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From its beautiful coastline and vibrant arts scene to its strong sense of community and enviable weather, it’s no coincidence Sarasota continues to rank highly as a retirement destination.

Our community offers world-class arts, culture, beaches, and leisure, but part of its lasting appeal lies in the organizations that allow our population to age well with independence and dignity, supported by its very own community health system.

Founded in 1925 by and for the people of Sarasota County, Sarasota Memorial Hospital has grown and taken care of this community for a century.

Today it is the region’s leading medical provider, with two full-service hospital campuses (and another on the way) and a vast network of medical services and facilities stretching across the Suncoast.

With approximately 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers – and 11,000 staff – Sarasota Memorial’s care teams serve the full spectrum of life at every age and every stage:

• Highly specialized obstetricians, perinatologists, neonatologists, and pediatricians care for our youngest and most fragile community members, including the delivery of more than 4,500 babies each year.
• An ever-growing network of family medicine and internal medicine physicians provides primary care to people of all ages, helping people stay healthy and active.
• Five board-certified geriatricians and a psychiatrist board-certified in geriatric medicine focus on the unique needs of the aging population, coordinating care to support independence, mobility, and quality of life.
• Scores of specialists and subspecialty practices support our population’s every need, from heart and vascular services to pulmonary medicine, cancer care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and more.
• In addition, both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses and its inpatient rehabilitation facility are designated 'Age-Friendly' for demonstrating best practices in the care of older adults.
• And all three Sarasota Memorial’s emergency care centers are accredited Geriatric Emergency Departments, equipped with the specialists and resources to provide the best care and outcomes for older patients.

People who live, work, and visit the Suncoast also have easy access to Sarasota Memorial’s life-changing centers of excellence. They include:

• A Level II Trauma Center providing life-saving care for people with critical injuries.
• A state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Pavilion helping people recover and regain their independence following illness or injury.
• The Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, with world-class cancer specialists providing the latest tests, treatments and clinical trials right here.
• The Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion ensuring vital mental health services and support are available for people of all ages.
• The Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute, bringing top-tier physician researchers and the future of medicine to our community.

Many people don’t think about these services on a daily basis until the moment they truly need them.

Sarasota is fortunate to have a locally governed, public health system.

It is one of the many community assets ensuring our neighbors can thrive for generations to come.

James Fiorica, MD, is the chief medical officer for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Two longtime Sarasota Memorial Hospital leaders, Dr. Tara Butler and Bill Woeltjen, have announced their candidacies for seats on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board.

Butler is seeking the Northern District Seat 2, while Woeltjen is running for Northern District Seat 1. Both are currently the only candidates filed for the countywide seats, which will appear on the August 2026 Primary ballot.

In a joint statement announcing their candidacies, Butler and Woeltjen described themselves as fiscal conservatives and said they share a vision of protecting Sarasota Memorial’s reputation for patient-centered care and responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Butler, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, has served Sarasota Memorial for more than 15 years. She has also led efforts to improve patient outcomes and streamline emergency operations as chairs of the Emergency Care Center’s Quality Improvement Committee.

“Sarasota Memorial is the crown jewel of our region — a hospital that represents the very best of what a public health system can be,” Butler said in a statement. “It has been the privilege of my career to serve here, and I’m running to ensure we preserve that excellence, transparency and trust for generations to come.”

Butler earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed her residency in emergency medicine through the University of South Florida at Tampa General Hospital. She has published in national medical journals and received the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine’s Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award.

Woeltjen has worked at Sarasota Memorial for 15 years, including 12 as Chief Financial Officer. He is focused on sustaining the hospital’s mission and independence. He holds degrees in economics, management and accounting from Tulane University and the University of South Florida, and an MBA from USF.

“Having spent my career helping to ensure SMH’s financial strength, I know firsthand what it takes to sustain this hospital’s mission,” Woeltjen said. “As a fiscal conservative, I’ll work to keep Sarasota Memorial strong, efficient and accountable to the people it serves.”

Our story began 100 years ago, in a time before penicillin, when people still relied on “cure-all” elixirs to treat many common ailments, and the only facility for emergency care on the Suncoast was a 5-room, converted bungalow and tent for tuberculosis patients.

