Sarasota Memorial Health Care System was recognized in Forbes’ list of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2026.
The recognition marks the seventh consecutive year Sarasota Memorial has made the prestigious
list, underscoring the community-owned health system’s longstanding commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
Of 1,365 employers recognized nationwide, SMH was the second-highest rated healthcare organization in the state and No. 17 among all Florida companies recognized.
The region’s largest employer and one of the nation’s largest public health systems, SMH has more than 11,000 employees in its growing network of hospitals, specialty care centers and outpatient services.
“This recognition belongs to every member of our team and reflects the extraordinary skill, compassion and dedication they bring to their work and to the people who depend on us,” Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder said in a prepared statement. “They are our greatest strength, and the reason Sarasota Memorial is an exceptional place to work.”
This accolade comes on the heels of Forbes naming SMH the top employer for women in Florida on its “America’s Best Employers for Women 2026.”
The health system also received Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award in 2025 and has been repeatedly recognized by Newsweek and other independent organizations for workplace excellence.
How does Forbes compile its top employer list?
Forbes partners with market research firm Statista for what is now its eighth annual ranking.
The ranking identifies employers that stand out in each state based on survey responses of more than 245,000 people working for U.S. companies with at least 500 employees. Participants evaluated their employers on factors that included wages and benefits, management, workplace culture, flexibility and opportunities for career advancement.
For information about the Forbes recognition, visit forbes.com/lists/best-employers-by-state.
How big is the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System?
Founded in 1925, Sarasota Memorial employs about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers among its 11,000 employees.
SMH serves about 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care that currently includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice as well as freestanding emergency rooms in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and SMH First Physicians Group primary and specialty care practices.
A third hospital is currently under construction in North Port.
The flagship Sarasota campus is home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest five-star quality ratingsfrom the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital – and one of just 11 in the nation — to earn a perfect five-star rating from CMS every year since the federal rating program began in 2016.
Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Major Sarasota employer ranks among Florida’s best workplaces
