From Experiment to Essential

Like the human body itself, a hospital like SMH-Sarasota or SMH-Venice needs a healthy blood flow to function properly. In fact, blood donations play a crucial role in helping physicians treat all sorts of patients. But what is now an everyday aspect of modern healthcare was once the cutting edge-where great discoveries are made and, sometimes, things get a little messy.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

SMH Honors Pioneering Newtown Nurses

“For almost a third of Newtown’s 100-year history, the African American community supplied most of their own medical care using cobwebs, cotton balls, turpentine, and castor oil as internal and external cure-alls.
Midwives helped pregnant women to give birth.” -- Newtown Historic Marker

Monday, February 24, 2025

Celebrating Heroes in Medicine: Vivien Thomas

A decade before the Civil Rights Movement began, a young black man named Vivien Thomas made history at Johns Hopkins, helping to save countless lives. To those in the field today, he's a legend. But it would be decades before his full story was told-and even more before he received the full credit he deserved.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

A Brief History of Anesthesiology

Perhaps the biggest miracle of modern surgery is that you get to sleep through it. This wasn't always the case. Let's look back at this winding path of weird ideas and medical invention-and be glad we've come so far.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

SMH Kicks Off Centennial Year

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.

Monday, January 6, 2025