Sarasota was a small but inspired town poised for growth as flocks of Northerners fled the snow, slush and sleet to establish seasonal homes on the Suncoast.
It was in this diverging state of affairs that Sarasota’s early leaders found purpose. Rallying residents and businesses alike—through sheer grit and a whole lot of fundraising—they raised the $40,000 needed to build the community’s first modern hospital.

The 32-bed Sarasota Hospital opened its doors to patients on Nov. 2, 1925, with a dozen physicians and 10 nurses and caregivers to provide around-the-clock care. At the dedication ceremony, the local newspapers called the community-owned hospital a “model of medical institutions” and “greatest philanthropic undertaking which this county has ever known.”

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System unveiled plans Oct. 8 to build an $82.5 million Rehabilitation Pavilion at its Venice campus.

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board approved funding for the four-story, 83,000-square-foot facility in September and recently tapped Gresham Smith as project architects and Deangelis Diamond as general contractor.

Construction is anticipated to take roughly two years, with the pavilion opening for patient care in early 2028.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System was recognized in Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals for 2025.

Forbes, in collaboration with Statista, produced the list of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2025 following an independent survey of more than 17,000 U.S. employees working for healthcare and social welfare providers employing at least 1,000 people within the United States.

The listing was released Sept. 24.

Well, I held my nose and changed my political party affiliation from non-party affiliated to Republican.

I encourage Democrats and other non-party affiliated voters in Sarasota County who care about Sarasota Memorial Hospital to do the same by July 22 to vote in the closed Republican primary.

Defeat the so-called 'Medical Freedom' candidates, who are divisive, have no positive agenda and just want to relitigate measures Sarasota Memorial took during the COVID pandemic, which were correct based on the information available at that time.

I was born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and it has taken great care of me and my family for over 70 years. The hospital has been and, God willing, will continue to be one of the major Sarasota County institutions that make this community great.

I trust the current direction and leadership of Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Chip Gaylor, Sarasota

Some prominent Sarasota lawmakers want the Chair of the local Hospital Board to remain in place.

Sen. Joe Gruters and Rep. Fiona McFarland, both Sarasota Republicans, are endorsing Sarah Lodge for re-election to her Central District Seat 1 post on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.

McFarland, meanwhile, spoke at CPAC in 2021 and has earned the endorsement from the American Conservative Union in the past. She praised Lodge’s tenure as Chair of the Hospital Board.

“Sarasota County is fortunate to have someone like Sarah chairing the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board,” McFarland said. “She understands the importance of delivering top notch medical care while working to retain and recruit the best doctors and nurses in the country.”

Lodge faces Tanya Parus in an Aug. 20 Republican Primary for the seat. Parus is part of a slate of anti-establishment candidates. The winner of the Primary will face Democrat Vicki Lynn Nighswander in the General Election.

Lodge welcomed the support of the Republican lawmakers.

“Sarasota County is fortunate to have conservative champions like Joe and Fiona fighting for us in Tallahassee. It is an honor to receive their support,” she said.

Lodge is one of several candidates who oppose privatizing Sarasota Memorial Hospital and have supported the institution.

She also has the support of the Sarasota County Medical Society.

“Sarah’s dedication to ensuring those in our community receive the best possible medical care is unmatched,” Gruters said. “She has a proven track record of delivering results for Sarasota County and has my full endorsement.”

A press release announcing the endorsements called the lawmakers “conservative stalwarts.”

Gruters, Florida’s Republican National Committeeman, gave one of the first televised speeches at this year’s Republican National Convention earlier this week. He’s a close ally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and served as Florida Co-Chair for Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital continued its string of top rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of the nation’s best hospitals for 24 medical specialties, procedures and conditions. ● “Choosing the right hospital to match your needs shouldn’t be a guessing game,” Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News said in a prepared statement. “The 2024-2025 edition of Best Hospitals provides patients and their families clear, data-driven insights on hospital performance and empowers Americans to choose the facility best suited to their specific health care needs.”

Sarasota Memorial Hospital ranks as top in Southwest Florida, No. 5 in state

Sarasota Memorial maintained its rank as the top hospital in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton region and No. 5 hospital in the state – a ranking it shared a year ago with Baptist Health Baptist Hospital in Miami, which fell to No. 8.

