SARASOTA (Jan. 6, 2025) – While the New Year is typically a time to look forward with hope and optimism, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is encouraging community members to step back in time and reflect on the hospital’s storied history.
From simple canvas tents to the comprehensive medical center that stands today, SMH is marking a century of service and care to the Suncoast in 2025. As the community-owned hospital’s centennial year unfolds, so are opportunities to learn about the determination and sheer grit it took Sarasota’s founders to build the area’s first modern hospital.
“Our community and SMH have a lot to celebrate this year,” Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder said. “We've come a long way from that 32-bed hospital that opened its doors 100 years ago. Today, Sarasota’s flagship hospital has evolved into one of the nation’s best health systems, a pioneer of new treatments and technologies, life-saving trauma center and award-winning teaching hospital. Every year of growth, every medical milestone, every technological advance, were made possible by the people of our community, and the outstanding doctors, nurses and staff entrusted with their care.”
Among other centennial activities, SMH is installing a special, 35-foot timeline in the lobby of its Sarasota hospital and sharing its 100-year history book, A Century of Caring, featuring historic events and milestones that shaped the public institution over the past 10 decades. The hospital also created an interactive webpage (smh.com/100) and is encouraging community members to visit the site to add their own historical photos to the hospital’s online timeline, flip through an electronic version of SMH’s history book and stay abreast of future centennial activities leading up to SMH’s 100-year anniversary in November.
The original 32-bed hospital, first named Sarasota Hospital, opened its doors on Nov. 2, 1925, with 12 physicians and 10 nurses and employees. It was renamed Sarasota Municipal Hospital and later Sarasota Memorial Hospital to honor the veterans of World I and II. SMH expanded its name to Sarasota Memorial Health Care System during the 2000s to reflect its growing network of outpatient centers, medical offices and community outreach services.
Today, Sarasota Memorial is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive health systems, known for its highly trained clinicians, research and advanced care. Despite its growth, it remains the only community-owned and only not-for-profit health system in the county, and largest safety net provider in the region. Sarasota Memorial’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. It is Sarasota County’s largest employer, with more than 10,000 staff members, 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care.
SMH’s centennial celebration will continue throughout 2025 with stories, social media and special activities!
Check Out Hospital History Book and Web Page!
Did you know SMH’s first superintendent in 1925 was one of the few Registered Nurses in Sarasota? Did you know the local newspaper once published lists of patients admitted to SMH? Interesting facts about SMH and our community, along with one-of-a-kind photos, are laid out in loving detail in A Century of Caring, a special book commemorating the hospital’s anniversary. To page through the book, CLICK HERE. It will be posted on SMH’s special centennial web page, www.smh.com/100, along with an array of videos, photos, stories and other anniversary information, for the next 12 months.
Walk Through Hospital History!
Take a walk through SMH history by visiting a special historical timeline that will soon be installed in the Sarasota Campus lobby. The exhibit, which includes a digital version available on smh.com/100, showcases important events and medical firsts in the history of SMH and photos from the past 10 decades. It will remain on display throughout the year.
Share Pix from SMH’s Past!
Show your #smh100 pride by sharing historic photos of SMH. Post photos on Facebook or Instagram, tag Sarasota Memorial, and include the hashtag #smh100. Or CLICK HERE and scroll down to the online form to upload photos. Once photos are approved by our moderators, they will be featured on the ticker running across the top of SMH’s 100th anniversary web page, www.smh.com/100
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Founded in 1925, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, a freestanding ER in North Port, and a comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices that stretch from Manatee County to North Port.