.
For health tips and advice, visit smh.com/blog
Check out our podcast for a healthy dose of information from experts you can trust. Visit smh.com/podcast, or download on your favorite streaming app
Follow us on social media for the latest news and real-time conversations.
1515 S. Osprey Ave., Suite B4 Sarasota, FL
A s our centennial year unfolds in 2025, SMH proudly pays tribute to Sarasota’s early founders, whose pioneering spirit created Sarasota County’s first modern hospital, and to the people of our community, whose unwavering support through the decades continues to inspire Sarasota Memorial today.
Browse our new ebook, A Century of Caring, upload a special photo to our digital timeline and learn about SMH’s storied history in fun and interactive ways at smh.com/100.