It is still the only hospital in the two-county region that has made U.S. News’ 50 Best Hospitals lists, which evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in more than 30 medical and surgical specialties annually.

Sarah Lodge, chairwoman of the elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, applauded SMH for setting the benchmark for high quality care, regionally and nationally.

“Over the years, as our hospital grew with the community and evolved into the regional referral center it is today, we have never lost sight of our public mission and why we are here,” Lodge said in a prepared statement. “We continue to serve as our community’s healthcare safety net, while providing the highest quality, nationally ranked medical care.”

Sarasota Memorial rated highly in specialties, procedures and treating conditions

U.S. News ranked Sarasota Memorial among the 50 best for specialized rehabilitation and in the top 10% for six other high performing specialties and top ratings for 17 high performing procedures and conditions.

The high performing specialties are: gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonary/lung surgery; urology.

The high performing conditions, procedures are: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; aortic valve surgery; back surgery; colon cancer surgery; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD; heart attack; heart bypass surgery; heart failure; hip replacement; knee replacement; kidney failure; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; lung cancer surgery; prostate surgery; stroke; and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, attributed the hospital’s consistent high rankings from U.S. News & World Report and other rankings to the staff and the hospital’s deep roots in the community.

“Our physicians, nurses and staff share a sense of purpose and community mission due to Sarasota Memorial’s singular status as the region’s only not-forprofit, public hospital,” Verinder said in a prepared statement. “SMH has been caring for this community for nearly 100 years. The patient outcomes our team achieves are due entirely to their diligence and dedication to those we serve.”

The Rehabilitation team at the SMH-Sarasota campus improved its ranking to No. 29 on the 50 Best Hospitals list, an improvement from No. 31 last year and No. 35 the year before.

SMH is recognized for 24 high performing specialties, procedures and conditions, up from 20 last year. The “high performer” specialty rankings place SMH among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide.

Mayo Clinic leads Florida hospitals

The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville maintained its position as the top-ranked hospital in the state; followed by Tampa General Hospital; UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville; and Advent Health Orlando.

Cleveland Clinic Weston, in Weston; Orlando Health, Orlando Regional Medical Center; Baptist Health; The University of Miami Hospital and Clinics-UHealth Tower; and Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami rounded out the top 10.

Lee Memorial Hospital ranked No. 13, NCH Baker Hospital in Collier County ranked No. 17 and Gulf Coast Medical Center in Lee County ranked 29.

The SMH-Venice campus was eligible to be ranked on its own for the first time this year but was not listed among the top 30 hospitals in the state.

The 2024-25 edition of Best Hospitals highlights 466 Best Regional Hospitals, ranked in states and major metro areas across the U.S.

This year, for the first time, U.S. News also identified Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access, highlighting 98 hospitals for their success in caring for patients from historically underserved communities.

Now in its 35th year, the full list of U.S. News and World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” rankings can be found at https://health.usnews.com/besthospitals/rankings.

SARASOTA – Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman has endorsed Kevin Cooper for Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board at Large Seat 2, the combat veteran’s campaign announced today. Cooper will face-off against Stephen Guffanti in the Aug. 20 Republican primary election. 

“Kevin Cooper has not only served his country in combat, he has served Sarasota County in a variety of roles,” Hoffman said. “Every community needs people like Kevin who are always willing to step up to the challenge and take on the problems of the day. Kevin has my endorsement and full support.”

The public support of one of the county’s hardest working and most respected leaders was not lost on Cooper. “There’s simply no better example of leadership in our community than the man who leads Sarasota County’s finest,” Cooper said. “As a combat veteran, it’s an absolute blessing that Sheriff Hoffman, who stands on the front lines here in Sarasota, would come alongside me as we move this community forward.” 

The Sheriff’s endorsement comes on the heels of an appointment Cooper received last month from Gov. Ron DeSantis to chair the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County. 

