Image Caption: According to hospital and historical archives, SMH’s founding physicians included Drs. O.H. Cribbins, Jack Halton, A.L. Matthews, J.E. Harris, David R. Kennedy, A.O. Martin, T.W. Taylor, C.B. Wilson, J.C. Patterson, and J.W. Johnson. In 1932, Sarasota’s first female physician, Dr. Blanche Burgner, joined the hospital staff.
SARASOTA, Fla. (March 28, 2025) – By the time the very first Doctors’ Day rolled around on March 30, 1933, a group of local physicians had been caring for local residents at Sarasota County’s first modern hospital for nearly a decade.
The 32-bed Sarasota Hospital, which would later be renamed Sarasota Memorial Hospital after veterans of two world wars, opened its doors on Nov. 2, 1925, with a dozen doctors serving a rapidly growing Sarasota community.
In the 10 decades since, through the Great Depression, recessions, a world war, astonishing medical advances, a global pandemic and devastating hurricanes, the compassion, care and commitment demonstrated by SMH physicians has never wavered.
“As we look back on a century of care, and celebrate a very special Doctors’ Day this week, we want to recognize and thank the thousands of physicians who have left their mark on our hospital and community in the very best way,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder.
Today, with more than 2,500 physicians and advanced care providers, and more than 2 million patient visits a year, Sarasota Memorial is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive health systems, nationally recognized for its highly trained clinicians, research and advanced care.
Despite its growth, SMH remains the only community-owned and only not-for-profit health system in the county, and largest safety net provider in the region. The health system’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.
In celebration of Doctors' Day on Sunday, March 30, Sarasota Memorial invites you to join us in honoring the incredible physicians who make a difference every day. Head to our Doctors' Day Facebook post here and share a heartfelt thank you message to the doctors who have impacted your life.
Learn more about SMH’s storied history
Flip through the electronic version of SMH’s 100-year history book, upload a special photo to SMH’s historical timeline and learn about SMH’s storied history in fun and interactive ways at smh.com/100.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
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 community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.