Prior to moving to Sarasota County in 2008, Cooper was a Specialist in the Ohio Army National Guard when he was deployed to Al-Taqaddum Air Base in Iraq’s Al Anbar province – later recognized as having been, at the time, “the most dangerous place on planet Earth.” Specifically, Cooper served as a convoy security operator during Operation Iraqi Freedom, supporting U.S. Marines and other forces during conflicts in Fallujah. In addition to receiving a battlefield promotion to Sergeant, Cooper received multiple awards and commendations including the Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Cooper is the current Mote Marine Laboratory Vice President and previously served as Chairman of the Sarasota County Planning Commission. He lives in Sarasota County with his wife Missy and their two children – both born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

One of the great assets we have as Sarasota County residents – among so many – is Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Because of its high overall ranking and outstanding reputation in numerous categories, SMH is a blessing for residents. It is a significant draw for people who consider the area for their retirement years, and also for businesses that are seeking to relocate.

Here are just some of the reasons why:

With 11,000 employees, Sarasota Memorial is Sarasota County’s largest employer. As a 100-year-old institution owned by taxpayers, the hospital has provided our community with good governance for decades through the work of its nine-member board. Sarasota Memorial attracts talented physicians who want to work in a great hospital with a high reputation. Sarasota Memorial runs a profitable hospital with a balanced budget, and it invests positive cash flow in new equipment, people and facilities. Sarasota Memorial is consistently ranked among the nation’s top hospitals by national publications (including U.S. News & World Report, Fortune Magazine and Newsweek).

We are writing to alert fellow citizens that we have a very important election coming up for Sarasota Memorial’s hospital board. While all elections are important, the Aug. 20 primary election is particularly so due to the efforts of some people who seek to create extreme change at Sarasota Memorial.

During the previous board election in 2022, only 15% of Sarasota County’s eligible voters turned out and three members were elected to the hospital board who support the 'medical freedom' platform. They have been trying to make changes to our hospital to control what doctors and nurses can do – and to also promote policies that are not supported by most medical experts.

However, we believe that Sarasota Memorial should continue to build on its current growth and progress. We are pleased with Sarasota Memorial’s performance, and we want it to stay the course as a nonprofit hospital with a strong, experienced board that supports an effective executive team.

That’s why during the August primary election, we urge you to vote for the candidates on the ballot who support the current direction of Sarasota Memorial Hospital – and who want to continue supporting the doctors, nurses and current policies and procedures at our great hospital.

This guest column was co-authored by Bob Gary, Scott Gray, Sue Jacobson, Herb Soroca and Paul Hylbert. They are members of MOK Miracle on the Key, an organization of local Republicans and Democrats dedicated to working together to bridge the partisan divide.

Thank you for your article on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital board candidates and the possibility of the so-called 'medical freedom' extremists taking over the board.

They are the ones who mainly want 'freedom' from vaccines, from masks and established medical protocol. These 'freedom' folks want to take away our freedom to have the best health care.

Since this is a matter of life and death, all mainstream Republicans must vote in the Aug. 20 primary. Request a mail-in ballot if you are away.

Since the 'freedom' extremists have played the system by putting up last-minute Mickey Mouse write-in candidates, forcing a closed primary, Democrats and independents only have one choice. Change your party affiliation to Republican right away – before July 22.

This is the only way you can have a voice and vote in who will be on the November ballot.

You can switch back to 'No Party Affiliation' or Democrat after Aug. 20 and vote for any party in November. But by voting in the Republican primary, common-sense Republicans, independents and Democrats who value the excellence of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, its doctors and its proven medical leadership will be heard.

Susan Busko, Englewood

Kevin Cooper, the top fundraiser in a Sarasota Hospital Board race, just added a new line to his résumé: He’s now a Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee.

The Governor appointed Cooper to chair the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County.

DeSantis named Cooper and two others, yes. every kid. Government Affairs Director Tiffany Barfield and Holiday House of SRQ founder Jennifer Infanti, to the organization’s Board.

The appointment comes as Cooper continues his run for Seat 2 on the Sarasota County Hospital Board. Cooper has raised more than $28,000 for the race, more than anyone has ever raised for a Hospital Board position in Sarasota County history. He will continue running for the seat.

Cooper voiced gratitude for the appointment.

“As a father of two young children, I am acutely aware of how critical early learning development is for the foundation of a successful future,” Cooper said. “As I continue my volunteer commitment to organizations that support young children and families, I feel blessed that Governor DeSantis has entrusted me to carry forward the interests of the citizens of Sarasota County and the state of Florida.”

Cooper said he intends to be an ally with local lawmakers like Sen. Joe Grutersand Rep. Fiona McFarland, Sarasota Republicans who have advocated for local child services support in the Legislature.

I recently underwent a cardiac catheterization at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota. From the pre-intake information gathering to the check-in to the prep to the procedure to the recovery to discharge, I received excellent care every step of the way.

I interacted with 25-plus staff members during my stay. Their professions included food service, CNAs, techs, phlebotomists, transporters, LPNs, RNs, PA-Cs and MDs. Each staff member was unfailingly professional, efficient and friendly.

I cannot speak highly enough of the level of care I received at SMH.

A word of caution to the “Medical Freedom” slate of candidates for the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board: “Keep your hands off our hospital!”

Jerry Thompson, Venice

A proposal for Sarasota Memorial Hospital to embrace the controversial medical philosophies of Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo found no support Tuesday when the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board met in a closed session and drafted a new statement reinforcing patients’ rights, the doctor-patient relationship and encouraging “patients and their health care providers to access all credible resources regarding their discussions and decisions.”

The new motion ultimately passed on an 8-1 vote by the board – after removal of a fifth provision, to forward public concerns about vaccines to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration – with Patricia Maraia dissenting.

Three 'medical freedom' advocates are seeking positions on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board.

Medical freedom is an ideology that seeks to impose anti-science, anti-vaccine dogma on health professionals. Similar to book banning, this ideology harms the overall well-being of citizens.

For example, it could require doctors to treat COVID-19 with Ivermectin (a horse dewormer), bleach and UV light, while denying a patient modern medical procedure.

Google 'medical freedom' to learn more about this ideology and its degenerative values.

The leader of the local medical freedom movement is disgraced Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump after he had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Flynn has previously called for privatizing SMH.

If medical freedom gains traction on the SMH board, there will likely be an exodus of medical doctors from Sarasota County. And inferior health care will follow.

Robert Herickhoff, Nokomis

Depending on the election outcome, they could gain the board majority and with that shift would come not only radical changes in the standards for what qualifies as effective and ethical health care, but the threat of privatization of the hospital. (Private or corporate ownership, which shifts the priority to profitability, has been shown to reduce services, boost costs, increase patient-staff ratios and bring poorer patient outcomes.)

...

Because the outcome could dictate the future of Sarasota’s public health care system, it is critical voters be registered (29 days in advance) to vote in the August 20 primary – which could serve as the final election in some cases – and make informed choices. As we’ve seen with the Sarasota County School Board since the majority was “flipped” in 2022, who prevails can make a world of difference. 

The right-wing assault on public health didn’t end with Covid conspiracies. The attack is ongoing, and as it unfolds, we’re seeing examples of how a country under Republican control could pervert the concepts of health and wellness to align with pseudoscientists and far-right hucksters.

This fear came to mind as I read a new Daily Beast report on attempts by conservative anti-vaxxers to win control of the medical board that oversees the prestigious Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida.

…

A victory for the conspiracy theorists would allow them to set standards for what qualifies as effective and ethical health care — a horrifying prospect. Florida is already offering a crash course in the dangers of allowing pseudoscience to drive health policy, in the policies of its surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo.

Pam Beitlich, a candidate for Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, announced she has raised more than $18,000 for her campaign.

The Republican touted the total from her first quarterly fundraising report. The substantial haul is more than 90 times the $200 raised by her Primary opponent, Mary Flynn O’Neill, for the at-large post. Both candidates are running for Seat 3 on the board.

“The complex issues facing health care in the future cannot be overstated, and I am confident I have the knowledge base to bring expertise to the table,” Beitlich said. “I can’t thank the people of this community enough for rallying behind my campaign to ensure every Sarasota County resident continues to receive the very best health care that they have come to expect from SMH.”

Beitlich announced the total days after Kevin Cooper announced raising upward of $16,000 for Seat 2, which is also on the ballot this year.

Both Beitlich and Cooper are part of an anti-privatization slate of candidates running to preserve Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a public institution.

The sister of Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn and a band of conservative anti-vax activists are running for the board of a renowned public hospital in Florida under the banner of “medical freedom.”

If they win, they’ll hold a majority over Sarasota’s award-winning facility where one of their allies—elected in 2022 with two other "health freedom candidates" to the nine-member panel—is already trying to peddle vaccine misinformation.

I am biased. But I am not an ideologue or radical.

I can live with a lot of the far-right agenda being pushed in my community. Honestly, a lot of it just doesn’t impact me personally and I don’t think of myself as some kind of champion for justice these days.

But the 'medical freedom' slate running for Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board seats has me activated. The unsafe practices encouraged by these people put my life in danger.

I do not want my public hospital going private. And I need these services. This alone has gotten more than my attention.

What I would like to know, and encourage the newspaper to investigate, is this: What kind of positions are Blue Cross, Humana, United and Medicare taking on all of this? I wonder if these entities would be willing to contract with hospitals that practice so-called 'medical freedom' and, if so, will it affect the rates for coverage?

We have a world-class public hospital here in our county. Let’s keep it that way and free of politics.

J. Maxwell Jackson, Venice

I read the March 29 article, 'Three candidates file for Sarasota Public Hospital Board on a ‘medical freedom’ slate,' and still have no idea what qualifies these people to run a $1.7 billion hospital system.

One member of the trio is former Homeland Security adviser Michael Flynn’s sister, Mary Flynn O’Neill.

The average age in Sarasota is eight years older than the age statewide. We should all pay attention to the governance of our highly rated hospital system.

To be clear, 'medical freedom' means freedom to be sick or freedom to die of preventable infectious diseases and taking horse pills, and telling parents they can ignore meningitis vaccines and sacrifice children for politics.

Flynn’s brother was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump after he had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. He was a failed general who was forced to take early retirement for alleged poor leadership – and he was criticized by the late Gen. Colin Powell, a four-star general who held roles ranging from chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to U.S. secretary of state.

Let’s turn our hospital over to Flynn. What could go wrong?

I do not want my hospital to go for-profit and become a health care system where doctors get bonuses for spending less time with patients. I am a doctor, but I am also a patient.

I am voting for 'Team Normal.' I’m voting for science, for state-of-the-art medicine and for hospital board candidates John Lutz and Dr. George Davis.

Dr. Mike Weddle, Venice

Kevin Cooper has raised a record amount in outside contributions to run for . The Venice Republican announced he raised $16,128 in the first quarter of 2024. That's about four times more than all five winners of the 2022 Hospital Board races raised combined.

"The support our campaign has received in such a short period of time is truly humbling," Cooper said. "It just goes to show how important access to quality medical care is to the residents of this community. Sarasota County is the best place in Florida, and the country, to live and raise a family and I will continue to do everything I can to preserve that for current and future generations."

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is ranked in a Newsweek survey as the fourth best hospital in Florida.

It is one of the county’s biggest assets. But Michael Flynn, a onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump, says, “It may be time to privatize this hospital.”

Privatization results in deterioration of patient care and focus on corporate profit. Look what HCA has done to Mission Health in Asheville, N.C., a great hospital no more.

Studies link hospital privatization to downsizing services, and deterioration of staff morale and care quality. If you want to retain the high quality of care we enjoy at our hospital, keep Michael Flynn and his “medical freedom” slate out of SMH.

Linda Roe Dickinson, Sarasota

The March 29 article titled “SMH board candidates file to run as a slate” should scare all Sarasota residents. If elected, the three candidates who are supported by Michael Flynn – a past adviser to former President Donald Trump – will ruin a great hospital.  

Mary Flynn O’Neill, Tamzin Rosenwasser and Tanya Parus are part of the “medical freedom” movement that objected to how the hospital handled the COVID-19 pandemic. (An independent review found that the hospital acted appropriately.)

The trio also favors privatizing the hospital.

If they are elected, what is considered a very good hospital will be guided by a bunch of conspiracy theorists who do not believe that COVID-19 was dangerous.  

The hospital system also runs First Physicians Group. It is important that these physicians and all concerned citizens stand up to be counted. Do not vote for these three candidates. 

When you are sick and in need of good care, remember this warning: We all know what happened to our excellent school system when extremists got control of the Sarasota County School Board.

The medical dictum “First Do No Harm” should be a warning to all. These people will do lots of harm if elected.

Ike Koziol, M.D., retired, Sarasota